Matthew 12:1 - Scofield Reference Notes

Bible Comments

sabbath

(1) The sabbath ("cessation") appears in Scripture as the day of God's rest in the finished work of creation. (Genesis 2:2-3). For 2500 years of human life absolutely no mention is made of it. Then the sabbath was revealed; (Exodus 16:23); (Nehemiah 9:13-14); made a part of the law (Exodus 20:8-11) and invested with the character of a "sign" between Jehovah and Israel, and a perpetual reminder to Israel of their separation to God (Exodus 31:13-17). It was observed by complete rest (Exodus 35:2-3) and by Jehovah's express order a man was put to death for gathering sticks on the sabbath day. (Numbers 15:32-36). Apart from maintaining the continued burnt-offering (Numbers 28:9); and its connection with the annual feasts; (Exodus 12:16); (Leviticus 23:3); (Leviticus 23:8); (Numbers 28:25) the seventh day sabbath was never made a day of sacrifice, worship, or any manner of religious service. It was simply and only a day of complete rest for man and beast, a humane provision for man's needs. In Christ's words, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath." (Mark 2:27).

(2) Our Lord found the observance of the day encrusted with rabbinical evasions (Matthew 12:2) and restrictions, wholly unknown to the law, so that He was Himself held to be a sabbath breaker by the religious authorities of the time. The sabbath will be again observed during the kingdom age (Isaiah 66:23).

(3) The Christian first day perpetuates in the dispensation of grace the principle that one-seventh of the time is especially sacred, but in all other respects is in contrast with the sabbath. One is the seventh day, the other the first. The sabbath commemorates God's creation rest, the first day Christ's resurrection. On the seventh day God rested, on the first day Christ was ceaselessly active. The sabbath commemorates a finished creation, the first day a finished redemption. The sabbath was a day of legal obligation, the first day one of voluntary worship and service. The sabbath is mentioned in the Acts only in connection with the Jews, and in the rest of the New Testament but twice. (Colossians 2:16); (Hebrews 4:4). In these passages the seventh day sabbath is explained to be to the Christian not a day to be observed, but a type of the present rest into which he enters when "he also ceases from his own works" and trusts Christ.

Matthew 12:1

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.