What does it mean that Jesus is our Sabbath rest?

Jesus as our Sabbath rest means we can stop striving to earn God’s favor—our salvation is fully secured through His sacrifice. In Jesus, we find true peace and confidence, resting in His grace rather than in our own efforts.

what does the bible say?

In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we first see Jesus’ relationship to the Sabbath. In Matthew 12:8 Jesus says: “For the Son of Man (Jesus) is lord of the Sabbath,” which reveals His authority as well as His place of deity within the Holy Trinity. In Mark 2:23-27, Jesus’ disciples get hungry and pick grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accuse them of breaking the Sabbath, but Jesus reminds them how King David once received bread for him and his men from the high priests when they were hungry and needy. Jesus then famously tells the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath” (verses 27-28). Hebrews 4 speaks of Jesus as our Sabbath rest. Verses 9-10 state, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Hebrews 4 then ends with words of comfort for those who enter God’s Sabbath rest: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Christ’s finished work allows us to confidently come before God, receiving mercy and grace in our time of need.

from the old testament

Exodus 20:8-11 explains God’s Law concerning the Sabbath. God commanded the Israelites to take the Sabbath as a day of rest. When Jesus came to Earth as a man, He perfectly fulfilled the Law, and in Him, believers find their Sabbath day rest (cf. Hebrews 4).

from the new testament

Jesus declared Himself “lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). He equated Himself with God the Father, becoming God in human form.
When the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of breaking the Sabbath by picking and eating grain, Jesus makes it clear that the Sabbath’s purpose was made for man’s sake, not the other way around (Mark 2:27).
In Hebrews 4, the author develops the concept of Jesus as our Sabbath rest, revealing how a relationship with Christ frees us from the works of the Law and allows us to rest in the work of Christ to forgive sins. Ultimately, those who believe in Jesus will spend eternity in a “Sabbath rest” with Him (Hebrews 4:9).

implications for today

The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is understanding what the Sabbath means. The Hebrew word shabat was the word “rest” in the Old Testament first used in regard to God “resting” from creation on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-3). The Sabbath would later become part of the Law of Moses, referring to the Sabbath day, Saturday, upon which the Jewish people were to do no work (Exodus 20:8-11). Today, many continue to live as if their salvation depends on how many good deeds they perform. Yet Christ is the only one who can provide sufficiently for our sins and offer eternal life. By His grace we receive salvation, through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reveals, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Jesus serves as our Sabbath rest in the sense that He provides freedom from living under the works of the Law. Instead, His sacrifice has paid the price for our salvation. We accept salvation as His free gift, entering into His rest both now as well as in eternity in His presence.

Recap

understand

God instituted the Sabbath in the Mosaic Law.
Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law and became the Sabbath day rest for all believers.
Because Christ is believers’ Sabbath rest, we are no longer under the Law.

reflect

What impact does it have on your faith to know that your salvation is through Christ, not the Law?
How does Jesus provide “rest” for you each day?
How would resting in Jesus as our sabbath change the way you approach work and life in your life?

engage

What religions emphasize a works-based salvation and how do they differ from Christianity?
Why do even some believers fall into the trap of tying salvation to “being good”? How can we guard against that?
In an individualistic, merit-focused culture, what are the best ways to share the message of Christ as our Sabbath rest?