DALE RATZLAFF | Pastor and Founder, Life Assurance Ministries (1936–2024)
A farmer in the med-west had a small apple orchard that his cows occasionally would get into, so he decided to build a strong fence around it to protect his apples. He advertised for a farm hand to put up the fence. One young man who applied for work captured his attention. “I never get tired or hungry,” the young man said. The farmer thought in silence for a moment and then responded, “You never get tired or hungry?” “No”, said the young man, “I never get tired or hungry”. The farmer thought for a moment and said, “All the other helpers I have need to rest from time to time and they take off an hour to eat lunch. So, you never get tired or hungry?” “No, I never get tired or hungry.” “Well”, said the farmer, “You’re hired”. The farmer then showed him how to use the post-hole digger, set the posts and left him to work while he had other things to look after. Several hours had passed, and the farmer decided to go out and check on his new employee. When he arrived at the apple orchard he did not see this young fellow. Then, to his dismay, he spotted him sitting in the shade, leaning on the trunk of an apple tree, eating one of the farmer’s apples. “Hey”, said the farmer, “I thought you told me that never got tired or hungry!” “That’s right,” answered the young man, “I rest before I get tired, and I eat before I get hungry!”
That first seventh-day was characterized by our first parents enjoying the finished work of God. They rested before they got tired, and they ate before they got hungry.
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where we could rest before we get tired and eat before we get hungry! That would be paradise!—In fact, it was! Adam and Eve rested in the finished work of their Creator. They ate freely from the fruit of the garden. They did not do any servile work or leave the garden until after sin interrupted the rest of Eden. That first seventh-day was characterized by our first parents enjoying the finished work of God. They rested before they got tired, and they ate before they got hungry.
Ritual
Fast forward to Sinai. God gave the Israelites the ritual of the Seventh-day Sabbath to remind them from where they had fallen. On the Sabbath the Israelites were commanded to mimic the way Adam and Eve lived on that Seventh-day.
Eden: Adam and Eve did not leave the garden until sin entered.
Sinai: The Israelites were commanded not to go out of their place on the Sabbath.
Eden: Adam and Eve ate freely from the fruit of the garden.
Sinai: The Israelites were commanded to prepare their food on the sixth day so they could eat freely, without any preparation, on the Sabbath.
Eden: Adam and Eve did not labor on that first seventh-day. They rested in the finished work of God.
Sinai: The Israelites were commanded to finish their work on the sixth day so they could rest on the seventh day. However, note the difference here. Adam and Eve rested in God’s finished work. The Israelites rested from their work which was seldom really finished.
The Sabbath of Sinai was a memorial of that first seventh day. However, the rest of the Sinai Sabbath was only a faint reminder of the true rest of Eden’s seventh day when man and God were in perfect fellowship.
The Sabbath of Sinai was also shadow of good things to come. The weekly Sabbath pointed forward to the seven seasonal feasts. These seven yearly feasts pointed them forward to the Sabbatical year, and the Sabbatical year pointed them forward to the coming Jubilee when they would have a whole year when they could eat before they got hungry and rest before they got tired. On that year of Jubilee they were instructed to eat from the overgrowth of their fields, and every man was to return to the land of his birth. It was a whole year that Israel was to mimic the conditions of Eden before the fall. Each Sabbatical event kept hope alive. They pointed forward to the future when the conditions of Eden would be restored.
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus’ first sermon declared that the blessings of the Jubilee had arrived with Him. After reading several Jubilee passages, Jesus made this announcement: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Lk. 4:21.
I believe a careful study of the Sabbath incidents in the Gospels reveals that Jesus treated the Sinai Sabbath laws as ritual laws and not moral laws.
Col. 2:16-17 supports this conclusion for a number of reasons. First, in the Old Testament references which list the terms used in Colossians 2:16, “Sabbath(s)” always refers to the weekly Sabbath.
Second, when these terms are listed they are listed in either ascending or descending order. Thus, in Colossians 2:16 we find “festival (season), new moon (month), sabbath (day).” Since Paul is making use of an established sequence of terms from the Old Testament, one would expect the meaning to be the same.
Third, in the Old Testament references which list the terms found in Colossians 2:16, the yearly sabbaths (Passover, Tabernacles, Day of Atonement, etc.) are never called “sabbaths” but always called “fixed festivals,” “appointed feasts,” “annual feasts,” etc. While some of the yearly “appointed feasts” are elsewhere said to be “a sabbath of rest” (Lev. 23), they are not called by the term “sabbaths,” probably to avoid confusion with the weekly Sabbath. For this reason the term “festival” in Colossians 2:16 must refer to the annual “sabbaths,” leaving the word “Sabbath day” for the weekly Sabbath.
Fourth, in the old covenant listing of the appointed times of the Lord, the seventh-day Sabbath is closely associated with new moons and the other items mentioned in Colossians 2:16 such as “food” and “drink.”
Fifth, to hold that “Sabbath(s)” in Colossians 2:16 must refer to yearly Sabbaths is contrary to the weight of evidence. It is also contrary to the immediate context where Paul is writing about the other sign of the old covenant: circumcision.
Sixth, it makes Paul’s writing redundant. One must interpret “festivals” as the yearly sabbaths, and then turn around and also interpret “Sabbath day” as the yearly sabbaths.
Seventh, it destroys the natural order which is so apparent in the other biblical listings of these terms. It is contrary to the unity of the old covenant, where everything in the old covenant is related to everything else within the old covenant.
We must conclude, then, that the Sabbath mentioned in Colossians 2:16 is indeed the seventh-day Sabbath.
If we accept that the seventh-day Sabbath is intended by Paul in Colossians 2:16, then what is he saying and how does this affect those who continue to observe the seventh-day Sabbath as a necessary Christian duty?
First, Paul’s comments regarding the other convocations of the old covenant, such as new moon celebrations and the annual feasts, also apply to the seventh-day Sabbath. He, like the old covenant writers, considered all these convocations as inseparable. They were all ritual laws pointing forward to Christ. This is especially true since in verse 17 he says that these are a mere shadow and he makes no distinction between the first two terms and the third. The Greek, referring back to the three terms, literally reads, “which things are a shadow”, linking them inseparably together.
Many, if not most, of the Old Covenant laws were designed to point the Israelites forward to the coming Messiah. Now that Christ had come, these laws were of little value. In fact, it was the ritual laws of the old covenant which kept many people from accepting Christ.
Many, if not most, of the Old Covenant laws were designed to point the Israelites forward to the coming Messiah. Now that Christ had come, these laws were of little value. In fact, it was the ritual laws of the old covenant which kept many people from accepting Christ. They were unable to leave the shadow and walk in the Light of reality!
The Jews of Christ’s day were more concerned with ritual than the Reality to which the ritual pointed.
So much for the ritual; now let us consider the reality.
Reality
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Come. The Greek word here has the force of the imperative. Not as a hard command, but a gentle, loving invitation. It is not like an angry person saying, “Come right now or you are going to suffer the consequences,” but like a parent returning from the toy store, “Come and see what I have for you!”
We are not told to go somewhere else. We do not have to go to some holy shrine.
Some years ago we lived in Applegate, California in the foothills above Sacramento. In one of the Catholic churches up the road from where we lived it was said that there appeared on the wall a mysterious image of the Virgin Mary. This was published in the paper, and literally thousands of people drove up to this church to see this wonderful miracle. So many people came that it crated a traffic jam. Carolyn and I decided that we would check it out, so we went too—not to be blessed, but just to see what was going on. What we found was that the light shining through a west window hit a chandelier and the light reflected on the wall. Apparently on a certain day when the sun was at the right angle it caused an image on the wall that someone thought looked like the Virgin Mary. When we were there we saw nothing that remotely looked like it. And every one we spoke with had the same reaction. Many of the Catholics who drove up to this church were disappointed.
When we come to Christ, however, we will not be disappointed. In John 6:37 Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” We do not have to travel to some supposedly holy place, or go on a pilgrimage to some distant land. Jesus invites us to come to Him.
Not only does Jesus invite us to come to Him, but his very invitation gives us the power to come. Repentance is a gift of God. Faith is a gift of God. The ability to respond to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit is a gift of God. Yes, He says, “Come,” and that invitation empowers us to come.
Peter was not able to walk on the water until Jesus said, “Come”. But when Jesus invited Peter to “Come,” Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
Come unto me all. This little three letter word must not be depreciated. Here we find the good news of Christ!
If the full truth were known, there are probably many of our readers who right now feel helpless in their attempts to overcome some kind of habit or abuse. If helpless applies to you, you are included in the class of those whom God justifies.
In Romans 5 Paul lists the characteristics of those whom God justifies. The first is “helpless”. Perhaps some of our readers feel helpless when it comes to overcoming things you know to be wrong. Do you feel helpless when it comes to solving difficult relationships with husband, wife, child, employer, pastor, or church leader? If the full truth were known, there are probably many of our readers who right now feel helpless in their attempts to overcome some kind of habit or abuse. If helpless applies to you, you are included in the class of those whom God justifies.
Romans 5:6 also mentions the “ungodly”. I was teaching Bible at a Seventh-day Adventist boarding high school when the truth of this verse first hit me. It came as a shock to me to realize that the people God justified were ungodly. My spirits began to rise. I now had hope. I could qualify because down deep inside I knew there was something ungodly about me. Yes, even the helpless and ungodly are included in the all of Christ’s invitation to come.
Romas 5:8 lists sinners in the “all” of Christ’s invitation. No wonder that sinners were so attracted to Jesus. In Luke 15:1-3, the Pharisees were grumbling because, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Again, in Luke 19:7, 9, 10, the religious leaders of Christ’s day all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” I praise God that his invitation includes sinners. Yes, I can qualify here, and so can you!
Romans 5:10 expands the outer circle of “all” even beyond the helpless, ungodly and sinners to include even “enemies”. Not former enemies, but “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
One time two brothers went to their Rabbi to settle a longstanding feud. The Rabbi got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other in honor of the Jewish New Year. The first brother turned to the other and said, “I wish you what you wish me.” At that, the second brother threw up his hands and said, “See, Rabbi, he’s starting up again!” It is hard for animosity to die. But even enemies of God can come. That old hymn that we used to sing at evangelistic meetings is good theology: “Just as I am, I come, I come.”
Yes, Scripture is clear that the “All” in Christ’s invitation to come includes even those who are helpless, ungodly sinners who are enemies of God.
Too often religious leaders have drawn a circle that shut out those with undesirable habits and lifestyles. In doing so we have misrepresented the abundant grace of God. Let us never build a fence around that “All”. “Whosoever will, may come”!
Jesus did not say, “Come all you who have perfectly kept the Sabbath.” He did not say, “Come unto me all you who are without sin.” He did not say, “Come unto me all you who have a daily devotional life.” He did not say, “Come unto me all you who have paid your entire tithe.” He did not say, “Come unto me all you who have not eaten any unclean food.” He did not say, “Come unto me those of you who met your baptismal or church growth quota last year.” The invitation of Christ is to “All” the innocent, the guilty, the strong and the weak. “All” includes murders like David. “All” includes adulterers like the woman caught in adultery. “All” includes thieves like the thief on the cross. “All” includes those who are bound by the chains of habit like the Gadarene Demoniac. The “All” includes me, and it includes you. Too often religious leaders have drawn a circle that shut out those with undesirable habits and lifestyles. In doing so we have misrepresented the abundant grace of God. Let us never build a fence around that “All”. “Whosoever will, may come”!
Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy-laden. “All you who are weary” represents all those who are trying to work out their own salvation, and the more serious they are, the more they will toil. Those of us who at one time felt perfection of character was a qualification necessary for last-day Christians to be ready for the coming of Christ know how weary life can be knowing at the end of every day you could have done better.
“Heavy laden” refers to those who have let others load them down with do’s and don’ts to such an extent that they continually carry a heavy burden in seeking to achieve.
Some years ago when our two boys were in grade school, our family went on a number of week-long back-pack trips. One occasion we set out on what was to be a three or four week back pack trip. We tried to hike the 215 miles of the John Muir trail in the high Sierras in California without a food drop. We started at the foot of Mt. Whitney and were going to hike all the way to Yosemite. Carolyn started with between 50-60 lbs. Our husky sixth grade boy, Bruce, had nearly 60 lbs, and our fourth grader, Mike, carried his sleeping bag and the marshmallows! Not long after we started our climb up Mt. Whitney, I ended up taking some of the weight from both Bruce and Carolyn, and I ended up with about 83 lbs. We were all overloaded.
I confess that I was once one who piled on heavy spiritual burdens. I taught that those who would be ready for the second coming of Christ would not eat meat of any kind. I taught that one should never go to any secular sporting event. We did not play chess or cards. We did not go to the theater, play pool or go bowling. We did not go to circuses. We believed that eating between meals was a sin. We did not smoke or drink any alcoholic beverage and thought those who did were outside the realm of salvation.
The message from God’s word to our hearts this morning is that no matter what your burden is or who has given you the burden, all of you can come with it to Christ and leave it there. Come unto Me, Jesus said, and I will give your rest.
Some of us have searched for that rest by keeping a day. And that did provide a type of physical rest. However, reflecting back it was never a true rest for the soul because one never knew of one had kept the Sabbath well enough.
Did you every watch T.V on the Sabbath? How about eating out at a restaurant on the Sabbath? When I was a boy we lived in North Carolina, and my mother cooked on a wood stove. However, she did not cook on the Sabbath. Rather, she would do all her cooking on Friday and then heat things up for Sabbath dinner. For some reason we never felt it important to follow the law that said we should not build a fire on the Sabbath. I remember when frozen peas came out. My mother would cook them on Friday and then re-heat them on Sabbath. We discovered, however, that the work to re-heat them was no more than the work to cook them, and they sure tasted better when she cooked them the first time, so we decided we could cook our frozen peas on the Sabbath which really was a violation of Sabbath law.
Did you ever have discussions about what was correct Sabbath keeping? What about playing baseball? Was that wrong? Yes, perhaps for an adult, but was it wrong for a teenager to play catch on Sabbath? What about a seven year old child? Could a four year old play with a ball on Sabbath? Maybe not a baseball, but what about a tennis ball?
While I have no argument with those who wish to keep the Sabbath, be it Saturday or Sunday, just be careful that you do not let the details of the ritual keep you away from the reality to which the ritual pointed!
While I have no argument with those who wish to keep the Sabbath, be it Saturday or Sunday, just be careful that you do not let the details of the ritual keep you away from the reality to which the ritual pointed!
Jesus said, “I will give you rest. In Greek, the “I” is intensive. I, myself, will give you rest—I and not another. We may search for rest in many places, but his word to us is that Christ and Christ alone can give this rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. “Yoke” is a term the New Testament often uses for the law. Note that this is not the yoke of Moses, but the yoke of Christ. We are to learn from Christ. By taking Christ’s “yoke” we receive his “rest”. Jesus bids us learn from Him.
The phrase, “Learn from Me” in Greek has the force of “learn once for all. We learn once for all time that Christ is not another Moses. We learn once for all time that Christ is not like the scribes and the Pharisees, and legalistic pastors like I used to be, who heartlessly pile on burdens. Learn from me, He says, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
On the backpack trip I mentioned earlier, after caring this amount of weight for a number of days, when the heavy backpacks were taken off, we found ourselves so light that we wanted to walk on our toes. What a joy to be rid of the heavy burden!
Jesus gives us rest (v. 28), and we find rest (v. 29). We are reminded of the parables of Jesus. The rest of God is the treasure hidden in the field, and when the farmer found it, he sold all he had and purchased the field. But God put the treasure there for him to find. Again, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like finding a pearl of great price worth selling all we have to purchase it. Remember, however, that God made the pearl. When Paul met Christ and understood the grandeur of the gospel he reflected back on the losses he experienced in leaving Judaism. There was such a contrast that he could say, “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” Phil. 3:7-10.
God wants us to experience true “rest” of which the Sinai Sabbath was only a shadow.
The writer of Hebrews says, “There remains therefore a Sabbath rest (this could be translated a Sabbath-like rest) for the people of God.” He admonishes us to “be diligent to enter that rest.” He says “we who have believed enter that rest” (Heb. 4:3, 9, 11). This is in the Aorist tense indicating that it was something that took place at a moment in time. And that moment was when we believed. It is instructive to note that when referring to “God’s rest” that the writer of Hebrews instructs us to enter, he always associates it with the rest of Eden’s seventh day when our first parents rested in God’s finished work (God’s rest). Conversely, the writer never links this “rest of God” to the Sinai Sabbath when the Israelites rested from their own incomplete works (Ritual). When we believe in Chris, He bids us to come to Him just as we are—helpless, ungodly sinners who are enemies of God. Yes, whosoever will, may come and the one who comes will not be cast out (Jn. 3:16, Jn. 6:37).
In Eden Adam and Even enjoyed the benefits of God’s finished work of Creation. (Reality)
At Sinai Israel mimicked Eden’s rest by resting from their work. (Ritual)
Today, true believers enjoy the benefits of Christ’s finished work of redemption (Reality). †
—Republished from Proclamation! (printed edition), Vol. 4, Is. 5,6
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