What the Bible says about Sabbath Work
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Leviticus 23:3 These scriptures give a few examples of things God prohibits on His Sabbath: working, cooking, carrying burdens. God does not make a comprehensive list of "dos and don'ts" for us to follow. Instead, He gives us principles of what is proper and improper Sabbath behavior, and we then must use God's Spirit to decide our actions. Richard T. Ritenbaugh God's Sabbath Related Topics: Sabbath | Sabbath as Entering God's Rest | Sabbath as Holy Time | Sabbath Keeping | Sabbath Rest | Sabbath Work | Sabbath, Keeping Holy | Sabbath, Keeping Properly

John 5:17 What work is the Father doing? He is "working salvation in the midst of the earth" (Psalm 74:12). God is always working toward the completion of His purpose - the salvation of mankind. Jesus works within the same process and pointedly makes an issue of this on the Sabbath days. God's work is creating sons in His image. Thus, healing, forgiving sin, and doing good are part of Christ's work as Savior and High Priest that He might be "firstborn among many brethren." John W. Ritenbaugh The Fourth Commandment (Part Two): Christ's Attitude Toward the Sabbath Related Topics: Doing Good | First of the Firstfruits | Firstborn of Many Brethren | Firstfruits | God's Work | Healing | Jesus Christ as High Priest | Sabbath | Sabbath as Spiritual Creation | Sabbath as Work of Salvation | Sabbath Work | Salvation | Salvation Process | Work | Work Of God | Workmanship, God's

John 5:17 We do not use "hitherto" much anymore. It means that the Father began working at some unexpressed time in the past, and He is working still. He began working and has never stopped. His audience understood this because they say that God was working on the Sabbath. If God has never stopped working, He works seven days a week, 365 day a year, decade after decade, century after century. He is working and has never stopped for the Sabbath. Then Jesus adds, ". . . and I work." The Jews did not like this at all because Jesus associated Himself with God, and He was declaring, "I work on the Sabbath too," basically throwing their accusation right back at them. But the very fact He said it incensed them because they knew immediately that, in order for this to be true, He had to be equated with God. The Father and the Son began working on a project in the indefinite past. Once that project began, They worked without stopping - "hitherto" - even now. Remember, God is our model, and He works on the Sabbath. But the key is the type of work that He and His Son do. John W. Ritenbaugh Sabbathkeeping (Part 1) Related Topics: God's Work | God's Workmanship | Sabbath | Sabbath as Spiritual Creation | Sabbath as Work of Salvation | Sabbath Keeping | Sabbath Work | Work | Work Of God | Workmanship, God's

 

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