"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," Jesus said. The institutions that God has established are for the benefit of mankind. "All things are for your sakes." "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." 2 Cor. 4:15; 1 Cor. 3:22, 23. The law of Ten Commandments, of which the Sabbath forms a part, God gave to His people as a blessing. "The Lord commanded us," said Moses, "to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive." Deut. 6:24. And through the psalmist the message was given to Israel, "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." Ps. 100:2-4. And of all who keep "the Sabbath from polluting it," the Lord declares, "Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer." Isa. 56:6, 7.

Sabbaten er blevet til for menneskets skyld, og ikke mennesket for sabbattens skyld, sagde Jesus. Det, som Gud har indstiftet, tjener til gavn for menneskeslægten. Det sker nemlig alt sammen for jeres skyld. Hvad enten det er Paulus eller Apollos eller Kefas eller verden eller liv eller død eller det, der er nu, eller det, der skal komme : alt hører jer til; men I hører Kristus til, og Kristus hører Gud til. 2Kor. 4,15; 1Kor. 3,22-23. De ti buds lov, hvoraf sabbatten udgør en del, gav Gud sit folk som en velsignelse. Moses sagde: Dengang pålagde Herren os at handle efter alle disse anordninger, idet vi frygter Herren vor Gud, for at det altid må gå os vel, for at han kan lade os blive i live. 5Mos. 6,24. Og gennem salmisten kom dette budskab til Israel: Tjen Herren med glæde, kom for hans åsyn med jubel! Kend, at Herren er Gud! Han skabte os, vi er hans, hans folk og den hjord, han vogter. Gå ind i hans porte med takkesang, med lovsange ind i hans forgårde, tak ham og lov hans navn! Sl. 100,4. Og alle, som helligholder sabbatten siger Herren, vil jeg bringe til mit hellige bjerg og glæde i mit bedehus. Es. 56,6-7.