WORK AND THE SABBATH
Monday – November 12, 2018, Kislev 4, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this fascinating and informative Bible Study down through the wonderful Book of John. The featured picture today is of a beautiful stream here in Oakland Maine (taken a few years ago). Even in this current fallen state, this creation is beautiful and wonderful to behold. Now, let’s pick up our study by first reading the primary text for today. You might consider looking at the teaching from last Friday when I started this study of the man with an infirmity thirty-eight years who was made whole by the Sheep Gate at the pool of Bethesda. We will pick up this account in verse ten of chapter five.
John 5:10-16 (KJV)
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
You will recall that Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk and the man did accordingly. The very last words in our text Friday were “the same day was the sabbath”. This man was healed by the combination of the man’s faith with corresponding action and the Anointing on Jesus. I capitalize the word ‘Anointing’ for we are talking about the work of the third person of the Trinity who we commonly refer to as the Holy Spirit. Now, let’s take a look at the response of the Jews to this wonderful thing that has happened to the man. It is the Sabbath Day and the man is carrying his bed. They are not excited that this man has been made whole but they are critical of him carrying his bed on the Sabbath Day. As we move forward let’s take a look at the Fourth Commandment
Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Leviticus 23:1-3 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
It seems to me that the point of the Fourth Commandment is for people not to engage in whatever their livelihood might be like plowing the fields, planting, and so on. God is not referring to the things that are necessary to life in an ordinary day like cooking a meal, feeding the animals, and so on. Even getting out of one’s bed to go to the kitchen is technically work but I don’t believe it falls under the Forth Commandment. This man who has been made whole at the pool of Bethesda was there with his bed. As a part of his corresponding action of faith in response to Jesus and the Words of Jesus the man picked up his bed and walked. However, it was necessary for this man to take his bed home for he may not have had another bed at home. Also, consider that he probably came from home that morning with someone else carrying the bed for him to lay at the pool and was likely collecting alms as his living. What about the person we brought the bed in the morning and would take it home in the evening?
Following the Lord’s giving of the Fourth Commandment which seems to address working a job, or running the family business, the Jews set about developing a host of rules. I think we could think about this much like our Congress passing a law but then the agency which has jurisdiction for the carrying out or oversight of that law develops rules and regulations. Many times, those rules and regulations bear no resemblance to the intent of the original law over time. In a religious context we might refer to these rules and regulations as the traditions of men or the doctrine of devils. We probably don’t have any of that at our Church or in our thinking but perhaps we have seen it in other Churches or people (dripping sarcasm). Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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