SATURDAY / SABBATH

The Jewish Sabbath (from Hebrew shavat, “to rest”) is observed throughout the year on the seventh day of the week—Saturday. According to biblical tradition, it commemorates the original seventh day on which God rested after completing the creation.  Gen.2:2-3, “ And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [as His own, that is, set it apart as holy from other days], because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and done.  

(My personal understanding is that Genesis is a story of restoration, Isaiah 14:12-23.  But, Yes, Creation as far as Adam is concerned.  Adam was the very first of a species in the image and likeness of God with freewill, Gen.1:26.  And Adam was told to be careful of what he did with his freewill or he would spiritually die, Gen.2:16-17.   This is the same warning that Jesus give us for today.”

So what did Jesus say about the Sabbath day?
When religious leaders accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath because his disciples plucked some grain and ate it as they walked through a field, he said: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28)

In the 10 commandments we find, written in stone by God, in Exodus 20:8-9 to the children of Abraham, “Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work.”    Moses also writes about the Sabbath to not gather, Ex.16:26.  Not to leave home, Ex.16:29.  No work for anyone, EX.20:10.  Not even to light a fire, Ex.35:3.  And for all generations, Ex.31:13.  And anyone not in obedience to be put to death, Ex.31:14

But in the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews shares with us that the Jews never really understood the true intent of the Sabbath Rest and NEVER kept it.  Heb. 4:8-10, “[This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that. 9 So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness]. 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [b] sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [c] soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.”    (But consider the whole chapter.)   Obviously the Hebrews were not all killed off.  Obviously, Jesus had a much different understanding concerning the spiritual intent of what was the meaning of really keeping the Sabbath Rest.  And for this reason alone the Jewish Elders felt justified in killing Jesus.  So what was Jesus relating to in Mark 2:27-28?   Jesus took the Sabbath Rest from being a Law of death to becoming a truth of Life.  Apostle Paul in Romans shares about the “DAY,” Rom.14:4-6: “Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favor]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  5 One person regards one day as better [or more important] than another, while another regards every day [the same as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind. 6  He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. He who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God.

So the intent of the Sabbath Rest was to bring us into the spiritual understanding that we need to learn to invite the Holy Spirit to take over our freewill and guide us not only on Saturday, The Sabbath,  but for 24/7 every day of the week.  If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  Rom.8:4-6, “…so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power]. 5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh (World) [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. 6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever];”

So my understanding is that the Sabbath Commandment #4 was given as a start to help us learn to live by simply walking with God as He did with Adam is helping Adam to adjust to having a freewill in this world as a testing in time for the next.  Jesus was totally tested and gained the absolute victory for Himself and us.   So if we truly join with Jesus as LORD He will also help us to gain that same victory.  And not just on Saturday, but every day of the week.  He mentioned this in Matt.28:18-20, “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”