Does Christ repeat the Sabbath commandment?

[Soyeong]

Scripture shows that the apostles taught and preached on the Sabbath.... even John in 90 AD was shown and recorded the significance of the Sabbath. You see, the Sabbath was written from one end of the Bible to the other and never annulled. Any legal covenant has to be officially annulled as the ceremonial laws were when Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished" and the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. An event that was prophesied to happen. Annulling the Sabbath Commandment, would have resulted in a much greater show of authority with even more prophetic announcements against it, of which there are none.

I gave you the verse. Exodus 31:16 Maybe if I give you multiple translations it will make an impact on you.

New International Version
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.

New Living Translation
The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.

English Standard Version
Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.

New American Standard Bible
'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'

King James Bible
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

International Standard Version
The Israelis are to keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation.

NET Bible
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelites must observe this day of worship, celebrating it for generations to come as a permanent reminder of my promise.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

New American Standard 1977
‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’

Jubilee Bible 2000
Therefore the sons of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their ages for a perpetual covenant.

King James 2000 Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

American King James Version
Why the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

American Standard Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in their generations. It is an everlasting covenant

Darby Bible Translation
And the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations -- [it is] an everlasting covenant.

English Revised Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

World English Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Young's Literal Translation
and the sons of Israel have observed the sabbath; to keep the sabbath to their generations is a covenant age-during,

NO COVENANT = NO SABBATH.

It is really that simple. You just don't wish to see it and are doing theological and hermeneutical gymnastics to avoid what this verse says in all of its translations.

We are indeed not under the Old Covenant, but we are still under the same God, however, the way we should act is not based on any covenant agreement with God, but rather it is based on who God is. We are told to do what is holy not because the Jews are holy or because we are under any particular covenant, but because God is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). Those who do not keep the Sabbath holy who are not part of the Old Covenant are not guilty of breaking the covenant, but are nevertheless still guilty of not doing what is holy in accordance with God's holiness. God's law is His instructions for how to do what is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), so anyone who wants to know how to act in line with God's holiness, righteousness, and goodness can find out how to do so by reading those instructions regardless of whether they are part of any particular covenant. However, as part of instructions to people under the New Covenant, we are still told to do what is holy, righteous, and good (1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 3:10, Ephesians 2:10), so none of that has changed between covenants, just as God's holiness, righteousness, and goodness has not changed.

According to Romans 9:6-8, true Israel is made up of those who have faith in the promise. According to Ephesians 2:19, Gentiles are now fellow citizens of Israel through faith in Messiah. According to 1 Peter 2:9-10, Gentiles are now included as part of God's chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy, nation, and a treasure of God's own possession, all of which was said only in regard to Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6), so Gentiles are now being included as part of Israel. According to Jeremiah 31:31, the New Covenant was only made with the house of Judah and the house of Israel, so if you are not grafted into Israel, then you are not part of the New Covenant. As part of God's chosen people, Israel, we should live according to the instructions that God has given to His chosen people, Israel. Living by faith is depending on God for how we should live, so how can someone say that they are part of a holy nation through faith in Messiah if they openly rebel against doing the things that God has said are holy and they don't depend on Messiah's example of keeping the Sabbath for how you should live? We are told to follow Messiah's example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and to walk in the same way that he walked (1 John 2:4-6), not that doing what Jesus did was only for people under the Old Covenant.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Scripture shows that the apostles taught and preached on the Sabbath.... even John in 90 AD was shown and recorded the significance of the Sabbath. You see, the Sabbath was written from one end of the Bible to the other and never annulled. Any legal covenant has to be officially annulled as the ceremonial laws were when Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished" and the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. An event that was prophesied to happen. Annulling the Sabbath Commandment, would have resulted in a much greater show of authority with even more prophetic announcements against it, of which there are none.

I gave you the verse. Exodus 31:16 Maybe if I give you multiple translations it will make an impact on you.

New International Version
The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.

New Living Translation
The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.

English Standard Version
Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.

New American Standard Bible
'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.'

King James Bible
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

International Standard Version
The Israelis are to keep the Sabbath to make the Sabbath observance a perpetual covenant from generation to generation.

NET Bible
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelites must observe this day of worship, celebrating it for generations to come as a permanent reminder of my promise.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

New American Standard 1977
‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’

Jubilee Bible 2000
Therefore the sons of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their ages for a perpetual covenant.

King James 2000 Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

American King James Version
Why the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

American Standard Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let the children of Israel keep the sabbath, and celebrate it in their generations. It is an everlasting covenant

Darby Bible Translation
And the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations -- [it is] an everlasting covenant.

English Revised Version
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

World English Bible
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Young's Literal Translation
and the sons of Israel have observed the sabbath; to keep the sabbath to their generations is a covenant age-during,

NO COVENANT = NO SABBATH.

It is really that simple. You just don't wish to see it and are doing theological and hermeneutical gymnastics to avoid what this verse says in all of its translations.

What I see is multiple quotes of the Sabbath being "perpetual" "everlasting" " a covenant forever"... thanx for making God's point.

 

[Light of the East]

What I see is multiple quotes of the Sabbath being "perpetual" "everlasting" " a covenant forever"... thanx for making God's point.

Nope. You missed it. And it's because you don't speak Greek or Hebrew. The "everlasting" is inside the covenant.

In other words, what it is stating is that the Sabbath will not change within the boundaries of the Old Covenant. As long as the covenant is in existence, the Sabbath is promised to continue and not be changed. The only thing that could change it would be for the covenant to disappear, which it did when the nation of Israel murdered their divine Spouse.

We know this because elsewhere the covenant is also spoken of as an everlasting covenant, but that obviously cannot mean that it is forever because we know that it actually has passed away (Heb. 8:13). Yet God does not lie, so the problem must be with the way we are reading the world "everlasting." The only thing I can figure is that it is everlasting on God's part as long as the Israel nation was faithful to it. He was promising His faithfulness, but since Israel wasn't faithful, the covenant was ended.

 

[CaptainToad]

What I see is multiple quotes of the Sabbath being "perpetual" "everlasting" " a covenant forever"... thanx for making God's point.

ECR, if you use such words like everlasting, perpetual, etc. you would play fair if you took all other things into account that were meant to be perpetual and everlasting, but are either long gone or no longer binding, at least to us christians. You hcant have one without the other!

 

[Dave-W]

"
DaveW-Ohev said: ↑
Indeed that is true.
BUT - and it is a big but - HE was speaking to an entirely Jewish audience:
Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” "

Then is following Messiah just for the Jews? If following him is not just for the Jews, then why does the distinction of who he was talking to matter?

The issue of gentile inclusion to the worship of the God of Abraham weighed heavily on the first century church. Most believers wanted the Gentiles to formally convert to Judaism. (see Acts 15.1) But Paul, as an apostle specifically sent to the gentiles, had a new revelation of how that was to happen and what it looked like.

The instructions of the bible, both testaments, are divided out for specific groups. There are specific instructions for each tribe, a LOT of instructions for the Levites and priests. There are are differing instructions for men, women, husbands, wives, children, parents, slaves and slave owners. They are not to be confused.

Romans 11 (written to a congregation that was 50-50 between believing Jews and gentiles.) tells us that the gentiles are "grafted in" to the cultivated olive tree of Israel. The Jews are the "natural branches" of that tree. Most of them got "broken off" due to unbelief. We gentiles have not really taken their place, but have filled out the tree. But our fruit is different. If you splice an orange tree branch onto a lemon tree, it will still grow oranges.

Our Lord had a specific and narrow focus in His earthly ministry: Preach the New Covenant to the Jews. ONLY the Jews. It was not until AFTER His death and resurrection that He opened it up to the gentiles. In the 3 versions of the Great Commission (given by the Risen Lord) taking the gospel to the nations is commanded.

But just as someone from Dan or Naphtali could NOT do the work of the Levites, or even a priest who was the brother or son of the High Priest could NOT make the Day of Atonement sacrifices, (and they ALL served the same God under the same covenant) there are distinctions even today.

That is why it is important WHO our Lord was talking to.

 

[Dave-W]

Nope. You missed it. And it's because you don't speak Greek or Hebrew. The "everlasting" is inside the covenant.

In other words, what it is stating is that the Sabbath will not change within the boundaries of the Old Covenant. As long as the covenant is in existence, the Sabbath is promised to continue and not be changed. The only thing that could change it would be for the covenant to disappear, which it did when the nation of Israel murdered their divine Spouse.

There are a number of "old covenants." There are the Adamic, the Noahic, the Abrahamic, and the Mosaic. I assume you are referring (as Hebrews does) to the Mosaic.

Sorry, but that does not wash. The Sabbath predated the Mosaic covenant. So even if (and when) the Mosaic covenant goes away, the Sabbath remains.

 

[Light of the East]

There are a number of "old covenants." There are the Adamic, the Noahic, the Abrahamic, and the Mosaic. I assume you are referring (as Hebrews does) to the Mosaic.

Sorry, but that does not wash. The Sabbath predated the Mosaic covenant. So even if (and when) the Mosaic covenant goes away, the Sabbath remains.

There is only one Covenant of God. It is the eternal covenant of the Trinity - the union of love between the Father and Son from which comes forth the Holy Spirit.

There are different manifestations of that covenant throughout human history, but all are within the single covenant which is the God relationship.

What is the purpose of establishing a "day of rest" in Genesis, i.e., a day when God "rested from all His labors?" Was God somehow tired? Did He need some time off because creation was so taxing? Of course we know that this is not the case. So then does the seventh day rest point to something greater and bigger that was made not for God, but for human understanding?

It seems that everything in creation points to the peace and joy we are to find in God. Man was given a duty - work to do - the taking of dominion over the planet. Yet this was not his primary task nor the only thing he was created for. The seventh day rest in the beginning pointed to the rest to be found in taking time away from work to enter into union with God.

It still does today. Modern man, in his Capitalist frenzy to make money every day of the week and have a bottom line, has forgotten to set aside a day to celebrate God's goodness and to seek union with Him. Even those who are faithful to go to Church get caught up in the frenzy, going out to eat or shop, thus making others work when the whole of the Resurrection Day should be a day of rest pointing to the rest which the death, burial, and glorious Resurrection of Christ offers mankind.

It is not the number seven. It is the issue of finding rest in Christ. The Saturday Sabbath only pointed to that. The Sunday upon which Christ resurrected from the dead is the guarantee that by death He has conquered death and the rest may now be entered into.

I do not celebrate the prophetic seventh day. I celebrate the day of fulfillment.

 

[Dave-W]

I do not celebrate the prophetic seventh day. I celebrate the day of fulfillment.

The resurrection is NOT the fulfillment of the Sabbath. If anything, it is the fulfillment of Yom haBikkurim, the Day of First Fruits.

Lev 23.9-14

 

[Light of the East]

The resurrection is NOT the fulfillment of the Sabbath. If anything, it is the fulfillment of Yom haBikkurim, the Day of First Fruits.

Lev 23.9-14

Very interesting, and something with which I must agree, since all of the feasts of the Jewish faith are fulfilled in Christ.

But again, why the either/or approach? Why can the Resurrection not only be fulfillment of Yom haBikkurim, but also of the promised rest spoken of in the book of Hebrews.

PS It is a shame that we goyim are not taught better the Hebrew roots of our feasts, the various feasts of Israel, and how they are fulfilled in Christ. I think it would make us much better Christians.

 

[Dave-W]

since all of the feasts of the Jewish faith are fulfilled in Christ.

Not Sukkot - aka Tabernacles.

Everyone including the gentile nations will all celebrate that one in the Messianic Kingdom. (see Zech 14)

 

[Light of the East]

Not Sukkot - aka Tabernacles.

Everyone including the gentile nations will all celebrate that one in the Messianic Kingdom. (see Zech 14)

Thank you. Will look that up. Perhaps my wording was imprecise. Would you say that Sukkot is fulfilled because of Christ? In other words, Sukkot points to Christ's work as Messiah and is fulfilled because of His work on the Cross?

 

[Dave-W]

Not really. You have to take the 3 fall feasts in order and together.

Days of the month of Tishrei:
1) Yom Teruah (lit day of blowing) or Feast of Trumpets heralds the coming day of judgement.
10) Yom Kippur, or the day of Atonement is when the heavenly books were opened and the blood covered the sins of the nation.
15) Sukkot or Tabernacles is a week-long celebration of that atonement.

Between those 3 are the "days of awe" between the first and tenth. It is a time of introspection and repentance.
From the 11th to the 14th was a prep and travel time to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the accepted atonement.

John the Immerser was the herald for the coming atonement. "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"
The death of Messiah was certainly the fulfillment of Yom Kippur. Hebrews tells us that He presented His own Blood at the heavenly Mercy Seat. Once for all time.

We are now in the prepare and travel period, waiting on coming out of our earthly dwellings to celebrate HIS atonement.

So Tabernacles has not been fulfilled YET.

 

[Light of the East]

Not really. You have to take the 3 fall feasts in order and together.

Days of the month of Tishrei:
1) Yom Teruah (lit day of blowing) or Feast of Trumpets heralds the coming day of judgement.
10) Yom Kippur, or the day of Atonement is when the heavenly books were opened and the blood covered the sins of the nation.
15) Sukkot or Tabernacles is a week-long celebration of that atonement.

Between those 3 are the "days of awe" between the first and tenth. It is a time of introspection and repentance.
From the 11th to the 14th was a prep and travel time to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the accepted atonement.

John the Immerser was the herald for the coming atonement. "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"
The death of Messiah was certainly the fulfillment of Yom Kippur. Hebrews tells us that He presented His own Blood at the heavenly Mercy Seat. Once for all time.

We are now in the prepare and travel period, waiting on coming out of our earthly dwellings to celebrate HIS atonement.

So Tabernacles has not been fulfilled YET.

WOW!

Thanks so much for that! Love learning things like this.

 

[Dave-W]

WOW!
Thanks so much for that! Love learning things like this.

You are welcome. You should hang out with Messianics more often.

 

[Light of the East]

You are welcome. You should hang out with Messianics more often.

 

[Soyeong]

The issue of gentile inclusion to the worship of the God of Abraham weighed heavily on the first century church. Most believers wanted the Gentiles to formally convert to Judaism. (see Acts 15.1) But Paul, as an apostle specifically sent to the gentiles, had a new revelation of how that was to happen and what it looked like.

Jesus did come to start a new religion, but rather he is the Messiah of Judaism in fulfillment of Jewish prophecy. The issue wasn't whether Gentiles had to convert to Judaism because that was the religion that they had already joined, but rather the issue in Acts 15:1 was whether Gentiles had to become Jews and obey the customs of Moses in order to become saved. If Paul tried to tell any Gentiles not to obey God's law, then we would know that he was a false prophet who was not speaking for God and that we should obey God rather than him, but Paul said our faith upholds God's law (Romans 3:31).

The instructions of the bible, both testaments, are divided out for specific groups. There are specific instructions for each tribe, a LOT of instructions for the Levites and priests. There are are differing instructions for men, women, husbands, wives, children, parents, slaves and slave owners. They are not to be confused.

Agreed.

Romans 11 (written to a congregation that was 50-50 between believing Jews and gentiles.) tells us that the gentiles are "grafted in" to the cultivated olive tree of Israel. The Jews are the "natural branches" of that tree. Most of them got "broken off" due to unbelief. We gentiles have not really taken their place, but have filled out the tree. But our fruit is different. If you splice an orange tree branch onto a lemon tree, it will still grow oranges.

Our Lord had a specific and narrow focus in His earthly ministry: Preach the New Covenant to the Jews. ONLY the Jews. It was not until AFTER His death and resurrection that He opened it up to the gentiles. In the 3 versions of the Great Commission (given by the Risen Lord) taking the gospel to the nations is commanded.

But just as someone from Dan or Naphtali could NOT do the work of the Levites, or even a priest who was the brother or son of the High Priest could NOT make the Day of Atonement sacrifices, (and they ALL served the same God under the same covenant) there are distinctions even today.

That is why it is important WHO our Lord was talking to.

If our fruit is different from that of Messiah, then we are not following him. As part of Israel, we should follow the instructions that God gave to Israel. We are to do what God revealed to be holy, righteous, and good, not because of the Jews or of the Old Covenant, but because that is the example that our Messiah set for us to follow and because our God is holy, righteous, and good.

 

[Dave-W]

If our fruit is different from that of Messiah, then we are not following him.

I did not say "different from Messiah," I said "our fruit is different," meaning different than the Jews.

Have you ever seen an Olive Bar? Here is a pic of one:

Different colors, different sizes, different textures. But all potentially could grow from the same tree structure. (via grafting) And each variety would bud and mature on its own schedule.

That is a picture of the body of messiah. And it is allowed per Paul's writings:

Romans 14:5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

Colossians 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

 

[Soyeong]

I did not say "different from Messiah," I said "our fruit is different," meaning different than the Jews.

Have you ever seen an Olive Bar? Here is a pic of one:

Different colors, different sizes, different textures. But all potentially could grow from the same tree structure. (via grafting) And each variety would bud and mature on its own schedule.

That is a picture of the body of messiah.

The body of Messiah consists of people from many different cultures and backgrounds, but we have one Messiah and he gave one example for how we should live. We are told to follow his example, to walk is same way that he walked, to imitate him, and our sanctification is about being made to be like his example.

And it is allowed per Paul's writings:

Romans 14:5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

Colossians 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

There is a theme throughout the Bible that we must obey God rather than man, so we should be careful not to misinterpret what was against obeying man's laws or opinions as being against obeying God's law. Where God's word is clear, human opinion must yield, but where God's word is not clear, only then should each be convinced in their own minds. Paul said that we are not to sin (Romans 6:15) and that he would not know what sin was if it were not for God's law (Romans 7:7), so if you think Romans 14:5 is saying that we are free to disobey God as long as we are convinced in our own minds that it is no big deal, then you are mistaken. As is said in Romans 14:1, the topic is about how to handle disputes of human opinion, not about whether to obey God. For instance, they did dispute how to correctly keep the Sabbath, but they were not disputing whether to obey God's command to keep it.

In Romans 14:6, esteeming a day is in regard eating or abstaining from eating, so verse 5 is in the context of fasting. The only time that God commanded fasting in on the Day of Atonement, but as a matter of human opinion, it had become a common practice to fast twice a week or to commemorate certain events, and the people who were fasting were looking down on those who didn't (Luke 18:12), which is the sort of judging people over opinions that Paul was seeking to stop. So whether or not someone esteemed certain days for fasting was a disputable matter of human opinion, but whether someone fasts on the Day of Atonement is a matter of obedience to God.

In regard to Colossians 2:16, when it is taken by itself it is ambiguous whether Paul was saying not to let anyone judge them for keeping God's appointed times, or for not keeping them. However, if we look at the context of what the views of the people judging them were, such as in Colossians 2:8 and Colossians 2:20-23, we see that the people judging them were not teaching them to obey God's law, but rather they were teaching human precepts, self-made religion, asceticism, and severity to the body, so the Colossians were keeping God's appointed times in obedience to God's commands and Paul was encouraging them not to let any man keep them from obeying Him.

 

[Soyeong]

Very interesting, and something with which I must agree, since all of the feasts of the Jewish faith are fulfilled in Christ.

But again, why the either/or approach? Why can the Resurrection not only be fulfillment of Yom haBikkurim, but also of the promised rest spoken of in the book of Hebrews.

PS It is a shame that we goyim are not taught better the Hebrew roots of our feasts, the various feasts of Israel, and how they are fulfilled in Christ. I think it would make us much better Christians.

Romans 15:18-19 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Do you think that when it says that Paul fulfilled the gospel that it means he did away with it? Or do you think it means that he fully taught to obey it? Should not your understanding of fulfilling the feasts reflect this usage?

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Not Sukkot - aka Tabernacles.

Everyone including the gentile nations will all celebrate that one in the Messianic Kingdom. (see Zech 14)

By my calculation, that's around the time Christ was really born... Christ tabernacled by living as us, with us.