I haven’t written in a while, purely because I haven’t had anything worth anyone’s reading. Also, I don’t make time to get on the computer all that often if it’s not important. BUT during my Bible study today, I came across something that I had a very serious question about. So I am hoping as my friends that you will read this with every intention of responding with your thoughts. I would greatly appreciate the opinions.
The verses I am studying are in Matthew. Specifically chapter 5, verses 17-18.
They read as such: (NIV)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
So here is my question... In the old testament, specifically Exodus 21-23 – the Book of the Covenant, God laid down commands for His people. They range from commands about the appropriate and inappropriate methods of treating Hebrew servants, how to handle injuries inflicted by others, protection of property, social responsibilities, Sabbath Laws, and the Three Annual Festivals.
As my understanding of reading Matthew 5:17-18 those commands should not be missing from today’s following of Christ because he specifically states that His coming was not meant to discredit the Law of old.
SO, if that is the case, and Jesus only modifies parts of the Law in the New Testament (such as hating your brother is as bad as murder – Matthew 5:21-26, etc), then why are things such as the strict Sabbath Laws and the Annual Festivals not any longer a part of our observed faith.
Observing the Sabbath was always a very important piece of God’s law. I know that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 12:1-14, but that was because they wanted to focus more on the ‘strict tradition’ then on the needs of the disciples. They were hungry, so they picked heads of grain to eat. There was a man that needed healing, so Jesus healed him. I understand his anger in the Pharisees use of the law. They wanted to use the law to find fault with Jesus because they hated him for messing up their traditions.
BUT, I don’t see why this passage would take away the entire importance of the Sabbath. I see the point Jesus is making as more of, ‘show love to others and do what is right in the eyes of God’, but that does not mean that the importance of the Sabbath and its observance should be pushed aside.
Jesus’ argument was that following traditions just to follow them is worthless, and I couldn’t agree more. But following the Sabbath Laws would, I think, greatly help us in this day and age. Imagine your last Sunday. How many times during the service were you thinking about all you had to do that day? And how much of those plans helped someone in need? How many of those things on your Sunday to-do list were for the glory of God? If we are honest with ourselves, we fill Sunday with all sorts of crap that doesn’t matter, just like we fill the rest of the week.
So when are we taking time out to truly worship and serve God? When are we taking time out specifically to do nothing but spend time in the word and pray? I’m convinced that sitting through one service a week and maybe meeting once a week with a small group is not enough. We CANNOT get fed the way we should in that manner. We CANNOT truly build our relationship with God and make Him the most important thing in our life if we never set aside a day to be still in front of Him.
I am not advocating for a strict adherence to all of the Laws because obviously sacrifices are no longer necessary because Jesus was our ultimate blood sacrifice. And Jesus set the record straight on clean vs. unclean in Matthew 15:11. And I’m not entirely sure it matters if your Sabbath is on Sunday or Tuesday or Friday, as long as we are setting aside a day and emptying our calendar, setting aside the things that really don’t matter (house cleaning, elaborate cooking, watching tv, etc) and completely focusing on God, His word, and devoting our lives to Him.
That is going to be my challenge this week. Jacob and I will find a day that we can set aside for the sole purpose of studying God’s word, praying, and devoting our time to nothing else. Nothing else is as important as this. Nothing else we could fill our day with could be better for our hearts and minds.
If that sounds a little crazy, then maybe I’m starting to get on the right track! ;)
