Revised July 20, 2001
Introduction
The Sabbath is the 4th
commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) of the
Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) in
the Bible. Death was the penalty for desecrating the Sabbath. Therefore, it is
an important commandment of Yahweh, the Father and you will find out our
Creator takes this commandment very seriously. If you are well grounded in the
scriptures, you will understand that when the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaChodesh)
places words or principles in a certain order, there is an important reason for
it. You will also understand how Yahshua of Nazareth, our Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6-7, Zachariah 12:10-14),
interpreted the Spirit of the Law concerning the Sabbath in Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John in light of the Torah.
You will recognize that the
Sabbath is a spiritual and symbolic mark of the marriage covenant between our
Everlasting Father, who is symbolically the Bridegroom, and His People, that is
symbolically represented as the Bride. Keeping the Sabbath may also be symbolic
of having the Mark of God versus the Mark of the Beast in the last days.
There are three excellent
companion studies that should be read with this overview. One titled, “Biblical
Holy Days” from Yahweh’s New Covenant Assembly. You can get it at www.ynca.com/pdf/bhd.pdf. The other
is titled, “A Family Guide To The Biblical Holidays” by Robin Scarlata
& Linda Pierce. You can get this from www.6001.com.
The third set is from
A complete list of all
scriptural references to the “Sabbath” can be found at the end of this overview
in the Appendices along with acknowledgments. This overview covers all the
relevant passages that have the word “sabbath” in the Bible.
The “New” Testament or more
correctly the renewed Testament or
B’rit Chadashah must be read and interpreted in the context of the Tanach
(Torah, Prophets & Holy Writings), or more commonly known as the “Old”
Testament. If you are a believer who is not familiar with this concept, please
investigate this further because it is fundamental in understanding the
scriptures. If you like, I can provide some references for this
investigation. You may contact me at Admin@BethLechem.org. The
concept is quite involved and is beyond the scope of this overview. Not
understanding this concept can often mislead the believer when reading the
scriptures.
One fundamental problem
arising from the lack of understanding this concept is scripture is often taken
out of context, mis-interpreted and mis-translated. A common example is the
majority of the Body of Messiah believes that “the law is abolished.” In order
to support this idea, specific set of verses in the Book of Galations and
Romans among other passages are often cited and used out of context and
mis-interpreted. What is even worse is some of these passages that are cited
are poor translations or completely mis-translated. A good review of the Book
of Galations interpreted in proper context is by Monte
It is important to recognize
that scriptural principles have legal precedence according to the Spirit of the
Law. Our Everlasting Father, Yahshua of Nazareth expects us to know this. We
find this out by carefully reading the scriptures about the Sabbath referenced
in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After all, the scriptures explicitly reveal
that our God is a God of Law. This fact is observed even in the physical
universe in contrast to the spiritual world. Modern science has discovered Laws
of Physics, Aerodynamics, Thermodynamics, Mathematics, etc. We as believers
know that it was Yahweh who established these physical laws.
You will gain an understanding
of how legal precedence works within Biblical principles at the completion of
this overview. I noted earlier, our Everlasting Father, Yahshua of Nazareth
interpreted the Tanach in the B’rit Chadashah using legal precedence in light
of the Spirit of the Law versus the letter of the Law. If you are a believer
that thinks the “law is abolished” be sure to commit yourself to completing
this overview. You will find passages and principles in this overview alone
that will begin to expand your understanding. You will learn that keeping the
Sabbath is instrumental in the worship of our Everlasting Father.
Before proceeding with the
principles of the Sabbath, let’s establish a few key fundamental principles in
scripture. The understanding of these principles is a pre-requisite for
understanding the principles of Sabbath.
This study focuses
pre-dominantly on scripture and legal precedent in the Spirit of the Law. In some of the works I have reviewed on the
Sabbath so far, I find more flowery commentary about why the Sabbath should be
observed. A lot of these commentaries appear to be based on personal feelings
about the Sabbath rather than the explicit and implied instructions our
Everlasting Father gives us in scripture. The commentaries I reviewed often
placed Biblical principles in the context of worldly philosophy and ideas. Too
often, doctrines arising from the “pulpit” are intermingled with philosophies
and ideas in the context of one’s own culture instead of pure scripture. In the
West, it is Western philosophies and ideas, and sometimes Jewish traditions
that nullify the Word of Yahweh. These commentaries typically provide a partial
picture of the full revelation of scripture relating to the Sabbath because of
an incomplete approach. Colossians 2:8
(NIV) warns us about following after philosophy of men. Matthew 15:3-9 (NIV) warns us about
traditions that nullify the Word of Yahweh.
Colossians
2:8 (NIV)
8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Matthew
15:3-9 (NIV)
3 Jesus
replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your
tradition? 4 For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who
curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say that if a man says to his
father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a
gift devoted to God,' 6 he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you
nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites!
Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 "'These people honor me
with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
This overview will identify
principles based on the Word of Yahweh within the context of the scriptures in
the Bible and will try to paint a more complete picture of the Spirit of the
Law regarding Sabbath principles. Let’s literally
search the scriptures like the Bereans, Acts
17:11 (NIV):
Acts 17:11
(NIV):
11 Now the
Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received
the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to
see if what Paul said was true
An important reminder,
scripture reveals to us that Yahweh rejects His people because they
intentionally ignore the knowledge of Torah (Law). If you investigate yourself,
you will find that the word “law” is used synonymously with the word “Torah.” Hosea 4:6 (NIV) states:
Hosea 4:6
(NIV)
6 my
people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have
rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have
ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
In this overview, I attempt
to establish doctrine concerning the Sabbath day. The Holy Spirit, through Apostle Paul,
reminds us that scripture is useful for establishing and constructing doctrine
in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV):
2 Timothy
3:16-17 (KJV)
16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man
of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our Everlasting Father
Himself reminds us to use our minds
in His first and greatest commandment in Matthew
22:34-39 (NIV).
Matthew
22:34-40 (NIV)
34 Hearing
that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of
them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher,
which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.' 40 All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two commandments."
An important needs to be made
at this time. It appears that believers who exercise their minds often forget
the “heart” and “soul” by not walking in “love.” Believers exercising their
“heart” and “soul” often forget their “minds” by not studying the scriptures to
a depth that is needed. So this is a warning to the reader that a balance is
needed. Note that the Messiah says the “Law and Prophets” hang on the two
greatest commandments. Our Everlasting Father simplified the meaning of the Law
and Prophets according the Spirit of the Law, therefore when one follows the
Law and Prophets, they are following the two greatest commandments.
These two greatest commandments
are even consolidated and simplified into one single commandment in Romans 13:9-10 (NIV) and Galations 5:14-15 (NIV) by the Ruach
HaChodesh.
Romans
13:9-10
9 The
commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
"Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other
commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your
neighbor as yourself." 10 Love
does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians
5:14-15
14 The
entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." 15 If you keep on
biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each
other.
There is a good reason why
the two greatest commandments are summed up into one. One commandment deals
with the Father and the other deals with our neighbor. Remember our Everlasting
Father himself said He is also our friend in John 15:9-17 (NIV). In essence, our Everlasting father is also our
neighbor because in one respect He is our friend.
John 15:13-17
(NIV)
13 Greater
love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's
business. Instead, I have called you friends,
for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear
fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in
my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Also note that our Messiah
consolidated the first five of the Ten Commandments into the first and greatest
commandment. Next He consolidated the
second five of the ten commandments as the second greatest commandment. This
study is beyond the scope of this overview so please refer to this link from
Yahweh’s New Covenant Assembly (www.YNCA.com),
“Love: How it Fulfills the Law” at www.ynca.com/love.htm.
The concepts covered in the Bible study is fundamental to understanding the
relationship between the Two Greatest Commandments to the Ten Commandments and
the remainder of the Law.
How does our Everlasting
Father define “love?” The scriptures reveal that love has multiple definitions
and is beyond the scope of this overview. For an in-depth study of love per the
scriptures, please review the study titled, “How Does Yahweh Define Love?” at www.MalkhutYahwehAvodah.org. For this study
on the Sabbath, I focus on one definition of love as commandment keeping.
In essence, according to this definition as revealed by scripture, the Law is
Love and Love is the Law. Take a close look at the scripture in John 15:13-17
above, the three scriptures below, and all of Psalm 119. The scriptures reveal that commandment keeping is just
one definition of love. Notice how love and command keeping are mentioned
together.
Exodus
20:4-6 (NIV)
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship
them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for
the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love me and
keep my commandments.
John 14:15
(KJV)
15 If ye love
me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them,
he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and
I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 15:9-10
9 "As
the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If
you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my
Father's commands and remain in his love.
Psalm 119 –
please refer to your Bible. This Psalm explicitly reveals to us that the Law is
love.
1 John 5:1-4
(KJV)
5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that
loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we
know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is
born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.
Yahshua HaMaschiach himself
tells us that commandment keeping is important to the least of the
commandments. Take a look at Matthew
5:17-20 (NIV) and Matthew 4:4 (KJV).
Matthew 5:17-20
(NIV)
17 "Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come
to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and
earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by
any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone
who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the
same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven.
Matthew 4:4
(KJV)
4 But he
answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Some may argue, “well, we
can’t keep all 613 laws,” and therefore choose to ignore the Law (Torah). That
is true- it is difficult to keep 613 laws less the sacrificial laws (so there
are a lot less than 613 laws today). Fortunately we have Grace and mercy
through Messiah’s sacrifice. Messiah came and fulfilled the sacrificial laws
and now we can pray the Father directly through Messiah our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) for forgiveness for
intentional and unintentional sins. No longer do we have to bring a live lamb
or goat for sacrifice to the
Proverbs 28:9 (NIV) below reveals the importance of why we must not ignore the Law of God
(Torah) intentionally.
Proverbs
28:9 (NIV)
9 If anyone
turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.
By the way, do you know that
there are millions of man-made laws on the books today? Do you know how many
laws you must obey just to do your annual income tax, keep your driver’s
license, keep your home and take out a loan? There are so many, you must hire
experts or inquire with professionals in the field merely to understand them-
accountants, real estate agents, loan officers and state representatives. I
only listed the basics. Do you think there are at least several hundred laws
involved here? Do you know why we have all these millions of laws? Take a look
at the following verse in Ezekiel 20:21-26 (NIV):
Ezekiel
20:21-26 (NIV)
21
"'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees,
they were not careful to keep my laws-although the man who obeys them will
live by them-and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would
pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the desert. 22 But
I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from
being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them
out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would
disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, 24
because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated
my Sabbaths, and their eyes [lusted] after their fathers' idols. 25
I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not
live by; 26 I let them become defiled through their gifts-the sacrifice of every
firstborn-that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the
LORD.'
Notice there is a direct
relationship according to scripture that tells us why we are given over to “statutes that were not good and laws they could not live
by.” The reason is simple- people did not accept Yahweh’s laws and
Sabbaths.
By now we should be familiar
with the concept that one definition of “love” is commandment keeping. In
pursuit of this definition of love, we have to be careful not to lose site of
the other definitions of the principle of love revealed in scripture. I won’t
cover these principles in detail here but will share four other basic
principles of love in scripture. The first is in verse John 15:12-14 (NIV) where our Everlasting Father says:
John
15:12-14 (NIV)
12 My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no
one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my
friends if you do what I command.
And another principal of love
such as fatherly love is revealed in the following verse where our
Everlasting Father, Yahshua of Nazareth washes His disciples’ feet. Just as a
father and mother washes and bathes their newborn infant son, our Creator,
similarly washes the feet of His Sons as Father and Friend. Take a look at John 13:3-16 (NIV):
John 13:3-16
(NIV)
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all
things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel
around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash
his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around
him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said
to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7 Jesus
replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand."
8
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus
answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my
hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had
a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean,
though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him,
and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished
washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do
you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call
me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I,
your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done
for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is
a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Of course one of the most
well known principles of love is in Romans 13:10 (KJV) where it is
written:
Romans
13:8-10 (KJV)
8 Owe no man
any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled
the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou
shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and
if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his
neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Notice the second five of the Ten Commandments are outlined here and how these commandments are related to “loving your neighbor.” Note the passage also says, “if there be any other commandment.” This points to other laws in the Torah that deal directly with “loving your neighbor.” By walking in love towards our neighbor, in many ways, we fulfill the requirements of the Torah. Be careful, this passage can also be taken out of context of the scriptures to say, “all you have to do is love.” I’m impressed that when I hear someone say this, they understand “love” in the context of their own culture without understanding the definition of “love” according to the scriptures. I’m impressed that some of these same people are also involved in idolatry, occult and sexual immorality as defined in scripture.
Here’s one more definition of love. Take a look at Revelation 3:9 (NIV) where it is written:
Revelation
3:19 (NIV)
19 Those
whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Notice that the act of rebuke
is also a form of love. So if someone is truly acting on the leading of
the Ruach HaChodesh and rebukes you, it is an act of love.
Many passages of scripture
reveal that we may learn, grow in understanding, and reason.
Therefore we should make an effort to seriously educate ourselves in scripture
diligently and methodically. Take a look at Isaiah 29:24 (KJV) and Isaiah 1:17-18 (KJV):
Isaiah 29:24
(KJV)
24 They also
that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured
shall learn doctrine.
Isaiah
1:17-18 (KJV)
17 Learn
to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead
for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
The Bible is a book. It has a
beginning, the Book of Genesis, and it has an end, the Book of Revelation. Just
like any book, it’s arrangement with a beginning and an end suggests that it
should be read like any other book- front to back in an effort to comprehend
the material. In contrast most believers have spent more time in “doctrine of
men” then in the Word. A high school freshman in the
Therefore, let us search
and examine the scriptures, the Tenach as well as the B’rit Chadashah,
concerning the Sabbath principles and establish doctrine. And, don’t forget Christ is Yahweh, the Father, in the
Flesh and Christ does the Father’s Will. All scripture of the Bible is the
Word of Christ, Yahshua of Nazareth. Christ is the supreme image of Yahweh
(2 Corinthians 4:4, Colossians 1:15,
Hebrews 1:3). Many believers of Messiah say they “hear” from the Holy
Spirit (Ruach HaChodesh), but yet there are many false and conflicting
doctrines within the Body of Messiah. Therefore it is evident that many who
claim to “hear” directly from the Holy Spirit are not hearing from the Holy Spirit but from deceiving
spirits.
It should be evident that the
loudest and clearest voice from the Holy Spirit are the words that the
Spirit put down in writing in the
scriptures. However, also be sure to listen to those who do say they “hear”
from the Holy Spirit and discern their claims by testing them against the
written Word. The best way to discern if something is from the Holy Spirit is
to know the Word by understanding the Spirit of the Law (“the intent”) as well
as the Letter of the Law.
All members of the Body of
Messiah should be aware that there are different kinds of gifts of the Spirit.
Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
(NIV):
1
Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV)
4 There
are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different
kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working,
but the same God works all of them in all men.
7 Now to
each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one
there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of
the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to
another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to
another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the
interpretation of tongues. 11 All
these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one,
just as he determines.
Notice the nine
manifestations of spiritual gifts. This overview on the Sabbath is a “message of knowledge” and you can
integrate this into your own ministry or use it as a foundation for other
studies. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19
reveals to us the importance of instruction over other types of gifts.
1
Corinthians 14:18-19
18 I thank
God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I
would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand
words in a tongue.
If you happen to find an
error in doctrine that is presented
here, or find ways to improve this study, or read a section that is not clear,
please notify me at Admin@BethLechem.org.
This overview will be revised from time to time as greater understanding of
scripture is revealed. If you benefited from this overview, a small donation in
cash or check will be helpful. This is not a tithe but merely a donation to
help support the time that is involved in making studies like this available
for free distribution. Please send to
Identifying Principles of Sabbath
First we’ll examine what the
scriptures say about the Sabbath, identify the principles and then comment on
how to keep the principles so as not to desecrate the Sabbath.
The best way to understand
the Sabbath day is to see what Yahweh, the Father has to say about it in His
Book, the Bible. First, let’s do a computer search of the word “Sabbath”
throughout the scriptures from both the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible
and then from the New International Version of the Bible (NIV). It is
understood that the KJV renders a more pure translation of the original
scriptures, but often the NIV has to be used because it is hard to understand
“Old English.” So, KJV proponents will have to bear with me. This overview will
address 90% of the verses that have the word “Sabbath” associated with them.
Verses that address repetitive scriptural passages or principles are not
counted in the percentage calculation.
The first occurrences of the
word “Sabbath” is found in Exodus
16:21-30 (NIV). In these verses there are four occurrences of the word
Sabbath. Immediately we learn that the Sabbath day is the seventh day of the
week. Next we learn of three principles of the Sabbath. We also learn
that Yahweh, the Father is displeased when a principle of the Sabbath is
broken. First go ahead and read directly from the scripture below to see what
the Spirit of Yahweh (Ruach HaChodesh) says about the Sabbath:
Exodus
16:21-30 (NIV)
21 Each
morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it
melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for
each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to
be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath
to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"
24 So they
saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots
in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find
any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the
seventh day, the Sabbath, there will
not be any."
27
Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but
they found none. 28 Then the LORD said
to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my
instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day
he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the
seventh day; no one is to go out." 30 So the people rested on the
seventh day.
Based on the scriptures above
we can identify a few basic principles of the Sabbath day. First, it is the 7th
day of the week, it is a day of rest, one should not cook on the Sabbath and
food should be prepared in advance, and no one is to travel. The 7th
day is from sundown, 6th day to sundown on the 7th day.
Remember, according to scripture, days begin at sundown and end at sunset.
Mis-translations combined with mis-interpretation of scripture taken out of
context has lead to the identification of Sunday as a “Sabbath” day. To better
understand why this is not the case, investigate Bible studies from
congregations that observe the Sabbath day. Also the overview at www.MalkhutYahwehAvodah.org
titled, “Principles of the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread &
Firstfruits: How to keep the Passover according to the Bible, Why the Messiah
was not Resurrected on Sunday but instead the Third Day,” will be very
revealing. A detailed investigation of this is beyond the scope of this
overview, so please research on your own.
Let’s continue and find out
what else Yahweh has to say about the Sabbath. Our search reveals more
scripture on the Sabbath in Exodus
20:8-11 (NIV):
Exodus
20:8-11 (NIV)
8
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping
it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the
seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD
your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or
daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien
within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the
earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath
day and made it holy.
We can identify two more
principles of the Sabbath. One is to keep the Sabbath holy. The next is- do
not do any work or make a son or daughter, or servant, or animal, or alien
work. OK, let’s continue to search the scriptures. The next time we find the
Sabbath is in Exodus 31:12-18 (NIV):
Exodus
31:12-18 (NIV)
12 Then the
LORD said to Moses, 13 "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign
between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am
the LORD, who makes you holy.
14
"'Observe the Sabbath, because
it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death;
whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. 15
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.
16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath,
celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be
a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the
heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and
rested.'"
18 When the
LORD finished speaking to Moses on
The serious nature of the
Sabbath can be easily identified in these passages. First it is a sign (mark)
between Yahweh and His people. Next, we identify that the penalty for
desecrating the Sabbath or working on the Sabbath is death. Let’s continue, Exodus 35:1-3 (NIV) reads:
Exodus
35:1-3 (NIV)
35:1 Moses
assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, "These are the
things the LORD has commanded you to do: 2 For six days, work is to be done,
but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be
put to death. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day."
Here we find an interesting
principle of “do not light a fire” on the Sabbath. Note that the principle
of not lighting a fire is a related principle to the principle about not
“baking and boiling” on the Sabbath. Not baking and boiling have their
foundations built on two fundamental principles, one is the principle of rest
and the other is the principle of not lighting a fire. Therefore, the activity
of baking and boiling involves the person in lighting and managing a fire,
cooking, and therefore is not resting. In essence, the activity of baking and
boiling also violates two other fundamental principles- that of rest and not
lighting a fire.
The next series of verses
where we find the word “Sabbath” is in Leviticus. All references to the Sabbath
in Leviticus are related to Sabbaths in the context of the Feasts of the Lord,
and in the context of the Sabbath rest of the land. It is interesting to note
that even the land, perceived as a non-living thing, must rest. These
Sabbaths related to the Biblical Holy Days such as Passover, Feast of
Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles
are beyond the scope of this overview. This overview is focused primarily on
the weekly Sabbath.
One of the most memorable and
frightening punishments given to a person for desecrating the Sabbath day is in
Numbers 15:32-36 (NIV). Let’s see
what the Holy Spirit says:
Numbers
15:32-36 (NIV)
32 While the
Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him
gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and
they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to
him. 35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole
assembly must stone him outside the camp." 36 So the assembly took him
outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses.
This man was obviously
desecrating the Sabbath by working- getting ready to prepare a fire, and
carrying a load. It is clear that the man was opposing three principles of the
Sabbath. Yahweh in accordance with His Law issued the death penalty. Note the
principle of not carrying a load on the Sabbath has not yet been revealed up to
this point in our search of scripture but it is clearly expressed later in
Nehemiah and Jeremiah. By reading the verse above by itself we do not get the
impression that this man was defiantly sinning against Yahweh. However, once we
understand the principle of mercy from Yahweh and read the verse previous to
this one which is Numbers 15:30-31, we know this man was intentionally
transgressing Yahweh’s Law.
The next time we find the
word “Sabbath” where the scriptural references are not a repeat of the
principles already addressed is in 2
Kings 11:4-11 (NIV). Here we have a situation where Jehoiada, a priest of
the LORD, endorses duty of guards on the Sabbath for the protection of the
king. Obviously, the principle of not working on the Sabbath appears to be
broken- or is there a higher principle to be applied? What is the principle
that takes on a higher legal precedence? Before we identify this principle,
let’s read 2 Kings 11:4-11:
2 Kings
11:4-11 (NIV)
4 In the
seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the
Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD.
He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD.
Then he showed them the king's son. 5 He commanded them, saying, "This is
what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on
duty on the Sabbath-a third of
you guarding the royal palace, 6 a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the
gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple- 7 and you who are
in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8 Station
yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who
approaches your ranks must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he
goes."
9 The
commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each
one took his men-those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty-and came to Jehoiada the
priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged
to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. 11 The guards, each with
his weapon in his hand, stationed themselves around the king-near the altar and
the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
Why were the guards ordered
to work (go on duty) on the Sabbath by a priest of the Lord? This, at first
seems to contradict all that we have learned in the scriptures up to this point
in reference to the Sabbath. A closer examination of the scriptures reveals
that the principles of saving life, showing mercy and healing are higher
principles than that of resting on the Sabbath. Yahshua HaMashiach
identifies this principle in Mark 3:1-6
(NIV).
Here is the scripture
reference to Mark 3:1-6, where the principle of saving life is expressly
mentioned to be of higher legal precedence over other fundamental Sabbath
principles on the Sabbath day.
Mark 3:1-6
(NIV)
3:1 Another
time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2
Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him
closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of
everyone."
4 Then Jesus
asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"
But they remained silent.
5 He
looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts,
said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and
his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began
to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Messiah demonstrates that “doing
good” is to show mercy, healing and saving life on the Sabbath. Showing
mercy, healing and saving life is of a higher legal precedence than the
principle of rest on the Sabbath. Rest is the first principle of the seven
Sabbath principles. Because of this, it is implied that doing good by showing
mercy, healing and saving life is also of higher legal precedence than the other
six Sabbath principles such as lighting a fire, cooking, not carrying a load,
etc.
Note that the next time we
identify the word “Sabbath” where a principle can be identified is in 2
Chronicles 23:1-10. The scripture is a repeat of 2 Kings 11:4-11. It is the
same scenario. You will notice that the Bible has this pattern of repetition
throughout the scriptures. As a result I won’t address the reference to the
Sabbath again in Chronicles relating to Jehoiada. Another principle that is of
a higher legal precedence than the seven fundamental principles of the Sabbath
is portrayed in 2 Kings 11:4-11 and 2 Chronicles 23:1-10. This is the principle
of protecting the
Nehemiah 10:28-31 (NIV) shows that buying and selling grain and merchandise
on the Sabbath is a violation of the principle of not working on the Sabbath
day:
Nehemiah
10:28-31 (NIV)
28 "The
rest of the people-priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants and
all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the
Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are
able to understand- 29 all these now join their brothers the nobles, and bind
themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through
Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations
and decrees of the LORD our Lord. 30 "We promise not to give our daughters
in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. 31
"When the neighboring peoples bring merchandise or grain to sell on the
Sabbath, we will not buy from them
on the Sabbath or on any holy day.
Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.
As we continue to search the
scriptures, as did the Bereans, we find that the verses in Nehemiah 13:15-22 (NIV) reveal more kind of activity that desecrate
the Sabbath day. In reading the scriptures, it is evident several principles of
the Sabbath is being broken. Buying and selling and lifting loads is working.
Because of these activities the Sabbath is desecrated. In this passage we are
able to identify a higher principle that working to uphold Yahweh’s Sabbath
laws is greater than the principle of rest on the Sabbath. That’s why the
Levites could be on duty to guard the gates on the Sabbath to make sure the
Sabbath is being kept. Take a look:
Nehemiah
13:15-22 (NIV)
15 In those
days I saw men in
19 When
evening shadows fell on the gates of
The search continues and the next
time we find the word “Sabbath” is in Isaiah
56:2 (NIV) and Isaiah 56:6-7 (NIV).
Desecrating the Sabbath is evil but keeping it without desecrating it is a
blessing- even for foreigners. If you are one that thinks the Sabbath is a
curse of the Law, think again, because you have mis-interpreted the B’rit
Chadashah by not knowing the Tenach.
Isaiah 56:2
2 Blessed
is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and
keeps his hand from doing any evil."
Isaiah
56:6-7
6 And foreigners
who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath
without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-- 7 these I will
bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house
will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Notice that this verse
challenges anyone who says that the Sabbath is “only for the Jew” because
Yahweh clearly states that “his house” is to be called a house of prayer for
“all nations” in a verse that is in the context of speaking about the Sabbath.
In addition, it is a fundamental principle in the Torah that any “alien” living
in Israel must keep the same commandments as did the Israelites- all you need
to do is review all the passages where the word “alien” is found. If you have a
computer, search for the word, if not, look it up in the concordance in the
back of your Bible. This is a fundamental principle and is easily recognized by
just reading the Torah. This principle is closely associated with the principle
in the B’rit Chadashah where Gentiles are grafted onto “
There is another important
concept that should be understood that nullifies any argument that presumes the
Law of Yahweh is only for a specified period of time, or only for
This next verse in Isaiah 58:13-14 (NIV) clearly tells us
how blessed our relationship to our Father will be, by keeping the Sabbath, by
not doing as we please, by keeping it holy, not traveling by feet, calling it a
delight, not speaking idle words, etc.:
Isaiah
58:13-14 (NIV)
13 "If
you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call
the Sabbath a delight and the
LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will
find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of
the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The
mouth of the LORD has spoken.