The Importance of Sabbath

 

How Important is the Sabbath?

The importance of Sabbath is oftentimes negated as part of the Law and done away with or obsolete; overlooked; or taught in error: the Sabbath was the first recorded Feast (YeHoVaH) Himself celebrated (Gen 2:2-3), and out of all the Appointed Times (or Feasts), the Sabbath is the only one listed in the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17). And being that the Sabbath is the Fourth Commandment (Ex 20:8-11), it is commanded before honoring parents, murder, adultery, theft, etc.

In the New Testament, Yeshua (Jesus) maintained the observance of the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). And being that there is much controversy and misinterpretation of Shaul’s (Paul’s) teachings (or Letters), keep in mind that it was also his custom to observe and teach in the synagogues on the Sabbath (Acts 17:2).

Furthermore, the Sabbath will continue to be observed in the Messianic Age, which is a time to come (Col 3:16-17; Is 56:2-4; Is 66:23; Ezek 44:24; Ezek 45:17; Ezek 46:1-12). Unfortunately, many believe and teach that the commandments (including the Sabbath) of YeHoVaH have been abolished. However, I conclude, without reserve, that the observance of the Sabbath day (as well as The Commandments) is as important today is it was in the days of old (Matt 5:17​).

Exodus 31:13-17

13 “And you, speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a SIGN between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH), am setting you apart.

14 ‘And you shall guard the Sabbath, for it is set-apart to you. Everyone who profanes it shall certainly be put to death, for anyone who does work on it, that being shall be cut off from among his people.

15 ‘Six days work is done, and on the seventh is a Sabbath of rest, set-apart to יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH). Everyone doing work on the Sabbath day shall certainly be put to death.

16 ‘And the children of Yisra’el shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.

17 ‘Between Me and the children of Yisra’el it is a SIGN forever. For in six days יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ” (Emphasis Added)

Ezekiel 20:11-25

11 “And I gave them My laws and showed them My right-rulings, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’

12 “And I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, to know that I am יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) who sets them apart.

13 “But the house of Yisra’el rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My laws, and they rejected My right-rulings, which, if a man does, he shall live by them. And they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 “But I acted for My Name’s sake, not to profane it before the gentiles, before whose eyes I had brought them out.

15 “And I Myself also lifted My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, not to bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, the splendour of all lands,

16 because they rejected My right-rulings and did not walk in My laws, and they profaned My Sabbaths. For their heart went after their idols.

​17 “And My eye pardoned them, from destroying them. And I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 “And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the laws of your fathers, nor observe their rulings, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 ‘I am יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) your Elohim. Walk in My laws, and guard My right-rulings, and do
them.

20 ‘And set apart My Sabbaths, and they shall be a SIGN between Me and you, to know that I am יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) your Elohim.’

21 “But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My laws, and My right-rulings they did not guard to do them, which, if a man does, he shall live by them. They profaned My Sabbaths, so I resolved to pour out My wrath on them to complete My displeasure against them in the wilderness.

22 “But I held back My hand and acted for My Name’s sake, not to profane it before the eyes of the gentiles, before whose eyes I had brought them out.

23 “Also, I Myself lifted My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, to scatter them among the gentiles and disperse them throughout the lands,

24 because they had not done My right-rulings, and they rejected My laws, and they profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were on their fathers’ idols.

25 “And I also gave them up to laws that were not good, and right-rulings by which they would not live.

 

The Hebrew word for “Sign”

226 אוֹת ‘owth {oth}
Meaning:  1) sign, signal 1a) a distinguishing mark 1b) banner 1c) remembrance 1d) miraculous sign 1e) omen 1f) warning 2) TOKEN, ensign, standard, miracle, PROOF

Origin:  probably from 0225 (in the sense of appearing); TWOT – 41a; n f
Usage:  AV – sign(s) 60, token(s) 14, ensign(s) 2, miracles 2, mark 1; 79

 

Luke 4:16

And He came to Natsareth, where He had been brought up. And according to His practice, He went into the congregation on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. – The Scriptures

 

Revelation 7:2-3

2 And I saw another messenger coming up from the rising of the sun, holding the SEAL of the living Elohim. And he cried with a loud voice to the four messengers to whom it was given to harm the earth and the sea,

3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees until we have sealed the servants of our Elohim upon their foreheads.”

 

Revelation 9:4

And it was said to them that they shall not harm the grass of the earth, or any green matter, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the SEAL of Elohim upon their foreheads.

 

The Greek word for “Seal”:

4973 σφραγίς Sphragis {sfrag-ece’}

Meaning:  1) a seal 1a) the seal placed upon books 1b) a signet ring 1c) the inscription or impression made by a seal 1c1) of the name of God and Christ stamped upon their foreheads 1d) that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal (a TOKEN or PROOF)

Origin:  probably strengthened from 5420; TDNT – 7:939,1127; n f

Usage:  AV – seal 16; 16

 

Isaiah 58:13-14

13 “If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) ‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words,

14 then you shall delight yourself in יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH). And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya’aqov your father. For the mouth of יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) has spoken!”

 

Isaiah 56:1-7

Thus said יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH), “Guard right-ruling, and do righteousness, for near is My deliverance to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.

2 “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it, guarding the Sabbath lest he profane it, and guarding his hand from doing any evil.

3 “And let not the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) speak, saying, ‘יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH) has certainly separated me from His people,’ nor let the eunuch say, ‘Look I am a dry tree.’ ”

4 For thus said יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH), “To the eunuchs who guard My Sabbaths, and have chosen what pleases Me, and hold fast to My covenant:

5 to them I shall give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters – I give them an everlasting name that is not cut off.

​6 “Also the sons of the FOREIGNER who join themselves to יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH), to serve Him, and to love the Name of יְהֹוָה (YeHoVaH), to be His servants, all who guard the Sabbath, and not profane it, and hold fast to My covenant –

7 them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain, and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their slaughterings are accepted on My altar, for My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

 

The Hebrew word for “Foreigner” or “Stranger” in KJV

5236 נֵכָר nekar {nay-kawr’}’

From OT:5234; foreign, or (concretely) a foreigner, or (abstractly) HEATHENDOM:
KJV – alien, strange (+-er).