What is the Sabbath?

Sabbath, or Shabbat, is an ancient tradition of resting on the last day of the week. It honors what God did in the beginning, as recorded in Genesis—God worked for six days, then rested. To this day, Jewish communities around the world celebrate Shabbat with joy and intention, greeting one another with "Good Shabbos."

Let’s look at how Jesus interacted with the Sabbath in Luke 6:1–12.

Jesus Redefines the Sabbath

On one Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples walked through grainfields. The disciples picked heads of grain to eat, and the Pharisees accused them of breaking the law. Jesus responded by referencing David, who ate sacred bread when he was hungry. Then He declared something radical:

"The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." — Luke 6:5 (NIV)

On another Sabbath, Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand in the synagogue. Again, the religious leaders were furious. They were so tied to rules that they missed the heart of God.

In the very next verse, we see that Jesus went up on a mountainside to pray. While His critics lived in a constant state of spiritual striving, Jesus lived in spiritual rest—connected to the Father.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath—the gate into true rest.

A Spiritual Sabbath

The religious leaders were waiting for a flesh-and-blood messiah and a political kingdom. But Jesus came to inaugurate a spiritual kingdom and invite people into a spiritual Sabbath rest—a deeper rest from striving and self-effort.

Hebrews 3 and 4 explain that God called His people out of slavery in Egypt and into rest in the Promised Land. But they refused to trust Him. They hardened their hearts and turned away, and as a result:

"They shall never enter my rest." — Hebrews 3:11 (NIV)

The warning is for us, too. We must trust in Christ to enter spiritual rest. Without faith, we won’t inherit that promise.

"Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it." — Hebrews 4:1 (NIV)

"Now we who have believed enter that rest..." — Hebrews 4:3a (NIV)

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He is the gateway to rest.

The early church struggled with religious people pressuring them to return to rule-keeping. Hebrews tells them—and us—not to fall back into works-based religion. Don’t let rules and expectations steal your peace.

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his." — Hebrews 4:9–10 (NIV)

God rested from His work and declared it good.

Jesus has finished a work for you.

Through the cross, He defeated sin and declared you are good. There is a Sabbath-rest waiting for you when you believe that God’s work for you is complete and good.

So, what does it look like to live in this rest?

Jesus said it like this:

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." — John 15:7–9 (NIV)

To live in rest is to abide—to stay connected to Him like a branch to a vine. When we abide, we bear fruit. When we rest in Him, He works through us.

Say it out loud;

"If I abide, I will bear fruit."

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." — Romans 8:5 (NIV)

That’s the life of rest Jesus invites us into.

Let’s choose rest over striving. Let’s follow Jesus into the spiritual Sabbath He offers. Let’s abide—and watch the fruit grow.