Why don’t you worship on the Sabbath?

Shayla: Why don’t you worship on the Sabbath?

Meforshim:

The point

First, let’s get some background on the Sabbath. “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat” which means “to cease” or “to desist”. It stems from Yahweh’s cessation from the effort of creation.

Genesis 2:2-3 HCSB By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.
Exodus 20:8-11 HCSB Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day: 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work--you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. 11 For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

It was also given as a means of reminding the Haredim of their deliverance from slavery (both literal and spiritual) by Adonai’s redemption.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 HCSB Be careful to dedicate the Sabbath day, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 You are to labor six days and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work--you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or donkey, any of your livestock, or the foreigner who lives within your gates, so that your male and female slaves may rest as you do. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Another reason for the Sabbath was to serve as a token of the covenant we have with the Lord.

Exodus 31:12-17 HCSB The LORD said to Moses: 13 "Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am the LORD who sets you apart. 14 Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. 15 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."
Ezekiel 20:12-20 HCSB I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them, so they will know that I am the LORD who sets them apart as holy. 13 "But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them. 14 But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey-- 16 because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols. 17 But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness. 18 "Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances. 19 I am the LORD your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. 20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am the LORD your God.

The rules involved

The Mosaic law is full of references to and commandments concerning the observation of the Sabbath, which was to occur every seventh day. The cessation of labor was to extend to the entire nation including native Israelis, their servants, slaves, the foreigners among them – even the beasts! This was taken so seriously that transgressing against the Sabbath carried the death penalty!

Exodus 35:1-3 HCSB Moses assembled the entire Israelite community and said to them, "These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: 2 For six days work is to be done, but on the seventh day you are to have a holy day, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Anyone who does work on it must be executed. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day."

It was not merely a cessation from labor, a day to rest and recuperate. It was to be dedicated to grateful worship, quiet praise and prayer. The Ten Commandments declared the Sabbath to belong to the Lord, just as the tithe of our income. Thus, the Sabbath is, in a sense, a tithing of time.

Leviticus 23:1-3 HCSB The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: These are My appointed times, the times of the LORD that you will proclaim as sacred assemblies. 3 "For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD wherever you live.

Blessings were promised to those who would truly observe the Sabbath from their heart.

Isaiah 56:1-7 HCSB This is what the LORD says: Preserve justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. 2 Happy is the man who does this, anyone who maintains this, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 3 No foreigner who has converted to the LORD should say, "The LORD will exclude me from His people"; and the eunuch should not say, "Look, I am a dried-up tree." 4 For the LORD says this: "For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold firmly to My covenant, 5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off. 6 And the foreigners who convert to the LORD, minister to Him, love the LORD's name, and are His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it, and who hold firmly to My covenant-- 7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Isaiah 58:13-14 HCSB "If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath, from doing whatever you want on My holy day; if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, seeking your own pleasure, or talking too much; 14 then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride over the heights of the land, and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Notice that the Sabbath was not a day to catch up on your sleep or to improve your golf game. We are not to just do whatever we want, go our own ways or seek our own pleasure. We are to even be careful about how much or how loudly we talk! (The Hebrew here implies both).

Failure to observe the Sabbath would bring not only personal calamity but even the possibility of national destruction.

Nehemiah 13:15-22 HCSB At that time I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in stores of grain and loading them on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 The Tyrians living there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem. 17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them: "What is this evil you are doing--profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Didn't your ancestors do the same, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His anger against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!" 19 When shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the gates be closed and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my men at the gates, so that no goods could enter during the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, 21 but I warned them, "Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I'll use force against you." After that they did not come again on the Sabbath. 22 Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and look on me with compassion in keeping with Your abundant, faithful love.
Jeremiah 17:21-27 HCSB This is what the LORD says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. 22 You must not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work, but you must consecrate the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors. 23 They wouldn't listen or pay attention but became obstinate, not listening or accepting discipline. 24 "However, if you listen to Me, says the LORD, and do not bring loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day and consecrate the Sabbath day and do no work on it, 25 kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses with their officials, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem. This city will be inhabited forever. 26 Then people will come from the cities of Judah and from the area around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the Judean foothills, from the hill country and from the Negev bringing burnt offerings and sacrifice, grain offerings and frankincense, and thank offerings to the house of the LORD. 27 If you do not listen to Me to consecrate the Sabbath day by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, I will set fire to its gates, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem and not be extinguished."

The Master’s practice and teaching

Clearly, this is not a commandment to be set aside lightly! Especially in view of the fact that our Master observed the Sabbath…

Luke 4:16 HCSB He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

and taught…

Matthew 5:17-18 HCSB "Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished.

Similar messages appear in Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:31, Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10, and John 5:14. However, He clearly taught that something new was coming along.

Luke 16:16-17 HCSB "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is strongly urged to enter it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.
Matthew 12:1-8 HCSB At that time Jesus passed through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry-- 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? 6 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here! 7 If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

In many Gospel passages, Jesus was severely criticized by the Pharisees because he collected food and healed people on the Sabbath. Jesus observed the Sabbath, but criticized the Pharisees' overly strict rules and regulations concerning the day of rest. He emphasized throughout his ministry a different purpose for the Sabbath: a day to be enjoyed by the believer, and a time when many normal activities -- particularly those which help others -- were quite permissible.

Mark 3:1-5 HCSB Now He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a paralyzed hand. 2 In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 He told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Stand before us." 4 Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Our first indication is the fact that in every issue of the Law, Jesus did not do away with the Law or somehow lower the standard. In every interpretation, He either clarified the original intent or raised the bar! Before, murder was judged; now hatred would be. Before, adultery was judged; now lust would be.

Matthew 5:21-22 HCSB "You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Fool!' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, 'You moron!' will be subject to hellfire.
Matthew 5:27-28 HCSB "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Paul’s teaching

Paul taught that we were no longer to be judged on the issue of the observation of the Sabbath because Jesus completed that requirement.

Colossians 2:13-17 HCSB And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him. 16 Therefore don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.

“In what way did Jesus fulfill this?” you might ask. In that Jesus’ death on the cross allowed us to have constant direct contact with Hashem through the intermediary help of the Ruach’ Ha Kodesh – the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:5-6 HCSB This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 7:6 HCSB But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.

Note: In every case that we see this concept in the New Covenant, it is the ritualistic parts of the Law that deal with salvation or Temple worship that are being rejected. God’s moral laws will never be abolished.

Romans 8:16 HCSB The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children,
Romans 8:26-27 HCSB In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We no longer have to go to a geographical location, or go through a ritual to have direct access to the throne room.

John 4:21 HCSB Jesus told her, "Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Hebrews 4:15-16 HCSB For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

So now, every day is a Sabbath. Every day is to be holy. Once again the Lord has raised the standard, not lowered it.

The early church’s practice

Of eight references to the “first day of the week” (or Sunday) in the New Covenant, five involve the morning of the Lord’s resurrection. For many, this is the reason they worship on Sunday. It is in order to celebrate that great event and the hope that it affords us.

Then John described the disciples gathered together on Sunday.

John 20:19 HCSB In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"

Paul preached on Sunday evening.

Acts 20:7 HCSB On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight.

Paul instructed the Galatian and Corinthian churches to collect their tithes and offerings on Sunday.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 HCSB Now about the collection for the saints: you should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. 2 On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save to the extent that he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.

Again, making an obvious allusion to Ezekiel, Paul taught that we are not to be judged concerning the Sabbath.

Colossians 2:16 HCSB 16 Therefore don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day.
Compare to Ezekiel 45:17 HCSB Then the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the festivals, New Moons, and Sabbaths--for all the appointed times of the house of Israel--will be the prince's responsibility. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.

Paul did not teach that we absolutely could not worship on the Sabbath. Again, every day is now to be holy. We are to “pray without ceasing.” Instead, he taught that the matter was shikul ha da’at, a matter left up to the conscience of the individual person and congregation.

Romans 14:1-6 HCSB Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don't argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat; and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to criticize another's household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And stand he will! For the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it to the Lord. Whoever eats, eats to the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is to the Lord that he does not eat, yet he thanks God.

We see this principle in that although Paul taught the observation of the Sabbath was not required, He and Barnabas both worshipped on the Sabbath at times.

Acts 13:14 HCSB They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
Acts 16:13 HCSB On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there.
Acts 17:2 HCSB As usual, Paul went to them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 18:4 HCSB He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.

The future of the Sabbath

In His Olivet discourse, Yeshua prophesied that terrible persecution would occur before He returned. He also predicted that in that day many of His followers would still obviously consider the Sabbath the appropriate day to worship.

Matthew 24:20 HCSB Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.

Interestingly, we are now witnessing a trend in the Church of recovering our understanding of the Jewishness of the Bible and claiming in a more direct manner our adoption into the nation of Israel, our grafting onto the tree. As a result, many congregations are once again choosing to worship on the Sabbath!

The observation of the Sabbath will be reinstated during the Millennial reign of Christ.

Isaiah 66:22-23 HCSB "For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me"--the LORD's declaration--"so will your offspring and your name endure. 23 All mankind will come to worship Me, from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another," says the LORD.

Conclusion

Therefore the elders of this congregation teach and believe that if the congregation, in a desire to conform more closely to what is to come, should choose to worship on Saturday rather than on Sunday, it is at perfect liberty to do so. However, if they choose to follow the example of the Apostles and worship on Sunday – that same liberty applies and no one should judge them on this matter.