Among those who believe in the bible as the word of Elohim (God) and also believe that Yahshua (Jesus) is the son of Elohim (God), there emerge two schools of thoughts concerning Sabbath. The first group believe that if Yahshua is The True Rest, then the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8 – 11) does not impress on them to observe the literal weekly Sabbath on the seventh day. The second group maintains that Yahshua did not exempt children of Elohim (God) from observing a literal seventh day Sabbath. This work endeavours to advocate for the second opinion and beg with the first school of thought to re – examine its understanding of The Rest/Sabbath enjoyed in Elohim (God) through Yahshua (Jesus).
Since the assumption made in this work is that the reader is conversant with the Sabbath, kindly allow me to accommodate all and enlighten those who may not be aware of the Sabbath addressed here.
Sabbath is a rest or ceasing from a given toil or task. Mathew 28:1 – 6 shows that Sunday or the day of commemorating the resurrection of Christ (also known as Easter Sunday by Christians) is the first day of the week. Mark 16:1, 2 also shows that this Easter Sunday starts “…at the end of the Sabbath…” Therefore Sunday is not the Sabbath, but the day after the Sabbath. The seventh day Sabbath is Saturday. The origin of Sabbath is Elohim (God) himself for its written in Genesis 2:2 “….on the seventh day Elohim (God) ended his work….and He rested on the seventh day from all his work…” In the same account in Genesis 2:3 it is recorded that “….Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified (set it apart as uncommon/special): because that in it He had rested from his work….”
From these scriptures it is clear that man has no role in deciding when the Sabbath should be. This is because he had not yet been created from the first to the fifth day; it was not until day six when man was created. Only Elohim (God) was there to count day one through day six and came to day seven for a Rest. Therefore man cannot institutionalise another Sabbath day. To do so, man must first undo all creation and recreate all things from day one through day six for him to find his day seven. That would be blasphemous because in an effort to create all, it would require man to create his creator! How can it even be possible since it would also require man to uncreate himself first! It is not possible to create anything new since it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:14 “….whatsoever Elohim (God) does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it nor anything taken from it….” Those who argue that the seventh day depends on when you start counting your week days do not understand the ramification of their proposals and are therefore in error.
For a moment, let us examine the quality of man – made Sabbath. Now that Elohim blessed his seventh day Sabbath, would this man – made Sabbath be blessed with the blessing that the Sabbath of Elohim (God) is blessed with? This man – made Sabbath that would seek to replace the Sabbath of Elohim (God) would not be blessed with this blessing but would rather be a barren Sabbath. Elohim foreknew that humans will try to replace his seventh day Sabbath with their man – made Sabbath. That is why he made it clear in Exodus 20:10 that “…the seventh day is the Sabbath of Adonai (LORD)….” Man may decide to have a Sabbath on any day of the week but it will never be the seventh day Sabbath of Adonay (LORD). Probably it would be the first day Sabbath, or probably the second day, third day, fourth day, fifth day or sixth day Sabbath….. (Forgive me but I wonder if it would still end with the phrase “of Adonai (LORD)”!)
Now back to our two schools of thoughts. From the original language of the scriptures Rest is presented as a verb nach (cease, set down, let down etc.) as in Exodus 20: 11. Rest is also presented as shavat (celebrate, make to still etc.) as in Genesis 2:2, 3. From these two interpretations of Rest different facets of Rest/Sabbath are presented in the Scriptures. These aspects of Rest include rest from: sins (Psalms 38:3), oppressor (Job 3:17, 18), enemies (Deuteronomy 25:19), struggle to have the righteousness of Elohim (Job 14:6), war (Joshua 14:5), evil occurrences (1 Kings 5:4), affliction (Job 30:27), sorrow, fear and hard bondage (Isaiah 14:3), pursuits of own pleasure (Isaiah 58:13), industrious work (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8,18 – 23) and any other engagement that may deprive man the complete meaning of life.
It is important to understand the Rest that Elohim (God) offers man through Yahshua. From Mathew 11:28 - 30 Yahshua promised “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest….unto your souls….” From Psalms 55:1 – 22 the same is echoed as follows “…cast your burden upon Adonai (LORD)….he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved….” It is clear that this promise is made to those seeking eternal life. Those promised here are striving with a treacherous adversary but they are keen on maintaining righteousness.
Yahshua gave this promise to them who “….hath not attained to the law of righteousness….because they sought it not by faith…for they stumbled at that stumblingstone/Yahshua (Jesus)” (Romans 9:31 – 33). You see, over the years man has sought to return to his lost glory which can only be when man is one with Elohim (God). To be one with his Maker, he must get rid of all sin and attain the nature of Elohim (God) of perfect righteousness. It is to this end that many religions have long strived. Unfortunately, what they attain is exactly the opposite. Their laborious dogmas of religion do not help them attain the righteousness of Elohim (God). Rather it is said of them in Romans 10:3 that “….they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God…..” Their great canons of religious conduct cannot redeem them from mortality because we are not saved “….by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy…..by the washing of regeneration….” (Titus 3:5). Adherents to any other religious establishments may seem appealing but “….their zeal….is not according to knowledge….” of Elohim (Romans 10:2).
You see all these religions hinder the adherent to come to terms with one’s worthlessness. What they offer are provisions for man to prove his worth to the Maker. From the scriptures, this is impossible for it is written in Job 14:4; 15:14 – 16 “….who can bring out a clean thing out of an unclean? ….what is man, that he should be clean….that he should be righteous…” This deceptive approach of not accepting that man cannot merit the nature of perfection only cause the adherent to be proud and haughty. It is quite surprising that many of the founders and leaders of these groups of faith often end up living pompous lives at the sweat of their lay followers. They start humble but end up in a web of slavery in pursuits of material gain. It happens to them as the Holy Spirit points out in 2 Peter 2:19 “while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption…” Moved by this ignorant love of God, it is to such and any other labouring with sin, works of self – righteousness and corruption that Yahshua (Jesus) promised to give Rest. Yahshua (Jesus), the great teacher urges them as follows “….learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart….” (Mathew 11:29). When man comes to Yahshua (Jesus) he need not labour for merits before Elohim (God); he is accepted as righteous without any works through one righteous, Yahshua, just as he had been counted a sinner through one sinner, Adam (Romans 5:12 – 19).
Having examined the Rest in Elohim through Yahshua, let us examine the Rest of the seventh day. Now a fundamental question which will clear any misconception on the seventh day Sabbath should be: from what work is the rest on the seventh day? Let us examine a few instances of the Sabbath. Look at Leviticus 26:34 "...then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths..." and Exodus 34:21 “….on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest time thou shalt rest.” This indicates that this rest is from human interaction with the earth so as to make their brief stay on it a bit comfortable. A second witness to the nature of rest is noted in Exodus 23:11 as follows “…on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.” This is a very interesting point because it indicates that the seventh day Sabbath is intended for the refreshment of what is at our disposal for use to better our sojourning on earth. Allow me to call the third witness in Exodus 16: 29, 30 where it is boldly recorded “…see, for that Adonai (LORD) has given you the Sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day bread of two days….so the people rested on the seventh day.” This is rest from daily occupation of looking for food. It is very clear that this Rest is from our daily toils to care for this physical body; it has nothing to do with the Spiritual Rest Yahshua gives.
To better understand it, consider the origin of this Rest. When Elohim rested on the seventh day, he did not rest from sin because he did not have any sin. So this Rest was not intended for sinners who wish to rest from their sins, works of self-righteousness and corruption. My brethren, the point is: if Yahshua was the Rest of the seventh day, then all who are in him should not work anymore for it is written in Hebrews 4:10 “….he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own work….” I say, all believers who have substituted the seventh day Rest with the Rest in Yahshua should be fed with manna from heaven without breaking a sweat!
Hebrews 4:9 “….there remains therefore a rest to the people of Elohim (God)….” clearly shows that those addressed in The Letter to the Hebrews are already conversant with the seventh day Sabbath because they are addressed as the people of Elohim (God). But now they are being ushered into another Rest promised by Yahshua. Unlike the once-in-a-week Sabbath this other Sabbath in Yahshua is for TODAY; i.e. once entered, one remains in it forever. These are two different Sabbaths serving two different purposes: the one in Yahshua is for the soul burdened with sin, works of self-righteousness and corruption, while the seventh day one is for the refreshment/rejuvenation of man, the earth and all within it that Adam was given for his brief sojourning. Those in Yahshua (Jesus) are in The Rest given in Yahshua. However they should find the need to rest on the seventh day as much as our sinless, righteous Father found the need to rest. When our sinless and righteous Abba rested he taught that his children should learn to give time to their bodies and earth for replenishment. The Holy Spirit warns that a time will come when Elohim shall “….destroy them which destroy the earth….” (Rev 11:18). The spirit teaching against seventh day Sabbath is of the adversary who is envious of this masterpiece of creation. Brethren, let us be like our Abba and care for the earth and all blessings in it.
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