As part of His messianic mission, Jesus came to see that the principles established by the Old Testament Scriptures (the laws governing Old Covenant Judaism) are faithfully obeyed according to their application for New Covenant Judaism (Isa 2:1-3; Mic 4:1-3; Mat 5:17-20). This includes those principles established by the various Sabbath day commands.

That being said…

1. There are four principles established by the various Sabbath commands that we must be faithful to practice:

1.1. Rest and relief from labors, hardships or suffering.

1.1.1. (Exo 23:12, 31:12-17; Lev 25:1-13 [the poor and property, 14-55]) = The seventh day, seventh year and the end of seven sabbath years were all to be observed as times of rest or relief from regular work - and other labors, hardships or suffering, not only for God’s people, but those people, animal and things under their charge. Notice again from Exodus 31: these “sabbaths” (or all of God’s various Sabbath commands): 1) promised certain death to those who found defiant (14-15 “profane” = Violate in defiance [e.g., Num 15:30-36]); “shall surely be put to death” -mentioned 2x for emphasis]). 2) were viewed by Him as a “perpetual covenant”, a “forever sign” between Him and Israel (Exo 31:16-17).

1.1.2. (Exo 16:22-30 “boil what you boil and bake what you bake [on the days before the Sabbath]”; Exo 35:1-3 “you shall not kindle a fire” [for cooking]) = Rest included no cooking on the Sabbath. All cooking must be done before the seventh day.

1.1.3. (Exo 20:8-11) = The importance of observing the Sabbath commands is highlighted not only by the threat of death but the fact that God made it the 4th of His ten commandments.

1.1.4. During His earthly ministry, Jesus clarified what forms of work were acceptable -or exceptions, on the Sabbath (Mat 12:1-8 “Son of Man” [Dan 7:13] w/ “Lord of the Sabbath”) = I am God, the One Who created/instituted the Sabbath and therefore know what is acceptable to do on this day – which includes all: 1) those involved in sacred work (e.g., pastors/priests – vv1-7). 2) unforeseen/special circumstances (e.g., assets in jeopardy – vv9-11[1]). 3) work directly related to relieving hardship or suffering (e.g., mercy ministries, doctors – vv12-13[2]). 4) those forced to work on the Sabbath by unjust employers (Mat 11:25-30 w/12:1 “at that time”) = Matthew connects Jesus’ words in 11:25-30 to what follows in the Sabbath pericopes of chapter 12 indicating this as its context as well. In typical hypocritical fashion (Mat 23), the Pharisees condemning Jesus’ Sabbath day activities, were the ones truly guilty of profaning it through their refusal to give this day off to those they employed – most specifically, their young disciples (Mat 23:4 “heavy burdens”). Jesus’ words express divine judgment against the Pharisees (“you have hidden these things [the revelation of Jesus regarding the Father] from the wise and intelligent” [sarcasm: the Pharisees who believed themselves to spiritually wise and intelligent but were instead spiritually dumb and blind – Joh 9:40-41]) while extending divine favor to those forced to work (“[you] have revealed them to infants [their young disciples]…Come to Me all who are weary…and I will give you rest…you will [also] find rest for your souls [IOW: become My disciples and not only will you no longer be forced to work on the Sabbath but also find the eternal rest of the Father you have been seeking as disciples of the Pharisees]).” (i.e., God shows compassion to those not afforded a Sabbath rest by their masters [Deu 5:15 “slave” w/no day of rest]).   

1.1.5. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Heb 3:11-4:11).

1.1.6. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in: (Act 4:32-37).

1.2. Reunion and rejoicing as a holy convocation.

1.2.1. (Lev 23:1-8 [Passover/Unleavened Bread] w/15 w/21 [Pentecost/Weeks] w/23-41 [Trumpets/Yom Kippur/Booths]) “a sabbath…a holy convocation” (Heb., miqra) = Assemblies (v36); “Feast…celebrate the feast…rejoice…celebrate it as a feast…celebration” = These Sabbath assemblies/holy convocations were to be a time of rejoicing [partying] with the covenant family through fellowship and fine dining – including strong drink (Deu 14:26). These family reunions were to also include corporate singing and the playing of musical instruments in the courts/house of the Lord (Psa 92:1-4 w/13-14).

1.2.2. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Heb 10:25) “assembling together” = An allusion to God’s multiple mandates to not forsake His prescribed holy convocations/Sabbath assemblies (e.g., Lev 23).

1.2.3. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in:

1) (Act 2:44-47) “were (assembled) together” = holy convocation/Sabbath assembly; “taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God…” = Feasting, fellowshipping and rejoicing as a covenant family/sabbath assembly/holy convocation. 

2) (Eph 5:18-20) = The context for Paul’s instruction is most likely the church “ekklesia” (literally, an assembly- as in a Sabbath assembly).

3) (Col 3:15 “you were called [to assemble] in “one body” [meaning the church] w/16) = God has called you to rejoicing and singing as a holy convocation/Sabbath assembly.

1.3. Reciprocation or return on God’s blessings.

1.3.1. (Exo 23:14-17 [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] “none shall appear before Me empty-handed” w/Exo 34:25-26 “the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord”; [Pentecost/Feast of the Harvest] “the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field”; [Yom Kippur/Feast of the Ingathering] “at the end of the year when you gather the fruit of your labors from the field”) = Israel’s three Sabbath assemblies/holy convocations – which were deliberately wed to the three harvesting times of the year, was when God expected His people to bring their tithes (“first fruits”) to His house (Mal 3:10 [2Ch 30:13 w/31:5-10). IOW: God viewed His Sabbaths as a time of reciprocation – or the time when Israel was to make a return on His blessings to them.

1.3.2. These Sabbath assemblies were not only reserved for the required tithe, but when the people would also make any votive and freewill offerings (peace offerings) (Deu 12:6-7 [Deu 14:22-23]).

1.3.3. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Gal 3:27-29 [sons of Abe thru baptism into Christ] w/Heb 7:1-10) = All the sons of Abraham (OC Jews/NC Jews) pay tithes to Christ.

1.3.4. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in: (2Co 8:1-5) = A freewill offering to help the struggling church in Jerusalem.

1.4. Remembrance and covenant renewal.

1.4.1. (Deu 5:12-15) = God connects the Sabbath to Israel’s redemption/deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

1.4.2. (Exo 12:1-14 w/24-27 w/13:3 w/15:11-13 [“LORD” = Yhwh] w/Exo 18:8-11 and Num 33:1-4) = The Passover Sabbath and sacrament was carried out for the purpose of remembering Israel’s redemption from death and slavery under the false gods of Egypt to life w/the true God of Creation.

1.4.3. Hence then the reason for its connection to the original Creation sabbath or seventh day, the day commemorating Yhwh as the true Author of life (Deu 4:33-35 w/39; Also again Exo 31:13 “so that you might know I am the LORD Who sanctifies you”) IOW: That you might know that Yhwh is your Creator and Savior.

1.4.4. Hence also the requirement of fully consuming the sacrifice. The Passover lamb functioned primarily as a burnt offering (which was fully consumed) communicating that person’s full dedication to God. In this case, Israel’s full dedication as slaves (no longer the false gods of Egypt – Jos 24:15) but the true God of Creation, Yhwh (Lev 25:42).

1.4.5. Passover’s yearly celebration therefore also came to represent covenant renewal/re-ratification (i.e., their “new year resolution” or yearly re-commitment to God and their covenant obligations).

14.6. Per God’s design, all three holy convocations or Sabbath assemblies (Passover, Pentecost and Yom Kippur) would include the necessity of covenant renewal (Exo 34:27[w/23-24]) = God’s continuing role as Savior (v24) was dependent upon His people’s thrice-yearly covenant renewal/rededication to Him as Lord (v23 “three times a year all your males are to appear…[v27] in accordance with these words I have made a covenant”; Lord Before Savior).

“Every Sabbath celebration was a renewal of the covenant relationship.” – Harold H.P. Dressler (“The Sabbath in the Old Testament” in From Sabbath To Lord’s Day)

1.4.6. As such, Pentecost and Yom Kippur were likewise committed to remembrance, each portraying a different facet of Israel’s redemption and exodus journey from death to life (*further details to follow in our study on sacraments).

“Every major festival of Israel was associated with the exodus, granting each generation an annual experience of Israel’s redemption.” – L. Michael Morales (Exodus Old and New)

1.4.7. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by:

1) (Luk 22:19-20) “Do this in remembrance of Me” = In the LT we remember our redemption from death and slavery in sin to life through the life and death of the Jesus, the “Author of life” (Act 3:15). We also renew/re-ratify the covenant established by this sacrament: The bread (the body of Jesus/the burnt offering) is fully consumed by us indicating not only our full dedication to Jesus (faithfulness of life), but our renewal of the covenant, thereby granting to us God’s continuing redemption (forgiveness of sins) through the cup (the blood of Jesus/the sin offering) (Lord Before Savior).

2) (1Co 11:20 w/23-25 “meet together”) = Our LT remembrance and covenant renewal (re-ratification) takes place during our Sabbath assembly/holy convocation.

CLOSING CONTEMPLATIONS:

1) Do we need to change our service from Sunday (1st day) to Saturday (the 7th day) (“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy…the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God” – Exo 20)?

2) How do you reconcile Mat 5:17-18 w/Gal 4:10-11 and Col 2:16-17 and Rom 14:5-6?

3) Why is Easter (Christ’s Resurrection) the most significant event when it comes to justifying the changes in application we see in New Covenant Judaism?

4) What about Christ’s Resurrection (Easter) may justify a change from Saturday to Sunday? (the answer is not, “because that’s the day He rose from the grave” [the equivalent of, “because it’s got what plants crave.”]).  

[1] War and marriage celebrations are also considered special circumstances (Jos 6:15; 1Ki 20:29; Jug 14:10 w/17).

[2] Consider also (Joh 5:1-17) = The issue is not working (or walking around) – but your intention for doing so [e.g., Neh 13:15-21]).