Posted on by Andries van Niekerk

Jesus taught a different Sabbath.

Abstract: The 10 Commandments require rest. Jesus taught a different Sabbath. Jesus taught the Sabbath as a day to work to heal and restore people. By arguing with the Pharisees about what is allowed on the Sabbath, Jesus implied that certain things are not allowed. He thereby admitted the Sabbath as binding. But the seventh day, as practiced and taught by Christ, was a different Sabbath than prescribed by the Ten Commandments.

In the Law of Moses

The Law of Moses, and specifically the Ten Commandments, required the seventh day simply as a Sabbath, which means it is a day of rest. Everybody had to rest; including servants and animals. It was “a sabbath of complete rest … You shall not do any work” (Lev 23:3). Contrary to popular belief, the Law of Moses did not require people to have religious meetings or to worship God on that day. Exodus 16:29 says “Remain every man in his place.” The only requirement was rest. The religious leaders applied this extremely conservatively; disallowing anything that even remotely looks like work; even healing.

According to Christ

While the Ten Commandments state negatively what is not allowed on the seventh day; “you shall not do any work” (Exo 20:10), Christ never indicated what is not allowed. His focus always was on what may and must be done on the seventh day. As shown in the previous articles, He taught that:

Man may work on the Sabbath if that work will relieve the distress and suffering of people or animals.

Man must work on the Sabbath to restore man spiritually and physically.

This means that Christ did more than interpret the Sabbath commandment; He gave a new meaning to it. He converted the seventh day from a day of compulsory idleness to a day that is filled with purpose, activity and work; a day to show kindness and mercy; a day to free people from the physical, psychological and spiritual bonds of Satan, to elevate the entire man to God’s ideal; in particular, a day to heal.

From the Beginning

That meaning cannot be derived simply from reading the Ten Commandments or the Law of Moses. Christ derived His understanding of the seventh day from its original purpose, as it existed before sin. This is, for instance, indicated by His statement, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). This refers to the creation account, according to which the seventh day was “blessed” and “sanctified” as part of creation (Gen 2:3). (See also Matt 19:4-8).

The Law of Christ

We should not be surprised that Christ taught a Sabbath different from the Ten Commandments because He did the same for the other commandments. Christ replaced the entire Law of Moses with a higher law with much higher moral standards. For instance, He replaced the law against murder with a law against anger. Instead of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” He taught, “turn the other (cheek).” With respect to adultery, He said “everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery”. 

Christ’s higher-level Law reveals the Father’s perfect heart. The Father loves His enemies and has compassion for people. For that reason, the Law of Christ requires His followers to do the same. The “Law of Christ” (Gal 6:2) is the law as it existed “from the beginning.” The Law of Moses was God’s eternal law for mankind, but reduced to fit the condition, abilities, and needs of the enslaved and corrupt little nation of Israel. But Christ again revealed the eternal principles on which the Law of Moses was based. See the page “The Law of Christ” for a further discussion.

But this does not mean that the requirement to rest, as given in the Ten Commandments, is no longer relevant. The Ten Commandments made rest the goal. Christ shifted the focus from the requirement to rest, to the purpose of the rest. Christ taught the seventh day as the preferred day for healing. Rest is consistent with this purpose. In Christ’s teaching rest becomes a means to an end. Healing is the end (goal) and rest is one means of achieving this goal. On the seventh day, we must cease everyday work, to be renewed and refreshed. 

But while the requirement for rest remains, the seventh day is now also a day for planned work to bring joy to people by helping them to be healed and restored. It also becomes a work day, but a different type of work. It is the day on which we work for the mentally, physically and spiritually sick, to heal them.

OTHER ARTICLES

Sabbath Series

In the Old Testament

Christ’s Sabbath Healings

Christ’s Teachings on the Sabbath

Sabbath in the New Testament Letters

Other Articles

FOOTNOTES

  • 1
    The Antichrist in Daniel, which is the same as the beast in Revelation, arises out of the Roman Empire; it is not Antiochus Epiphanes.
  • 2
    Discussion of the prophecy and the four main interpretations
  • 3
    Critical scholars teach that Daniel was written after the events it claims to predict.
  • 4
    The ultimate purpose of this website is to explain the mark of the beast.
  • 5
    Does Revelation describe events chronologically? Must it be interpreted literally? The temple in heaven, Christ’s Return, Hear/See Combinations, and the Numbers in Revelation
  • 6
    There was a book in heaven that not even Christ was able to read because it was sealed up with seven seals. But, by overcoming, He became worthy to break the seven seals and open the book.
  • 7
    This is the apex of Revelation, providing an overview of history from before Christ until the end-time, with emphasis on the end-time persecution.
  • 8
    These plagues will follow after the end-time Christian persecution and will be followed by Christ’s return. What is the purpose of these?
  • 9
    Revelation has three beasts with seven heads and ten horns each; a great red dragon, the beast from the sea, and a scarlet beast.
  • 10
    Babylon is mentioned only once in the first 15 chapters but the seventh and final plague targets her specifically. Then Revelation 17 and 18 explain who and what she is.
  • 11
    The conclusion that Jesus is ‘God’ forms the basis of the Trinity Doctrine.
  • 12
    The decision to adopt the Trinity doctrine was not taken by the church.
  • 13
    Including Modalism, Eastern Orthodoxy view of the Trinity, Elohim, and Eternal Generation
  • 14
    Discussions of the Atonement – How does God do away with sin?
  • 15
    How people are put right with God
  • 16
    Must Christians observe the Law of Moses?
  • 17
    Must Christians observe the Sabbath?
  • 18
    Are the dead still alive and aware?
  • 19
    Will the lost be tormented in hell for all eternity?
  • 20
    And why does God not make an end to all evil?
  • 21
    Key events that transformed the church into an independent religion
  • 22
    When? How? Has His return been delayed?
  • 23
    I do not have any formal theological qualifications and I am not part of any religious organization. These articles are the result of my studies over many years.

70 Replies to “Jesus taught a different Sabbath.”

  1. You’ve completely ignored every point I’ve made. You are implying that Jesus set aside the commandment about adultery and forgave the woman. Of course, His intention was her salvation but he did not forgive her by brushing aside the Torah. His disciples would have deserted him on the spot. If he brushed aside the Torah he could not be our sin-bearer, let alone the Messiah. He operated within the Torah’s parameters which is why he could disqualify the witnesses. They failed to produce the male culprit as required by Torah because they were using the woman as a trap. They also did not follow the proper judicial procedure in the case of capital punishment which required stringent investigation into the matter (Deut). That is why they could not cast the first stone required of witnesses because they would run the risk of punishment themselves for abusing the Torah. Here’s a question: How do you think the woman’s sin was atoned for considering that Jesus had not yet been crucified? How do you think she was restored to her community, let alone to her husband given that her sin was so publicly exposed? Through repentance, sacrifice and obedience to Torah. Ps. 19:7 – “The law of the Lord is perfect.” The problem is we are not. So your mind-boggling statement that the God-given law of Moses is somehow morally deficient takes the breath away. I agree that Jesus calls us to a higher standard and enables us to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit. But he does so because he fulfilled the Torah, which is vastly different to replacing it.

    Reply

    1. Dear Edith

      The word atone is an old English composite word “at-one.” When two people have a disagreement, you go to “at-one” them. Once they are reconciled, you have “at-one-ment.” Due to the favorite Calvinistic teachings of the last centuries, atonement has come to mean pacifying an angry God. That is not what the Bible teaches. God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son.

      My views about the Law of Moses are not only based on what Jesus said to this woman. We have to consider everything which Jesus said and Paul wrote. Matthew 5 and Galatians are important in this regard. That is why I referred you to my articles on Matthew 5.

      Reply

  2. Jesus did not forgive the woman caught in adultery. He said, “I do not condemn you.” It was a legal, not a moral term. The Pharisees were abusing the Torah, not using it. The rabbinic rulings on capital punishment made it extremely difficult to carry out the death sentence. Jesus correctly applied the law. He was not an eye witness to the woman’s sin, neither was he a judge. The witnesses themselves were compromised and refused to cast the first stone. He did not absolve the woman’s sin. He disqualified the witnesses. Far from setting aside the law, he gave the woman a second chance to obey it. If he could so easily have set aside the Torah and forgiven her, what need is there for atonement? What need was there for the Cross?

    Reply

    1. Hi Edith,

      I do not think that God forgives sins simply because He does not keep a record of our sins. Just like a doctor does not keep our diseases against us, God attempts to save us from our sins. God so loved the world that … Jesus said, “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt. 6:14). We do not earn salvation by forgiving other people their sins, but the people that forgive others are the type of people who God can safely admit for eternity into His free universe without causing harm to others.

      Yes, the much bigger question is Why Christ had to die. To pacify an angry God, as some say? Or because God’s justice requires it, as others propose? You will find articles in this regard on my website. Please listen to Graham Maxwell about this.

      Reply

  3. I’m not sure where to reply to Andries’ article so forgive me if I piggy back on your comment Mervyn. What a world of difference the use of a word can make. Andries writes that Jesus “replaced” the Law of Moses.” Jesus himself said nothing of the kind. He said that he had come to “fulfill” the Law AND the Prophets, i.e. fill it to its fullest intent. He was actually quoting current teaching about saving life or rescuing animals on the Sabbath. Not all of it was original. Jesus never interpreted the Torah apart from what is expressed in the Prophets. However, I agree that some (though not all) of the Pharisees had missed the point by light years. When he disagreed with them he said “You have heard it SAID but I say to you…” He never said, “You have heard it written but I say to you.” He never contradicted the written word. But I do agree that Gentile Christians are not under an obligation to keep the three distinctives that set Israel apart, Sabbath observance, circumcision, and the kosher dietary laws. Unless you want to argue that the Sabbath commemorates Creation, but I have no firm views on that score.

    Reply

  4. The Pharisees got it wrong about most things in the Bible. The Sabbath was only one of the things that the Lord had to educate them about.
    The truth of the matter is that their religion had become salvation by self works; God was no longer involved.

    The sabbath was never meant to be a day that was unfruitful. We are meant to rest in Jesus. The Sabbath day was meant to be in honor of the creator of it.

    The truth about the Pharisees is that they were keeping the Sabbath wrong. They had corrupted it as far as it could be corrupted along with everything else that they touched.

    With all works-based religions, they have to make something visual something you can see as the center of their religion. In this case, it was the Sabbath. In other religions, it is something else.

    In true God-worship, God is at the center. You can not see God because God is spirit. So you must have faith to serve God; not dead works.

    Reply

  5. Get your computer and ask Google 42 ancient Egyptian Commandments. These commandments were there before Abraham and Moses were born. Ask yourself where Moses got the 10 commandments?

    Reply

    1. “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you” (Deut. 6:1). The Lord had a special mission for Israel, particularly to protect His message and to bring forth the Messiah, but He works with all nations and people because He loves all people. He would like every person to inherit eternal life. But there is an invisible war behind the literal wars on earth, and every day people die in that invisible war, although they physically are still alive.

      Reply

      1. We all agree that Jesus gave spiritual meaning to the law. We thus can conclude that this applies even to the Sabbath. Jesus Taught, Preached, Healed n Saved on Sabbath. The Apostles did the same as after Jesus was taken up.

        None of the Apostles reprimanded, reproved, disapproved or cast out that day as a day of Worship. “The people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath“(Acts 13vs 42,44)

        Rev 14vs12 talks about keeping God’s Commandments with Jesus as our savior. 1John3vs4-7 tells us that Commandments are still the same from their initiation. “sin is lawlessness”

        Worship on the 7th day, even though you can delight on 1st-day worship for further upliftment.

        Reply

  6. Hi andries

    As much as it was said on Isa58 about sabbath from Johns Ref, what I want to know is, are all the people that do Weddings, Funerals, Parties, Get Aways and Conferences on 7th day condemned as we all can see that the day is changed to do fun things serving our needs and interests..?

    Reply

    1. I do not feel qualified to answer your question. I take specific subjects and do in depth studies, and I have not studied this topic. But, based on Romans 7, in my view everybody that wants to do God’s will, will be saved. “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:18-19)

      Reply

      1. I very understand you, Andries.
        My question to you is ‘what is the will of God? Consider the following texts:
        John 15:14 ‘If you love me you will keep my commandments‘
        Revelation 14:12 ‘Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God.
        Hebrews 4:9-There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.

        Reply

        1. Hi Langa
          I am not saying that we should not keep the Sabbath; I am saying we should seek the real meaning of the Sabbath.
          With respect to your quote from Hebrews: I would also like to use that passage to support the Sabbath, but I am afraid that passage uses the Sattabh as a symbol for the end-time redemption.

          Reply

  7. Dear Andries, I am fascinated by your explanation and argument. Don’t you think when we do things right only to respect the of Law of Moses, we are trying to escape punishment of some sort from God, not because we mean to do right, from the bottom of our hearts? I think if I don’t commit adultery, but I want to; I don’t pay revenge, but deep inside of me I have not forgiven. I am immersed in sin? If I physically go to the house of the Lord on the Sabbath day, but deep inside of me, there is less or no zeal to serve the will of God inside of me. I think there is a contradiction here, i.e. outside vs inside of me.

    Based on this narrative, am I wrong to think that the Grace of Jesus came to supplement to our belief with an element of the inside of me, which is Faith in the Lord, so that my fear of Him as my Lord, goes with Faith in Him. In other words what l do from the outside is influenced by what is inside of me.

    Thank you for your contribution!

    Reply

    1. Jesus gave us examples as how to keep the law, commandments, by how He lived His life as a human. If we call Him Lord and not keep His commandments then we are liars. Jesus was the One, God, who gave Moses the holy ten Commandments.

      Reply

      1. Hi John, I agree with you. I agree that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament. But we to call Jesus “the One God” is to contradict the Bible. Paul wrote:

        “For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 8:6).

        “You were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:5, 6).

        “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

        The “One God” of the Bible is therefore the Father alone. For a discussion of this mystery, see the articles about Jesus on this website.

        Reply

        1. Jesus is The Son of God.
          ““God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.”

          ‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NCV‬‬

          Reply

  8. Love is the overal commandment to all the law that was given by Christ, the love of God and the love of your neighbour allthis bounds all the ten commandment if you do it.

    Reply

  9. Whoever does away with the law called 10 Commandments is missing the heart of the all mighty loving Father. When we walk in obedience with our Father, the law is transformed into a covenant with our Saviour. Through Him and with Him in us, we will live in obedience, which will result in an eternal reward of kingship with our Master. The covenant (10 Commandments) confirms our love for our King and our loving Farther. Our interpretation or opinions do not count. All that matters is what the Word teaches and whether we obey. Through childlike obedience we respond in love, not to receive anything, but rather, it becomes a dance of intimacy. John 14:23 When a man loves Me and follows my teaching, then my Farther will love him, and We will come to that man and make our home within him. Shalom

    Reply

  10. Yahshuah was a true symbol of a religious Jew. The Pharisees and Sadducees were political quasi religious Jews, as presently in world order system today. Yahweh’s laws are eternal from generation to generation till the heaven and earth be no more. Disobedience to the law means Sin, but Obedience to the law through faith in Yahshua is Life. Why is the Sabbath considered a burden by Christians? Yahweh’s Sabbath is a delight. Dr Tony Vadynizk. . +2348132838212 and +2349027005860

    Reply

    2. I agree with you, Tony. Jesus said that He did not come to remove the law but to fulfill it. He said that it was not wrong to do work on the Sabbath when it was good to do so and it would save a bad situation for someone. He did not say the Sabbath is now done away with. He reprimanded the Pharisees for judging people who did good on the Sabbath. He blessed it and declared it holy. have the same question. Is the Sabbath now no longer holy? Why do Christians resist the Sabbath so much? Rest means rest. Rest on the holy Sabbath means rest on the holy Sabbath. If you are called to do good on the Sabbath by all means do, it is not wrong.

      Reply

  11. Hebrews 4:8-11 The Sabbath is no more a day or time but the period given to us to work the field of harvest. Meaning we will only experience Sabbath after fulfilling our apostolic mission. God rested after His work. For us is to concentrate on attainment of that rest. Revelation 12:12 time is but short for all of us. Luke 10:2 the labourers are few.

    Reply

    1. If you decide to abandon Sabbath so early in the history of the world, how then can you explain this scripture in tandem with your insinuation? Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh.

      Please note: the verse refers us to the new heaven and earth that God WILL make (in future). How shall we worship in the new heaven and new earth if we abandon the sabbath day worshipping commandment now???

      Lev 23:3 says Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work: it is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.

      ‘Day of Holy convocation’ means Day of Holy assembly, Day of Holy gathering.

      Reply

    1. Dear Peter, we must not try to replace the individual believer’s connection with God with a list of do’s and don’ts. We humans are very fond of our rules; then we do not have to ask the Lord. But in the end rules become a barrier between us and God, and we look down on people that do not follow our personal set of rules. Therefore, trust God that He wants to speak to you, and go to Him by yourself, and ask Him!

      Reply

  13. If we do not understand the Sabbath day in Genesis 2vs1-3 (Which was given to men before sin, before the were any Jews or gentiles) we are most likely to be confused.

    The Sabbath day comes as a reminder in Exodus 20 vs 8 hence it says “remember the Sabbath day…”

    Matt22vs37-40 tells us about the two great commandments; “On these two commandments hangs ALL THE LAW AND PROPHETS”. This is the most important part.

    Matt5 vs17″ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
    18 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.

    Do you know that the Sabbath day will be kept even in the new heaven and new earth? Isaiah 66vs 22-23.

    Revelation 22:14 (KJV) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

    It is disobedience (breaking the law) that separated men from the tree of life. It is obedience (keeping the law) that will bring men back to the tree of life. I know that we are saved through Jesus but we have a role to play as faith without works is dead.

    Reply

    1. Wow! I am impressed! Where did you get that “obedience will bring men back to the tree of life”? That is an amazing statement. It needs to be qualified, but once that is done I would like to agree with you.

      With respect to the Sabbath day in Genesis 2vs1-3 and the Sabbath in the new heaven and new earth; I agree that these were and will be special days, but with a much greater meaning than the Old Testament days of rest. If I may play with words, I would like to call it days of restoration.

      The Sabbath day comes as a reminder in Exodus 20 vs 8 because it was already given in Exodus 16.

      Matthew 5:17-18 refers to the entire Old Testament. Should we still offer sacrifices? Jesus said that no one jot or one tittle shall wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled, but note that He also said that He came to fulfill.

      Reply

      1. All men in the world need self RESToration 1st before they can expose it to others.
        Its all about perfecting the 10 commandments yourself before you can teach them.( Matt 5vs19 )

        People in the world do lack much, thus breaking many commandments. One will tell you, how can i rest/keep sabbath when work requires me to work 7 days/standbys. We have to know that the devil is at work; changing the world system to make all to fall from grace further more, leaving you no chance to get up easily. (Dan 7vs23-25 )

        The DO’s and DON’Ts do apply very much. But those who are blind are blameless specially kids. John says in Revelations that he saw both small and great standing at his throne. It tells us that there will be no excuse as to why did not seek the Lord’s way.

        From my view, 80% of this world is doomed. Really few will march on this narrow, strait road.

        Survival has turned the world up side down to compromise God’s standard. People look for money left and right, forgetting that Jesus had no welth to spoil himself. (Matt 6vs24 )

        In conclusion I can say, whoever wants heaven must:
        *really humble himself by letting go of his/her dream job that makes you compromise Sabbath 7th day.
        *loose friends that don’t build you spiritually.
        *let your mind condemn you that you not perfect with God. There are things you know makes you a sinner. Then you will find friends and treasure in heaven as a bonus reward.

        Reply

  14. Jesus, or Yeshua, did not change the Sabbath, or modify any commandment given in Torah. He merely restored the heart level obedience that YHVH always desired from his people. Also, categories like moral law are anachronistic and don’t exist in scripture. God’s word only knows two categories: love God and love neighbour. The most frequent commandment in the New Testament isn’t of a moral category, it’s a ceremonial Law category, stay away from idols.
    See my article for more:
    http://bereanbaptists.blogspot.com/2015/07/between-covenants-jesus-law.html

    Reply

    1. Dear Ryan, thanks for your comment.

      I agree that what Jesus taught was the heart level obedience that YHVH always desired from his people, but the law as given to Moses gave the law at a different level; at a level appropriate for the Jews at the time.

      I would not call categories like moral law anachronistic (outdated), because it never existed. It is perhaps outdated in Baptist theology.

      Lastly, all ceremonial laws are based on moral principles. Staying away from idols is in my mind more moral than ceremonial.

      Reply

      1. When Jesus taught about the Sabbath, he wasn’t introducing anything new. He was taking away the regulations added by the Pharisees.
        The Torah taught heart level obedience too. “Do not hate your brother from your heart” (Lev 19:17); “These words I command you this day shall be on your heart” (Deut 6:6); “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul”
        (Deut 26:16). So no, heart level obedience isn’t a New Testament concept.

        Also, anachronistic doesn’t mean outdated. It means historically out of place.

        Reply

        1. Hi Ryan the Baptist, nice to hear from you again.

          Your definition of anachronistic is spot on. Outdated has a more limited meaning, namely historically out of place with respect to the present time.

          But I would like to take issue with you with respect to what I consider to be a very serious theological issue, namely your statement that Jesus wasn’t introducing anything new when he taught about the Sabbath, but that He was merely taking away the regulations added by the Pharisees.

          That is the view of many people, namely that the gospels effectively are part of the Old Testament and that Jesus simply taught and lived the Old Testament. In this view Paul was the main teacher of the New Testament. However, in the thousands of sermons which I have listened to over my lifetime, from different denominations, I cannot remember that I ever heard anybody trying to prove that point. It is simply an assumption, but stated as if it is a proven fact, like you are doing.

          You see, how things works in the religious world is that people generally are taught a certain set of doctrines, and then they prove their doctrines on the basis of the Bible. Extremely few people start with a clean slate, reading and interpreting the Bible for themselves. That is why we have these various systems of interpretation, such as Baptist theology, each proclaiming a unique combination of doctrines, with very little movement over time.

          In my view the Lord gave Paul great stones to set into the structure of His eternal church, but they are not foundation stones. The foundation stones were laid by Jesus alone. Paul’s life and ministry are not the example of what we are called to be; Jesus alone is that. The Lord’s words are the foundation. Paul has only built upon them by elaborating on His words. The greatest wisdom and the most powerful truths are the Lord’s words, not Paul’s.

          “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached” (Luke 16:16). Remember the new wine and old wineskins (Mat. 19:17)? “The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Would Jesus have forgiven the woman caught in adultery if He was simply teaching the Law of Moses?

          The view that Christ taught nothing new, but simply interpreted the Law of Moses, or even the Old Testament, devalues Christ’s teaching, and is in my view is a horrible distortion of the truth.

          I gave reasons why I believe Jesus taught a different Sabbath. If you disagree, please provide reasons.

          Regards, Andries

          Reply

  15. You have six days in which to do your work, but remember that the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. On that day do not work, but gather for worship. The Sabbath belongs to the LORD , no matter where you live.
    Leviticus 23:3 GNB

    Reply

  16. “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord ’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord , and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
    Isaiah 58:13‭-‬14 NIV

    Reply

  17. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.He is the giver of the Law and of grace in abundance.Faith in Christ goes hand in hand with obeying His law .When we do the works that Christ did,by His divine help,we attain His righteousness by faith.Honouring the fourth commandment as one of the ten is honouring Christ .

    Reply

  18. We must be careful not to encourage the view that the Fourth Commandment does not apply to Christians today. To say Christ changed the Sabbath could so easily be regarded as “done away with”. What we should be saying about the Fourth Commandment is that Christ brought the spiritual meaning for each of the Ten Commandments yet observing the Seventh Day Sabbath. The greatest weapon Satan uses is to create doubt and confusion amongst Christ followers. Let us not appear as Christians who are confused about God’s Word. Rihana

    Reply

      1. I don’t think we should neglect the needs of people all week and wait for the Sabbath….. Meaning doing good on any other day is right, but on Sabbath rest in God….recharge from the toils of the week

        Reply

  19. The Bible in Malachi 3:6 says God does not change and so the ten commandment that is written with His own finger (Ex 31:18). Having said that, Jesus stated plainly in the book Mathew 5:17-18, He didn’t come to abolish the Law or the prophets but to fulfill. Heaven and earth shall pass away but not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
    Dear friend I would like to kindly remind you that, it was through disobedience that our first parents lost paradise. Don’t repeat the same mistake by disobeying God’s commandment. Finally, 1 John 2:4, The man who says, I know Him but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not him.
    To conclude, please read Revelation 22;14. Blessed are those who do His commandments for shall have right to the tree of life (for your information, that tree of life was guard by the angels with a flaming sword flashing back and forth (Gen 3:24) when Adam and Eve disobeyed God)..So the only people who will access the tree of life are the people who are obedient to God and theh shall march in the new city.

    I pray that, may our good Lord opened your eyes that you may behold wondrous things out of His law.

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  20. Are you mixing the moral law or the ten commandments written with the finger of God with the mosaic or ceremonial law written by a man the man Moses for a people who murmured and railed against God and Moses on their way to the promised land.

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  21. The Law of Moses was civil and changeable. It resided outside of the ark. The 10 commandments were written by the finger of God on STONE implying permanence. The Sabbath remains a day of Holy convocation and worship in Spirit and Truth glorifying Him as Creator. The 10 commandments resided in the ark in the Most Holy place in the earthly sanctuary.

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  22. You are confusing the moral law, which is the ten commandments, written with the finger of God, with the mosaic or ceremonial law written by a man – the man Moses.

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  23. Keep it holy and do no work except Yahushua’s work; not worlds work: no self gain. His spirit will lead you if you are sincere.

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  24. you wrote: “Contrary to popular belief, the Law of Moses did not require people to have religious meetings or to worship God on that day. Exodus 16:29 says “Remain every man in his place”. The only requirement was rest….

    while i truly like your shift in focus from resting to working in Christ, you built it on the faulty premise above. ALL the Sabbaths given in the OT were “Holy Convocations”, i.e “holy meeting times for corporate worship”, and there not one single exception foo this. the reference to ““Remain every man in his place” is specific to the ‘test’ that God gave them concerning NOT gathering manna on the Sabbath day, but remaining indoors INSTEAD of going out to collect it. All this is obvious and very clear from Ex 16:16 all the way tru to vs 31. the issue here is NOT worship, but not going outside to GATHER food. It was a TEST for the Hebrews…plain and simple…

    Please edit the posted account, becoz it misleads ppl. Ad yes, God DID require ppl to REST on the SabbathS; they are ALL holy Convocations. The word translated literally means ‘rehearsal’, as in “the act of practicing in preparation for an event.”

    The general translation is always accompanied by the words, ‘assembly’ or ‘gathering’; there is never an argument to this in the Holy writ…examine the evidence below…

    Exodus 12:16 — “And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you; …

    Leviticus 23:3 — “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation;

    Leviticus 23:7 — “In the first day you shall have a holy convocation: …

    Leviticus 23:8 — “But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHWH for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation: …”.

    Leviticus 23:21 — “And you shall proclaim on the same day a holy convocation unto you: …: it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations”.

    Leviticus 23:24 — “In the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you have a rest, a remembrance of Teruah, a set-apart gathering”.

    Leviticus 23:27 — …It shall be a set-apart gathering for you.

    Leviticus 23:34-36 — on the fifteenth day of this seventh new moon is the festival of Sukkot for seven days to YHWH. On the first day is a set-apart gathering, On the eight day there shall be a set-apart gathering for you,

    Numbers 28:17-18 — “and on the fifteenth day of this new moon is a festival. …On the first day is a set-apart gathering….

    Numbers 28:25-26 — “and on the seventh day you have a set-apart gathering… x 2

    Numbers 29:1 — “And in the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you have a set-apart gathering,

    Numbers 29:7 — “And on the tenth day of this seventh new moon you have a set-apart gathering,

    Leviticus 23:2 — …‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings. My appointed times, are these’”…

    Leviticus 23:4 — “These are the appointed times of YHWH, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times”.

    I trust you will revise the premise made,because God expected them to meet/assemble on the sabbath days…let us not pick and choose what we want to believe…

    Yur humble servant
    woody

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  25. This person is not coming clear. Does that therefore mean it is against GODS will to keep the Biblical Sabbath, Saturday?

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    1. Of course not, but the Lord of the Sabbath explained the Biblical Sabbath not as a day to sit idle, focusing on yourself; what you must or may do or not do, but as a day to focus on the needs of other people. Remember, God created everything through His Son. It is His Son that rested on the seventh day. We should allow Him to explain to us how the day should be kept.

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  26. My grandma has passed away last week Thursday morning and the family (non-Sabbath keepers) decided the funeral will be on the Sabbath. What does the Sabbath keeping principle say here?

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  27. God is the owner of the Law. If you know Him, then follow His Law. Let’s say your father send you to buy sugar, salt, paraffin and lastly – don’t forget – to buy a match box. What will happen if you buy the others but forget the match box? Your father will be annoyed. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The Law lead us to safety. If you Love me, then follow my Laws.

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    2. Good for you, hope you can do it. don’t just keep one law which is the sabbath, but the whole law, alright? Then, guess what? you are a god and you don’t need Jesus in your life because you can keep the law perfectly.

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    3. I think you are right, Reuben, mine too, would be very angry with me. But I thank GOD for HIS GRACE. HE does not hold any grudges against me. Instead, he cares for me as he teaches me on how to forgive (Ephesians 4:31-32); (John 8:7 &11); Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15, 21 & 35; ); (Luke 23:24) and (Col 3:13).

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  29. Leviticus 23:3Good News Translation (GNT)

    3 You have six days in which to do your work, but remember that the seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. On that day do not work, but gather for worship. The Sabbath belongs to the Lord, no matter where you live.

    Don’t be cheated! Wake up!

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  30. Matthew 5:19
    For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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  31. Did Christ keep the Sabbath? In the way that he did it, He changed the 10 Commandments.

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    1. Hi Liesbet (Elizabeth?) Yes, He kept the Sabbath, but not like the Jews of His time. He did not change the 10 Commandments; He rather replaced the entire Law of Moses with the Law of Christ

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    1. No, God did not change the Law of Moses, but the Law of Moses is not applicable to Christians. We now have a new Law, namely the Law of Christ. The eternal moral principles in the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ are the same, but the demands of the Law of Christ are much higher. Please see the article on the Law of Christ.

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      1. If you allow the Spirit of the living God to open the eyes of your understanding, and study the Bible – the word of God Almighty – with Him, you will notice that there were actually two Laws.

        The one law is the Moral or Royal Law of God or the Ten commandments, written with the finger of God, revealing our relationship to God almighty and mankind.

        The first four commandments govern our vertical relationship to God and the last six commandments govern our horizontal relationship to mankind.

        Genesis 1v 26 God said, “Let us make man in our own image, according to our likeness, let them have dominion (stewardship) over everything that flies, swims or creeps upon the earth.

        Who was God Almighty speaking to here? He was speaking to His Son Yehoshua Ha Mashiach and to the Spirit of the living God. They also wrote the Moral Law or the Ten Commandments.

        The other law was the Ceremonial or Mosaic Laws or the Ordinances were written by the hand of a sinful, but God ordained man, namely Moses This law was full of blessing for obedience, and curses for disobedience.

        Most importantly when Yehoshua Ha Mashiach went to the cross for the remission of all the sins of mankind, He swept away all and every animal sacrifice by nailing them to the cross.

        The Ceremonial or Mosaic Laws were nailed to the cross, not the Ten Commandments, as some people would have us to believe. Please do not confuse the Ten Commandments with the Mosaic or Ceremonial Laws of Moses.

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        1. Dear Rona,
          The Moral Law is not the same as the Ten Commandments. For instance, the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) is a very moral law, but outside the Ten Commandments. The distinction between moral and ceremonial laws is man-made; it is not explicit in the Bible. There are moral elements is most or all ceremonial laws.

          Further, it was not a law that was nailed to the Cross; it was the penalty for our sins. To see this you need to understand that Colossians 2:9-17 forms a unit, saying “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells” (v9), therefore “in Him you have been made complete” (v10-15), therefore “no one is to act as your judge in regard to …” (v16-17). Please refer also my discussion of Colossians for a discussion of these texts.

          Lastly, Yehoshua Ha Mashiach Himself changed the Ten Commandments by saying “you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty” (Matthew 5:21-22) and “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Please refer to my discussion of the “Law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:20-21)

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          2. Rihana, I would like to agree with you, but that depends on what you mean by “Law“. Paul wrote that he himself was not “under the Law”, but also not “without law”, because he was “under the law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9 20-21). The implication is that he was not under the Law of Moses. The Law which God gave to the Jews was derived from God’s eternal law. For instance, the law not to murder was derived from the eternal law of love, but lowered to the degenerated moral level of the nation Israel. Christ elevated the moral level of that commandment by saying “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ … But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty” (Mat. 5:21-22). So technically you are right to say that Christ did not change the Law, but if you mean we are still under the Law of Moses, then I would disagree, because Christ raised the bar significantly. And yes, the Ten Commandment are not part of the Law of Moses, but note that Jesus referred to the Ten Commandments in Matthew 5:21-22. Please refer to the article on The Law of Christ for more information. In the same way Christ elevated the requirements of the Sabbath to be much closer to its original intent. As long as we live in sin we cannot experience the joy of that original day, “when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7), but as Jesus explained the Sabbath, it comes much closer.

        2. I agree with Rona, read Matth 5:17. KJV Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
          Ten commandments stand forever…..they are not and cannot be changed.

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          1. Dear Retshepile
            The “law, or the prophets” refer to the entire Old Testament; not the Ten Commandments only. Are you saying we should still offer sacrifices? In the very same chapter which you quote, Jesus said, with respect to commandments in the Ten Commandments “You have heard … but I say to you” (v21, 27). What are the implications for the Ten Commandments?

  34. Thank you so much for that ..
    It was my understanding at first and I just had to check it up to make sure it was what I thought.. ☺
    I’m assisting a friend of getting to know Christ more . So thank you once again .

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    1. Just in case someone reads this,
      Please read Isaiah 58 prayerfully.
      I believe the whole chapter is on Sabbath observance.
      Note Isaiah’s words used in certain places of ‘day’ and ‘fast’.
      Also, there are negatives God deals with at the start of the chapter, concerning Israel’s behaviour where you notice are repeated as he begins to mention the Sabbath day towards the end! So in conclusion the ‘fast’ is as the very ‘day’. A fast is about lowering the flesh to raise the spiritual. This principle is simply being bridged over to Sabbath observance. God bless,…
      P.s. As you read this whole chapter in light of the Sabbath, keep in the back of your mind how the Jews behaved towards Jesus’ keeping of it.

      Reply

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