Sabbath according to the Scriptures

The Day of rest

When the world was created Jehovah took some rest and did find it best for men that he too would take some rest. But when do we have to have our period of rest? It dan be any time of the day of the week.

At first there was no law, then a law was given, a first Covenant, but then came a New Covenant or the abandoning of the first Law.

There where several sorts Sabbaths but none of them should be a burden for a Christian.

Jesus came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it. He has become the end of the Law leading to righteousness to everyone believing. He rendered ineffectual this animosity by his flesh. That dogmatic law of the commandments. So that he might create the two into one new person incorporate in himself. (Eph 2:15)

Those who accept Jesus as their Saviour would have been considerd dead in their short-comings and their fleshly uncircumcision. Previously everybody had to keep themselves to the Law but God wiped out those handwritten regulations that worked against us. He removed it out of the way by nailing it to the stake. (Col 2:13-14)

Sabbath law concerning the seventh day of the week.

“And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.” (Ex 16:1 ASV)

“And he said unto them, This is that which Jehovah hath spoken, To–morrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto Jehovah: bake that which ye will bake, and boil that which ye will boil; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” (Ex 16:23 ASV)

“Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.” (Ex 16:26 ASV)

“Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Jehovah made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. Jehovah spake with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between Jehovah and you at that time, to show you the word of Jehovah: for ye were afraid because of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, [nor] any likeness [of anything] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain: for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man–servant, nor thy maid–servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man–servant and thy maid–servant may rest as well as thou.” (De 5:2-14 ASV)

“Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant,” (Ne 9:13-14 ASV)

Sabbaths as sign between God and the Israëlites.

First given as a sign to gods People the Jews their generation but not anymore for the Christians or New Generatiion.

“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you.” (Ex 31:13 ASV)

“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth them.” (Eze 20:12 ASV)

“And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.” (De 5:15 ASV)

Activities allowed on theSabbath.

“For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.” (Ac 15:21 ASV)

“and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.” (Lu 4:32 ASV)

“But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?” (Lu 13:15-16 ASV)

“And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.” (Mt 12:11-12 ASV)

“Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man. If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?” (Joh 7:22-23 ASV)

“Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?” (Mt 12:5 ASV)

“And on the sabbath day two he–lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal–offering, mingled with oil, and the drink–offering thereof: this is the burnt–offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt–offering, and the drink–offering thereof.” (Nu 28:9-10 ASV)

“And some of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.” (1Ch 9:32 ASV)

Prohibited activities on the sabbath.

“but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man–servant, nor thy maid–servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man–servant and thy maid–servant may rest as well as thou.” (De 5:14 ASV)

“Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” (Ex 35:3 ASV)

“neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work: but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.” (Jer 17:22 ASV)

“and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.” (Ne 10:31 ASV)

Violation of the Sabbath punished with dead.

“Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” (Ex 31:14 ASV)

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. And Jehovah said unto Moses, The man shall surely be put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” (Nu 15:32-35 ASV)

Other sabbath days same jurisdiction.

“And it shall be a statute for ever unto you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the home–born, or the stranger that sojourneth among you:” (Le 16:29 ASV)

“It is a sabbath of solemn rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; it is a statute for ever.” (Le 16:31 ASV)

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto Jehovah.” (Le 25:2 ASV)

“but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto Jehovah: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.” (Le 25:4 ASV)

“And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and there shall be unto thee the days of seven sabbaths of years, even forty and nine years.” (Le 25:8 ASV)

“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of the undressed vines.” (Le 25:10-11 ASV)

“And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of work: it is a sabbath unto Jehovah in all your dwellings. These are the set feasts of Jehovah, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed season. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, is Jehovah’s passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Jehovah: seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah seven days: in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the first–fruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And in the day when ye wave the sheaf, ye shall offer a he–lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt–offering unto Jehovah. And the meal–offering thereof shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah for a sweet savor; and the drink–offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh ears, until this selfsame day, until ye have brought the oblation of your God: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave–offering; seven sabbaths shall there be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meal–offering unto Jehovah. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave–loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah: they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven, for first–fruits unto Jehovah. And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be a burnt–offering unto Jehovah, with their meal–offering, and their drink–offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah. And ye shall offer one he–goat for a sin–offering, and two he–lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace–offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first–fruits for a wave–offering before Jehovah, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Jehovah for the priest. And ye shall make proclamation on the selfsame day; there shall be a holy convocation unto you; ye shall do no servile work: it is a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah. And ye shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Jehovah your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye keep your sabbath. And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Jehovah. On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: it is a solemn assembly; ye shall do no servile work. These are the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt–offering, and a meal–offering, a sacrifice, and drink–offerings, each on its own day; besides the sabbaths of Jehovah, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill–offerings, which ye give unto Jehovah. Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of Jehovah seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm–trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto Jehovah seven days in the year: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home–born in Israel shall dwell in booths; that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.” (Le 23:1-43 ASV)

“And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfil the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths: for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” (2Ch 36:20-21 ASV)

Law of Sabbath not binding for Christians.

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.” (Col 2:16-17 ASV)

“but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.” (Ga 4:9-11 ASV)

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.” (Ac 15:28-29 ASV)

Jesus fulfilled the Law, so that it can be removed.

“Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Mt 5:17 ASV)

“For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Ro 10:4 ASV)

“having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;” (Eph 2:15 ASV)

“but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Ga 4:4-5 ASV)

“And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;” (Col 2:13-14 ASV)

Christian activies on the first day of the week comprise no instruction to keep the sabbath on that day.

“And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.” (Ac 20:7 ASV)

“Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” (1Co 16:2 ASV)

God’s big Sabbath.

“And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.” (Ge 2:2-3 ASV)

“It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” (Ex 31:17 ASV)

Does not mean He stopped working.

“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.” (Joh 5:17 ASV)

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.” (Joh 14:10 ASV)

Going into the peace of God by faith.

“Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works; and in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, he again defineth a certain day, To–day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To–day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.” (Heb 4:1-11 ASV)

We can keep Sabbath any day and work everyday for the Lord.

Jesus and the apostle did not let it pass to do good works on the Sabbath. Saturday or Sunday we can do our good works as well and use every day to celebrate God and to be at His service. We can take an example in Christ and the apostles and go around preaching every day.

“And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:” (Lu 19:47 ASV)

“And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.” (Ac 5:42 ASV)

“So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.” (Ac 17:17 ASV)

“And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath day: and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.” (Lu 4:31-32 ASV)

“And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.” (Mr 3:1-5 ASV)

“and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,” (Ac 17:2 ASV)