Jesus Is Our Sabbath Rest

Jesus is our Sabbath rest, which means Christians no longer look to one day, one land, or one law for the rest God provides. The Sabbath was good, but it pointed beyond itself to something greater. Under the New Covenant, believers find true rest in Christ—rest from striving to earn salvation, rest from the crushing burden of law-keeping, and rest in the finished work of our Savior. That does not mean Christians become lazy, careless, or indifferent to worship. Far from it. The grace of God trains us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” and to live “self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11–12). The rest Christ gives is not a license to sin; it is grace that frees us from the burden of trying to be saved by our works so that we can joyfully labor for Him. Table of contentsThe Sabbath Was the Seventh DayThe Old Covenant and the New Covenant Are DistinctJesus Raised the StandardA Change in Priesthood Means a Change in LawMelchizedek Points to a Better PriesthoodThe Sabbath Was a Shadow Fulfilled in ChristHebrews 4 Teaches the True Sabbath RestWe Enter Rest Under Joshua, Not MosesJesus Gives Better Rest Than the Old Covenant SabbathResting in Christ Does Not Mean We Stop WorkingChristians Worship on the Lord’s DayMen Should Lead Their Homes to Prioritize WorshipConclusion The Sabbath Was the Seventh Day When we think about the Sabbath, we should first associate it with the seventh day. The Sabbath has never been the first day of the week. This distinction matters because Christians sometimes speak as though Sunday became the Sabbath. But biblically, the Sabbath was the seventh day. The Sabbath was also connected to the Mosaic Covenant. It belonged to the Old Covenant given to Israel through Moses. That covenant had its own mediator, its own priesthood, and its own law. Moses was the mediator of the Mosaic Covenant. The law associated with that covenant is often called the Mosaic Law. Jesus, however, is the mediator of the New Covenant, and the law associated with Him is the Law of Christ. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant Are Distinct The Old Covenant was instituted through blood sacrifices. Those sacrifices pointed forward to the blood of Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood, showing Himself to be the true and greater Passover Lamb. This means we should not treat the New Covenant as merely the Old Covenant slightly improved. The New Covenant is not the Old Covenant maturing into something better. It is a new covenant, instituted by a better Mediator, founded on better promises, and connected to a better priesthood. Jesus Himself showed the distinction when He spoke of new wine and old wineskins. The point is not that the old and the new should be mixed, but that they do not belong together. Law and grace cannot be blended as though sinners are justified partly by Moses and partly by Christ. Jesus Raised the Standard Some people wrongly think grace lowers the standard. But Jesus did not lower the standard. He raised it. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly said, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you.” He contrasted the external requirements of the Mosaic Law with the deeper heart righteousness demanded by His kingdom. The Mosaic Law said, “You shall not murder.” Jesus said that sinful anger in the heart is also serious before God. The Mosaic Law said, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus said lust in the heart is adultery already. This shows us that the New Covenant is not a license to sin. Grace is not permission to live carelessly. Grace trains us not to sin. The Law of Christ reaches the heart, not merely the hands. A Change in Priesthood Means a Change in Law Hebrews 7:12 says, “For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.” That verse is crucial. If the priesthood changes, the law changes too. Under the Old Covenant, the priesthood was Levitical or Aaronic. It came through the tribe of Levi, and more specifically through Aaron and his descendants. But Jesus did not come from Levi. He came from the tribe of Judah. That creates a problem if we expect Him to be a priest under the Levitical system. But Jesus is not a priest according to Aaron. He is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This is why Hebrews spends so much time showing that the priesthood of Melchizedek is legitimate and superior. Melchizedek Points to a Better Priesthood In Genesis 14, Abraham met Melchizedek after rescuing Lot. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe, and Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Both details are important. First, Abraham’s tithe recognized Melchizedek’s priesthood. Abraham was not an insignificant man. He was the father of the Jewish nation. If Abraham honored Melchizedek in this way, then the Melchizedekian priesthood could not be dismissed. Second, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Hebrews explains that the lesser is blessed by the greater. This means Melchizedek is presented as superior to Abraham. And because Levi descended from Abraham, Hebrews makes the point that, in a sense, the Levitical priesthood paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham. This establishes not only that Melchizedek’s priesthood is legitimate, but that it is superior. Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He was also king of Salem, which means peace. So Melchizedek is associated with righteousness and peace. How fitting that Jesus, our great High Priest, comes according to this order. The Sabbath Was a Shadow Fulfilled in Christ Colossians 2:16–17 says not to let anyone pass judgment regarding food, drink, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths, because “these are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” That does not mean the Sabbath was bad. It means the Sabbath was a shadow. Shadows are not meaningless. They point to something real. But once the substance arrives, we do not cling to the shadow as though it were the fulfillment. The Sabbath pointed forward to Christ. It pictured rest, but it could not provide the final and fullest rest sinners need. Only Jesus can do that. This is why Romans 14 also matters. Paul says one person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each should be fully convinced in his own mind. That kind of language shows that day observance is not treated like a moral command in the New Covenant. Paul would never say, “Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind about adultery, murder, or lying.” Those are moral issues. But with ceremonial days, there is liberty. Hebrews 4 Teaches the True Sabbath Rest Hebrews 4 is one of the most important passages for understanding Sabbath rest. The author argues that Joshua did not give Israel the ultimate rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later through David about another day. The promised land did provide physical rest. God brought Israel into the land He promised them. But that land was never the final fulfillment. It pointed beyond itself to a greater rest. David wrote about another rest centuries after Israel had already entered the promised land. That means the ultimate rest was not merely geographic. It was not simply about living within the borders of Canaan. It was spiritual rest found in Christ. Hebrews 4:9 says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” That rest is not one day per week. It is not limited to one location on Earth. It is the rest believers have in Christ. We Enter Rest Under Joshua, Not Moses There is a beautiful picture in the Old Testament. Moses did not bring Israel into the promised land. Joshua did. That matters because Moses is associated with the Law. Joshua’s name is the Hebrew form of Jesus’ name. In that sense, the picture is powerful: we do not enter rest under Moses. We enter rest under Joshua. The Law can expose sin. The Law can teach. The Law can act as a tutor or schoolmaster, bringing us to Christ. But the Law cannot give the rest that Christ gives. Under Moses, there is a burden. Under Joshua, there is an entrance into rest. Under the Law, sinners strive and fail. Under Christ, sinners believe and rest. Jesus Gives Better Rest Than the Old Covenant Sabbath The rest Jesus gives is better than the Old Covenant Sabbath rest in several ways. First, it is not limited to one day. The Old Covenant Sabbath was observed one day per week. But the believer’s rest in Christ is every day. Christians do not rest in Christ only on Saturday or Sunday. We rest in Him continually. Second, it is not limited to one place. The promised land gave Israel physical rest within particular borders. But the rest Christ gives can be experienced anywhere. A believer can rest in Christ in a church sanctuary, a hospital room, a prison cell, or a difficult home. Third, it is not merely physical. Physical rest is a gift, but spiritual rest is greater. Jesus gives rest for the soul. Fourth, it is not based on our works. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This is the rest of salvation. We stop trying to earn righteousness and receive the righteousness of Christ by faith. Resting in Christ Does Not Mean We Stop Working Hebrews says the one who enters God’s rest “has also rested from his works as God did from his.” But this does not mean Christians become inactive. God rested from His work of creation, but Jesus also said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17). There is no contradiction. God rested from creating, but He did not stop ruling, sustaining, and providentially working in the world. Similarly, Christians rest from working for salvation, but we do not stop working for the Lord. Ephesians 2:8–9 teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works. But Ephesians 2:10 immediately says we are created in Ch