Content

A. Introduction
B. Worship place in the OT Time
i) Size of worship place (Tabernacle) as per God’s instruction:
ii) Who alone could enter inside the worship Place (TABERNACLE)?
iii) Sacrifices and Offerings were the Ways of Worship in Tabernacle (worship place)
iv) What did the Priests do inside the Tabernacle Everyday and on Sabbath?
v) What did the Common people do everyday and on the Sabbath?
vi) Regulations for Sabbath
vii) What does Holy Convocation on Sabbath in Leviticus 23:3 mean?
viii) One Designated Place of Worship
If C. If Sabbath was purely a Day of Rest, on which days Israelites gathered for Corporate worship?
D. What about OT Passages which talk about Sabbath in Positive ways? Do they indicate Sabbath as a
a day of worship?
i) The Sabbath is a delight and honorable (Isaiah 58:13)
ii) The Sabbath was a blessing for both Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 56:2-8).
iii) Prophecies describe a worship of God that includes the Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23)
iv) Prophet Ezekiel said Sabbath as worship day (Ezekiel 46:3)
E. What about Jews Synagogue Gathering on the Sabbath in the NT?
i) Origin of Synagogue
ii) Should NT believers use Sabbath as Day of Worship? Why did Paul go to
Synagogues on Sabbath?
F. Did Jesus observe the Sabbath? What Should Christians do?
G. How does the NT record Jesus Teaching about Sabbath? Detail study
H. Does Matthew 24:20 promotes keeping of Sabbath?
I. Works prohibition on Sabbath itself suggests it is Ritual/ceremonial
J. Situation of Believers in First century Roman era and their day of worship
K. Observe Sabbath as it was given in the old covenant or ignore it completely
L. Does Hebrew 4:9 (there remains therefore a Rest for the people of God) prove Sabbath
observation in the NT?
A. Introduction

Sabbath is one of most controversial topic for modern day NT believers. It has been the subject of debate for many
decades, there are verses in the bible that seem to support Sabbath observation and there are also verses that nullify
the Sabbath. In this article I will discuss the topic in detail and I will explain all the texts that talk about Sabbath to
my best ability. Sabbath misconception arises because of our modern day thinking of REST DAY which we
customarily associate with worship. But this is not quite right in the primitive era. Before getting into detail let me
make my point clear: There is nothing wrong worshiping God on Sabbath (Saturday) however it becomes a
hindrance when one considers Sabbath or any specific day as an essential part of salvation. To understand how and
why Sabbath was purely a Day of Rest and not day of worship in its original intention in the old covenant system, we
first need to study the pattern of worship and place of worship in ancient Israelites society.
B. Worship place in the OT time: The worship pattern in the OT system was entirely different; today we have
right to education, we have bible in our own home, and have family gathering. But in primitive ages things were very
different. Writing paper and pen didn’t exist yet; the only available materials were animal skin and papyrus which
were very expensive. Not all people were educated, only selected people entrusted to write received some sort of
written technique to write history. Even in Israel history, not all Israelites were educated to write and read,
everything was passed down through oral tradition which began to be written down when scripts and written letter
were invented many centuries later. The only written document for Israelites was what Moses wrote “Book of the
Covenant or also called the Scroll’ (Exo 24:4-7; Hebrew 9:19) beside the stone Tablets written by God himself. For
many centuries Jews had no access to written document of the Law because it was kept only at the Temple, and only
the priest could access, it was not available to the public. We see in 2 King 22:8 where the scroll was found by the
High Priest Hilkiah in the Temple during King Joshia (16th King of Judah) and was read out in Public and celebration
of Passover was done according to the scroll. This means common people and even the king really had no access to
scroll. If they had scroll in their own home this narrative will be useless. The same way after their exile, the Jews lost
everything when temple got destroyed. The only time scroll was reported is in Nehemiah where they found the Law
and the Levites began to read in Public (Neh 8:2-14). This could be the same scroll of Joshia’s day or be just a copy;
the point is scripture/scroll was not as common stuff everyone possessed, it was limited to few selected people in the
temple. After the exile the work of copying was solely given to few trained people whom we called them Scribes in
the NT. That is why the scribes in the NT were regarded as scholars who understood the Torah. The whole point is
there was no such thing as corporate gathering/worship and scripture reading or family devotion on the Sabbath as
we expect in today’s scenario. When we look at the worship place in the OT as well, it was limited only to certain
group such as Levites and High Priest who would do the work in the small size house called Tabernacle (Temple).
Let’s discuss in detail the worship system and the pattern.
i) Size of worship place (Tabernacle) as per God’s instruction: When we look at the structure of Tabernacle, it’s
hard to imagine corporate worship under this system: Exodus 27:18: “The length of the outer court was 100 cubit
(150 Ft) while the Breadth was 50 cubit (75 Ft)” which is little bit bigger than basketball court. The Tabernacle
dimension is given in Exo 26:8, 16: “the Length of the Tabernacle was 30 cubits (45 Ft), the Breadth was 10 cubits
(15 Ft) Fig.1. The inner Sanctuary (Holy of Holiest) was 10 cubit (L), 10 Cubits Breadth (B) and 10 Cubits Height
(H) [15 Feet x 15 Feet x 15Feet)]. Do we really expect Israelites to come and worship God together in such small
area? The same way Solomon Temple had the size of outer court 180 Ft (Length) x 90 Ft (breadth); the temple with
90 Ft (Length) x 30 Ft (Breadth); Holy of Holiest with 30Ft x30 Ft x 30 Ft dimension. See Fig.1 below.

Fig 1. Dimension of Tabernacle under Moses and Solomon’s temple

ii) Who alone could enter inside the worship Place (TABERNACLE)? The only groups of Israel who can enter
the court and access to Tabernacle were Levites (Number 3:7: “The Levites are to perform duties for Aaron and for
the whole community at the Tent of Meeting) through rotation. The population of Levites alone during Moses’ time
was 22,000 according Number 3:39. The common people had no access to enter outer court or come near to the
Tabernacle (worship place), it was a death penalty: Number 18:21: “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel
for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting (Tabernacle), 22. From
now on the Israelites (common people) must not go near the tent of meeting (Tabernacle), or they will bear the
consequences of their sin and will die.23.It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting (Tabernacle)
and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to
come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites.
iii) Sacrifices and Offerings were the Ways of Worship in Tabernacle (worship place): When we look the way
OT people worshiped God, there is no record of Israelites gathering together at common place or in Tabernacle. The
only common thing we see as the heart of worship was through their Sacrifice, gifts and Offering. Prior to Moses we
see how people worshiped God--in the case of Noah, he worshiped God through animal sacrifice (Gen 8:20),
Abraham worshiped God through his Sacrifice (Gen 12:8), Jacob worshiped God by offering drink offering (Gen
35:14). Similarly, worship system in the Sinai Covenant was also purely through animal Sacrifice and offering, we
see this in Exo 3:13: ‘And God said to Moses… When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship
God on this mountain”. .v.18: ‘And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the
king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a
three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may offer sacrifice to the LORD our God.’[Exo 5:3: “Now let us
take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God…” There are other instances
which equate Sacrifice as worship: 2 King 17:36: “But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with
great power and an outstretched arm, him shall you fear, and him shall you worship, and to him shall you do
sacrifice. Moreover, when the OT talks about Israel idolatry or worship of false God, it is by their sacrifice and
offering to these deities (Jer 19:13, Jer 44:3; Deu 32:17; 1 King 12:17-30 read them), when Israelites worshiped the
Golden Calf it was by offering Sacrifice to it (Exo 32:8). We also see the pattern of worshiped by offering sacrifice
as in Elijah and prophet of Baal (1 King 18:37). The pattern of worship being by offering and Sacrifice is seen in
Isaiah 19:21: “So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will
acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings. Jerusalem which is a Place of
Worship is always called place of animal Sacrifice [2 Chronicle 7:12: ‘the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple For SACRIFICE’]. The Book of
Hebrew 10:1 says Sacrifice was the means of worship in the OT: Hebrew 10:1: “For the law is only a shadow of the
good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the SAME SACRIFICES offered year after year,
make perfect those who draw near to worship”. So from the above discussion we should understand that the OT
worship system was purely through their sacrifices and offering-- this was the heart of worship system. Today we
have churches everywhere, we have bible in every house we have family time and fellowship. Back then when
someone wanted to worship God, he would bring his offering, gifts, animal etc and the priest would offer them at the
altar of burnt offering on his behalf (see fig 2).

Fig.2. Lay out of Tabernacle of Moses

iv) What did the Priests do inside the Tabernacle Everyday and on Sabbath?
As far as the bible is concerned the Levites (priests) performed all the burnt offering, animal sacrifice, drink offering
etc on behalf of all the Israelites on Everyday Basis and even on Sabbath in the Tabernacle--this is the heart of
worship system in the old covenant system. We read in Number 28:2: “Give this command to the Israelites and say
to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.3.
Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the LORD: two lambs a year old without defect, as a
regular burnt offering EVERYDAY. 4. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in
the evening..9. On the SABBATH DAY, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its
drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil….” It was also
the work of the priest to enter the Holy Place every day including on the Sabbath to tend the Lamp and set up table of
showbread: Lev 24:8: “Every Sabbath day he (Aoron and his sons) shall set it in order before the LORD continually;
it is an everlasting covenant on behalf of Israelites”. Nowhere in the OT God command common people to approach
the Tabernacle, it was only the priests who would do all the rites: 1 Chronicle 23:31: “They (Levite) are to stand
every morning to thank and to praise the LORD, and likewise at evening, 31. And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto
the LORD in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts”. In the NT, Jesus said (Matt 12:5) only the Priest
worked in the temple on the Sabbath. In the OT the worship place (Tabernacle) was so holy that common people
had no access.
v) What did the Common people do everyday and on the Sabbath? When Israelites wanted to worship God by
offering their gifts, firstfruits, tithe, thanksgiving, animal sacrifice, sin offering related to skin diseases, touching
unclean things, intentional sins, unintentional sins or any type of sin committed, they would come to the priests
bringing their gifts/offering as per described by the law and the priests would offer them at the altar of offering on
their behalf. This was daily routine at the tabernacle however all these were temporary suspended on the Sabbath day
for common people. On the Sabbath only the priest would do what was prescribe for the Sabbath offering (Num
28:9-11). The common people would observe Sabbath at their respective tent by Resting, complete rest refraining
from any activities. There was no such provision for common people to come together for worship at Tabernacle.
Every time the OT talks about SABBATH, it is connoted with REST and not WORSHIP. The Hebrew word for
worship is Shachah or abad and is never associated with Sabbath in the OT. In today’s world our REST day is
automatically equated with family time, worship and corporate worship but this is not how it was in OT time. In the
OT, Sabbath was purely a day of Rest and has many regulations among which Worship is totally missing:
vi) Regulations for Sabbath
For the first time when Sabbath regulation was given the rule were ‘no one should go outside their home and no
cooking’ on the Sabbath (Exo 16:22-29). Even starting / kindling fire was profaning Sabbath (Exo 35:2), collecting
woods from the ground itself was considered profaning Sabbath (Num 15:32-35), letting someone else work was
also profaning Sabbath (Deu 5:14), doing selling and buying was also profaning Sabbath (Neh 13:15-19), doing
anything that please us was also considered profaning Sabbath (Isa 58:13). The penalty for breaking was Death by
stoning (Exo 31:15, Exo 35:2). According to old covenant system, there is one commandment that you cannot break
twice, that is Sabbath law, the first time you break, your death. .
Exo 16:22: ‘This is what LORD meant Tomorrow is a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the
LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, all that over put aside to be kept until morning." 24. So
they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm 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. See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath;
therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let NO MAN Go out of
His Place on the seventh day. 30. So the people rested on the seventh day”.
Exo 20:10: “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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your
towns’.
Exo 31:14. 'Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who
do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15. For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day
is a day of Sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death.
Similarly, in Exo 35:2: “Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a Sabbath of
complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3"You shall not kindle a fire in any
of your dwellings on the Sabbath day”.
Number 15:32: “While the Israelites were in the wilderness, 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.
Deu 5:14: “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 male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any
foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.
Jer 17:21: “Thus says the LORD, "Take heed for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the Sabbath day or bring
anything in through the gates of Jerusalem. 22. You shall not bring a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day nor
do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers. 23. But they did not listen or inclined
their ear..24. But it will come about, if you listen attentively to Me," declares the LORD, "to bring no load in through
the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to keep the Sabbath day holy by doing no work on it. 25. Then kings
who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will
come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem and this CITY
will be inhabited forever. 27. But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load and
coming in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates and it will devour
the palaces of Jerusalem and not be quenched”
Neh 10:28-31: Israelites (after their exile) who were committed to obey the Law of God given to them by Moses
decided to do something: 31. "When the neighbouring 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”.
Neh 13:15: “In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and
loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this
into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.16. People from Tyre who
lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to
the people of Judah. 17. I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this wicked thing you are doing-
Desecrating the Sabbath day?. Prophet Nehemiah warned them and did something: 18. “Did not your fathers do the
same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by
profaning the Sabbath.19. When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the
doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no
load could be brought in on the Sabbath day”.
Isaiah 58:1: “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 13: If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own
pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting
from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word.”
There is no indication in the bible God punishing Israel for not worshiping Him on Sabbath-he punished them for
profaning Sabbath day by working/doing normal activities on the Sabbath day. The primary focus was resting, not just
for them even animals and hired workers. The actual Sabbath regulations if we are to follow as per OT commandments
we cannot work or let anyone work which means you cannot use electricity, you cannot travel in vehicle which run by
combustion (fire), cannot use Phone run by battery, you cannot talk with people on phone to discuss anything of your
pleasure, you cannot cook, you cannot use any public utilities because your making somebody else work, you cannot
buy or sell or do any transection even online money transfer etc etc.
vii) What does Holy Convocation on Sabbath in Leviticus 23:3 mean?
Some people quickly points to Lev 23 and say Sabbath is day of worship /corporate gathering because Holy
Convocation is spoken. This is wrong for many reasons, let’s see: Lev 23:3: “For six days work may be done, but on
the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest (Sabbath Sabbatown), a holy convocation (miqra). You shall not
do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings (moshab). The Hebrew word ‘miqra’ can be translated
as ‘reading’ (Neh 8:8), sacred time, sacred occasion etc. The same word is used in Exo 12:16 for Passover observed in
their own home in Egypt. But none of them come together for worshiping in one place, in fact God told them to
remain in-door till morning in vs 22. In Hebrew concept when the phrase ‘Holy Convocation (miqra)’ is used the
primary meaning is sacred occasion when ‘no work can be done’. The weekly Sabbath and the annual festivals were
occasions to worship and praise God for the abundance of his physical blessings and for saving Israel from bondage in
Egypt. But this worship and praise for the Sabbath day could be given to God in the Israelite’s participation in REST
itself (thus experiencing the blessings of LORD through rest). The actual focus and meaning is completed in their
respectively dwelling place, not to one common place for worship. The Hebrew word for ‘dwelling place’ is
‘Moshab’- used in the OT to refer to inhabited place, home. This word is used in Exo 35:3 “kindle no fire at your
dwelling (mowshab), Lev 23:17: “You shall bring in from your dwelling places (mowshab) two loaves of bread for a
wave offering. Lev 25:29: “And if a man sells a dwelling house (moshab) in a walled city. In Ezekiel 28:2 it is
translated as ‘Seat’ also in 8:3, 6:6: “In all your dwelling places (moshab) the cities (he arim from ayir) shall be laid
waste’. To simply put it, Israelites need not go to one place and then REST together, they did at their own home and
this was how they participate. Moreover Leviticus 23 was given when the Tabernacle was still in function; no common
people were allowed to approach the site. Before Lev 23 God already said ‘no one shall come out from their home’ in
Exo 16:29. Sabbath in its original institution wasn’t even for worship at their own home, they didn’t have bible or
scroll to read together at their own home yet. The scenario was totally different. Lastly, among the Holy days
mentioned, weekly Sabbath is the only day associated with RESTING at their Dwelling Place (home).
viii) One Designated Place of Worship
The question now that faces us is if the Sabbath was designed purely as a Day of REST, when and where the Ancient
Israelites worshipped their God. To understand the depth of this issue, we need to understand the worship place
instituted in the old Covenant and then we will see on which days Israelites come together for corporate worship. Let’s
see the worship place first: We read this in the book of Deuteronomy.
Deu 12:1: “These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the LORD,
the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth.2. You shall utterly destroy all the
places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and
under every green tree. 3. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire;
cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. 4. You must not worship the LORD your
God in their way. 5. But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your
tribes, to establish His NAME there for His dwelling, and there you shall go. 6. There you shall bring your burnt
offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your vows, your freewill offerings, and the
firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7. There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God,
and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you. 8. You shall not do at all what we
are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes; 11. then it shall come about that the place in
which the LORD your God will choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you: your
burnt offerings…to the LORD. 12. "And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and
daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion or
inheritance with you. 13. Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every places you see, 14. But in the
place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do
all that I command you…17. "You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil,
or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your vows or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand.
18 You must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which he choose you your sons, servants …Levites who
is within your gate…32. Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away
from it”. We see the commandment for one place of worship is very clear, Israelites were commanded not to worship
God in any place they want, and they were to go to that PLACE only where GOD will put HIS NAME. To that place
they will offer their Tithe, sacrifice, sin offering, freewill offering etc etc –this is the very heart of worship pattern laid
down. In fact they were told not to add or negate this rule. It was in Jerusalem where God put His Name: 2 Kings
21:7 "In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever (see
2 Kings 21:4, 2 Chronicle 12:13). The worship pattern and place was so much emphasized that when Israelites broke
this rule, they often lapsed into idolatry. We see this in 1 King 12:25-33 where Jeroboam instituted new place of
worship in Bethel and Dan instead of Jerusalem led Israelites into apostasy of Golden calf worship. He even changed
the worship day of the Feast of Tabernacle on 15th Day of the Eight against the prescribed month i.e. 7th Month (v.33).
C. If Sabbath was purely a Day of Rest, on which days Israelites gathered for corporate worship?
As I pointed out before Sabbath was purely a day of Rest, other days were working day on which Israelites would
come and offer up their sacrifice, offering, tithe, freewill, sacrifice for sins etc etc through the Priest. This was their
daily worship system. However there are days when all Israelites were asked to come as a one congregation for
corporate worship, they were: the Passover (also called unleavened Bread), the Pentecost and the Feast of
Tabernacle. Since Passover and Feast of Unleavened bread are closely associated, the bible sometime use the
technical term Passover to denote Feast of Unleavened Bread and vice-versa (Ezekiel 45:21, Luke 22:1). Only on these
three Feasts corporate worship was allowed and that also in one Specific Place (Jerusalem): Detail picture of worship
day is seen in Deuteronomy 16 right after regulation for place of worship is given in Deu 12. Let’s read it carefully:
Deu 16:1: “Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, because in the month of
Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2. You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover
sacrifice from the herd or flock in the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for His Name. 3You must not eat
leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left
the land of Egypt in haste... 5You are not to sacrifice the Passover animal in any of the towns that the LORD your God
is giving you. 6You must only offer the Passover sacrifice at the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling
for His Name. Do this in the evening as the sun sets, at the same time you departed from Egypt. 7And you shall roast
it and eat it in the place the LORD your God will choose, and in the morning you shall return to your tents. 8. For six
days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day you shall hold a solemn assembly to the LORD your God,
and you must not do any work. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): 9. You are to count off seven weeks from the time
you first put the sickle to the standing grain. 10And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with
a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you, 11and you shall rejoice
before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters,
your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the
widows among you. 12. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully follow these statutes. The Feast of
Tabernacles: 13. You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of
your threshing floor and your winepress. 14And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your
menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.
15For seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place He will choose, because the LORD
your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that your joy will be complete. 16.
Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast
of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD
empty-handed. 17. Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD your God has
given you”.
Similar regulation is seen in Exodus 23:14: “Three times a year you are to celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You are to
keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to
eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before
Me empty-handed. 16.You are also to keep the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits (Pentecost) of the produce from
what you sow in the field. And keep the Feast of Ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles) at the end of the year, when
you gather your produce from the field 17. Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD”.
We see this regulation elsewhere: Exo 34:18: “You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days at
the appointed time in the month of Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you. For in the month of
Abib you came out of Egypt. 21. Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in the seasons
of plowing and harvesting, you must rest. 22: “And you are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) with the first
fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles) at the end of the year. 23.
Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel”. It is also necessary to
know that in the old covenant, the worship was done solely by their sacrifice, grain offering, drink offering, free
gifts, tithe, their Firstfruits etc as pointed out before—these are the very components of their worship system on the
appointed Feasts day (day of worship). The bible clearly says this: Lev 23:37-38: “These are the LORD's appointed
feasts (Passover, unleavened bread, Feast of first fruit, Pentecost, feast of trumpet, Day of Atonement and Feast of
Tabernacles), which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the LORD--the burnt
offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day…[see also Number 29:39: “You
shall present these to the LORD at your appointed Feasts, besides your votive offerings and your freewill offerings,
for your burnt offerings and for your grain offerings and for your drink offerings and for your peace offerings.
Similar concept is given in Amos 5:22:‘I hate, I reject your feasts, I don’t delight in your solemn assemblies. 22Even
though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them…
The feasts days were understood to be days of corporate worship, so much so even prophet Zechariah talked about
people coming to Jerusalem to Worship God during the Feast of Tabernacle Zechariah 14:16-21.
D. What about OT Passages which talk about Sabbath in Positive ways? Do they indicate Sabbath as a day of
worship?
Some passages in the OT do talk positive things about Sabbath but they do not automatically suggest Sabbath as Day
of worship. If you read it carefully the contexts indicate that the Jews profaned the Sabbath not by neglecting it as a
day of worship rather by neglecting the more ethical value of Life and by their physical works. Let’s drive in:
i) The Sabbath is a delight and honorable (Isaiah 58:13). Analysis of the context: Isaiah 58 is a call to repentance to
the house of Jacob their sins and rebellion (v.1) not to the Gentiles who lived around Israel. The book was written in
historical context when apostasy was in its peak in Israel under the old covenant. Although the Israelites had an
external appearance of worship (e.g., fasting), they did it for selfish reasons (verses 2-5). Although they claimed to
worship God, they did not obey his more important ethical laws: justice, liberty and charity to needy and poor (verses
6-7). If the Israelites did the weightier matters of the law, then God would be responsive to them (verses 8-11). He
would give physical blessings to the nation (verses 11-12). The same is true of the Sabbath. If the people were
obedient to the covenant they were under, if they kept the Sabbath as it was given and followed all the requirements
without complaint, then God would bless them. However there is no mention of Israelites breaking Sabbath by failing
to worship him on the Sabbath, they profaned by working on the Sabbath day.
ii) The Sabbath was a blessing for both Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 56:2-8). Analysis of context: Isaiah predicted that
God, through the Suffering Servant, the Messiah, would establish a new covenant with his people in the future (42:6-7;
49:8-10; 54:9-10; 55:1-3). However, in describing this new relationship, Isaiah also described old covenant customs
that in some cases apply only figuratively to the new covenant. In Isaiah 56:7, for example, he said that gentiles will
offer burnt offerings and sacrifices at God's house in that same context. Isaiah's main point is that God not only cares
for Israelites, but also for gentiles. God's house will become a place for all nationalities, and he will gather gentiles as
well as Israelites (verse 8). Eunuchs, who were excluded from the temple in the old covenant (Deuteronomy 23:1),
would also be accepted. The terms of relationship between God and humans would be changed, and a new covenant
would be made. God's house would "be called a house of prayer for all nations." Jesus quoted this scripture in Mark
11:17, but the real fulfilment of the prophecy is not in the physical temple, but in flesh in which the Spirit lives. If we
are to interpret Isaiah 56:2-8, as literal in the new covenant and argue for Sabbath keeping, then the same context
includes offering burnt offering and sacrifice which cannot be denied. However if we interpret these physical details of
offering and sacrifices according to spiritual counterparts, may we not interpret Sabbath-keeping in a spiritual way,
too? So the point is, the writer is using and expressing things that were relevant in his day (old Covenant) which of
course are obsolete in the new covenant. Furthermore, the passage never says if Gentiles choose to worship God on the
Sabbath or observes Sabbath as worship day either, it just says ‘he that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it and keep
his hand from doing any evil’ (v.2). Whenever the bible talks about Sabbath profaning, it is always related with
physical work on the Sabbath and never about worship issue. If Jesus can fulfil the spiritual meaning of Passover
Lamb without becoming sheep, burnt offering and sacrifices without becoming meat, bronze serpent without
becoming snake, he can also fulfil the spiritual meaning of the rest Sabbath foreshadow without becoming Saturday.
Also this passage is applicable to old covenant people as the chapter speak about future salvation which is yet to come:
v.1. Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness
be revealed .It is talking about Gentiles who become Jews or proselyte by circumcision and who keep the OLD
COVENANT (Sinai Covenant) not just Sabbath, let’s read 3.“Let not the foreigner who has JOINED himself to the
LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry
tree.”4. For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and
hold fast to my covenant (old covenant)”. This is applicable only under old covenant system.
iii) Prophecies describe a worship of God that includes the Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23):“From one New Moon to another
and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the LORD”. This is the only
place in the entire OT that connects Sabbath with worship. Firstly, it is not just Sabbath even the new moon are
included and no Sabbath keepers observe the new moon today. Secondly, if you read it carefully the verse doesn’t say
on every Sabbath and on every new moon, it says FROM one new to another New Moon and FROM one Sabbath to
another Sabbath. This means everyday, this is a Jewish way of saying all people will worship God everyday. If I say
from next Saturday to another Saturday you are free to go market—am I saying you can go only on Saturday or am I
saying you can go within this period? Obviously I mean the whole week, this is the same concept when it says ‘From
one Sabbath to another’. For emphasis from one new moon to another new moon is also clear.
iv) Prophet Ezekiel said Sabbath as worship day: Ezekiel 46:3: “On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the
land are to worship in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of that gateway. If you read the prophecy carefully
Ezekiel lived under the old covenant when the old covenant system of worship was in effect. We would expect many
elements that were true in his time which may not necessarily be true in the new covenant. He talks about animal
sacrifices, burnt offering, drink offering in the temple (Ezekiel 20:40; Ezek 45:17), he talks about uncircumcised
people who would not be permitted in the temple (Ezekiel 44:9), he talks about ritually unclean people (who touch
dead people) who would not be allowed in the temple (Ezekiel 44:25-27) etc. All this are obsolete in the new
covenant. Therefore, when interpreting the text we must keep these things in mind. Furthermore, before chapter 46:3,
the prophet talks about something very unusual about Sabbath: V 1. The Gate of inner court that face toward the east
shall be shut for six working days but on the Sabbath it shall be opened and on the new moon” The prophet is talking
about one particular day when the east gate remains open on Sabbath and on new moon. This is because the Prince
shall come through this Gate and offer his burnt offering, peace offering. The rest of the time the east gate remain
closed on Sabbath and on New Moon but this particular time it shall be opened. The prince is not Jesus because the
prince is a sinner who shall offer sacrifice for his on sins (Ezekiel 45:22). This is not talking about the New Covenant
law of Sabbath worship or else we have to worship God on the New moons and obey the sacrificial system too spoken
in the same verse. Also notice the worship place is ‘at the entrance of the Gateway’--Seriously are we supposed to do
this today? Not at all..
E. What about Jews Synagogue Gathering on the Sabbath in the NT?
Some folks argue that Jews, even Paul attended the Synagogue on the Sabbath day which indicates that Sabbath was
considered as day of worship in the first century. This is not simply true. To understand, this we need to know the
origin of synagogue in the inter-testament period.
i) Origin of Synagogue: The fact is, so far as we know from Scripture or Jewish history, there was no national
system of Sabbath-day worship sites or places of communal instruction throughout Israel’s history in the Promised
Land up to the captivity of Judah in the 530s B.C and the return of a remnant to Judea 70 years later. There were no
synagogues before the exile; there were no local meeting places in Israel before the exile, because there was no
commandment for weekly meetings. But after their captivity, the Jews who cannot go to Jerusalem started to
organize a local place where they can meet and read the Torah in their respective area. This is where Synagogue
system evolved. The synagogue became a miniature sanctuary to replace the loss of the Jerusalem Temple. We do
not know the exact time where the synagogue originated. Neither the Old nor New Testaments provide any
information about this development. But the Jews added the synagogue worship system, not based on biblical
command, but on need due to the loss of the Temple and the scattering of the people far away from the Promised
Land. There wasn’t anything necessarily wrong with the Jews setting up synagogues. They became an important
centre both for fellowship and for instruction of their faith. The New Testament does not condemn the practice nor
does it support, but it is nowhere commanded in the OT and NT. If we are to take the old Covenant worship pattern
laid down, synagogue system is something that is against to it. Regarding the day on which the Jews had their
worship service, it’s natural that it should occur on the Sabbath because that’s the only day they got together in the
synagogue. The Old Testament however does not indicate that the Sabbath was kept as holy through a meeting or
corporate worship either. The only time the NT talks about Sabbath being observed was by Resting: they rested the
Sabbath according to the commandment” in Luke 23:56--This was done in their homes; the bible doesn’t mentioned
women going to synagogue for worship on the Sabbath either. In fact the Scribes and Pharisees during the NT
modified the Sabbath to such an extent that if your home is within a “Sabbath day journey” you can go to any
synagogues or temple without breaking the Law in Acts 1:12 which the bible neither condemns nor approves.
ii) Should NT believers use Sabbath as Day of Worship? Why did Paul go to Synagogues on Sabbath?
There is nothing wrong using Sabbath as a worship day. The NT bible gives no restriction on which day we can have
corporate service. Some however argue that Sabbath is still binding and is the only day Christian should meet
because Paul often visited Synagogue on Sabbath. This however completely denies the true intention of the OT
Sabbath God gave to Israel. If we have to observe Sabbath we need to abide by the rules given in the OT as well.
Since the NT nowhere specifies Sabbath Rest is now for applied for worship we have no authority to use Sabbath as
worship day contrary to OT regulations either; it does not say only the day can be observe while drink and meat
offerings on Sabbath (Num 28:4-9) and all the regulations are obsolete either. If we have to observe we need to be
honest with its original regulations. On the contrary if we assumed and considered ourselves as the New Covenant
partakers we totally have to forgo Sabbath & its regulation as one package. Right after Jesus’s ascension the disciples
began gathering in the Temple Court and sometime at their own home everyday to break bread and fellowship.
Acts 2:46: “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere hearts.”
Acts 5:42: “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus
as the Christ.”
This practice predates Paul’s conversion. Gradually believers grew in number and persecution began, wherever they
flee they preached the gospel and many non-Jews (Gentiles) also come to Christ. By the time of Paul conversion
majority of the believers in Christ were already Gentiles (Acts 15:23) and by the end of Paul ministry the believers
were 90% Gentiles which is why Paul find it necessary to encourage them by his epistles like Corinthians,
Philippians, Ephesians, Roman, Galatians, Colossians etc. At first Paul right after his conversion focused his ministry
to his Jews brethren. We see Paul going to Synagogue on Sabbath to reach out his fellow No-Believing Jews in the
Book of Acts. If he wished to preach the good news do we expect him to go on Monday or Wednesday? He would
naturally choose Sabbath because that’s the day when the Jews would meet. He didn’t go to Synagogue on Sabbath
to teach the Jews how to keep Sabbath or edify the Jews about Sabbath observation; he went there to preach about
Christ, that’s it. Today if Sabbath pastor want to visit Christians church the most appropriate day is Sunday-that is
the day we gather. That doesn’t mean Sabbath pastor is observing Sunday, he is using the day as an opportunity.
Also if you read the book of Acts carefully Jews who come to Synagogue on Sabbath were non-Believers and it
happens that there was always fight and contention between Paul and the Jews: Paul went to synagogue on Sabbath
because he followed his principle-to evangelize the Jews first: Salvation came to Jews first and to Gentile” in
Roman 1:16. Let’s see for what purpose Paul went to synagogue on Sabbath.
a) Acts 13:14: “Paul went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. 15 after reading law and prophets the
rulers of the synagogues sent to them saying “men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the people
say on”. Paul stood up and explained to them about Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the Law of Moses from 16-
38: Notice his word in Verse 39 “And by him (Jesus) everyone who believes is justified from all things which could
not be justified by the Law of Moses”. The main purpose of Paul attending the synagogue was to convince his
brothers, the Jews. That meeting on Sabbath was not a believer Jews meeting. Paul didn’t go to talk about Torah and
about Sabbath keeping, he instead contrast by saying observing Law of Moses (Torah) won’t save you at all but by
Jesus alone. Acts 13:44 “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God”. This is
a continuation of the above explanation. Also in verse 43 “many Jews and devout proselytes (Converted Gentiles to
Judaism) followed Barnabas and Paul and ask them to repeat the message next Sabbath and PERSUED them to
CONTINUE in the grace of God” so they came again on next Sabbath. Paul come the next Sabbath to preach the
gospel after being pursued by the newly converted believers; they did not come to observe the Sabbath. Many Jews
however didn’t believed so Paul warned them in vs 46 “it was necessary that the word Of God be first preached to
you (to Jews…you are all unworthy of everlasting life and we shall turn to Gentiles”. For Paul Sabbath day
experience was not always pleasant; right after this the Jews stirred up the authority and throw Paul out of the city
(v.50). Some would argue and say even Gentiles come to Synagogue on Sabbath this means Gentiles also kept the
Sabbath in the NT time. But this is not simply true: it is true that many Gentiles believed in the God of Israel and
they become Judaism which is why NT called the Proselytes. They were not believers in Christ yet; they just
happened to believed God of Israel. They lived like Jews attended synagogue on Sabbath, circumcised like Jews and
kept Dietary law. This people were the one Paul often encountered, however after becoming believers the bible
doesn’t record them keeping Sabbath or going to Synagogues again.
b) Acts 16:13: ‘And on Sabbath day we went out the city to the riverside where prayer was customarily made and set
down and spoke to the women who meet there’ notice the “women who meet there”. It was the custom of Jews
women to meet there (river side) because there were no proper synagogues. The word “WE” used by Acts writer Dr.
Luke, implies that they were three, Paul, Luke and Barnabas if you look at the previous chapter 15:36.The fact is it
was not a Christian meeting but No-Believers Jews Jewish meeting. Read verse 14 “a certain woman named Lydia
who was God fearing and her occupation as selling purple…whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto thing
spoken by Paul”. This indicates that she was a Jews and the clothes were for mostly Levites and priests (OT Priest
dresses were Purple) that were usually wore in temple. She became believers and was baptized (v15). This makes a
clear cut conclusion that it was a Jewish meeting and not a believers (Christian) meeting. There is no record of Lydia
keeping Sabbath after her conversion.
c) Acts 17:2: “Paul, as his custom WAS, went in to them and for three Sabbaths REASONED with them from the
scripture”. Paul was a well learned man and with regards to Law as he himself testified, he was the Pharisees of
Pharisees (Phil 3:50). Particularly as it WAS his custom to keep the law before his conversion. Paul himself said “to
the Jews I became like Jews to win the Jews, to those law keeper I became law keeper (though I myself am not
under the Law) to win those under the Law, to those without the Law I become like one without the Law (though I
am not outside the Law but under the Law of Christ) to win those without the Law (1 Cor 9:20-21), to the weak I
became weak, to the strong become strong’ in 1Corthn 9:19-20. Paul is saying he has to be under the Torah (Law)
to win the Jews not that he is under the Law itself. That doesn’t mean he advocate stealing or murder etc which ware
the precepts of the Law. He is under the Law of Christ not the Law of the OT (Law of Moses). The Law of Christ is
the Law of the Spirit (Roman 8:2)- the law under the guidance of the Holy Spirit that was enforced after Christ death
and resurrection (Gal 6:2) -this is the new Covenant Law. The New Covenant laws are superior and exceled the old
Covenant law. Paul himself said in Gal 1:14 & Phil 3:6-7 if righteousness could be attained by keeping Torah, he is
that one man who is faultless, but in Christ he considered those things rubbish. To summarize Acts 17:2 was not a
Christian meeting but Jewish, non-believers’ meeting as the Verse 1 explains “where there was synagogue of the
Jews”. The purpose of the visit was also to REASON (Debate) with them, to prove Christ is the promised Messiah.
He didn’t go to synagogue on Sabbath day to edify the Jews on how to keep Sabbath or the Law. Sadly that
experience was not very good, the Jews stirred up the city and sought to kill Paul when they couldn’t find Paul, they
assaulted Jason and his household and Paul had to flee for his life (v.4-14).
d) Acts 18: 4“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and Pursued both Greek and Jews. This is the last
instance Paul going to Synagogue on Sabbath to convince his non-Believing Jews and Greek people who believe in
the God of Israel. But remember these groups were non-believers in Jesus. The following verse 6 of Acts 18 of the
same chapter says ‘the Jews opposed him so Paul got angry saying “your blood be upon your own head, I will go to
the Gentiles”. It is from this chapter Paul exclusively devoted his mission to Gentiles from chapter 19. Paul initially
favored his brothers (Jews) but to his surprise, the Jews always rejected and angered him. Paul not only went to
Synagogue on Sabbath day he did it every day to pursue both Jews and Gentiles. Using Sabbath principle above we
can also say Everyday is worship day, Market as worship place using Paul as our example.
i) Acts 17:17: “So Paul reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the
marketplace EVERYDAY with those who happened to be there”
ii) Acts 19:9: “Paul withdrew from them (Jews) and took away the disciples, reasoning EVERY DAY in the school of
Tyrannus 10. This continued for the space of TWO YEARS, so that those living in Asia heard the word of the Lord
both Jews and Greek”. Paul continued his mission to Gentiles for another two years and many Gentiles become
believers (Acts 28:30).
Things to consider from the book of Acts: Luke the writer of Acts is reporting what happened to Jews and
their response about the Messiah to a man name Theophillus (Acts 1:1-2). Luke is not telling us to observe Sabbath
today as much as he is not telling us to go to Synagogue like Paul did. He is not telling us to do like Paul-going to
Market Place and Reason with Jews and Gentiles Everyday (Acts 17:17, 19:9) either, nor is he telling us to go to
Temple Court in Jerusalem like disciples did in Acts (Act 2:46, 5:42). This is historical narrative of Christianity how
it started and how it flourished and not a commandment to be followed by readers. In short, even if we are to imitate
the book of Acts regarding Sabbath, it happens that the people who gathered happened to be always non-believing
Jews and Gentiles who had not heard about Christ. It was not even a Christian/believers gathering at all.
F. Did Jesus observe the Sabbath? What Should Christians do?
Some folks argue that Jesus kept the Sabbath and we should follow his footsteps by citing a passage from
Luke 4: 16. “Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the
synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, 17 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to
Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has
anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of
sight to the blind, to release the oppressed…the Lord’s favor 21. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture
is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus was on his mission to fulfil the Law on our behalf. He went to synagogue on the
Sabbath to announce and proclaim the fulfilment of long-awaited Jubilee year quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 (prophecy of
Jubilee year fulfilment). The commencement of Christ ministry is the fulfilment of the Jubilee year, the message of
Liberty not legalism, the Lord’s favor foretold in the OT. Immediately after the event, argument from religious
leaders began, so intense was that they tried to throw down Jesus from the cliff (v.29). The first experience of Jesus
about Sabbath was not very encouraging. Moreover, Jesus didn’t have to go to the temple, he cannot enter the Holy
place as he was not a Levites. So, the best place to announce the fulfilment of Jubilee was in synagogue on Sabbath,
that’s the time and place, best suited for him to proclaim to his fellow Jews. Some even argue that Jesus taught
people on the next Sabbath which means Jesus observe the Sabbath (v.31. Then he went down to Capernaum, a town
in Galilee, and on the Sabbath, he taught the people). Well Jesus preaching was not limited to one particular day he
preached every day for three and half year probably. If we are to use this argument, we can say that He kept Sunday
because right after his Sabbath preaching, the next day (at day break) he taught multitude of people (v.42) which was
Sunday. The bible says Jesus was born when the Torah was still enforced; he has to be under the Law, be
circumcised, and keep Jewish law until he fulfilled them by his death and resurrection. He cannot be the fulfilment of
the Law without obeying it perfectly first. He completely obeyed the law on our behalf, the law which we cannot
keep; he satisfied all the requirements for all humanity. Gal 4:4: “But when the time had
fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5. to redeem those under the law, that we might
receive our adoption as sons. Right after His death, the new Covenant run its course Hebrew 9:16-17: “for where
there is Covenant it is necessary for the death of the covenant maker. 17. For a covenant is valid only when people
are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. Jesus had to die first for the new covenant to start.
So the argument for Sabbath keeping using Jesus as our example is very weak.
If we are to take Jesus teaching of OT in positive case, it is not the Sabbath that we need to keep, it is the sacrificial
rites that he commanded. After healing leper what did Jesus said? Luke 5:14: “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show
yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them [Lev
14:4-10]. Some will quickly point and say ‘sacrificial law is done away because Jesus replaced that as our sin
offering’. However, under the OT Law, the sacrificial rites for leper were not because of the leper’s sin but to reflect
the holiness of God—is not God still holy? Jesus even paid temple tax [Matt 17:27] which was for both the Levites
priest and Roman. As a dedicated first century Jews boy, Jesus had to observe all the cultural customs as well such as
Hanukkah (John 10:22), Purim (John 5:1). Because of Jesus' historical context, Christians should be careful about
using his example in different circumstances. For example, we do not follow his custom of going to synagogues
today. Jesus never told anyone to keep the Sabbath nor did he even ask to observe in any of his sermon.
G. How does the NT record Jesus Teaching about Sabbath? Detail Study
Every time the NT talks about Sabbath and Jesus it is always in the negative side. If Jesus really wants us to honor
the Sabbath, won’t he at least avoid argument with Pharisees or talked about the goodness of keeping Sabbath even
though the Jewish leaders distort the true meaning? However, he intentional did thing to provoke the Jews regarding
Sabbath. According to the Gospels, what he did and taught on the Sabbath was consistently liberal. Although he give
positive feedback on OT Sacrificial system and OT law (Luke 5:14), Jesus never gave positive feedback about
Sabbath. He never advised his disciple to keep Sabbath in proper way unlike the religious leaders. Jesus sometimes
criticized the way the Pharisees approached customs that were good, including almsgiving, prayer and fasting
(Matthew 6:2-16). On these topics, Jesus clearly taught his disciples to continue the practice with better way (verses
3. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,6. But when you
pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is
done in secret, will reward you.17. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face”. Let us examine the
Gospels to see what the writers were inspired to preserve about Jesus' teachings regarding the Sabbath.
i) Matt 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST (Greek anapausis). 29.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 12:1-12: 1.At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath and His disciples became hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him 2. Look, Your
disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath! 3. But He said to them, “Have you not read what David
did when he became hungry, he and his companions. 4. How he entered the house of God, and they ate the
consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5. Or
have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6. Yet I say to you that in this place there is One Greater than the temple. 7. But if you had known what this means,
‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocents. 8. For the Son of Man is also Lord
of the Sabbath”. This passage is lengthy but if you read the account carefully it reveal many things. Matthew gospel
was written to Jews audience to convince that Jesus is the promised Messiah; it’s in him all the Law culminate and
fulfilled. Matthew records the fulfilment of Virgin birth (Matt 1:22-23) citing Isaiah 7:14; he record what Jesus said
about ‘I have not come to destroy the Law but to fulfil them’ (Matt 5:17) citing Isa 55:10-11; he records the
fulfilment of Messianic prophecy ‘that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet I will open my mouth in
parables’ in Matt 13:35 quoting Ps 78:2. Jesus was on his mission to fulfil everything about the Law on behalf of
Israel and obviously for all humanity. Matthew fully aware of Jews perception of Sabbath records what Jesus said
about Himself on Sabbath day. Right after he said ‘I will give you REST’ Matthew adds ‘At that Time Jesus went
through the grain field on the Sabbath’. Matthew is drawing sharp contrast between REST Jesus gives and the type
of REST the Jews expect on Sabbath. In other word, Matthew had in mind the fulfilment of Sabbath Rest in Jesus.
It’s interesting since Matthew wrote in Greek he used Anapausis (Rest), originally Jesus would have said this is in
Hebrew-Aramaic ‘Sabbatawn’ Sabbath-rest spoken in OT. The Greek word ‘Anapausis’ is the same word used by
Greek Septuagint (Translated by the Jews themselves) to refer to Sabbath-Rest in OT many times. This word appear
many times for Seventh Day Sabbath-Rest (Exo 16:23, Exo 31:15, Exo 35:2, Lev 23:3), Day of Atonement Sabbath-
rest (Lev 16:31), Feast of Trumpet Sabbath-rest (Lev 23:24), Feast of Tabernacle Sabbath Rest (Lev 23:39),
Sabbatical year Sabbath-Rest (Lev 25:4-5). In other word, all the Sabbath-Rest anticipated is found and fulfilled in
the Messiah. The disciples hearing Jesus would have known exactly what he said in the original Hebrew-Aramaic.
Now coming back to the Jesus’ argument about Sabbath with the Pharisees that day:
First, Jesus and his disciples were out of their house and coming back from far distance violating Exo 16:29 (Sabbath
commandment was people were to stay in their home on the Sabbath and not to pick up food off the ground); Exodus
34:21 says that the Sabbath applied to harvest season. The Pharisees could claim good scriptural support for
prohibiting grain-picking on the Sabbath. Jesus never said you misunderstood the Sabbath law application nor did he
say my disciple broke only your pharisaic tradition. Their violation was purely and clear cut profaning Sabbath as per
OT Torah. On several account when his disciple broke Pharisaic tradition such as Corban rule hand washing
ceremonial rites (Mark 7:1-14) not commanded in the OT Jesus sharply said to Pharisees you added man-made
tradition. But in this event he accepted their breaking and cites example to justify. Jesus went to the Law itself to
show that the OT Law can sometimes be set aside in time of human need. He cited the example of David breaking
the Law (verses 3-4): "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the
house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread — which was not lawful for them to do, but only
for the priests"(see the story from 1 Samuel 21:6-8). David and his men broke Showbread law by eating the
consecrated bread which was only permitted for the Priest to eat and that also on Sabbath day when the old bread
would be replaced by the new, the common people cannot eat that. Leviticus 24:8 says consecrated bread was only
for the priest: “This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, every Sabbath on behalf of the Israelites, as a
lasting covenant. 9. It shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him
from the LORD'S offerings by fire, his portion forever." David and his men were hungry, what they need was food to
satisfy their hunger not the keeping of showbread accurately. Jesus cited another example of breaking the Sabbath:
Verses 5-6: "Haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple PROFANE the Sabbath but
they are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here." For common people Sabbath breaking was a
sin and death penalty. However, for the priests it was not a sin. For them Sabbath was like other normal day, they
offered animal sacrifice and burnt offering, drink offering every day and on Sabbath as well (Num 28:2-10). Their
works include killing of animal, chopping of firewood, setting fire etc which are clearly heavy work prohibited on
Sabbath day. For the priests their works in the temple as a priest was more important than Sabbath observing which
is why they were justified and blameless. Consider this, if the disciples were not actually breaking the Sabbath rule it
will be irrelevant for Jesus to cite example of breaking the Law (showbread law & Sabbath law) from the OT. This
means Jesus clearly understood his disciples were profaning. The Pharisees didn’t say Sabbath is more important
than Sacrifice/offering either, this means both Jesus and Pharisees viewed Sabbath and sacrificial law in the same
level otherwise it won’t be comparable. Also since the priests were in the temple, in presence of God, Sabbath
observation was their secondary. Jesus remarked of himself on this is staggering ‘someone greater than the temple is
here’, talking about himself which means He is greater than the temple. For the Jews the Temple was the greatest
and most Holy place because of God’s own presence, the only one greater than the temple is whom they worshiped
in the temple itself, God. The logical conclusion is that he is also more important than the Sabbath. This means Jesus
is God himself, since the disciples were in the presence of someone who is greater than the temple, they action are
fully justified and accepted even though they broke the Sabbath. Jesus goes on to say not only is he Greater than the
temple but he is ALSO the master (Lord) of the Sabbath, the institutor of the Sabbath: ‘For the son of Man is ALSO
the Lord of the Sabbath’. Who could say this word but GOD alone. The Jews understood only GOD (Jehovah) was
the master of Sabbath, he is the one who gave the Sabbath--the OT always says ‘It is the LORD’S Sabbath. Jesus
being the Lord (Master) of the Sabbath he alone can decide which rules apply and to whom it can be nullified. Even
before his death and resurrection, he was more important than the Sabbath. In the eyes of Jesus his disciples were
innocent even if they intentional broke Sabbath ‘you would not have condemned the innocents’. Jesus is not claiming
he understood Sabbath rule better, his main emphasizes was he is more important the Sabbath itself. The same event
is recorded in Mark gospel with extra words of Jesus:
Mark 2:27: “And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”—some people say see
Jesus said ‘Sabbath was made for man’ which means we should keep it. This is to completely deny the context as
explained above. The fact is Jesus was not explaining why all man should keep Sabbath while his own disciples
broke it, the context is why Sabbath was given. The term man in Mark 2:27 could mean Jews in the context of
covenant. In Ezekiel 34:31: “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,"
declares the Lord GOD” Gentiles are called dogs in the NT even by Jesus Mark 7:28. His main message was the
purpose of the Sabbath—it was given to serve the need of man, not man made to serve the need of Sabbath when he
said ‘Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath’. In other word man is more important Sabbath. The
main point Jesus made was: sometime Sabbath regulation can be set aside according to the need of man, humanity
comes first then follows observing worship rules--Holy bread can be given to ordinary people when they are hungry.
Holy time can be used in an ordinary way when people are hungry or are in need of something.
Here are few points to consider: David and his men would be violating God’s commandment if they lie, or cheat or
murder or other moral principle etc. Perhaps the priests wouldn’t be justified if they committed other moral
principles—all these are morally are binding everyday under all circumstances. However, both David and the priest
were justified for violating showbread law and Sabbath rule as they are not moral law. This means Jesus viewed
Sabbath in the same level as rituals which can be set aside or compromised. It wouldn’t be logical for Jesus to cite
the above examples if Sabbath is moral law and the other two (showbread rule and sacrifices) are ritual, there is no
value in putting them in the same scale. Moreover to help us understand why Jesus cited the Priest profaning Sabbath
and being justified, we need to understand the role of the priest in the old covenant.
The Levitical Priesthood was more important than the Law itself
We can also see in this aspect: David who was both King and priest was a type of Messiah (Priest & King) which is
why David and his men was justified in eating showbread which was meant only the priest. The priesthood itself was
above the Sabbath law which is why the Priest could break the Sabbath. Similarly, Jesus who is the Messiah (both
King and Melchizedex priest Heb 5:6) is superior to Levitical priesthood and so He and his disciple were fully
justified even if they broke the Sabbath law. In the bible, the priesthood is treated more important than the Law itself.
In other word, priesthood is the reason why the Law was added or given- the priesthood was primary while the Law
(Torah) was secondary. We see this in Exodus 19, only when Israelites agreed to be a kingdom of Priest, the Law
was given to them; Exo 19:6; "And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and Holy nation. These are the words
you should say to the people of Israel." Then Israelites agreed and replied v.8. And all the people answered with one
voice all that the LORD has spoken we will do. And Moses reported back the words of the people to the LORD’.
Then from Exo 20 God gave Ten Commandments and other regulations which become the Torah (the Law of Moses
in which Sabbath was very much part of it). In the book of Hebrew, the writer also says the Priesthood was more
important than the Law-it was because of the priesthood the Law was given: Heb 7:11: ‘Now if perfection could have
been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this (priesthood) basis the people received the law), why was
there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? 12.For
when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well’. Now, which Law is Hebrew talking about that
need to be changed because of the change in Priesthood? The Sacrificial law? NOT AT ALL! Because the sacrificial
law already existed long before Moses, we see Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc performing animal sacrifice.
The Law spoken in this context is what the people (Israelite) received after they agreed for priesthood which is the
Torah (Law of Moses). It is this Torah (Law of Moses) which says only Levites can be a priest and not Judah (Heb
9:14: “For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about the priests).
It is this Law (Torah) that need to be changed because even the Priesthood has changed. Since the Law (Torah) only
functioned under the office of Levitical priests and if this priesthood is changed with new Melchizedex priesthood, it
means the Law that functioned under this new priesthood should be different from that of Levitical priesthood
otherwise there is no need of new Priestly order. Right after the death and resurrection of Jesus (new covenant
maker), the new covenant law (also known as Law of Christ or Law of the Spirit-1 Cor 9:20-21, Rom 8:2, Gal 6:2)
takes its course which embodied all the teaching of Jesus and apostles (there is not a single commandment or hints
about keeping the Sabbath in the teaching of Jesus and apostles). Not only is there any hint about Sabbath keeping,
the bible in facts tells us we all the believers are priests in that order: 1 Peter 2:5: “you also, like living stones, are
being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own
possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. John the writer
of Revelation also says: Revelation 5:10: “And hast made us unto our God, kingdom and priests: and we shall reign
on the earth. Rev 1:6: “and has made us kingdom and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. If the Levitical priest could break the Sabbath and be blameless because they are the priests
serving in the earthly sanctuary what about believers who are called as priests and that also of superior order
(Melchizedex)? This alone should satisfy the argument for Sabbath in the new covenant.
The Most Holy in the NT is not Sabbath Day but our Body: The only time when the NT talk about HOLY is not
about a Day it is our body, we are Holy because we the Temple where God lives (1 Cor 3:16). The priest could break
the Sabbath in the old covenant because of being a priest and also because of the Holy place (Temple) they worked.
We believers are both the Temple and Priest in the NT, logically we are above Sabbath regulation and so we should
not bother about Sabbath observation [we will deal covenantal system in another article].
Jesus' next activity gives a practical demonstration not only of his authority over the Sabbath, but also the proper use
for the Sabbath in the old covenant.
ii) Right after his argument with Pharisees Matthew records something interesting: Matt 12: 9-10: "Going on from
that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse
Jesus, they asked him, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?'" According to the OT Law healing was a type of work;
the Pharisees could well defend their point citing the Law which is why Jesus never said it’s your man-made
tradition. He knows the Pharisees were right according to the Law however he shifted the discussion citing the need
of man. Pharisees would rescue a sheep in a pit even if was on the Sabbath (verse 11) — thus even a sheep was more
important than resting on the Sabbath — and yet they were so strict that they didn't allow human needs, whether
hunger or healing, to be taken care of on the Sabbath. Jesus said "How much more valuable is a man than a sheep!
Therefore it is lawful to do Good on the Sabbath" (verse 12). If animal can be considered on Sabbath why not sick
human-that was Jesus’ main arguments. If you find something good that would help or serve the need of human go
first to it, Sabbath obedience is secondary. His teaching about Sabbath contradicts the Law and it is no surprise that
some Pharisees understood he claimed to be God when he exercise his authority over Sabbath and plotted to kill him
(verse 14).
Mark narration is slightly different than Matthew in this event. Particularly striking is the emotion of Jesus about
healing a man with shriveled hand on the Sabbath Mark 3:4: ‘And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath:
to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? 5: "He looked around at them in anger...deeply distressed at
their stubborn hearts". Jesus was angry at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were so much more concerned about
the holiness of a day than about the well-being of humans. Now is working a good thing or bad thing? If your family
is going to starve because there is no food on the Sabbath go and work and provide the need of your family, that is a
good thing, your saving life; providing the need of humanity is more important than keeping Sabbath regulation
accurately. If someone is sick and need medical attention fulfil the need of hat person even if it involved profaning
Sabbath rule go for it.
iii) Mark 1:21-22 — "They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and
began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the
teachers of the law." This verse doesn't tell us much about the Sabbath merely that Jesus happened to teach on this
day. Presumably he taught on other days of the week, in other locations, but this is the day on which he could teach
in a synagogue. The passage says that Jesus taught with authority. He also cast out demons with authority (verses 23-
26), and the people were amazed at his authority (verse 27). Luke 4:31-37 is a parallel account.
iv) Luke 13:10-17 — Unlike Matthew and Mark, Luke includes two more stories of Sabbath healings, and these
provide further information to us regarding Jesus' attitude toward the Sabbath. "On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in
one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent
over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, 'Woman, you are
set free from your infirmity.' Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God"
(verses 10-13). By using the words "set free" or "loose," Jesus was emphasizing liberation rather than healing. This
also provided the context for the comparison Jesus soon made. V.14: “The synagogue ruler complained ‘There are
six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath. The
Lord answered him, 'You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and
lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for
eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?' (verses 15-16). Since humans are more
valuable than animals, and animals can be loosed on the Sabbath — an ordinary, daily, mundane task — then
humans can be loosed on the Sabbath, too. His main point was to focus on the need of human and not to worry about
the rules, sick people need healing, hungry people need food etc all these were the need of that hour, keeping
Sabbath regulation was useless while their fellow human suffer and remain crippled. Jesus thoughtfully used Sabbath
not as a day to promote legalism (sticking to one strict rule) but to spread the message of Liberty and freedom—that
should be the real meaning of the Sabbath. We are free to do anything, any work, any help, and any good works.
v) A similar point is made in the next chapter. Luke 14:1-6 — "One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of
a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus
asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” (verses 1-3). As in previous
situations, the Pharisees had probably set the situation up to test Jesus. Jesus knew their thoughts and handled the
situation so expertly that he left them speechless. Jesus healed the man, then asked, "If one of you has a son or an ox
that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” (verse 5). Of course, these Jews
would rescue a child or animal on the Sabbath. Rescue was permitted, so healing ought to be permitted, too.
Consistently, whether alleviating minor hunger or healing major pain, Jesus pointed out that humanitarian needs took
precedence over the Sabbath. The day was supposed to benefit humans, not cause burdens for them. To work is to
worship; working is never sins so Sabbath breaking by working or doing work to serve the need of someone is never
counted as an offense.
vi) John 5:1-18 — The Gospel of John has some additional stories about Jesus' Sabbath activities, and they reinforce
the emphases we have already seen. On the Sabbath, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. And
he told the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (verse 8). The Jews accused the man of breaking the Sabbath
because he was carrying his mat. Why did Jesus tell the man to carry his mat? There was no emergency, and the man
was certainly capable of coming back after the Sabbath to get his mat. Jesus could have easily said, "You can carry
your mat today if you want, but to avoid offense, leave it here for now." But Jesus was not that conservative. He
wanted to emphasize human freedom — not only the man's freedom from his infirmity, but also his freedom to do
something on the Sabbath which Sabbath regulation actually prohibits. Imagine you are sick for 38 years and
confined to one place, how much load and things would have accumulated with you that you need to carry after you
are healed—that would be huge (probably 20-30 kg of luggage alone). The religious leaders were right in accusing
the man according to the Law because Jeremiah 17:21-27 & Neh 13:15-18 prohibit carrying any kind of load small
or big on the Sabbath. The Jews criticized Jesus for what he was doing on the Sabbath, but Jesus provoked them
even further by boldly saying ‘my father is working till today so I am working! (Verse 17). Jesus didn’t say hey guys
you misunderstood me, I am not breaking the Sabbath regulation but just your Pharisaic tradition or Hey guys what I
am doing is not actually working. Contrary to that he defended his action as purely a work by saying ‘my father is
working till today and so I am working’. In Jewish concept only GOD is above Sabbath rule because he has to work
in order to sustain and keep the universe running. When Jesus said he can and has to work on Sabbath like his Father
that is a claim to of deity or putting himself in the same level with God. The Jews understood his claim and sought
him to be killed. Let’s see some interesting things: vs. 18. “For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him;
not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with
God" (verse 18). Here the word for ‘breaking’ is ‘Eluen’-this is durative, imperfect active indicative which means
repeated action in the past (Past continuous tense in English). And even the word calling is ‘elegen’ which is also
imperfective active indicative (repeated action in the past). In other word John is saying: “Therefore the Jews sought
the more to kill him, because he was not only continuously breaking the Sabbath, but also continuously calling God
his Father, making himself equal with God.” John was not saying that the Jews thought he was breaking, rather he is
reporting that fact that Jesus broke Sabbath for which they sought to kill Him. If His statement was what the Jews
thought he could have clarified as he clarified elsewhere. We will cite some examples where John clarifies if the
Jews or audience thought wrongly. John 9:21-11: ‘but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we
do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of
the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the
synagogue.’ Here John clarifies why his parent said this. Similarly, in John 21:18-19: “Truly, truly, I say to you,
when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." 19. Now this He
said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God”. John here also clarifies what Jesus really means what
he said to Peter. Another event is regarding John the apostle whom Jesus loved: v.21 ‘Peter therefore seeing him said
to Jesus, Lord what shall this man do? 22. Jesus said if I want him to remain alive until I return what is this to you?
You must follow me’. 23. Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But
Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to
you?" John supplements what people misunderstood Jesus in his narration. Jesus for instance always clarified and
rebuked people when they accused him falsely, we see this in John 8:48-49: “The Jews answered and said to Him,
"Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 49. Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon;
but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me”. Here Jesus denied completely when he is falsely accused, he even
rebuked them. However when it comes to Sabbath breaking Jesus never accused the Jews of falsely accusing him
instead he defended his breaking. Similarly, John the writer didn’t say the Jews falsely accused Jesus either. This
means what Jesus did was purely breaking the Sabbath. Now, did Jesus always claim to be the Son of God and God
was his Father? Absolutely Yes! if this is true then his breaking of Sabbath should also be true as both are the charge
Jews made against him. By the way, we know from Hebrews 4:15 (was tempted but without sin) Jesus never sinned.
This means Jesus fulfilled and met all the criteria of Sabbath regulation by healing, by meeting the needs of
humanity, by allowing people to work in time of need even if it require Sabbath breaking--this should be the true
intention of Sabbath even within the parameters of old covenant law. If we imitate our Savior, we might conclude
that we are allowed to work, do activities which are good even if is clearly Sabbath breaking. At least John does
nothing to prevent such a conclusion.
Jesus put Sabbath in the same level of Ritual (Circumcision)
vii) John 7:22-23. Jesus pointed out the irony that the Jews did not allow healing on the Sabbath, but they did allow
circumcision, which is ritual rite. 22. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it come from Moses but from
the fathers) and you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23"If a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the
law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?" Here is the
thing, when a baby boy is born, the Jews circumcised the boy on the eight day not on any other day (Gen 17:12, Lev
12:3). But if the eighth day falls on the Sabbath, they have a dilemma, whether to break the circumcision law of
eighth day or break the Sabbath regulation because circumcision was purely a work, shedding blood and other rituals
were performed on that day. The Jews would choose the circumcision law over the Sabbath because a boy cannot be
real Jews (who would later be a Sabbath keeper) before entering the Abrahamic covenant first. The circumcision law
was more important than the Sabbath because the rite come not from Moses but from the fathers (Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob). Jesus affirmed this practice is authentic and nothing wrong, if this is so why is healing restricted on
Sabbath, after all the sick man need healing not the strictness of the Sabbath law. The Jews probably had no answer
for Jesus. This illustrates to us that the law of Circumcision is much more important that Sabbath law which implies
that Sabbath is not moral at least in Jesus’ view. It is obvious that in the OT circumcision was instituted not as a
moral law but as a ceremonial law. All the ceremonial laws of the OT were given only to Israelites alone and that
was which makes them the chosen race. When Gentiles wanted to celebrate any ceremonial feasts they can only
participate if they circumcised. However, this law was often neglected by Jews themselves. Many of the Israelites
did not circumcise in the wilderness. So they have to be circumcised including the old and the young, both small and
big by Joshua in Joshua 5:2-8. This shows that it is pure ceremonial otherwise they will be guilty of breaking for 40
years. The point is Jesus always put Sabbath in the same category of what we would call ritual such as temple
Sacrifice & showbread which can be broken depending on the need of humanity; he also equated and levelled
Sabbath with circumcision (which is purely a ritual). In fact he accepted that circumcision law is more important than
Sabbath law which is why he cited as his example. Now if Sabbath is a moral law which should not be broken at any
cost, there is no point of comparing with rituals (circumcision).
viii) In John 9:1-7, Jesus made mud to heal a blind man: “Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and
opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath" (verse 14). This had a spiritual meaning, of course: Jesus is the light of the
world, enabling spiritually blind people to see the truth. In this Sabbath day, Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must
do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work" (verse 4). Work must be done on the
Sabbath, Jesus said. The Jews, of course, objected to Jesus' work — and they objected to it being done on the
Sabbath. Making mud was against their law (Sabbath law prohibit even collecting anything from the ground-Num
15:32-36) and so was healing. He repeatedly did things that could have waited until sundown. He boldly claimed to
have authority to work on the Sabbath. There is not a single verse in the NT that records Jesus teaching his disciples
or audience the important of Sabbath or any hints to keep Sabbath. Yes, numerous scriptures admonish us to follow
the example of our Savior. In following his example, however, we must distinguish between his activities that were
based on the historical situation he lived in (going to synagogues & on Teaching on Sabbath in the synagogue, for
example). We see some of these more valuable and more important principles when we notice the context in which
the scriptures admonish us to do as Jesus did: We are to serve one another, as he served his disciples (John 13:14-
15). We are to love as he loved us (John 13:34; 1 John 2:5-7; 2 John 5). We are to accept one another, just as he
accepted us (Romans 15:7). We are to be humble, as he was (Philippians 2:5-7). We are to suffer without retaliation,
as he did (1 Peter 2:19-23). We should make sacrifices for one another, just as he did for us (1 John 3:16) many more
example can be cited.
Note: In all the above Sabbath arguments, there is no record of religious leaders accusing Jesus for not worshiping
God on Sabbath or going to the temple on the Sabbath or Jesus accusing them for not worshiping God on the
Sabbath. The only argument about Sabbath breaking was by doing work not about neglecting to worship. This means
even in the first century, Sabbath was considered to be a day of REST. The NT nowhere records corporate worship
service in the temple on Sabbath.
H. Does Matthew 24:20 promotes keeping of Sabbath?
“Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20). Some people will say See
Jesus said this which means He prohibit fleeing on Sabbath which by itself indicates he want us to observe the
Sabbath. But if you read the whole context the scenario has totally different story. This statement was given by Jesus
when asked by his disciples about the end time. Jesus is predicting about the destruction of Jerusalem temple. In
Luke the same event is reported: Luke 21:20-21: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize
that her desolation is near. 21"Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the
midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city. 23 But woe to those who are
pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days. For there will be great distress in the land and the
wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword..’ Jesus did not say they must not flee, instead he
said ‘the people of Judah must flee as well and those who are in the midst of her (Jerusalem) must leave’. This
indicates that he permits us to break Sabbath and run for their lives. The same picture is explained in detail by Him in
Matthew. Matthew 24:17-20:“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe to them that are with child, and to them
that give suck in those days! But pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day”. He
described the horrific scene and hurdles that would be: he described the difficulties a pregnant woman would face.
Not that it should be criminal for them to be with child, or a judgment on them but this expresses the miserable
circumstances such would be in, who, by reason of their heavy burdens, would not be able to make so speedy a
flight, as the case would require. The terrible scene is also understood from Jesus statement that those who already
escape must not come back to get some stuff as their life is more important. ‘Let him which is on the housetop not
come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes’ But
pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day”: Long journeys were prohibited by the
law on the Sabbath, Exodus 16:29. The Law of Moses did not mention the distance to which persons might go on the
Sabbath, but most of the Jews maintained by tradition that it should not be more than 2000 cubits or 7 furlongs
known as Sabbath’s day journey (Acts 1:14). This distance was allowed in order that they might go to their places of
worship. Most of them held that it was not lawful to go further, under any circumstances of war or affliction. Jesus
taught his disciples to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath or in winter because that would hinder their
escape. Jesus placed Sabbath & cold winter as hindrances in time of war. He is not telling us to observe Sabbath as
much as he is not telling us to observe winter. The Sabbath in particular was a threat for people in Jerusalem during
war because Jerusalem city gates were always closed on Sabbath day, people were not allowed to go out or come in.
The Jews and the religious leaders were so strict with this regulation that they would prefer to die than escape by
breaking their Sabbath Law and would not allow anyone to break this law as well. This practice was instituted by the
prophet Nehemiah in Neh 13:19: “And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the
Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the
Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day”.
The only conclusion we can draw from this chapter is Sabbath, pregnant woman, winter, nurturing woman are listed
in the category of hindrance when apocalypse occurs.
Note: Christ description of this apocalypse is a judgment over the unbelievers Jews. Luke 21:23: “there will be great
distress among THIS PEOPLE (unbelieving Jews).
I. Works prohibition on Sabbath itself suggests it is Ritual/ceremonial
We can look at the situation in this way. All the ritual/ceremonial rites are often connected with only one specific day
or quantity specific, this is one way to identify them--for example circumcision was specific for eight day, feasts
were specific for specific day-Passover only on 14th Abib and all the Feasts were day-specific, Sacrifice for sins were
specific with exact quantity, drink offering were specific with exact quantity, burnt offering become unclean on the
third day (Lev 19:5-8), ceremonial cleansing of unclean women were specific for seven days (Lev 15:19), touching
of corpse remain unclean for seven days (Num 19:11), man who touched corpse become clean after sprinkling with
heifer ash on the Third and Seventh Day only (Num 19:19) etc etc. A spiritual-moral law however would have no
exceptions. It’s not enough for us to refrain from stealing, greed or sexual immorality on one day and commit it on
six others. We can’t refrain from worshipping idols on one day but do so on the other six. These practices are
intrinsically wrong, and are contrary to eternal, moral laws. These rules apply to us every day not just on Sabbath
day. But the Sabbath, in its major old covenant regulation, forbids work on one specific day each week. However,
work is not an evil, but something that is a necessary part of life. Work is permitted on the other six days of the
week. In contrast, lying is always wrong, because it is intrinsically a violation of a spiritual-moral law. Making a
graven image for purposes of worship or being disobedient to parents is always a sin. Yet, working is not wrong, and
was only ceremonially banned on the Sabbath and the annual festivals in a certain situation, that is, when the old
covenant was in force. Working, per se, is not sin. Its opposite, laziness, is condemned as morally unsound(1
Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12). However, keeping the Sabbath by not working is not based on any eternal,
spiritual-moral principle. Nor is it mentioned in the New Testament as a Christian requirement. We must conclude
that, at its heart, Sabbath regulations were ceremonial practices and not necessary for Christians to “keep holy.”
Paul’s letter to Timothy reveals something: 1 Tim 5:8: “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and
especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Paul says Christian who
doesn’t work is like unbelievers, to work is to worship. There is nothing wrong working on Sabbath. If your family is
hand-to-mouth and you need to work everyday go for it, provide the need of your family first, your serving the more
important thing than Sabbath. Similarly, he advice the churches elsewhere why they should work: 2 Theso 3:6-10:
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who
is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.7 For you yourselves know
how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food
without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a
burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves
as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling
to work shall not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are
busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.
J. Situation of Believers in First century Roman era and their day of worship
In the first-century Roman Empire, most Christians were poor people who would work everyday for their survival;
many were slaves and some of them had pagan, harsh masters (1 Peter 2:18). For many centuries the Roman Empire
didn’t even use a seven-day weekly cycle and there was nothing like resting day in Roman calendar. The calendar
that existed back then had Nundinal cycle of 8 days with the 8th day as market day, officially not as a resting or
worship day. The 7 days weekly cycle was adopted only during Emperor Constantine’s time in 321 AD when he
embraced Hebrew system—this is 300 years after the apostles. It’s true the Jews would have had their own Lunar
Calendar beside the Roman calendar in their local synagogues to determine their feast and Sabbath. But this was
limited within the Jews circle only. Majority of the Christian in Roman Empire used the 8 day-Nundinal calendar,
many would have no access to the method and system of Jews calendar. Because of this fact, Peter and Paul did not
have to answer questions about how Gentiles believers should keep the Jewish Sabbath or any other day holy.
Instead they were commanded to be loyal and be faithful to their masters (Ephe 6:5-9), they were commanded to be
obedient to any human institution because they all come from God (1 Peter 2:13, Roman 13:1). If Christians were to
observe Sabbath, Paul and Peter or other disciples would have devoted some time teaching the church how to keep
Sabbath despite of their daily busy scheduled but we find none. For one thing, first-century Jews did not believe that
gentiles had to keep the Sabbath. For another, the decision at Jerusalem, recorded in Acts 15, was that converted,
Spirit-filled gentiles were not required to become circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Little is said about the
Sabbath because it was not a problem. Instead, the Sabbath was a neutral matter, neither commanded nor forbidden
and was never considered as an essential part of salvation. People were free to rest on that day if they wanted to, or to
use the day in other ways, as long as they did what they did to the Lord (Romans 14:5-6). Likewise, the New
Testament does not say that any other day ought to be a day of rest. There is no command to keep the first day either
as a day of meeting or a day of rest. It is neither commanded nor forbidden. Christians are free to work these things
out for themselves. We are commanded to assemble together for worship, but we are not commanded when
(Hebrews 10:25), it’s a personal choice. The important thing is whether we have faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior; He is the test commandment, the centre of faith, the standard by which we will be judged.
K. Observe Sabbath as it was given in the old covenant or ignore it completely
We can see the severity of the Law if we are still under the Law from the mouth of Jesus himself.
Matthew 5:17-18: "Think not that I am come to abolish (katalou) the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill (plerosai). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled or accomplished (ginomai)”. The word destroy is ―kataluo means to
invalidate, or make defunct, or destroy (Greek Strong Conc 2647). Some will point and say see Jesus said “that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophet, which means he didn’t come to abolish the Law which means we still have
to keep Sabbath/Law but they left out the rest of the sentence which states ‟until is FULFILL‟. The word fulfil never
means perpetuate or in the state of continue. None of the Law did fail but all were 100% fulfilled by Jesus. The word
for fulfil is ‘plerosai’ -to fill to individual capacity to the extent it is meet, or accomplished (Greek Strong Conc
4137). This word is used for prophecy fulfilled by Jesus elsewhere. Matt 1:22 (that it may be fulfilled which was
spoken by the Lord through the Prophet Behold a virgin shall have a child and his name shall be called Immanuel,
Matt 2:23: ―that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets he shall be called Nazarene), it is also used in
Matt 2:15, 2:17, 23, 4:14, 8:17, 12:17, 13:35, 48, 21:4, 23:32, 26:54, 56, 27:9, 35 etc). Another word used here is
Ginomai-properly, to emerge, become, transitioning from one point (realm, condition) to another in fulfilling (Greek
strong Conc1096). This word also appeared in Matt 24:34, Luke 21:31. When Jesus began his ministry, right from
his birth he began fulfilling all the OT Law Prophets and Psalms concerning one by one. That is why he said in John
19:28: ―Jesus knowing that all the scriptures were now accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled said I
thirst. Vs 30 ―he said it is finished. Jesus fulfilled everything on the cross, nothing is left. We see similar situation
in Luke 16:16-17: The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom
of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away
than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail. Nothing failed but Christ fulfilled it 100% at the cross. Jesus rightly
said not one will be left unfulfilled as he clearly states that he fulfilled them all: Luke 24:25-26 ―And He said to
them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the
Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He
explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures." Here, Jesus explains what the Law points
toward him and its fulfilment. Luke 24:44 "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things which are written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled
(plerosai)”. Jesus himself declared that all the law has been fulfilled at the Cross.
Now the question is are we still under the Law (Old Covenant)? If we have to observe Sabbath which was a part of
the old Covenant, then we have to follow every bit of its regulation as described in the old covenant. We cannot do
cherry picking by observing the Sabbath day while rejecting all the regulations of Sabbath such as-no cooking, no
going out, no selling-buying, no fire, killing the breaker etc, every regulation is jot and tittle remember not one jot or
tittle shall be pass away. If we reject the old Covenant we have to reject it totally, if we have to keep we need to keep
everything written in the Law not just the day but all the regulation-they come in one package. Paul say ‘those who
rely on the works of the Law (old covenant) are under the curse for it is written curse is everyone who does not
continue to do EVRYTHING Written in the book of the Law (Gal 3:10). James also says if we are under the law and
we break one commandment we are guilty of breaking all the other commandments (James 2:10). For Christian we
are under the new covenant which has no Sabbath regulations and so we are not guilty or bound with the Sabbath
law.
L. Does Hebrew 4:9 (there remains therefore a Rest for the people of God) prove Sabbath observation in the
NT?
Some people believe that Sabbath is still binding in the NT as Hebrew 4:9 talks about ‘Rest remains’ for believers. Is
this true? Well! There is still a REST we need to enter, no doubt but what REST is the author talking about? This is
the only place in the entire NT that talks about Rest in positive sense. Now even if this is talking about weekly
Sabbath observation, no issue, let us go for it, let’s keep the Sabbath in its original intention which is why RESTING.
But if you dig deeper, the context is not talking about observing Sabbath, it’s something else. Let’s see step by step;
Background: The book of Hebrew was written to first century Jewish believers when the boundaries between
Christianity and Judaism weren’t clear, and these people weren’t sure where their primary identity was. They might
ask- ‘Yes, Jesus is the promised, he died and rose again. But what his death and resurrection has to do with Jewish
law, after all they were given by God to us through Moses’. How Christ’s death changed our view of daily sins?’ All
these questions were frequent in their mind. Because of all these many have fallen back to Judaism as they find the
rituals of sacrifice & offering for sin and worship practices in Jerusalem temple attractive and convincing. The author
pleaded to them to come back because the revelation of Jesus is more glory and disobedience to it is eternal
damnation. The author contended Jesus is better than any of the OT practices, he is the reality.
Content: Before the author explains about REST he lay down the supremacy of the son, Jesus above everything.
First the author said ‘God has spoken to their fathers in various ways through his prophet but in this last day he has
spoken to us by His Son whom He appointed heir of all things, and by whom also He made the universe (Heb 1:1-2).
This shows the Son is supreme; he is co-creator with the Father, by Him the Father made the universe--The final
revelation that came through the son is the most important. The author adds, in v3. ‘The son is radiance of the
Father’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word’—The son has
the exact nature as his Father (the nature of God is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscience), it is the son who sustain
the universe by his powerful word. The author point is Jesus the son is not just the Messiah, he is also divine (God),
pay attention to him. The author then moves to illustrate the superiority of son over all the angels.
The son is superior to all the angels: The Jews regarded the angelic ministry in the OT (when Torah was given)
something to be esteemed (Acts 7:53, Deu 33:3). The author says the Son is superior to all the angels because he is
the creator-- it’s him you need to look for. He argues that the son and angels are not even in the same league, so
exalted and lofty is the Son that the Father command all the angels to worship the son: ‘Let all the angels of God
worship the Son’ (v6)--Don’t worry about angels, they worship Jesus, he is the creator and but all the angels are
created being. He further says angels are ministering servants (v.7). The author moves further to confirm what he
said before: he says even the Father addresses the Son as God v.8. ‘About the son the He (Father) says ‘your throne
O God is forever and ever…’ The son’s throne is eternal. The Father called the Son as eternal unchanging LORD
(Jehovah): 10. You LORD (Jehovah) in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the
work of your hands’ They will perish but you remains…like a garment you will roll them up and they will be changed
but you remain the same and your years will never end’. The writer is quoting Ps 102:25-27 passage about
Yahweh/Jehovah but he applies it to the son, the son is immutable Yahweh. Because of all these undeniable truth,
they should pay attention to the final revelation that comes from the Son himself. He then compared the ministry of
angels (Torah) and the gospel declared by Jesus.
Heb 2:2: ‘For if theword spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its
just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by
the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. The word spoken by angels is the Torah because angels were
the witnesses to the giving of Torah (Acts 7:53, Deu 33:2), more than the Torah, the message of salvation proclaimed
by Jesus the son, witnessed by his disciples is more important. The author then move to discuss the humility of the
son by becoming human like us to die for us (4-18).
Jesus is superior to Moses: For Jews, Moses was regarded the greatest man ever living but he cannot be compared
with Jesus: Heb3:3. ‘For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house
has greater honor than the house itself’. Jesus deserves greater honor than Moses why because Jesus is in the
category of the creator (builder) while Moses is in the category of the created being (building). Yes, Moses was a
faithful to the house of God but was a servant, God used him to illustrate what was to come: v.5: ‘Moses was
certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. By
God’s house he means the people of God (Israelites), he cites Num 12:7—Moses is faithful in all my house. Now we
have the better one, Jesus the Son, obviously the son is better than the servant, ‘But Christ is faithful as the Son over
God’s house. And we are HIS HOUSE, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. If
we keep our faith in Christ, we are God’s house, God’s people. To be God’s house (God’s people) you need faith in
Jesus not Moses, the author says.
Faith is the most important to enter Promised REST: The author then elaborates wilderness experience where the
Israelites because of the lack of faith cannot enter into REST (God’s rest-promised Land). Let’s read:
7. So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8. do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9. where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they
saw what I did. 10. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and
they have not known my ways. 11. So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall Not Enter My REST [Greek:
katapausis]”. The author quotes the above passage from Psalm 95:7-11 (David commentary of Israelites wilderness
experience]: Psalm 95:7. For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if
only you would hear his voice, 8. Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in
the wilderness, 9. where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10. For forty years
I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my
ways. 11. So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall Not Enter My REST [Hebrew Menauch]’
In Psalm 95 David talks about Israelites’ failure to enter the Promised Land Rest (God’s Rest) because of their lack
of faith-- the Hebrew word Rest is Menauch [Hebrew strong conc 4496 defines menauch as Resting Place]. The
author of Hebrew used the Greek word ‘Katapausis’ for Menauch. Whatever it is, the point of the author citing
Promised Land Rest is to confirm that the Final Rest he is trying to convey is a Place not a weekly Day. The author
further warns his audience not to have unbelieving heart (v.12), but to encourage one another every day, as long as it
is still called ‘TODAY’(v.13). We will share all the benefits of Christ only if we hold fast to the confidence (faith)
UNTIL the END (v.14) he adds. We need to have faith, hold our faith not just once but till the end. The author then
explains who were those who failed to enter Promised Land Rest: 16: ‘For who were the ones who heard and
rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it
not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18. And to whom did God swear that they would
never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19. So we see that they were not able to enter, because of THEIR
UNBELIEF”. The story is seen in Num 14:1-35 where Israelites after surveying the Promised Land lost their Faith
in God. The Land was beautiful but there were Giants living, fortified cities impossible to be conquered. They
rebelled against God, they lost their Faith in God who fought the battles for them, who did wondrous miracles for 40
years still they have no trust in their God (Deu 1:32-35). This angered God, except Joshua and Caleb who have faith
in God; the rest of that generation perished and could not enter the Promised Land Rest. God wasn’t angry because
they broke the law or the Sabbath but because of their lack of Faith; they could have entered the Promised Land
without effort but just by Faith in their God--UNBELIEF is the key point for the author.
There is still a Promise to enter Rest (future): Now the author come to his main argument in the next chapter: Heb
4:1: “Therefore, since the PROMISE of Entering His REST [katapausis] still remains, let us be careful that none of
you be found to have fallen short of it. The authors says ‘therefore’ (because of what I have said before), just like the
Israelites receiving a Promise to Enter the Promised Land by faith, there is still a PROMISE for believers to Enter
God’s Rest [katapausis] which is far better than the earthly counterpart (Canaan). We need to know that every time
the bible talks about Promise it is always fulfilled and received by Faith-let’s see some example: Galatians 3:14: ‘He
redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by
faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 16. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.
Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is
Christ.18. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer a promise; but God freely granted it to
Abraham through a promise”. It is by Faith we have the promise of the Spirit. Even Abraham blessing was
foreordained through Promise which will be received through Faith. We read the same principle in Rom 4:2: ‘If
Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3.For what does
the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness..3. For the promise to
Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the
righteousness in faith.14. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is
worthless,16: Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all
Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. [see also
Hebrews 11:13, Heb 11:39]. The author point is, this future REST [God’s Rest] is connected with Faith which is why
he says it is a Promise. The author continues v.2. “For indeed the good news was preached to us as well as to them;
but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it”. The Israelites
in the wilderness did receive good news--the news was the Promised Land rest, similarly we the believers have good-
news which is our future final Rest (which is the author’s main target). The author points out that the Promised Land
was a physical type or foreshadowing of a spiritual reality (our Final Rest) that the Israelites had not yet entered.
We have Already Enter that REST the moment we have Faith: After explaining the important of Faith the author
finally arrived at his climax: 3. “For we who have believed enter that rest [katapausis], as he has said, “As I swore
in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest [katapausis], although his works were finished from the foundation of the
world”. For us believers, we have already Enter into that REST, the Greek ‘believed’ [pesteusentes] is aorist tense
which is completed action in the past, and ‘Enter’ [eiserchometa] is present participle. This means the moment you
believed, that’s the time you are in the process of entering this Rest (resting place) which God inaugurated at the
creation. We may not enter the final resting place in fullness but the final verdict has been pronounced. It like Paul
saying ‘we are right now in the kingdom of the Son’ (Col 1:13) even though we don’t experience its fullness, the
final awaits second coming. Similarly, the author says ‘we are “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written
in heaven” (Heb 12:23). What we experience on this earth is the reality but the fullness is yet to come. Likewise
those who have faith in Christ are ‘Entering that REST’ and fullness is assured in future.
As for those who don’t believe ‘they shall not enter my Rest’. This REST was already made available for mankind
from the foundation of the world because God already finished all his works, the author explains: ‘although his
works were finished from the foundation of the world’. But how do we know this REST was already available?
Because God already rested on the Seventh Day because he already made everything ready including this Rest: He
explained: 4. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words “On the seventh day God rested
[Gree: Katapauo] from all his works”. 5. Again in this passage they shall not enter My REST’. The Focus of the
author is not the importance of the Seventh Day but the idea that this REST (resting place) was already made ready
during the six days of creation week which is why God could rest on the seventh day. If this Rest was not available
God didn’t finish his creative work and he couldn’t rest on the seventh day. Moreover, if you read Genesis 1-2, for
all the six days creation there is closing formula ‘evening and Morning’ for each day but for the seventh day the
closing formula ‘evening and morning’ is not mentioned which means His Resting is not over yet. Although God is
done with all his creative activities his Rest is still continuing which is why the author could say it was already
available from foundation of the world. Because his REST still continues we can enter today. God is not creating any
new physical things, his way of upholding the universe is different than his creation. We know the author is not
talking about weekly Sabbath observation because he immediately says ‘Again in this passage they shall not enter
My REST’. Israelites already had the Sabbath commandments, they kept that for 40 years, but they could not enter
this Rest. Whatever it is, this Rest that believers’ entered (v.3) and the Rest that Israelites could not enter and the
Rest that God entered on the Seventh day are of the same—it’s a Resting place (katapausis) not a day of a week.
The author then argued this REST is still available for all who are ready to accept the gospel with faith: V6. ‘Since
therefore it REMAINS [apoleipitai] for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to
enter because of disobedience. 7. Again God appoints a Certain Day, “TODAY” saying through David so long
afterward, in the words already quoted, “TODAY’, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Even though it
has been available from the beginning, Israelites failed to enter. It was still available during David’s day which is
why David argued the people of his Day to Enter into that Rest. Similarly the writer implores his audience to take
advantage to enter this Rest, but the question is how and when? How- by Faith, When-TODAY, it was a continuous
offer. In the bible when ‘TODAY’ is used, it is not the day they wrote epistle, it a prophetic ‘TODAY’-the day you
hear the gospel, the day you put your faith. So there still a certain day that REMAINS for us to enter God’s Rest and
that Day is TODAY. The fact that this REST spoken is not Sabbath observation or Promised Land rest is explained
by the author himself: 8. ‘For if Joshua had given them rest [katapausis], God would not have spoken of ANOTHER
DAY later on’. This Rest cannot be the promised Land Rest, God indeed through Joshua gave Rest to Israelites: 1)
Jos 22:4: “And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them), 2) Joshua 21:43-44:
So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in
it 44. And the LORD gave them rest on every side..3) 1 King 8:56: “blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His
people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He
promised through Moses His servant) [see also Joshua 23:1, 11:23, 22:4, Jer 31:2). This means there was still a
future REST foretold during Joshua’s day that Joshua himself cannot give. Obviously it cannot be weekly Sabbath,
the people under Joshua must have kept Sabbath perfectly: Jos 24:31: ‘Israel served the LORD throughout the
lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for
Israel), Judges 2:7: ‘The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived
Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel)..After Joshua and all the elder
died the Israelites abandoned God: Judges 2:17: “Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot
after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers
had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers). So the idea is the people
under Joshua must have kept everything including the Feast and Sabbath etc. But the author argues that this
Particular REST I am talking about is not what Israelites experienced under Joshua, even Joshua cannot give this
Rest which is why the author said God appointed ‘ANOTHER DAY’ .
With the forth-going explanation the author summed up his point by saying V.9 ‘Therefore there REMAINS
[apolepetai] a REST for the people of God. The author adds ‘Therefore’ specifically because of what he said before
‘we can enter ‘Today’. Yes, there is still a future Rest that REMAINS which we still need to enter but on which day
we can enter? The author already said it was ‘Another day’ during Joshua and it’s Today for us--TODAY is that
Remains which we need to enter. The Greek Remains (apolepetai) is in the same construction in v 6-7 and v.9, this
means the word REMAINS is connected with Today--the author is not adding new topic but stressing ‘Today’- he
used it over 5 times (3:7, 13, 15& 4:7). Apparently, the author is not talking about weekly Sabbath observation,
weekly Saturday will always come and go, we don’t need to enter it. You can enter to a PLACE-- Just like Israelites
ought to enter a Place [the Promised Land] by faith; there is still a Rest believer need to Enter in future by faith. Now
the question is why does the author use Sabbatismos [see Greek Lexicon meaning below]? The Greek word
‘Sabbatismos’ occurs only one time in the entire bible translated as REST by KJV or Sabbath-rest by some versions.
This occurs without definite article which means the author is expressing the nature/quality. If the author is referring
to weekly Sabbath Rest observation he could have used the following words which are frequently used in the bible
for weekly Sabbath-rest: Anapausis-- This is consistently used for weekly Sabbath-rest in the Greek Septuagint in the
OT [Exo 16:23, Exo 31:15, Exo 35:2, Lev 23:3], but the author didn’t use this word. Another word for weekly
Sabbath-rest used in the NT is Sabbaton hesuchazo-Luke 23:56 ‘they Rested the Sabbath [Greek: Sabbaton
hesuchazo] as per the commandment’. But this again is not used in Heb 4:9. Perhaps the author could even use the
term Sabbaton (Greek term for Seventh Day Sabbath) if he is talking about weekly Sabbath observation but he didn’t
use. He could have even use ‘Sabbatizou’ Greek Septuagint rendered word for keeping Sabbath in Exo 16:30 (they
rested the seventh day)--this ofcourse is not used in the NT either. All bible translators translated Heb 4:9 differently
but their primary intention is to convey something other than weekly Sabbath observation (see below some bible
versions]. We also know that the author is not talking about observing weekly day; he identifies Sabbatimos and
katapausis as the same in next verses. 9. For whoever has entered God’s rest [katapausis] has also rested
[katepausen] from his works as God did from his. 11. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest [katapausis], so that
no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. So this Rest (Sabbatismos) that still Remains in v.9 is the same
Katapausis that we still need to enter in v.11 (Let us strive to enter that Rest (katapausis). The author argued that we
strive (effort) to enter, weekly Sabbath cycle will always come it’s natural planetary movement, we need not strive to
enter, but this particular Rest we need to strive to enter because it’s still flowing or continuing, God is still resting,
his Rest still continues which is why we can enter today. Now what is this disobedience author stressed? to OT
Sabbath & Law or something else? Not at all..the author asked his audience to obey the voice of their calling (Heb
3:1), to obey the gospel of salvation announce by Jesus (Heb 2:3), the good news given by Jesus (Heb 4:2).
Note: Sabbatismos & Katapausis are the same in meaning and nature, the former is for human and the later is for
God but in both the case it is related to Resting place.
Interestingly, the Greek tense ‘to enter’ is ‘eiselthein’ [Aorist infinitive tense]-this occurs many times in the NT
Greek and also this chapter [Heb 4:1, 6, 11]. In all its occurrences it always describes actions that happened once and
never repeat. In Greek, aorist infinitive describes action that happen once and never repeat itself, while Present
infinitive describe action that repeat itself in intermittent. This means this particular Rest once you enter you don’t
need to enter or repeat it again. If the author is talking about weekly Sabbath observation that occurs weekly or
periodically he would use the present infinitive but he didn’t--this suggest that he has no intention to convey Weekly
Sabbath observation. Once we enter this Rest (permanent Rest) we don’t need to repeat it again, in heaven you don’t
have six days work period cycle and one rest day cycle. We also know the author’s intention is not much about
weekly Sabbath, because he immediately implored his audience to focus in the person of Jesus Christ and continue
their Faith in him: v.14. ‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son
of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess’. If you want to enter this Rest you need to hold firm the faith you
have in Christ, trust him, he has already ascended to heaven (Resting Place) he can take you there, the author said.
In summary the following points can be concluded reading the book of Hebrew: The author mentions three forms of
Rest –Promised Land Rest, Seventh Day Rest and Final Eternal Rest. a) The author says God ordained Eternal Rest
right from the creation and it was available to all mankind. This was prefigured by Promised Land Rest and seventh
day Rest. b) Israelites could not enter the Promised Land Rest because of unbelief—the author quickly asserts that
this Final Rest is not the Promised Land Rest because even Joshua cannot give this Rest. The Promised Land was a
physical type or foreshadowing of a spiritual “rest” that the Israelites had not yet entered. c) The people under Joshua
had everything, they have the Law, they have Seventh Day Sabbath and were obedient to them but this Rest is not
what Israelites had in the Promised Land which is why God set Another Day. This is open to all; ‘Today’ you can
enter into this Rest only Faith in Jesus. The point is, Hebrew talks about tithing for example, only because it shows
the superiority of Christ over the Levitical priests; Sabbatismos is also mentioned, not as a point in itself, but because
it illustrates something about the superiority of faith in Christ over OT Jewish Sabbath.
What we see about the future Rest promise to us is not something new, the OT already promises us this: The prophet
foretold the coming of perfect rest for all humanity through the Messiah; Isa 11:10: “And in that day there shall be a
root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his REST (Manuach)
shall be glorious. Not only this, the prophet already said the rebellious Jewish would reject this REST proclaimed
through the Messiah. Isaiah 28:11: ‘Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this
people, 12. To whom He said, “This is the rest (MANAUCH) with which You may cause the weary to rest
(NAUCH),” And, “This is the refreshing (Merge’ah)”; Yet they would not hear..
SUMMARY: In all the occurrence of Sabbath in both the OT and NT bible, it is always related with REST not once
connected with worship. If we are to observe Sabbath which is in the old covenant, we need to observe it as
prescribed by the old covenant-Day of rest. If we are under the new Covenant, we should not consider it as essential
for salvation. To make it simple the sacrifices pictured our cleansing from sin, and yet we see that we are not yet
sinless. But that doesn't mean that we still need sacrifices. Although the last judgment has not yet been done, the
verdict has been declared for all who have faith. Circumcision pictured a cleansed heart, and we are not yet perfect
in our hearts, but the physical symbol is not required. Similarly Sabbath in the Old Covenant may point to our eternal
Rest but we need not practice it, we have the reality. Everything written in the OT was types and Shadow of the
Reality in Christ which we have now.
Different bible versions on Hebrew 4:9:
New Living Translation: ‘So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God’.
Contemporary bible: ‘But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come’.
1) Sabbatismos as defined by various Lexicon:
a) Greek Stron Conc 4520: Sabbatismos-a "Ssabbatism", i.e. (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of
heaven) -- rest.
b) Thayer’s Greek Lexicon 4520: Sabbatismos- the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to
come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians (R. V. Sabbath rest): Hebrews 4:9. (Plutarch, de superstit.
c. 3; ecclesiastical writings.)
2) Katapausis: Greek Stong Conc: 2663: ‘From katapauo; reposing down, i.e. (by Hebraism) abode -- rest.
3) Menauch—Hebrew strong Conc 4496: Defiinition- resting place, rest