Simply Put – "Sabbath"

Host: Barry Cooper (Ligonier Ministries)
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Barry Cooper unpacks the biblical and theological meaning of “Sabbath.” The goal is to clarify the purpose, history, and ongoing relevance of the Sabbath, highlighting its importance for Christians today. Barry explains both the Scriptural roots and the practical significance, addressing common confusions and misunderstandings—especially as they relate to how rest is not just a requirement but a gift.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Meaning and Origin of Sabbath

[00:00 – 01:15]

• Definition: “Our English word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means rest, rest.”
• Creation Pattern: God rested on the seventh day after creation, not because He was tired, but as a model for humanity’s rhythm of work and rest.
  • “God's choosing to rest from work on the seventh day is not because God gets tired. It's meant to demonstrate for us a regular weekly rhythm that we cannot neglect if we're to thrive as human beings.”

2. The Sabbath in the Ten Commandments

[01:16 – 02:20]

• The Sabbath command in Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God…”
• The Sabbath is presented as a divine gift integrated into the fabric of God's law for Israel.

3. The Sabbath Controversy in Jesus’ Day

[02:21 – 03:30]

• Jesus often challenged the Pharisees' interpretation of Sabbath, performing healings on that day.

• Quote: “If Jesus is who he says he is, the incarnate Second Person of the Trinity, then He is the author of the Sabbath Law, which means that he is best placed to explain what it is for and how we're meant to observe it.”
  — Barry Cooper (03:10)

• Jesus declared himself “Lord of the Sabbath” and corrected its misuse.

4. The Sabbath’s Intent: Gift, Not Burden

[03:31 – 05:00]

• Pharisaical traditions turned Sabbath into a legalistic burden with excessive rules.
  • “For example, under Pharisaical law you were forbidden from tying and untying knots, plucking a single head of grain in a grain field, or writing more than one letter of the Alphabet.”
• Jesus recentered the Sabbath as a day meant for human good: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
  — Barry Cooper (03:46) quoting Jesus

5. Sabbath’s Fulfillment in Christ

[05:01 – 06:10]

• The ultimate purpose: to point believers to the deeper rest found in Christ’s finished work.
  • “Specifically, the Sabbath points us to the rest that we enjoy in Christ. In Christ we can rest from our work because he has done all that is necessary for our salvation.”
• Sabbath is now understood as spiritual rest alongside physical rest.

6. Paul’s Guidance to Christians on the Sabbath

[06:11 – 07:00]

• Colossians 2:16-17: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
• Christians should avoid legalism toward Sabbath observance, focusing on the rest Christ brings.
  • “The key thing is that we do regularly rest from our work on the Christian Sabbath, also known as the Lord's Day, and that we do regularly remember and enjoy the ultimate rest that God has given us in Jesus Christ.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's meant to demonstrate for us a regular weekly rhythm that we cannot neglect if we're to thrive as human beings.” (00:48)
• “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (03:46, quoting Jesus)
• “Christ Himself is our Sabbath rest.” (05:40)
• “These (Sabbaths) are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (06:35, quoting Paul in Colossians)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] – Introduction to sleep, rest, and the origin of "Sabbath"
• [01:16] – Sabbath commandment in Exodus
• [02:21] – Jesus’s interactions with the Sabbath and the Pharisees
• [03:31] – Examples of Pharisaical Sabbath laws
• [05:01] – Sabbath as pointing to rest in Christ
• [06:11] – Paul’s teaching in Colossians on Sabbath and Christian liberty

Summary

Barry Cooper demystifies the concept of the Sabbath, explaining its biblical roots in creation and law, its corruption by later traditions, and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The Sabbath is shown as a God-given gift for both physical and spiritual rest, not a legalistic burden. Christians today are called to embrace its true intent—regularly resting from labor and celebrating the ultimate rest found in Jesus—while resisting judgment and legalism over outward observance.