James Nisbet Commentary - Luke 23:56 - 23:56

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James Nisbet Commentary - Luke 23:56 - 23:56


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

SABBATH REST

‘And rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.’

Luk_23:56

In such simple and beautiful words does the evangelist record the action of the devout woman. He tells you how these faithful followers of Christ had come—after that awful Friday evening when His body was taken from the Cross of Shame—to perform their last tribute, as they thought, to His sacred memory. And even in this loving act of anointing His sacred body with precious spices, they were heedful to keep holy the Sabbath day, and were careful to get this, their work of devotion, done so that they might spend the day in rest and devotion.

We all know that man’s nature is threefold—body, mind, and spirit. When God gave us the Sabbath, he gave it to be a rest for each part of our nature.

I. Rest for the body.—There is a cessation of all toil and labour. Thank God for that! How beautiful it is to go into the country on a summer evening where, on all hands, you see the evidence of blessed, peaceful rest!

II. Rest for the mind.—Some people will say, ‘When I have been busy all the week, I like to go out on Sunday and play cricket or golf. It does me so much more good than going to church.’ I quite agree that there is more physical exercise, and bodily exercise certainly profiteth for a little time, but ‘Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.’

III. Rest for the soul.—How many aching voids there are in the lives of all of us! That is why Jesus said so Divinely, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ And He says, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in their midst.’ Do you go to God’s house to seek rest? ‘Seek and ye shall find.’

Rev. Canon M’Cormick.

Illustrations

(1) ‘A gentleman was inspecting a house in Newcastle with a view to occupying it as a residence. The landlord took him to the principal window and expatiated on the beautiful prospect. “You can see Durham Cathedral from this window on Sunday,” he said. “Why on Sunday above any other day?” The reply was conclusive: “Because on that day there is no smoke from those tall chimneys.” Blessed is the Sabbath to us, when the earth’s smoke of care and turmoil no longer beclouds our view.’

(2) ‘Lord Macaulay says, “We are not poorer but richer because, through many ages we have rested one day in seven. That day is not lost while industry is suspended, while the plough lies idle in the furrow. A process is going on quite as important as is performed on more busy days.’

(3) ‘The great William Wilberforce once said, “Oh, what a blessing is Sunday, interposed between the world of business! There is nothing about which I can advise you to be more strictly conscientious than keeping the Sabbath day holy. I can truly declare that to me the Sabbath has been invaluable.” There were few men who had to pass through more stress and worry than William Wilberforce. When he set himself the task of freeing the slaves he had all the world against him.’