Mark 2:27

Then He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 1^st & 2^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This connection between Sabbath, work and human salvation receives additional explanation in the book of Hebrews. In that New Testament book, the writer argues consistently that the Old Testament rituals find complete fulfillment in Jesus. He says, in effect, come to Jesus for the things you formerly sought in the sacraments of the Torah.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14

 “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 1^st & 2^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.


From Background Notes [BN] for September 1^st & 2^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

 

For the Wisdom writer, it simply wasn't enough to expend energy and mark achievements. He certainly was a busy fellow! Had we asked him, "What have you been up to lately?" he could have easily answered us. But had we asked him, "How do you feel about your accomplishments?" his reply would have been...

 

Isaiah 55:1-3

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 1^st & 2^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

There is excitement in God’s call since “food and drink” were essentials to life, and poor people labored severely to provide enough for their families. It was good news for them!

 

Luke 11:46

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

From Background Notes [BN] for September 1^st & 2^nd  written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Among the 613 commandments were instructions for keeping Sabbath, dissected down to the distance one could walk from their homes on the Sabbath, or when clothing one wore became a burden they carried. Such rules had to do with work: when an action was work and when it was not so that Sabbath might not be broken. Jesus saw the irony in such regulations: rules about Sabbath-keeping become burdens for Sabbath-keepers on the Sabbath Day! Here’s a contemporary example:

2 Chronicles 2:5-6

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?

2 Chronicles 1:7-10

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”