Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Jesus Magnifies the Sabbath

According to Isaiah, what was Christ to do with the law? BR-ASI9 295.9

“He will magnify the law, and make it honourable.” Isaiah 42:21. BR-ASI9 295.10

Note.—In nothing, perhaps, was this more strikingly fulfilled than in the matter of Sabbath observance. By their numerous traditional regulations and senseless restrictions the Jews had made the Sabbath a burden, and anything but a delight. Christ removed all these, and by His life and teachings restored the Sabbath to its proper place as a day of worship, of contemplation of God, a day for doing acts of charity and mercy. Thus He magnified it and made it honorable. Christ did not abolish or change the Sabbath; but He did rescue it from the rubbish of tradition, false ideas, and superstitions by which it had been degraded. The Pharisees had placed the institution above man, and against man. Christ reversed the order, and said, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” He showed that it was to minister to the happiness and well-being of both man and beast. BR-ASI9 295.11

In view of the coming destruction and desolation of the city of Jerusalem, for what did Christ tell His disciples to pray? BR-ASI9 296.1

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.” Matthew 24:20. BR-ASI9 296.2

Note.—“Christ is here speaking of the flight of the apostles and other Christians out of Jerusalem and Judea, just before their final destruction.”—Jonathan Edwards, Reprint of Worcester ed., 1844-1848, vol. 4, pp. 621, 622. BR-ASI9 296.3

“The Great Teacher never intimated that the Sabbath was a ceremonial ordinance to cease with the Mosaic ritual. . . . Instead of anticipating its extinction along with the ceremonial law, He speaks of its existence after the downfall of Jerusalem. [See Matthew 24:20.]”—W. D. Killen (Irish Presbyterian), The Ancient Church (1883 ed.), p. 188. BR-ASI9 296.4