Observance of the Sabbath

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Meaning and Purpose of the Sabbath Observance

The Sabbath Day was a sign and a covenant God made exclusively with Israel (Ex 20:5, 12; 31:13-17; Lev 19:2, 3, 30; 26:9, 46 ⁽¹⁾ ), and it had to be observed in the land of Israel (Deut 5:14, 29, 31; ⁽²⁾ 6:1). It symbolized rest and freedom (Deut 5:12-15).

The Sabbath year was a time of rest for the land (Lev 25:1). There was to be no planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops (Ex 23:10-11). Like the Sabbath Day, the Sabbath year could only apply to Israel and the land of Israel (Ex 26:2-4, 6-8, 20, 33-34, 38 42, 45; Lev 26:4-6).

In addition to these sabbaths, there was the Jubilee Sabbath. It was a time of liberation from rest, slavery, and debt. Land was returned to the original owner. It was to be observed every 50th year (Lev 25:10, 18-23). ⁽³⁾

Also, the blessings and curses concerning God's commands, including the Sabbaths, were only for Israel and the land of Israel (Lev 25:18).

Observance of the Sabbath

To remember (keep and observe) the Sabbath, the nation of Israel had to obey all instructions, regulations, and commandments concerning the day. The day was characterized by rest from specific kinds of activity, as well as by performance of certain worship activities.

Sabbath observance prohibited the following kinds of occupational work: gathering or cooking food, processing food, carrying loads, loading or moving merchandise, selling or other business, waiting around the city to sell the day after (Ex 16:22-30; 31:14-15; 35:2; Num 15:32-36; Neh 13:16-22). All access to places of business had to be closed and guarded (Jer 17:21-22, 24, 27). Kindling a fire (cooking) in one's house was prohibited (Ex 35:3). Everyone had to stay in their own place (Ex 16:29).

Some of the worship activities and provisions required for proper and complete Sabbath Day observances included the following: twelve cakes with frankincense (the showbread) made by Kohathites was burned as incense and eaten by Aaronic priests (Lev 24:5-9); a burnt offering of two male lambs, grain offerings, drink offerings, and peace offerings were to be presented on the morning and evening of each Sabbath Day (Num 28:9-10; 1 Chr 23:31; 2 Chr 2:4; 31:3; Ezek 45:17). The Temple gate to the east-facing inner court had to be kept open on the Sabbath (Ezek 46:1). The prince was instructed to worship at the threshold of the gate and the people were to worship at the doorway of the gate (Ezek 46:2-3). Also, the Day of Atonement Sabbath was to be observed on the first and tenth day of the seventh month (Lev 23:23-31). The Passover Sabbath was to be observed for seven days beginnng on the fourteenth day of the first month. It required burnt offerings, sin offerings, and grain offering on each day. On the seventh day, they were to sacrifice six lambs and one ram along with a grain offering (Ezek 45:17, 21, 25; 46:4, 12).

During the Sabbath year, there was to be no buying, planting, cultivating, or harvesting of crops (Neh 10:31).

To neglect or change any of these prescriptions was to profane (defile) the Sabbath(s). Every person who profaned the Sabbath was to be stoned to death (Ex 31:13-17; ⁽⁴⁾ Num 15:32-36). Are those who claim they are required to keep the Sabbath according to Old Testament instructions willing to stone someone for not following the commands? Are they willing to be stoned for imperfect obedience?

Indeed, the law had promises attached to it - blessings for obedience or curses for disobedience.

Some Hindrances to Sabbath Observance

Any one who says he / she keeps the Sabbath Day is mistaken unless all the above prescriptions are kept. Actually few of them can now be obeyed - there is no active Aaronic priesthood, no reliable records of Kohathite descendants, and no Temple or tabernacle.

Neither is there an observance of Jubilee. Land in Israel has not been returned back to the descendants of the original owners as designated by Moses and Joshua. In addition to all these barriers, a person must be a Jew and live in the nation of Israel.

The absence of conditions and resources with which to institute Sabbath observance according to all the instructions is in concord with what the New Testament says concerning the Mosaic Law. In Hebrews, we are told of Jesus' better ministry in which He mediated a better covenant (8:6-9) that replaces the weak and unprofitable former covenant (7:18). The new covenant is founded upon better promises and has a better hope (7:19; 8:6). ⁽⁵⁾ The former covenant was weak because it required fallen people to obey God. The new covenant, being excellent, does not contain this fault; rather, it is based on the power of the sinless and endless life of its high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who is also its guarantee (7:22-28). Since it is impossible for those who receive the new covenant from Jesus to break it, the new covenant, then, is different than the covenant made with the Israelites (8:9-10). Because they rejected the old covenant, God disregarded them (8:9). Instead of rejecting them completely, God instituted a new covenant that insures forgiveness of sins. Instead of being written on stone, the new covenant is placed into the hearts of all of God's people, empowering them to know Him (8:8-12). ⁽⁶⁾

Knowing of such an excellent covenant and its promises, who would want to reject it by trying to follow the old covenant?

Fulfilment of the Sabbath

The observances and ceremonies of the Mosaic Law, including the Sabbath and the activities attached to it, were only a copy and shadow of the real (Col 2:16-17; ⁽⁷⁾ Heb 8:5; 9:23, 24; 10:1). These observances and ceremonies were rendered obsolete when their symbolic significance was fulfilled by the new covenant (Heb 8:6, 13), which is the atonement of our sins by the saving work of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; Col 2:17; Heb 9:15; 12:24). Being fulfilled by Christ and made obsolete (abrogated) and set aside because of the Israelites' failure to keep it, the old covenant is no longer valid (Heb. 7:18-19; ⁽⁸⁾ 8:7-10, 13; 9:8, 10, 23; 10:9).

Old Testament sacrifices could not atone for sins. All sacrifices under the Mosaic Code were only symbols of the ultimate sacrifice, the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice (death on the cross) is adequate and effective for the forgiveness of all sins (1 Jn 2:2; Heb 9:12, 28; 10:12).

There is no longer any need for any more sacrifices - they are now useless (Heb 8:13; 10:1, 4, 6, 8). Therefore, since observance of the Sabbath required sacrifices, the Sabbath cannot be properly and completely observed as commanded. As it was only a symbol of Jesus' work of salvation, we observe the eternal sabbath rest from trying to work our way to heaven by resting in Christ and His work for our salvation.

Having been forgiven from sin, Christians are not under the Law of Moses (Gal 3:23-25); therefore, we do not have to consider or esteem any one day above other days (Rom 14:5-6; Col 2:16). Christians are even rebuked and warned for observing days, months, seasons, and years as an essential part of salvation (Gal 4:9-11).

Gentiles (including Christians) are never instructed to observe the Sabbath Day. Indeed, observance of the Sabbath is not included in those things Gentile Christians are directed to incorporate into their regenerated life. (See Acts 15:19-20.)

Note: God no longer gives double income on the sixth day (Friday) as He promised the wandering Israelites (Ex 16:29) or three years of provisions in the sixth year as he promised the settled nation of Israel.

The Eternal Sabbath (Rest)

God's Word symbolically links the Mosaic Sabbath Day with salvation by faith (Heb 4:3-6, 9-11). They are similar because both refer to a cessation of works (Heb 4:4, 10). However, they are different in that the sabbath / rest in chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews is the fulfillment of the sabbath / rest spoken of by Moses and Joshua. While, Moses refers to rest from physical / occupational work; Hebrews refers to rest from spiritual work (Heb 2:3, 10, 14-15). The spiritual rest of Hebrews is the realization and acceptance of not being able to work one's own way to salvation. The one who believes in Jesus Christ can rest because he / she is delivered from the wrath of God (Heb 3:11, 17) and is reconciled to God (Heb 2:3; 3:12). Because Jesus is without sin (Heb 4:15), He was able to die in our place (Heb 2:9). Therefore, entrance into God's eternal and ultimate sabbath / rest (salvation) is through faith (Heb 3:19; 4:2-3) in the work of Jesus on the cross.

As a result of Jesus having effectively completed all the work that is necessary for our salvation (Heb 2:14-15, 17-18), we can rest in His mercy and grace in our time of need (Heb 4:16). We are in need because we could never be good enough to merit God's favor and salvation (Rom 5:6). We must rest in His mercy, because we deserve His wrath. We must rest in His grace, because we do not deserve His favor.

Thus, we must stop trying to work our way into heaven; we must rest - cease from our works (Heb 4:9-10). We are freed from the debt of our sin and given entrance into eternal life with God by His finished work (Jn 19:30).

"There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.
For he that is entered into His rest,
he also hath ceased from his own works,
as God did from His.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
Hebrews 4:9-11

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Notes

1.  "These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses."  Leviticus 26:46  [Return]

2.  "But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it."  Deuteronomy 5:31  [Return]

3.  Using 1446 BC as the date of the Exodus and 1406 BC as the date of the Conquest, the last Jubilee would have been 1994 AD. Was the Jubilee Sabbath observed in the 1990's? In the twentieth century? Has it been possible to observe it since the time of Christ?  [Return]

4.  "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
    Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
    Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
    Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
    Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
    It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."  Exodus 31:12-17  [Return]

5.  "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
    And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
    (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
    By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
    And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
    But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
    Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
    For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
     Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
    For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."  Hebrews 7:18-28  [Return]

6.  "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
    For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
    For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
    Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
    For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
    And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
    For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."  Hebrews 8:6-12
    Note: God no longer gives double income on the sixth day (Friday) as He promised the wandering Israelites (Ex 16:29) or three years of provisions in the sixth year as he promised the settled nation of Israel.  [Return]

7.  "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."  Colossians 2:16-17
    This Scripture refers to the same three kinds of events listed in 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 8:13; 31:3; Nehemiah 10:33; Isaiah 1:13-14; Ezekiel 45:17; and Hosea 2:11 - new moons, feasts (festivals), and sabbaths.  [Return]

8.  "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
    For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."  Hebrews 7:18-19  [Return]