The Sabbath Day
1.0 INTRODUCTION
No other day has ever been sanctified as the day of rest. The Sabbath Day begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. Observation and remembrance of Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (the fourth in the original Jewish, the Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, the third in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions).
Reference of Sabbath: Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20: 8-11; 31:1-17; 34:21; 35:1-3; Leviticus 23: 1-3; Numbers 15: 32-36; 28: 9-10; Deuteronomy 5: 12-15; Isaiah 40:28; 56: 1-8; 58: 13-14; Nehemiah 10: 31; 13: 19; Mathew 5: 6; 7:12; 11:28-30; 12: 1-14; Mark 2: 23-28; 3: 1-6; 6: 2; Luke 4: 16; 6: 1-11; 13: 10-17; 14: 1-6; John 5: 1-18; 9: 1-24; Acts 13: 13-14, 42, 44; 16: 13; 17: 1-2; 18: 4, 11; Philippians 3: 6; Hebrews 4: 1-11; 10: 24-25
2.0 WHAT IS THE SABBATH DAY
Seventh day is set aside as a day of rest and made holy by God, begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday (Nehemiah 13:19; Leviticus 23: 32) as a sign respecting two events:
- God rested after having completed Creation in six days (Genesis 2: 1-3)
- The Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5: 12-15)
All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ (Colossians 2: 16-17). If Joshua had given the people the rest that God had promised, God would have spoken later about another day. As it is, however, there still remains for God’s people a rest like God’s resting on the seventh day (Hebrew 4: 8 – 9)
3.0 WHY TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH DAY
Observation and remembrance of Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20: 8-11; 31: 12-17; 35: 1-3; Leviticus 23: 3; Deuteronomy 5: 12; Isaiah 40:28)
HE would give mankind rest from their labors in trying to make themselves acceptable before God. For whoever receives that rest which God promised will rest from his own work, just as God rested from his (Hebrews: 4:10).
4.0 HOW TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH DAY
Thirty-nine categories of activities prohibited on Sabbath are listed in Halakha (Jewish law), especially the Talmud (Tractate Shabbat) Exodus 35: 3; Leviticus 23: 1-3; Numbers 28: 9-10;
Deuteronomy 5: 13-15; Isiah 58: 13; Nehemiah 10: 31; 13: 19;
Rest in the work of Christ on the cross (Hebrews: 4:9–11) Let us, then do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith (Hebrews: 4:11; Mathew 7: 12; 12: 1-14; Mark 2: 23-28; 3: 1-6; 6: 2; Luke 4: 16; 6: 1-11; 13: 10-17; 14: 1-6; John 5: 1-18; 9: 1-24; Acts 13: 13-14, 42, 44; 16: 13; 17: 1-2; 18: 4, 11; Philippians 3: 6; Hebrews 10: 24-25)
5.0 BENEFITS TO OBSERVE THE SABBATH DAY
The LORD says, I will bless those who always observe the Sabbath and do not misuse it. I will bless those who do nothing evil. You will find the joy that comes from serving me. I will make you honoured all over the world, and you will enjoy the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob. I the LORD, have spoken. (Isaiah 56: 1-8; 58: 14)
We can cease from our own works or self -efforts in trying to make ourselves acceptable before God (Hebrews: 4:9–11; Mathew 5: 6; 11:28-30; Hebrews 4: 1-4, 7-11)
6.0 PANISHMENTS IF NOT OBSERVED THE SABBATH DAY
Whoever does not keep it, but works on that day, is to be put to death. “The man must be put to death” (Exodus 31: 14-15: 35: 2; Numbers 15: 32-36) The weekly Sabbath was still to be kept even after Jesus’ ascension (Matthew 24:20; Hebrews 4: 5-6)
