Expert: Dean Gade - 1/31/2008

Question
Dear Mr. Gade:

I do not know Greek. I was told that Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 uses the Greek word anapauo for "rest" instead of the usual katapausis. This person says, "Anapauo speaks of the Sabbath rest as in the Septuagint." In other words, Jesus will give a figurative Sabbath rest to replace the physical rest of the Jewish Sabbath for all those who will come to him.

With your knowledge of Greek, do you agree that this is a correct understanding of Matthew 11:28-30 particularly concerning the word anapauo?

Thanks,
Jerry

Answer
I do believe that the Sabbath became different when Jesus came into the world.  But Matt.11:28-30 is not the verse to explain that difference. Jesus is speaking here of the burden of sin and the burdens of life.

Katapausis is used in the NT only in the book of Hebrews and one place in Acts 7:49 where the OT is being quoted.  These all have to do with the Sabbath rest. The letter to the Hebrews also tells much of the revelation of the true Sabbath.

Anapauo is more commonly and diversely used throughout the NT when speaking about refreshing, reposing.  It does come from pauo which means to pause, stop, quit, desist and come to an end...much like the Sabbath rest of God at creation.

To see the difference of these "rests", I would suggest that you look up all the places in the NT where anapauo is used and the context will give you a better understanding of the difference.

Anapauo is used in:
Mt.26:45,  Mk.6:31, 14:41,  Lk.12:19,  ICor.16:18,  IICor7:13,  Phil.7&20,  IPet.4:14,  Rev.6:11, 14:13.

Some interpreters do believe that the "rest" Jesus is speaking about is a rest FROM the burdens of the Sabbath imposed on the people by the religious leaders of the time. They refer to:

Luke 11:46
46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."
NIV

If you would like more information on the change in the Sabbath which the Lord of the Sabbath made, then write to me again and I will be happy to discuss  the changes which occurred with the establishment of the NEW covenant.