YHVH (God) and Yeshua (Jesus) both tell us over and over throughout scripture to keep His instruction, His statutes and commands. We are told in scripture that His commands are forever, for all generations.
While ‘the law’ contains much information, let’s take a look at just the biblical Sabbath.
Are you aware it is one of the Ten Commandments?
When I do a search for Sabbath/Shabbat in a bible app, I get 91 references in the Old Testament and 55 references in the New Testament (KJV). Let’s take a look at some of the foundational scripture:
Genesis 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
And we see this in Exodus 31:12-18
The Sabbath Law
12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’” 18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
Let’s take a look at some facts regarding Sabbath:
1. God Himself worked six days and rested on the seventh.
2. God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath
3. The Law consists of many teachings, but the Ten Commandments were written in stone, by God Himself. The description of the Sabbath is the lengthiest of the ten commands. Maybe this is important?
4. God tells us to “remember” the Sabbath. Why? Because He knew we would forget…
5. The Sabbath is a sign between us and God for all generations.
6. He who does not honor the Sabbath will be put to death.
7. He who does not honor the Sabbath will be cut off from his people.
8. Direct quote of God: “It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever”
9. The last time I checked, forever still means forever. What does Webster’s have to say about it? “for an endless time; for all time”
Some will say that these commands do not apply to the church today because we are not ancient Israel. I have studied this in depth, and WE ARE Israel, if we are believers.
Either we are descendants of the scattered ten Northern Tribes of Israel, or if purely Gentile believers, we are grafted into Israel as described in Romans 11.
And then, there is this:
Galatians 3:29
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Some will say we are not Israel, and yet, the same people claim that we belong to the New Covenant, ushered in by Messiah. The New Covenant is described in Jeremiah 31 and in Hebrews 8. Both descriptions say the New Covenant is made with Judah and with Israel. Gentiles are not mentioned.
Revelation tells us about New Jerusalem coming to earth, and there will be twelve gates of entry, each named after a Tribe of restored Israel (no longer separated into Judah and Israel):
Revelation 21:11-13
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
And Revelation 22:14 tells us who can enter these gates:
“14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Like it or not, admit it or not, if you are a believer in Christ, then you ARE ISRAEL. I will post a full blown study with scripture to prove this point later…
In the meantime, if we ARE Israel, then God’s comments like “throughout your generations” and “perpetual covenant” do apply to us today.
Besides, God says the Sabbath is a sign between Him and His people. Who doesn’t want to take part in that? Do you want to reject that? And if you do reject that? What are the consequences?
Maybe, just maybe, Jesus gives us the answer in Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
If the Sabbath is a sign between God and His people, and we reject that sign, will we not be recognized? Something to ponder. We don’t want to get this one wrong.
As for me and my house, we will honor the Sabbath.