Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Made for Man

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The concept of the Sabbath is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, serving as a day of rest and worship. The origin of the Sabbath is found in the creation narrative, where God Himself rested on the seventh day after completing His work of creation. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished."

The Sabbath was later codified in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20:8-11 commands, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."

The Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest but also a time for spiritual renewal and reflection. It serves as a reminder of God's creation and His covenant with His people. The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship between God and Israel, as seen in Exodus 31:16-17 : "The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting covenant for the generations to come. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ emphasized the purpose and spirit of the Sabbath. In Mark 2:27 , Jesus declared, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." This statement highlights the Sabbath as a gift to humanity, intended for their benefit and well-being, rather than a burdensome legalistic requirement. Jesus often challenged the Pharisaical interpretations of the Sabbath, which had become overly restrictive and missed the essence of rest and mercy.

The early Christian church grappled with the observance of the Sabbath, especially as Gentile believers joined the faith. The Apostle Paul addressed this issue in Colossians 2:16-17 , stating, "Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ." This passage suggests that the Sabbath, along with other ceremonial laws, pointed to the ultimate rest found in Christ.

Throughout history, the observance of the Sabbath has varied among Christian denominations. Some maintain a strict observance of Saturday as the Sabbath, while others, following the tradition of the early church, observe Sunday as the Lord's Day in commemoration of Christ's resurrection. Regardless of the day, the principle of setting aside time for rest and worship remains central to Christian practice.

The Sabbath, as a divine institution, underscores the rhythm of work and rest ordained by God. It serves as a perpetual reminder of God's sovereignty, His provision, and the rest that believers find in Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 2:27
And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sabbath
... And He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
so that the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath." Mark 2:23-28 (RV) ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 2 23-28 the sabbath.htm

Works which Hallow the Sabbath
... And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:
28. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.'"Mark 2:23-28. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/works which hallow the sabbath.htm

The Sabbath
... which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?" "And He said unto them,
The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." "Have ye not read ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 29 the sabbath.htm

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
... b 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
sabbath: 28 so that the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxviii jesus defends disciples who.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... Mark adds as corollary: The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.'
It is remarkable, that a similar argument is used by the Rabbis. ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

A Sabbath Healing in Jerusalem.
... The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole ... cause
the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/a sabbath healing in jerusalem.htm

Jesus Finds Joy in all his Work
... And Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;
so that the Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/jesus finds joy in all.htm

Plucking Grain on the Sabbath.
... And he said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/plucking grain on the sabbath.htm

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... But He who rightfully interpreted the law of his own devising, and who knew that
"the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath," ordered the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

John Chapter vii. 19-24
... they saw in the world, and yet they saw not Him who made them all: He did one thing,
and they were disturbed because he made a man whole on the Sabbath-day. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxx john chapter vii.htm