What is the Sabbath?

We often hear say that “God is suppose to be worshipped everyday not just sabbath”.

This is indeed a true statement, however the Sabbath day was not meant to be the only day God should be worshipped. In fact, the sabbath was given solely as a day of rest from work (doing business or your profession).

Now I know most church’s could care less about sabbath, as a matter of fact many vehemently preach against it; but for the sake of edification let’s see what God had to say about 👉HIS👈 sabbath.

The Study.

If we examine the Ten Commandments we see that God says in His fourth commandment:

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The word “Remember” in Hebrew is the word “zakar”, in this context it means to: observe or to commemorate.

What is God asking 👉HIS PEOPLE👈 to commemorate?

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“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And what God has blessed no man can curse!

What was to be done on Shabbat?

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“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Work” is the Hebrew word “Melaka” and it means your business, occupation or profession.

“but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬

So sabbath was meant for 👉HIS PEOPLE👈 to remember the work He did and to rest from their BUSINESS, OCCUPATION or PROFESSION.

The problem was that the people were oppressed by sabbath Laws of the Pharisee. Under these Pharisaical laws the sabbath became a burden to observe with over 200 commands on what to do and what not to do. This is in stark contrast to the 2 commandments the Most High gave.

Christ as prophesied, came to teach 👉HIS PEOPLE👈 how to walk in the ways of the Father.

As it relates to the sabbath, we see that he loved the sabbath, as it was his custom to teach in the synagogue on sabbath day. We also see him healing on the sabbath day, no doubt as a jab at the Pharisee since it was against their Law to heal on the sabbath.

Reference:

Mishnah Shabbat

Mishnah Yoma 8

However, Jesus’s actions reveal to us the true purpose of the sabbath: that it is a day of healing, restoration and reflection.

Shalom.