Chapter Eight: Jesus, The New Covenant

Jesus’ Authority Over the Sabbath

Jesus’ actions regarding the Sabbath seem to all be pointed toward making the transition from the Old to the New Covenant.  He went out of His way to heal on Sabbath, to “thresh” grain on the Sabbath and to call attention to those acts.  Let’s take a look at some of those Sabbath encounters and see what we can learn from them.

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’  But He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?  Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?   But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.  But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not a sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’" Matt 12:1-8 (NASB)

Jesus was equating shewbread with the Sabbath, the priesthood, and circumcision all of which were at the same level, if they understood, because they were all temporary and shadows of what was to come. The Pharisees rightly accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking (the Greek word luo is also translated: Destroy, Destroyer, Destruction, Destructive, Dissolve, Loose, Unloose—Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary) the Sabbath. They were outraged because His actions were destroying the authority of the Sabbath of the Law and replacing it with the Sabbath Himself. The disciples were threshing, they weren’t resting and they hadn’t prepared their food on Friday. Jesus’ arguments did not institute Sabbath reform.10 He took authority over the Sabbath by saying that He was Lord of, He was the Sabbath and He defined what Sabbath meant. He was loosing the people from the shadow so they could come to the substance. The shadow has to give way to the reality. Remember that the Pharisees were applying the very laws that God had given them regarding the Sabbath. They were not making up added burdens that they annexed onto God’s instructions.

Christ’s arguments in response were that:

1) David had not been condemned a number of times for breaking ritual law (which includes the Sabbath and all other portions of the law that were shadows of the reality, Jesus) but had been condemned for breaking moral law,

2) David was exempt from the rituals because he was the King and his men were exempt because they were associated with Him – a foreshadowing of the New Covenant. If the Sabbath were a moral law Jesus would not have broken it.

3) His statement that the “Son of Man” (Jesus incarnate, the redeemer, Emanuel) is Lord of the Sabbath can be equated with Heb. 10:1 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves.”Heb 10:1 (NIV) Just as His statement that something greater than the temple was there was not a reformation of the rituals surrounding the temple but a replacement of those shadows with the reality, so the statement that the Lord of the Sabbath had come replaced the shadow with the substance.

If the Sabbath were a moral obligation or immutable moral law then if Jesus had broken it He would have sinned and could not be our savior.

 “Then He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’" Mark 2:27-28 (NIV) He is Lord of the Sabbath because He made the Sabbath for Israel.  In saying that He made it He was showing that it had to be “made”. An immutable, everlasting principle of God’s character does not have to be made, it “is”. This was obvious, because it could be set aside without consequences or sin by David and by Jesus. A moral obligation could not.10

Does the New Covenant Have Commandments?

The primary fear and objection raised when it is stated that the Ten Commandments are no longer binding on Christians is that it will result in lawlessness. The arguments are usually these: 1) Then does that mean that we can go out and steal and kill with impunity?  2) We do not keep the Ten Commandments in order to be saved, we keep them because we love the Lord and want to please Him. 3) If the Sabbath commandment is null and void, so are all the others.  But listen to the New Covenant:

"The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant…This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.  For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Heb 8:8-12 (NIV)

What laws are being referred to here?

 “Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?  For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.  So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead…we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Romans 7:1-6 (NIV)

So, it can’t be the Ten Commandments, which are the words of the Old Covenant Law, because Paul says that to continue to hold onto the Old Covenant while moving into the New Covenant is equivalent to committing adultery.  That’s a serious charge and suggests that it does matter to God whether or not we cast off the old in order to belong to another. It is unfaithfulness.5

Adventism has continued to hold onto the Sabbath in spite of protestations that the New Covenant is understood and practiced.  The statements in defense of the Sabbath are:

1)      Why not keep the Sabbath?  It isn’t sin. We can keep Monday or Tuesday or Friday.

2)      We know that our salvation isn’t linked to Sabbath-keeping. 

3)      We do it as a response of love.

4)      Because we are saved

5)      I love the Sabbath. I feel close to God when I keep the Sabbath.  I’ve done it all my life.

1)      We don’t need to unnecessarily offend other Adventists.  If we don’t keep the Sabbath we can’t have any influence with them.

But what is not acknowledged in such arguments is that Sabbath-keeping is strange fire before the Lord.  When Cain brought fruit to the altar, the Lord was displeased enough to send him away. There is nothing wrong with fruit. Cain figured that if he loved and valued fruit and brought it as his offering then God would welcome it as a love offering.

 “But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” Gen 4:4-5 (NIV) Why?  Because the Lamb gave the clearest picture of the coming Savior. It was what God had ordained.  Abel brought the Lamb and God accepted his sacrifice of praise. But Cain didn’t see anything wrong with his offering and brought it anyway. It was not a true representation of the gospel to come. Continuing to honor the Old Covenant denies the completed work of Jesus on the cross. It is the shadow; the new covenant is the substance. It is the slave woman; the New Covenant is the free woman.

Jesus told the Pharisees that they were spurning God’s heart by continuing to observe the traditions of man.  When we hold onto the practices of the Old Covenant because of our tradition and the tradition of our parents we are in opposition to the move of God into the New Covenant. Paul calls the Ten Commandments a ministry of death and slavery and the writer of Hebrews clearly calls it obsolete. Jesus says if you love me keep MY commands.

In keeping the Sabbath we are presenting an offering to God that He has not asked for and does not want.  We are putting strange fire on the altar. “Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.“ Lev 10:1-2 (NIV). In the name of God we are offering the traditions of our parents and our church instead of what He has desired.

A new order began with the announcement of Jesus’ ministry. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John..” Matt 11:12-14 (NIV). All of the Old Testament foreshadows the Messiah. The prophecies iterated in the Law and the Prophets all stopped when John came onto the scene.  They were no longer adequate to portray the Lord. When Jesus became incarnate the previous writings became pale next to the living reality of  “God with us”. Paul put it this way. “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4 (NIV)

So what laws are referred to in the New Covenant?  Jesus introduced a new order by becoming the New Covenant, and endowed the New Covenant with His commandments, “the law of Christ”. They are better and more inclusive laws accomplished by faith thru the Holy Spirit and still based on the immutable law of love for God and humanity.

Isaiah foresaw this day in the book of the prophets. "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV) Jesus Himself is the New Covenant.

On the Mount of transfiguration Moses, standing for the law, and Elijah, representing the prophets (the entire Bible at that point in time) appeared. Peter offered to build three tents to enshrine Jesus, Moses and Elijah. In his mind Moses and Elijah probably took precedence over Jesus. But God wanted to change that. While he was still speaking, God overshadowed them with a bright cloud so that the disciples fell face down. From that cloud God spoke the essence of the new covenant: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Matt 17:5 (NASB) And when they looked again Moses and Elijah were gone and “they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.”

Throughout the New Testament Jesus and His followers call on their hearers to establish the Law of Christ in contrast to the Old Law.

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Gal 6:2 (NIV)

While here, Jesus began delivering the new laws of the New Covenant. God the Father had said, “This is my son, listen to him.” And as we listen to and obey the laws written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant God says of us “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” Rev 14:12 (NRSV)

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:10-12 (NIV)

 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)

Jesus quotes six of the Ten Commandments and other commandments from the book of the law in a pattern that shows that He is introducing a new order of things. In each He says “You have heard it said…” and then says, “But I tell you…”

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”

Matt 5:21-22 (NIV)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'  

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt 5:27-28 (NIV)

"Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ' You shall not make false vows but shall fulfill your vows to the lord.'  

"But I say to you, make no oath at all…”Matt 5:33-35 (NASB)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'  

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt 5:38-42 (NIV)

"If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15 (NIV)

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14:21 (NIV)

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:14 (NIV)

“This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:17 (NIV)

“And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” 1 John 4:21 (NASB)

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.  And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” 1 John 3:21-23 (NIV)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Matt 28:19-20 (NASB)

The nine moral commands that existed before the Old Covenant and still exist since its demise are reiterated multiple times in the New Testament, but never is the Sabbath presented as a duty or obligation or expectation by Jesus or by the apostles or in any other New Testament text. 

Not Slaves or Servants but Heirs and Friends:

As slaves we owe a tax: One dollar out of ten, One day out of seven, the keeping of laws that have specified borders.  As sons and daughters, as heirs, we do not owe a tax.  We are heirs and the kingdom is ours and we completely belong to the kingdom.  When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to be saved Jesus rattled off several of the Ten Commandments (conspicuously absent is the Sabbath commandment) the dues of a slave.  The young man had always done those things but knew that they had not brought him salvation. Jesus then made the contrast between the two covenants by saying, in essence, “the law says… but I tell you go sell everything, because all you have and all you are belong to the kingdom in which you are an heir. By giving it up you inherit all things.” One tenth is no longer enough. It’s all His.

The Old Covenant sets out multiple and specific rules about sexual conduct but Jesus’ commandments say that to even look and wish does not fit with being an heir to the kingdom. “The law says… but I tell you.”  This is the kingdom mentality and it can only be achieved by becoming a new creation. This is the New Covenant. These are the commands that Jesus writes on our hearts.  The old is just enough to get by.  One dollar out of ten, one day out of seven. The new is all that we are and all that we have.  It is more, not less.  The new is freedom the old is slavery. 

“After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, ‘Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax ?’ ‘Yes, he does,’ he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. ‘What do you think, Simon?’ he asked. ‘From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?’  ‘From others,’ Peter answered.” Matt 17:24-26 (NIV) Jesus was revealing to Peter that He did not owe the temple tax because He was greater than the temple, He IS the temple, He is the King of kings and Peter is heir to the kingdom.  They were both sons of God.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ...” Romans 8:14-17 (NASB) Jesus is our brother.

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:13-15 (NIV)

We are seated with Christ in heavenly places and only from that place can we take the authority that He intends for His brothers and sisters to use to crush the head of the enemy under our feet. Does it matter? Yes, it is everything. Because those who remain under the old covenant “will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." Gal 4:30 (NIV)

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.  So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son; God has made you also an heir.” Gal 4:1-7 (NIV)

Chapter 8 Summary

1)      Jesus went out of His way to demonstrate that He had taken authority or precedence over the Sabbath by breaking or destroying the Sabbath.  The religious leaders understood this to the point that they set about to kill Him.

2)      The Sabbath was “made” so it couldn’t be an eternal, moral law.

3)      The New Covenant speaks of laws written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

4)      The New Covenant law is the “law of Christ” which He established during His life on Earth. He replaces the old with the new. “Christ is the end of the law.”

5)      Jesus Himself is the New Covenant

6)      The Old Covenant is the covenant of slavery.  Slaves owe a tax.

7)      The New Covenant makes us sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Christ of the kingdom seated with Christ in Heavenly places.

8)      Sons and daughters do not owe a tax.  For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

In Chapter Nine we will contrast the Old with the New Covenant.