The topic of Sabbath has two extremes within the Christian community – people who do not observe a Sabbath, and people who are stringent about not working on the Sabbath day.

Key points

• Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9 NIV).
• The purpose of the Sabbath is to give us rest, recharge with God and enjoy His presence.
• Listen to the Sabbath Rest series and others on Real Hope | The Podcast.

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The Bible says, ‘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’ (Exodus 20:8–10a NIV).

Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?’ Luke 6:9 (NIV)

God clearly calls us to take a Sabbath day for resting and have it as a day to the Lord. There is tension, however, that sits with the discussion of doing work for the Lord on the Sabbath. For example, often people identify Sunday as their Sabbath, and spend the whole day at church volunteering. This has led to some confusion over whether this is breaking the Sabbath, or whether it is permissible due to being work for the Lord. This question is addressed in Luke 6 where Jesus heals on the Sabbath. The Pharisees felt that this was work and was therefore sinning. Jesus tells them that it is lawful to do good and save lives on the Sabbath. Jesus says, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath is not a requirement, but it is a gift.

God clearly calls us to take a Sabbath day for resting and have it as a day to the Lord.

We need to remember the purpose of the Sabbath, which is to give us rest, recharge with God and enjoy His presence. We can balance this though with pouring out of our cups to encourage someone, disciple someone, or serve someone on our Sabbath, if we feel God calling us to do so. The Sabbath is where we honour Him, remember Him, and allocate our headspace to Him. In all things, seek communion with God, including having rest.

Listen to this episode in the player above.

Sabbath Rest is a six-week series inviting listeners to incorporate this Biblical practice into their everyday life. Subscribe to the YouVersion plan.

Subscribe to listen to this series and others on Real Hope | The Podcast.

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Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro

Episode supplied with thanks to Emma Barron.

Originally published as ‘Rest or Worship?’ in Real Hope, Jan-Feb 2024.