Rabbinic Teachings
     1.   Much of the Mosaic law was detailed, especially ceremonial law: priesthood, sacrifices,
     festivals, so on
     2.   Much of the civil law was detailed: reconciliation, punishment for crimes, so on
     3.   Mosaic law, as with all laws, needed to be interpreted so it could be applied to all of
     life’s circumstances
     4.   Rabbis (teachers) began producing “fence laws,” intended as practical interpretation of
     original law; attempt to “hedge in” the law to guarantee proper observance.
     5.   Similar to US civil law and legal precedent as practical interpretations of Constitution
     6.   As result of emphasizing detailed interpretation of Law, great principles became lost in
     the mass of petty details
     7.   teachings of rabbis and other authorities on Jewish laws identify 39 classes of actions
     prohibited on Sabbath, plus much hairsplitting to work out details.

Jesus
     1.   This system of interpretation was flourishing when Jesus arrived and condemned
     religious leaders
               a.   Jesus said they tithed, but should also practice justice and mercy
               b.   they enslaved people with hundreds of petty rules, didn’t lift finger to help them
               c.   Jesus didn’t condemn them for observing the law, because their whole lives
          centered on meticulously observing every detail of the law
               d.   he rebuked them for ignoring the purposes of the law
               e.   regarding Sabbath, Jesus clearly and openly opposed current Rabbinic
          restrictions as contrary to the spirit of the original law of Sabbath
               f.   this alone indicates importance Jesus placed on Sabbath and its original purpose

     2.   Mk 2:23-3:6 [read]
               a.   Pharisee’s actions were typical of carnality: strict interpretation of law’s
          “minor” points for personal advantage; gross violation of “major” points
               b.   what was issue? strict/legalistic adherence to laws regarding Sabbath, regardless
          of consequences
               c.   key point regarding Sabbath, 2:27: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man
          for the Sabbath.”
               d.   Jesus taught Sabbath was made for man’s benefit, not an inviolate law; human
          needs to take precedence over law of Sabbath
               e.   notice Jesus’ reaction to people’s strict/condemning attitude regarding Sabbath
          law: he “looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn
          hearts.”
               f.   scripture identifies a few times Jesus became angry; usually result of people’s
          strict legal interpretation of the law which violates intent of the law

     3.   Lk 13:10-17 [read]
               a.   strong language from Jesus: “You hypocrites!”
               b.   drew parallel to their care for their animals, set animals free to drink water on
          Sabbath
               c.   strong contrast with beast of burden, calls woman “daughter of Abraham,”
          which people would consider honorable title
               d.   Jesus’ point was so obvious, it humiliated those who challenged him

     4.   Lk 14:1-6 [read]
               a.   Pharisees watching him closely
               b.   Jesus raised the issue, asked the experts “the” question: “Is it lawful to heal on
          the Sabbath or not?” They refused to answer.
               c.   analogy: if someone or something you care for needs to be rescued on Sabbath,
          “will you not immediately pull him out?”
               d.   again: Pharisees and rabbis so obsessed with details of their man-made laws,
          overlooked intent of God’s law
               e.   that’s what Jesus was addressing
               f.   Pharisees didn’t celebrate the man’s healing, didn’t even acknowledge the good
          Jesus was doing
               g.   adamantly insisted he stop violating their laws, plotted how to kill him

     5.   Jn 5:1-18 [read]
               a.   see a trend: Jesus ministered to people’s needs, even on Sabbath

     6.   Jn 9:1-41 (interesting/funny story)
               a.   Jesus healed a man blind from birth
               b.   happened on Sabbath (v 14)
               c.   Pharisees upset about healing on Sabbath, questioned the man and his parents

     7.   Jesus’ position on Sabbath very clear:
               a.   man’s needs supersede law of Sabbath
               b.   stated: Mk 2:27: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
               c.   i.e., Sabbath is for man’s benefit
               d.   Jesus did not discredit Sabbath, did not say was unimportant
               e.   Jesus showed Sabbath not unchangeable as the great moral laws are
               f.   on one hand, Jesus pushed moral law into inner realm of thought and desire,
          making the law more exacting
                         i.   “you have heard that it was said . . . . But I tell you . . . .”
                         ii.  not just murder, anger is punishable
                         iii. not just adultery, lust is punishable
               g.   on other hand, Jesus advocated more lenient interpretation of law of Sabbath;
          rabbis had bypassed intent of Sabbath and made it inviolable law

     8.   Jesus upheld authority and validity of OT law
               a.   Mt 5:17-20 [read]
                         i.   “abolish,” Gk word means “destroy, throw down, abolish”; Jesus said
               he didn’t come to destroy, throw down or abolish the Law and Prophets
                                   (1)  compare with Eph 2:15, “by abolishing in his flesh the law with
                    its commandments and regulations.”
                                   (2)  “abolish” is very different Gk word than Mt 5:17, but means
                    “destroy, nullify, fade away, abolish,” and so on
                                   (3)  so did Jesus abolish the Law or not?
                                   (4)  no. context of Eph 2:15 is Christ destroying the wall that
                    separated the Jews from gentile believers
                                   (5)  a main purpose of Jewish law was to serve as a barrier to separate
                    them from gentiles
                                             (a)  notice the phrase, “the law with its commandments and
                         regulations”
                                             (b)  Paul does not say Christ abolished the law as the Word of
                         God or as a moral guide
                                             (c)  what was abolished: the law as a set of regulations that
                         excludes gentiles from God’s blessings
                                             (d)  the moral instruction of the law is still relevant
                                             (e)  Paul’s point: no longer to be any practice of the law that
                         excludes gentiles or forces them to become Jews
                                             (f)  gentiles are accepted by God on equal footing with Jews
                                             (g)  v 14-15: he “has made the two one and has destroyed the
                         barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his
                         flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.”
                                   (6)  Christ came to fulfill the Law; the moral code was still in place,
                    but the secondary purpose of the law and ordinances (to separate
                    the Jews from gentiles) is set aside or made useless; hence,
                    commandments and regulations “abolished” as useless
                         ii.  Mt 5:17, Jesus came to fulfill or complete the Law and Prophets
                                   (1)  to give full value or meaning
                         iii. v 18, makes very specific and deliberate statement, emphasizes it with “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.”
                                   (1)  equivalent: “Every i will remain dotted and t crossed until
                    everything the Law represents is accomplished.”
                         iv.  then shows Law still relevant to his followers: “Anyone who breaks one
               of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same
               will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
                         v.   person is in the kingdom of heaven, is a Christian, but is considered least
               of all believers because violated the Law and said it was okay to do so
                         vi.  for emphasis: “whoever practices and teaches these commands will be
               called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
                         vii. show you a trap many Christians fall into: Jesus referred to “these
               commands” and people believe he meant the teaching he was giving
               (sermon on the mount); but Jesus clearly refers to “the Law and the
               Prophets,” which can only mean one thing: OT.

               b.   Mt 15:1-6 [read]
                         i.   quotes fifth commandment; then quotes Ex 21:17, not commandment,
               but part of Law
                         ii.  calls these the word of God (v 6) and calls the people hypocrites for
               violating it
                         iii. clearly upheld OT Law

               c.   Mt 19:16-19 [read]
                         i.   refers to “the commandments,” then quotes several of the ten
               commandments and part of Law (“love your neighbor as yourself”)
                         ii.  identifies “love your neighbor as yourself” as a commandment, but is
               not one of the “10"
                         iii. tells the man he should obey them

               d.   Mt 22:34-40 [read]
                         i.   issue: the greatest commandment in the Law
                         ii.  Jesus quotes Deut 6:5 (statement after giving of 10 commandments) and
               Lev 19:18 (one of “various laws”), yet calls these the first and second
               greatest commandments; neither included in the “10"
                         iii. very significant statement: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these
               two commandments.”

               e.   Lk 16:16-17
                         i.   “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time,
               the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is
               forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than
               for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.”
                                   (1)  the time of the Law and Prophets ended with John
                                   (2)  yet Jesus said every detail of the Law continues

               f.   Jesus upheld authority and validity of OT Law

     9.   Jesus’ emphasis was on performance of God’s will, which underlay the Law
               a.   Mt 5:21-48, he contrasts the letter of the law with God’s intent, which is more
          exacting than the Law
               b.   Ex: Mt 19:3-9 [read]
                         i.   God’s intent: two will become one flesh
                         ii.  Pharisees stated Moses commanded a man to give certificate of divorce
                         iii. Jesus replied Moses permitted divorce; didn’t command
                         iv.  Jesus clarifies God’s intent: two become one, not to be separated

     10.  apply this to Sabbath
               a.   Jesus never did or said anything to take away privileges of day of rest
               b.   but he did not perpetuate the legalistic Rabbinic teaching regarding Sabbath
               c.   he never referred to fourth commandment, yet it is one of two longest
          commandments, gives justification/explanation for the commandment

The Jerusalem council (Acts 15)
     1.   original question: whether gentile believers should be circumcised

     2.   after lengthy debate, wrote a letter including the following statement:

          “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond
     the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from
     blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do
     well to avoid these things” (vs 28-29).

               a.   had perfect opportunity to stress importance of Sabbath observance, but did not
               b.   what they did not say is as important as what they did say
               c.   I had someone tell me these 4 items were only a starting point, that gentile
          believers should eventually observe all the Law, including Sabbath observance
               d.   there is nothing, nothing at all, in text to suggest this; not true

Conclusion:
     1.   Based on Jesus’ teaching and letter from elders of Jerusalem church, gentile believers
     (Christians) do not need to observe ceremonial law regarding Sabbath

     2.   but would be wise to adhere to God’s intent behind Sabbath law; no law was arbitrary