--> Matt13:52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Is the Law, indeed, irrelevant to the Christian as some suggest? Note that in the parable above Jesus refers to "what is old" as also being treasure... Jesus' message within this parable should be clear: "What is old" was not intended to be abandoned for the "new" but rather the "new" was intended to compliment the old.
Jesus quite clearly conveyed that He in no way intended to overthrow the Law but to perfectly fulfill{Matt5:17}. -And thus, on many occasions; far from making the Law void and null; Jesus *expanded* the scope of the Law *BEYOND* what was written so as to reveal and clarify what is the heart and intent of God's Law -i.e. "You have heard{e.g. been taught from the written Law} not to commit adultery; but I'm telling you the truth that if you look with lust upon another then you are breaking God's intent(*) of the Law{(*)e.g. intent= purity of heart}... you are committing adultery in your heart"{rf. Matt5:28}. And again Jesus said, "You have heard 'Do not murder' but the truth is that if you are furious at a brother/sister then you have crossed the intent of the Law already{rf. Matt5:21-22}... according to the Apostle John, the one who hates{Grk= detest fueled by anger} his brother has a murderous heart like Cain"{1John3:12,15}. Thus, Jesus' "new" message(s) compliments the old -exactly as conveyed in Matt13:52.
To those whom have thus broken the *INTENT* of any of God's Law Jesus commandment is to repent{Mark1:15}. So you see, far from abolishing God's Law; Jesus actually expanded the Law to reveal the Law's intent and fulfillment.
Now, concerning Sabbath,.. this is no less a commandment than "do not murder." Jesus also claified this Law and its fulfillment in His "new" complimenting message concerning Sabbath. Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for Sabbath{Mark2:27}. The Sabbath *IS A GIFT* to us; a day in which we can cease from all *unnecessary* work and STILL be blessed and prosperous DESPITE a one [specific] day reprieve from working. I say cease from all "unnecessary" work because Jesus did explicitly convey that *rare* circumstances may require a certain amount of labor on the Sabbath -such circumstances as would be equivalent to a sheep trapped in a pit needing to be rescued{Matt12:11}... the key is discerning what work can be "put off till tomorrow" so that the Sabbath can be *enjoyed* ..."remembering the Sabbath" was never intended to be a hardship; it was a day to look forward to and celebrated.
What I find amazing is that God showed that He cares so much for our health and enjoyment by actually including *remember the Sabbath* in His "Top Ten." ...yet sooo many are willing to toss that gift aside?!?! Why is it okay to not only practically throw God's gift back in His face; but break the 4th commandment in doing so? What makes the last commandment [of the Ten] any greater than this fourth that we readily acknowledge that coveteousness is wrong? -But it is okay to dishonor God by tossing aside His gift of Sabbath by not making even an attempt to rest and remember the Sabbath? Let me close with this thought to ponder: Did Jesus honor God's intent for Sabbath -Yes or no?
--> 1John2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
[BTW, I do not assert that "remember the Sabbath..." demands that we assemble for worship -but assembling together on the Sabbath is certainly one good way to enjoy Sabbath and keep it holy :) ]
Is the Law, indeed, irrelevant to the Christian as some suggest? Note that in the parable above Jesus refers to "what is old" as also being treasure... Jesus' message within this parable should be clear: "What is old" was not intended to be abandoned for the "new" but rather the "new" was intended to compliment the old.
Jesus quite clearly conveyed that He in no way intended to overthrow the Law but to perfectly fulfill{Matt5:17}. -And thus, on many occasions; far from making the Law void and null; Jesus *expanded* the scope of the Law *BEYOND* what was written so as to reveal and clarify what is the heart and intent of God's Law -i.e. "You have heard{e.g. been taught from the written Law} not to commit adultery; but I'm telling you the truth that if you look with lust upon another then you are breaking God's intent(*) of the Law{(*)e.g. intent= purity of heart}... you are committing adultery in your heart"{rf. Matt5:28}. And again Jesus said, "You have heard 'Do not murder' but the truth is that if you are furious at a brother/sister then you have crossed the intent of the Law already{rf. Matt5:21-22}... according to the Apostle John, the one who hates{Grk= detest fueled by anger} his brother has a murderous heart like Cain"{1John3:12,15}. Thus, Jesus' "new" message(s) compliments the old -exactly as conveyed in Matt13:52.
To those whom have thus broken the *INTENT* of any of God's Law Jesus commandment is to repent{Mark1:15}. So you see, far from abolishing God's Law; Jesus actually expanded the Law to reveal the Law's intent and fulfillment.
Now, concerning Sabbath,.. this is no less a commandment than "do not murder." Jesus also claified this Law and its fulfillment in His "new" complimenting message concerning Sabbath. Jesus explained that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for Sabbath{Mark2:27}. The Sabbath *IS A GIFT* to us; a day in which we can cease from all *unnecessary* work and STILL be blessed and prosperous DESPITE a one [specific] day reprieve from working. I say cease from all "unnecessary" work because Jesus did explicitly convey that *rare* circumstances may require a certain amount of labor on the Sabbath -such circumstances as would be equivalent to a sheep trapped in a pit needing to be rescued{Matt12:11}... the key is discerning what work can be "put off till tomorrow" so that the Sabbath can be *enjoyed* ..."remembering the Sabbath" was never intended to be a hardship; it was a day to look forward to and celebrated.
What I find amazing is that God showed that He cares so much for our health and enjoyment by actually including *remember the Sabbath* in His "Top Ten." ...yet sooo many are willing to toss that gift aside?!?! Why is it okay to not only practically throw God's gift back in His face; but break the 4th commandment in doing so? What makes the last commandment [of the Ten] any greater than this fourth that we readily acknowledge that coveteousness is wrong? -But it is okay to dishonor God by tossing aside His gift of Sabbath by not making even an attempt to rest and remember the Sabbath? Let me close with this thought to ponder: Did Jesus honor God's intent for Sabbath -Yes or no?
--> 1John2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
[BTW, I do not assert that "remember the Sabbath..." demands that we assemble for worship -but assembling together on the Sabbath is certainly one good way to enjoy Sabbath and keep it holy :) ]
