Sabbath, in NT

The NT develops the OT teaching on the Sabbath in three important directions. It declares that the Sabbath should not be observed in a legalistic manner; the Sabbath-rest is treated as an important symbol of the Christian doctrine of salvation; and finally, the NT itself indicates how Sunday, rather than Saturday, came to be seen as the Christian Sabbath.

Gospel incidents connected with the Sabbath

Exorcism

Mark 1:21–25 parallel Luke 4:31–35

Healing

Matthew 12:9–14 parallels Mark 3:1–6, Luke 6:6–11; Mark 1:30–31 parallel Luke 4:38–40; Luke 13:10–17, Luke 14:1–6; John 5:5–18, John 9:1–16

Teaching

Mark 6:2 parallel Matthew 13:54; Luke 4:16

Other references

Matthew 28:1 parallel Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55–56; John 12:2

Jesus Christ's teaching regarding the Sabbath

Jesus Christ observes the Sabbath regulation

Luke 4:16 See also Matthew 24:20; Acts 1:12

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

Human well-being is more important than rigid observance of the Law

Mark 2:27–28 See also Matthew 12:3

Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Ceremonial observance must give way before any higher, or more spiritual, motive

Matthew 12:5–6 See also Luke 6:5

Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here.

Sabbath reading of Scripture provided an opportunity for reaching the Jews

Acts 17:2 See also Acts 13:14, Acts 13:27, Acts 13:42, Acts 13:44, Acts 15:21, Acts 16:13, Acts 18:4

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Sabbath observance was optional for Gentile Christians

Colossians 2:16

Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

The Lord's Day

Revelation 1:10 At an early stage the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday (the first day of the week) as the day for rest and worship. See also John 20:19, John 20:26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2

On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

The Sabbath-rest is seen as a symbol of the salvation of the people of God

Hebrews 4:1 The OT promise of rest was unfulfilled, on account of Israel's disobedience; Hebrews 3:18–19, Hebrews 4:9 The OT promise of rest remains open.

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.