Connect Matthew 12:5 with Colossians 2:16-17 on the Sabbath's fulfillment in Christ. Setting the Scene • Jesus’ disciples were plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–2). • The Pharisees accused them of breaking the Law. • Jesus cites Scripture to show He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Matthew 12:5—Priests “Break” Yet Are Innocent “Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?” • The priests “work” by offering sacrifices every Sabbath (Numbers 28:9-10). • Their service in God’s presence overrides ordinary Sabbath restrictions. • Jesus implies a greater Priesthood and Temple is present in Himself (Matthew 12:6). Colossians 2:16-17—Shadow and Substance “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.” • Food laws, festivals, and Sabbaths were God-given shadows. • Christ is the “body”—the reality those shadows anticipated. • Believers are not to be condemned over ceremonial observances now fulfilled in Him. Linking the Two Passages • Both texts appeal to the Law to show its true intent. • In Matthew 12, the priests foreshadow Messiah’s greater priestly work. • In Colossians 2, Paul declares that all Sabbath regulations point to Christ’s finished work. • Together they teach that being “in Christ” places the believer where the priests once stood—serving God in continual acceptance. How Christ Fulfills the Sabbath 1. Perfect Priest ‑ Hebrews 7:23-27—He offered one sacrifice for sins forever. 2. Perfect Temple ‑ John 2:19-21—His body is the dwelling of God. 3. Perfect Rest ‑ Hebrews 4:9-10—We cease from our works by trusting His. ‑ Matthew 11:28—He gives rest to the weary. 4. Ongoing Celebration ‑ Every day is lived in His completed redemption (Galatians 2:20). Living Out Sabbath Rest Today • Trust the finished work of Christ rather than personal effort for righteousness. • Gather with God’s people to celebrate resurrection-rest each Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7). • Schedule rhythms of physical rest, using the time to delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). • Extend grace: avoid judging fellow believers over Sabbath details (Romans 14:5-6). • Serve others freely, just as temple priests served—now as a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Key Takeaway The Sabbath commanded in the Law was a divinely designed shadow. In Jesus—the greater Priest, the true Temple, and the giver of ultimate rest—the shadow finds its substance. Resting in Him, we live every day in the freedom and peace the Sabbath always promised. |
    |