A NUGGET OF TRUTH.
KEEPING THE SABBATH IT’S NOT LEGALISM.

Sabbath-keepers are often branded as legalists. But Jesus kept the Sabbath, and He was no legalist (Luke 4:16; Mark 1:21). He ignored the Pharisees’ traditions that made the Sabbath a burden, and He honored it according to the commandment (Matthew 12:1–8; John 5:11, 16, 17).

There is not a single Bible text that even hints at the abolition of the Sabbath. To say the Sabbath is no longer binding is to imply that God made a mistake when He instituted it at creation and then later enshrined it in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11). God does not make mistakes.

Speaking of the commandments, Jesus said, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19). To be “called least in the kingdom of heaven” is to be excluded. Christians telling others to disregard the Sabbath should carefully consider Jesus’ words.

However, Jesus followed that statement with this one: “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees were legalists, rendering only outward compliance to God’s law and their additional traditions, thinking this secured their place in the kingdom.

Jesus said this wouldn’t do and called for righteousness by faith, which changes the believer from the inside out.