What is the purpose of the Sabbath?

[philadelphos]

The opening-phrase or incipit dictates/governs the purpose/meaning/intent of the Sabbath commandment. Hebrew syntax.

The opening word is zakar (זָכַר), a verb meaning "to remember, recall, call to mind".
See Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon, H2142 - zāḵar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)

The tense is 'Qal infinitive absolute'.

"The infinitive absolute is an extremely flexible non-finite verbal form and can function as an adverb, a finite verb, a verbal complement, or a noun. Its most common use is to express intensity or certainty of verbal action. Of all the verbal conjugations in Biblical Hebrew, the Infinitive Absolute is the simplest in form but the most complex in function, demanding the most sensitivity to its context to determine its meaning. The Infinitive Absolute is described as being in the absolute state because it stands on its own as an independent grammatical entity." Infinitive Absolute — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 documentation

Here it emphasises the 4th commandment, functioning unambiguously.

verb > direct object

זָכ֛וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת
zakhor ‘eth-yom hashabbath
Remember [dir.obj]_day the-Sabbath

It can be translated as "To remember..."

But it does not continue the action of a proceeding verb, so it cannot be linked to the 3rd commandment.

The LXX or Septuagint translates it as μνάομαι (mnaomai) = to bear in mind.

μνήσθητι τὴν ἡμέραν τῶν σαββάτων...
mnestheti ten emeran ton sabbaton

The tense is 'aorist passive imperative', which usually indicates the 'past' but it can vary.

Dr. Phillip Marshall: "The Aorist is used for past time and portrays perfective aspect (portraying the action as a bounded whole, or in summary fashion without reference to the way it unfolds in time). As a Passive tense, the subject is the patient of the verbal action: “he was eaten,” “they were killed.” (https://biblicallanguages.files.wor...uture-passive-indicative-personal-endings.pdf)

Wilfred E. Major: "Although this form is known as the AORIST PASSIVE, it in fact evolved in meaning over the centuries. In Classical Greek, the passive voice appears much less frequently than it does in English or later Greek. Ιn fact, in the earliest Greek, the form is almost always intransitive (as if in the middle voice): ... By the time of Koine Greek, the form is used frequently in passive constructions. " The Aorist Tense: Part II – Ancient Greek for Everyone

e.g.

• Active: ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεός.
  • God gave us eternal life. 1 John 5:11
• Passive: ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη.
  • The law was given through Moses. John 1:17

'Passive' is the likely usage.

Together it means "You was/were remember" or "You was/were remembering" (?). The subject (the sabbath day) receives the action or state of this verb. Sabbath is the subject/patient of the verb.

I don't think it is 'intransitive' as there's no 'genitive of agent', so the verb cannot be read as "You remember" full stop (period), end of expression or sentence, since intransitive verbs are open ended and do not need a direct object to complete their meaning. No, the commandment has a clear object.

"Sabbath" here is actually a compound word.

μνήσθητι τὴν ἡμέραν τῶν σαββάτων...
mnestheti ten emeran ton sabbaton

ten (τὴν) = definite article, accusative singular
emeran (ἡμέραν) = "day", noun, accusative singular
ton (τῶν) = definite article, genitive plural
sabbaton (σαββάτων) = noun, genitive plural

It's saying "the day" is a singular noun but "the sabbath" is a plural noun.

Likely it's using the dual-form of sabbath (see my previous post) so it has to neutralise and singularises that with emeran. Emphatically, it is not a fortnightly sabbath per Akkadian/Babylonian but a weekly event, a new event (?). A 'half-sabbath'. The 7-day theme recurs in Shavuot or "Feast of Weeks". 7 x 7 = 49, + 1 = 50 days. "Pentecost" -- Interestingly, while Sabbath has Akkadian/Babylonian links it absolutely jars with slave-driving Egypt. The Egyptians had 10 day weeks and didn't worship gods on any particular day. "Exod. 5.5 entails various semantic notions, such as the indication that the Israelites ceased from their slave labors regularly." Mathilde Frey, Sabbath in Egypt, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0309089215577580

Altogether it reads, "You was/were remember the day of the sabbaths".

Its also '2nd person singular' so the meaning is "You was/were remember" not "You all was/were remember". God is addressing a singular person and not an entity.

Strongs: μνάομαι mnáomai, mnah'-om-ahee; middle voice of a derivative of G3306 (μένω, meno) or perhaps of the base of G3145 (μασάομαι, masaomai)(through the idea of fixture in the mind or of mental grasp); to bear in mind, i.e. recollect; by implication, to reward or punish:—be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance. Compare G3403 (μιμνῄσκομαι (mimneskomai))
G3415 - mnaomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

Mnaomai (μνάομαι) is derived from meno (μένω): "to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):—abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for)"

Like Jer 31:33, " I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." Or "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph 3:17) -- The institution seems intended to be built into the person, into God's residence, sanctifying/justifying both the person and God's place of residence; an internal and individual thing.

Mnaomai is a little more active/engaged/deeper than μιμνῄσκομαι (mimneskomai): "to remind, i.e. (middle voice) to recall to mind:—be mindful, remember." Perhaps like understanding/comprehension once a concept is 'gotten' it's impossible to forget. Maybe because people are fallible the commandment is an invitation as well as a reminder.

Mnaomai is from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”), to be mindful, remember, come (have) in remembrance" μνάομαι - Wiktionary

"The verb μναομαι (mnaomai) is a so-called deponent verb of μιμνησκω (mimnesko), which means that the former was formed from the latter. Both verbs have to do with memory or remembering. ... The striking "mn" of these words stem from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root men-, from which also come our English verbs "to mind", "to admonish" and thus the noun "monument". ... Note the disproportional prevalence of these two groups of words in the New Testament, which demonstrates that the New Testament aims to make the reader "remember" something rather than teach something wholly new (ROMANS 2:15, HEBREWS 10:16). The gospel is not just some new product or elaborate artificial scheme, but rather a contemplation on the natural world of which humanity is an integral part (ROMANS 8:19-22). When we come to the Lord we don't find a stranger, but a loving Father whom we've always known very well (LUKE 15:20)." (Abarim, μναομαι | Abarim Publications Theological Dictionary (New Testament Greek))

Re-member = re-memory or re-memorise.

Sabbath's purpose then is God's expressed will/wish, for his people to be thinking, to be mindful. A memory exercise. Positive/encouraged thoughts vs negative/prohibited thoughts; blessing vs curse. "i.e. recollect; by implication, to reward or punish:"

Sabbath-keeping then is like 'minding' the "Father's business" (Lk 2:49) as a "good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21).

Sabbath is the mind of God. He teaches us to be like Father like son.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor 2:14-16

Rashi on Exodus (Rashi on Exodus 20:11:2)

20:8

זכור — This word REMEMBER which opens this commandment here and שמור “observe” which opens it in Deuteronomy (5:12) were spoken in one utterance. Similar is, (Exodus 31:14) “Everyone that profaneth it (the Sabbath) shall surely be put to death”, which apparently is in contradiction with (Numbers 28:9) “And on the Sabbath day [ye shall offer] two lambs”, a command necessitating actions which, if done for any other purposes on the Sabbath, would involve a profanation of that day. Similar is, (Deuteronomy 22:11) “Thou shalt not wear a garment of two kinds, [as of woollen and linen together]” and (Deuteronomy 22:12) “Thou shalt make thee tassels”, for the performance of which command wool and linen may be employed in combination. Similar is, (Leviticus 18:16) “The nakedness of thy brother’s wife” (the prohibition of marriage with her), and (Deuteronomy 25:5) “her husband’s brother shall come unto her” (he shall marry her). — This is the meaning of what is said (Psalms 62:12) “One thing did God speak, these two things did we hear” (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:8:1). זכור — This word expresses the verbal action without any reference to a particular time (the infinitive), similar to, (Isaiah 22:13) אכול ושתו “to eat and to drink”; (II Samuel 3:16) הלוך ובכה “to go and to weep”; and the following is its meaning: take care to remember always the Sabbath day — that if, for example, you come across a nice article of food during the week, put it by for the Sabbath (Beitzah 16a).

20:9

ועשית כל מלאכתך [SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOUR] AND DO ALL THY WORK — When the Sabbath comes it should be in thy eyes as though all thy work were done (completed), so that thou shouldst not think at all about work (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:9).

20:10

אתה ובנך ובתך THOU AND THY SON AND THY DAUGHTER — these latter mean the young children. Or perhaps this is not so, but it means your adult children? But you must admit that these have already been placed under this prohibition (by the word “Thou”, because the performance of this command is obligatory upon all adults to whom it was addressed). Therefore these words must be intended only to admonish the adults (implied in the term “Thou”) about the Sabbath rest of their young children (to impose upon the parents the obligation of enforcing the Sabbath rest upon them) (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:10:1). This is the meaning of what we have learnt in a Mishna, (Shabbat 16:6) “A minor who is about to extinguish a fire — we do not listen to him (do not permit him to do this), because his observance of the Sabbath is a duty imposed upon you”.

20:11

ברך… ויקדשהו HE BLESSED … AND SANCTIFIED IT — He blessed it through the Manna by giving a double portion on the sixth day — “double bread”; and He sanctified it through the Manna in that on it none fell (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:11:3; cf. Rashi on Genesis 2:3).

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I thought I would pop back in to touch on the purpose of the Sabbath from the mouth of the Lord.

Isaiah 58:13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,

Very clearly we are told the purpose of the seventh day Sabbath Exodus 20:10 is to honor the Lord on His holy day. God wants the Sabbath to be a delight resting in Him for one entire day on the day that He asked,

How do we honor the Lord?

One way we don’t honor Him is by doing our ways, finding our own pleasures and speaking our words on His holy Sabbath day.

God gives us six days to do all thy work and labors Exodus 20:9 and only asks for one day a week on the seventh day to keep holy Exodus 20:8 and honor Him Isaiah 58:13 and He blesses us when we follow His Word. Isaiah 58:14

Jesus honored His Father by going to the Temple on the Sabbath day to read God’s Word. Luke 4:16

Other ways we are shown in scripture how to honor God on the Sabbath is through prayer Acts 16:13

We are also shown fellowship on the Sabbath when whole cities came together to hear the Word of God Acts 13:44

The purpose of the Sabbath is to honor God and “remember” everything He has created for us without us having to do anything. We honor God when we keep His Sabbath day holy and focus just on Him for one whole day and the purposes is having communion with our Creator on His holy day and honoring Him by doing what He asks of us, which shows we place our trust in Him and His Words and not our own.

Happy Sabbath!

 

[philadelphos]

Thanks, I'm sorry for continuing off topic. I'm just going to bow out of this thread...

PS: To all -please do not respond to my posts further in this thread....

...

I thought I would pop back in to touch on the purpose of the Sabbath from the mouth of the Lord.

:0

There’s a seventh day all around the world, so I think when God gave the commandment, Exodus 20:8-11 He knew it was possible for man to keep.

Not quite.

Sabbath for the Hebrews was an outward sign that separated them distinctly from Egyptian culture. It would have been almost impossible for an Egyptian to keep sabbath, highly irregular at the very least. For their own system families had to take turns for holidays/breaks to keep farms and factories running. The Egyptian economy revolved around sustaining a polytheistic idolatry machine.

"One week was ten days. Three weeks was one month. Four months was one season. Three seasons and five holy days was one year. ... The last two days of each decade were considered holidays and the Egyptians didn't work. A month was 30 days long on the Egyptian solar calendar." The Ancient Egyptian Calendar

See this list by University College of London,
Festivals in the ancient Egyptian calendar

"Each month had 30 days, and the festivals are listed in sequence; some festivals moved or grew over time, and others are known only from one period. Each year, five days were added to the 12 months of 30 days to bring the total to 365, as close as integrally possible to the 365 1/4 days of the solar year; each 'extra' day was celebrated as the birthday of a particular deity."

In God's eyes sabbath represents election/covenant/promise for the Hebrews and reprobation/damnation for Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Double predestination.

The God of the Hebrews represents hope, a future, salvation, life. He is a liberator and saviour.

The 7th represents completeness or divine perfection. God's will.

Sabbath is a glimpse of this 'hope'. In the same way Israel was given this sign before liberation from bondage in Egypt, we too are given this before Christ liberates his sheep from the bondage of sin.

Deu 5:15, "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day."

 

[philadelphos]

There are all kinds of crazy ideas and reasons people make up in their own mind on many things. We are only safe by Gods Word which is why scripture clearly tells us to not lean on our own understandings. Proverbs 3:5-6

God is not going to give us a commandment we don’t know how to keep.

Scripture doesn't contain "a commandment" as one singular clearcut authoritarian dictation. One commandment can have many interpretations/applications. Even within 'the law' is God's grace.

Historically, per the natural order, people follow God via an intermediary: parents, teacher, preacher, elder, church/synagogue, church court, church councils, church tradition. Views tend to be shaped/influenced by environment. Individual faith or following God directly/independently however is a recent movement but it's not new, but ancient, pre-Mosaic, pre-language and literacy. i.e. Faith without Scripture, without the letter of the law, is great faith.

Absolutism is naive, ignorant, and impractical.

Factions in 1st century Judaism and Judeo-Christianity:

Pharisees: Hillel vs Shammai
Pharisees vs Sadducees
Paul vs Apollos
Jesus vs John the Baptist

All camps keep God's law and commandments to varying degrees (within the law). A person (layman) typically subscribes to the views of a local rabbi/teacher. With that 'teaching' comes Oral Law (mishna) and interpretation/exegesis (midrash). That is how the cookie crumbles. Having "a Bible" is a product of the late Reformation, Bible scholarship also varies in quality. China in the 1950s many Christians only had hand-written copies of certain texts, similar for the Early Church.

Many don't realise that Christ and Paul taught 'moral perfectionism' ('holiness'). The view was that 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand'. Christ: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Mt 5:48) Paul: Be "blameless and harmless" (Phil 2:15, 1 Tim 3:2, Tit 1:7) It wasn't until persecution from Nero etc that the Early Church realised the kingdom of heaven wasn't coming anytime soon.-- "Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Pet 1:16)

Britannica:

Jewish law is the focus of many passages in the Gospels. According to one set, especially prominent in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus admonished his followers to observe the law unwaveringly (Matthew 5:17–48). According to another set, he did not adhere strictly to the law himself and even transgressed current opinions about some aspects of it, especially the Sabbath (e.g., Mark 3:1–5). It is conceivable that both were true, that he was extremely strict about marriage and divorce (Matthew 5:31–32; Mark 10:2–12) but less stringent about the Sabbath. … Some opposed minor healing on the Sabbath (such as Jesus is depicted as performing), but others permitted it. Similarly, the Sadducees regarded the Pharisees’ observance of the Sabbath as too lax. There also were many disagreements in 1st-century Judaism about purity. While some Jews washed their hands before eating (Mark 7:5), others did not; …legal disputes in which he [Jesus] defended himself by quoting scriptural precedent, which implies that he did not set himself against the law (Mark 2:23–28). His willingness to make his own decisions regarding the law was probably viewed with suspicion. Ordinarily, legal debates were between competing camps or schools, and individuals who decided how to observe laws were deemed troublemakers. That is, Jesus was autonomous; he interpreted the law according to his own rules and decided how to defend himself when criticized. He was by no means the only person in ancient Judaism who struck out on his own, acting in accord with his own perception of God’s will, and so he was not uniquely troubling in this respect, but such behaviour might nevertheless be suspicious.

Jesus - The relation of Jesus’ teaching to the Jewish law

Many nowadays believe/teach moral imperfection (disobedience to what is known, and therefore is sin), amoral imperfection (what we don't know, and therefore it is not sin), or exploit a loophole via justification by faith, justification by sanctification, salvation by "Christ" alone, etc. See list here on Christian Perfection, Christian Perfection

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 Jn 1:8)

Sabbath is true, but keeping Sabbath means entering into a holy state, a state of innocence to evil; sincerity in heart; pure in motive. "To keep it holy." Qadesh (קָדַשׁ) or in the LXX, hagiadzo (ἁγιάζω).

Meaning:

• Qadesh (קָדַשׁ) = to be pure, clean, set apart, consecrated.
• hagiadzo (ἁγιάζω) = to make/render/declare sacred or holy, consecrate, to render or acknowledge to be venerable, to hallow.

In the same way, "perfect" in Scripture is used in the moral sense translate from tam (תָּם) or teleios (τέλειος), both meaning "complete". It implies "imperfection" or "moral imperfection" in believers. As a race, we are broken and pending completion. Sabbath is an opportunity to rectify only part of that problem.

Ultimately, sabbath means "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2), pending the Lord of the Sabbath to complete sabbath, the person, and the world. That would be the possible time when sabbath law is made redundant, hence Christ legally trespassed sabbath quoting David eating/stealing the holy shewbread (1 Sam 21:6). It indicates that sabbath is a SECONDARY LAW that falls under a higher law, also a TRANSITORY LAW that depends on context. Like schoolyard rules, to teach kids hygiene and manners. Many laws are defunct in Eden, and pre-Mosaic times. There was no need for a return to "holiness" or "purity" in Eden. And this is where we are heading.

Similarly, in secularism, there is common law (case law) and civil law (legislation). Lawyers are trained from either camp (sometimes both) and read/quote from the same 'law' yet differ completely in interpretation/application. The client as the boss ultimately decides what to accept, or in court the judge as the supreme authority decides what is just, not a layman or any religious institution or denomination. That is the error/fallacy of arguing from denominational doctrine or dogma. Short sighted. --Presenting the 'official view' is like showing off the propaganda pamphlet. More important is the reasoning behind the creed/doctrine otherwise knowledge and understanding becomes 'read and nod'.

Arguing from theological camps is futile.

"For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1 Cor 3:4-6)

Sabbath practice varies as circumstance and backgrounds vary. The fruitfulness of sabbath depends on God's work and a person's heart.

It seems wrong for the Reformers to reject Sabbath but considering how serious the popular Jewish errors/heresies were around that time (e.g. sabbatianism the false-Messiah Sabbatai Zevi 1626–1676) it's imaginable why Europeans were so aggressively anti-semitic. We culturally inherited anti-sabbatarianism with anti-semitism.

Think of Sabbath as a sign like a wedding ring, a valuable offering to the bride (and her family) and a token/symbol of love. It's pointless having one when your spouse is beside you, serving as a mere reminder for when spouses are apart. Some wear it on and off for practical reason. Some wear it sentimentally to recall love lost. Some wear it to appear married in public or to show off. Others have no ring, cannot afford one, see no reason for it, yet faithfully love their spouse nonetheless. Many brides demand an expensive ring (multiple rings) and some men offer to buy an expensive rings, then practice infidelity and divorce. Other men buy several rings for several women.

In the grand scheme the ring is unimportant even worthless.

Sabbath as an externalism has a place but is worthless without the internal, since God's law is broken "from within, out of the heart of men" (Mk 7:21-23)

Sabbath-keeping must stem from within, the purpose being for a clean and pure heart, pleasing and acceptable as a servant of God.

Similarly, zeal for sabbath (religiosity) is worthless.

Many people in the 1950s were illiterate and purer and kinder than most people in the developed world. Many nowadays are highly literate and are taught the Decalogue and or Torah/OT formally from a young age and for all appearances keep sabbath and the other commandments, yet they many also part of criminal families/organisations/enterprises and associated with religious cults, knowingly or unknowingly; breaking God's law in other ways, direct or indirect.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations (ζῆλος, zelos), wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Gal 5:17-23)

 

[philadelphos]

Jesus honored His Father by going to the Temple on the Sabbath day to read God’s Word. Luke 4:16
... But as the regular practice of Jesus as our example, He was at the Temple the majority of time on the Sabbath reading the Word of God.

False.

The synagogue of Capernaum is where Christ's ministry was based.

Luke 4:16 references synagogue attendance per Mosaic where the guest of honour reads from Torah.

"And he taught in their synagogues (συναγωγαῖς, συναγωγή, synagōgē), being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue (συναγωγήν, συναγωγή, synagōgē) on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."

Nevertheless, Christ followed the already established protocol of Maftir and Haftarah.

Wiki: Maftir (Hebrew: מפטיר, lit. 'concluder') is the last person called up to the Torah on Shabbat and holiday mornings: this person also reads the haftarah portion from a related section of the Nevi'im (prophetic books).

Torah reading is first, parashat, though this was probably not done by him. Next comes Haftarah.

Hence v17, "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written..."

His reading ends prematurely, which nowadays is sacrilege. This represents what Christ will do also regarding the entire Torah, Decalogue, 613, etc, etc, "until heaven and earth pass away".

Hence v18-20,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him."

"The acceptable year of the Lord", per the creation narrative, indicates a shmita year or jubilee year when Mosaic law and tradition will end. Gentile inclusion into Israel's citizenship falls within shmita law. If this is the case, it will be a complete reversal back to when God created Adam and judged him as "good". Mankind will no longer be in conflict/enmity with God.

In the earliest period, the readings were spread over approximately three and a half years, differing slightly from town to town. Also, synagogues did not have a single leader who preached every week, like a rabbi or pastor does today.

Instead, one adult member of the congregation (or an educated visitor) would be invited to read the Torah portion. He would then choose a prophetic passage that fit the Torah reading, and would give a brief meditation on how the passages relate to each other. The prophetic reading was called the haftarah (HAHF-tah-rah), meaning “completion.”

This is what we see Jesus doing in Luke 4:17-18 when stands up in his hometown synagogue and reads from the Isaiah scroll. Most likely Jesus also had read the Torah portion, but Luke doesn’t mention it.

Focused on God’s Messianic Redemption

The discovery of the “triennial” tradition of reading the Torah was a surprise to Jewish scholars, who had been following an annual liturgy for 1500 years. It had been developed by rabbis in Babylon, while the older triennial tradition persisted in Israel, Egypt and northern Africa until the annual cycle became universal around 1100 AD.

A Surprisingly Messianic Tradition in the Ancient Synagogue

Try to see the giving of the Law in 'context' to human depravity, from mankind's genesis. The Decalogue came much later (Great Flood 2370 BC, Moses at Exodus 1491 BC). The Decalogue was 'written in stone' as a royal edict because that is the official manner. It's done for memorials etc as a statement of truth/fact, that history truly took place as it says. It's also prophetic, blessing or cursing the receiver/audience per the context of Israel's rebellion: Baal idolatry, militant uprising, tribes suing one another, etc. None of which Moses was fully aware of until he looked down the Mountain. Numerous other issues happened since. 'Writing in stone' is the same fashion as God's finger writing on the walls of Babylon, judging/cursing Babylon and prophesying against them. Hence the law is "a curse" because of the context. To the righteous, sinless, holy, it is unnecessary in the first place.

I believe in Torah, but I believe more in Christ's redemption.

"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." (Rom 4:15)

Sabbath was given explicitly with the Decalogue so the nation of Israel would "remember" what God had done for them. How could they forget?

And just as Christ read half way and stopped, it's possible he could read the first line of the Decalogue and stop. Do you see? Context and idolatry. The decalogue is prophetic.

In the new kingdom there would be no point to this: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Ex 20:2-3)

• out of the land of Egypt = out of the house of bondage
• no other gods = I am the Lord thy God
• sabbath day = holy

Hence, Mk 12:30, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Which fulfils Ex 20:6, "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love (אָהַב, 'āhaḇ) me, and keep my commandments (מִצְוָה, miṣvâ)."

Love comes first. Sabbath etc is secondary.

It's like how people remember or forget the birthdate of loved ones. My relatives are a self-absorbed and inconsiderate bunch so for them 'Facebook feeds' is helpful, otherwise they'd never bother to know about others. For myself, I don't use FB, I don't believe birthdays are Biblical, and I hate narcissists who demand being worshipped for a day when I've been trying connecting with them for the other 364 days.

The multiple views regarding on this thread could be simultaneously true since Acts, as varying interpretations of the same commandment.

Because, only at AFTER Seth did "then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (Gen 4:26)

This is why God uses prefigurations of Christ. Moses was a prefiguration calling Israel to "remember", and Christ said Moses "wrote about me" (Jn 5:46). But the story is not about 'the law' or 'sabbath law' but rather those things function to point to 'life in Christ'. It's always been about Christ. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17) Not as a religious label but as when man lived in harmony with God "in the cool of the day", before heat became a problem, evaporation and precipitation, unstable climate and seasons, horticultural/agricultural problems, rainfall and flood, continental drift, and all end times prophecies. All symptoms after the fall at Eden. The new creation 'in Christ' is a total completion of man, animals, earth, heaven, and all creation.

Sabbath is the reminder that God will do this.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

False.

The synagogue of Capernaum is where Christ's ministry was based.

Luke 4:16 references synagogue attendance per Mosaic where the guest of honour reads from Torah.

"And he taught in their synagogues (συναγωγαῖς, συναγωγή, synagōgē), being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue (συναγωγήν, συναγωγή, synagōgē) on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."

Nevertheless, Christ followed the already established protocol of Maftir and Haftarah.

Wiki: Maftir (Hebrew: מפטיר, lit. 'concluder') is the last person called up to the Torah on Shabbat and holiday mornings: this person also reads the haftarah portion from a related section of the Nevi'im (prophetic books).

Torah reading is first, parashat, though this was probably not done by him. Next comes Haftarah.

Hence v17, "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written..."

His reading ends prematurely, which nowadays is sacrilege. This represents what Christ will do also regarding the entire Torah, Decalogue, 613, etc, etc, "until heaven and earth pass away".

Hence v18-20,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him."

"The acceptable year of the Lord", per the creation narrative, indicates a shmita year or jubilee year when Mosaic law and tradition will end. Gentile inclusion into Israel's citizenship falls within shmita law. If this is the case, it will be a complete reversal back to when God created Adam and judged him as "good". Mankind will no longer be in conflict/enmity with God.



Try to see the giving of the Law in 'context' to human depravity, from mankind's genesis. The Decalogue came much later (Great Flood 2370 BC, Moses at Exodus 1491 BC). The Decalogue was 'written in stone' as a royal edict because that is the official manner. It's done for memorials etc as a statement of truth/fact, that history truly took place as it says. It's also prophetic, blessing or cursing the receiver/audience per the context of Israel's rebellion: Baal idolatry, militant uprising, tribes suing one another, etc. None of which Moses was fully aware of until he looked down the Mountain. Numerous other issues happened since. 'Writing in stone' is the same fashion as God's finger writing on the walls of Babylon, judging/cursing Babylon and prophesying against them. Hence the law is "a curse" because of the context. To the righteous, sinless, holy, it is unnecessary in the first place.

I believe in Torah, but I believe more in Christ's redemption.

"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." (Rom 4:15)

Sabbath was given explicitly with the Decalogue so the nation of Israel would "remember" what God had done for them. How could they forget?

And just as Christ read half way and stopped, it's possible he could read the first line of the Decalogue and stop. Do you see? Context and idolatry. The decalogue is prophetic.

In the new kingdom there would be no point to this: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Ex 20:2-3)

• out of the land of Egypt = out of the house of bondage
• no other gods = I am the Lord thy God
• sabbath day = holy

Hence, Mk 12:30, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Which fulfils Ex 20:6, "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love (אָהַב, 'āhaḇ) me, and keep my commandments (מִצְוָה, miṣvâ)."

Love comes first. Sabbath etc is secondary.

It's like how people remember or forget the birthdate of loved ones. My relatives are a self-absorbed and inconsiderate bunch so for them 'Facebook feeds' is helpful, otherwise they'd never bother to know about others. For myself, I don't use FB, I don't believe birthdays are Biblical, and I hate narcissists who demand being worshipped for a day when I've been trying connecting with them for the other 364 days.

The multiple views regarding on this thread could be simultaneously true since Acts, as varying interpretations of the same commandment.

Because, only at AFTER Seth did "then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (Gen 4:26)

This is why God uses prefigurations of Christ. Moses was a prefiguration calling Israel to "remember", and Christ said Moses "wrote about me" (Jn 5:46). But the story is not about 'the law' or 'sabbath law' but rather those things function to point to 'life in Christ'. It's always been about Christ. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17) Not as a religious label but as when man lived in harmony with God "in the cool of the day", before heat became a problem, evaporation and precipitation, unstable climate and seasons, horticultural/agricultural problems, rainfall and flood, continental drift, and all end times prophecies. All symptoms after the fall at Eden. The new creation 'in Christ' is a total completion of man, animals, earth, heaven, and all creation.

Sabbath is the reminder that God will do this.

Temple, synagogue or church, it is a building and place for an assembly to worship God. Jesus usually was reading His Fathers Word on Sabbath as our example to follow:

Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

People can offer all kinds of opinions of the purpose of the Sabbath, but its really pretty simple according to the Lord. The Sabbath is about honoring Him by doing His ways on His holy seventh day Sabbath and not our own- the day to keep holy. Isaiah 58:13. Exodus 20:8-11 Do we honor Him by going to a place of worship and reading His Word, like the example of Jesus on the Sabbath. Yes. Do we honor Him by prayer on the Sabbath. Yes. Do we honor Him by studying His Word on the Sabbath yes. Do we honor Him by going to the mall on the Sabbath or watching football. No, we are honoring ourselves. It’s pretty simple and scriptures are filled with ways to honor the Lord on His holy Sabbath day. We should always obey God through faith and love. Romans 3:31, 1 John 5:3. John 14:15, Exodus 20:6

Take care.

 

[philadelphos]

Do we honor Him by going to a place of worship and reading His Word, like the example of Jesus on the Sabbath. Yes. Do we honor Him by prayer on the Sabbath. Yes. Do we honor Him by studying His Word on the Sabbath yes. Do we honor Him by going to the mall on the Sabbath or watching football. No, we are honoring ourselves. It’s pretty simple and scriptures are filled with ways to honor the Lord on His holy Sabbath day. We should always obey God through faith and love.

Purpose is not method.

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or goal: Her purpose in coming here is to talk to you. The purpose of an airliner is to transport people.
2. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose.
tr.v. pur·posed, pur·pos·ing, pur·pos·es
To intend or resolve: "the gap between what is said and what is purposed" (Ian Donaldson).

purpose

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Purpose is not method.

1. The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or goal: Her purpose in coming here is to talk to you. The purpose of an airliner is to transport people.
2. Determination; resolution: He was a man of purpose.
tr.v. pur·posed, pur·pos·ing, pur·pos·es
To intend or resolve: "the gap between what is said and what is purposed" (Ian Donaldson).

purpose

The title of this thread is purpose.

The Lord made it pretty clear the purpose of His Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Isaiah 58:13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,

It's simple really. The purpose of the Sabbath is to have a full day to focus and honor Him, to keep His Sabbath holy. Six days we work Exodus 20:9, but the seventh day is set apart for holy use to honor our Lord on His holy, blessed and sacred day. Exodus 20:8-11, Genesis 2:1-3

 

[philadelphos]

Temple, synagogue or church, it is a building and place for an assembly to worship God. Jesus usually was reading His Fathers Word on Sabbath as our example to follow:

"A place" not the place. Those are redundant.

“Usually was” or “always was”? If you claim to follow "Jesus's example", you'd better have a true answer.

Sabbath is not synonymous with “synagogue” though most do sabbath at a synagogue, culturally/traditionally.

I would argue that your view is a fallacy since God’s ordained his place of worship is within a person: “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands” (Mk 14:58) Arguably the only acceptable place of worship, where ‘spiritual offerings’ are acceptable in God’s eyes. If true, all else is moot and ‘going to church’ is a pointless and unbiblical exercise, utter vanity and hypocrisy.

The term synagogue is of Greek origin (synagein, “to bring together”) and means “a place of assembly.” The oldest dated evidence of a synagogue is from the 3rd century BC.

Hebrew synonyms for synagogue:

1. bet ha-tefilla (“house of prayer”),
2. bet ha-kneset (“house of assembly”)
3. bet ha-midrash (“house of study”)

synagogue | Definition, History, & Facts

Synagogue is a cultural/traditional due to the Babylonian captivity, and the physical temple was destroyed in 70 AD.

“The synagogue as a permanent institution originated probably in the period of the Babylonian captivity, when a place for common worship and instruction had become necessary. … The great prophet, in the second part of the Book of Isaiah, in applying the phrase "house of prayer" to the Temple to be built at Jerusalem (Isa. lvi. 7 and, according to the very defensible reading of the LXX., also lx. 7), may have used a phrase which, in the time of the Exile, designated the place of united worship; this interpretation is possible, furthermore, in such passages as Isa. lviii. 4. The term was preserved by the Hellenistic Jews as the name for the synagogue (προσευχή = οἶκος προσευχῆς; comp. also the allusion to the "proseucha" in Juvenal, "Satires," iii. 296). … After the return from the Captivity, when the religious life was reorganized, especially under Ezra and his successors, congregational worship, consisting in prayer and the reading of sections from the Bible, developed side by side with the revival of the cult of the Temple at Jerusalem, and thus led to the building of synagogues. “ SYNAGOGUE - JewishEncyclopedia.com

‘Going to church’, temple, synagogue is laughable and absolutely carnal since Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years when the Decalogue was given.

Place is therefore irrelevant to sabbath and the 4th commandment. As I’ve said before, ’holiness’ has almost nothing to do with ‘place’ unless in the Holy Land, or like Moses at the Burning Bush told to remove his shoes. A state of holiness can be had anywhere anytime.

By definition, ‘sanctification’ (to sanctify) means "to set apart for special use or purpose”, and since God already sanctified Sabbath anyone who enters into sabbath is ‘made holy’ by the same promise/efficacy of the commandment. The power of sabbath, if you will. — It has nothing to do with place.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God” (1 Cor 3:16) “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

“Going to church/temple/synagogue” is redundant since God is already with a person, inside. Why go elsewhere? Unless to benefit others. Thus, to seek ‘to go to church’ is abomination as a person is seeking ‘holiness’ outside of where God said he would be. It is faithlessness akin to adultery/infidelity, and accuses God of lying. It is hypocrisy. People who do that seek approval/belonging/validation from others without first looking within, starting with self and the home. If people self-regulated there would be no falsehood and false-religion. “Clean your room” as Jordan Peterson would say.

“God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Lk 16:15)

Isa 56:7 says, “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”

And we have Christ's prescribed prayer formula:

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Mt 6:5-6)

Sabbath is the same. Home is where the heart is.

From post #207: If you speak strictly, 'by the letter of the law', then you are strictly to STAY PUT. "See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." (Ex 16:29) The principle is to 'stop' and think about God, what he has done. And that can be done anywhere, even amongst anyone.

“It is the most ancient of divine laws”, Matthew Henry:

Exodus 16:22-31, Here is mention of a seventh-day sabbath. It was known, not only before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai, but before the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, even from the beginning, Ge 2:3. The setting apart one day in seven for holy work, and, in order to that, for holy rest, was ever since God created man upon the earth, and is the most ancient of the Divine laws. Appointing them to rest on the seventh day, he took care that they should be no losers by it; and none ever will be losers by serving God. On that day they were to fetch in enough for two days, and to make it ready. This directs us to contrive family affairs, so that they may hinder us as little as possible in the work of the sabbath. Works of necessity are to be done on that day; but it is desirable to have as little as may be to do, that we may apply ourselves the more closely to prepare for the life that is to come. When they kept manna against a command, it stank; when they kept it by a command, it was sweet and good; every thing is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. On the seventh day God did not send the manna, therefore they must not expect it, nor go out to gather. This showed that it was produced by miracle.

Barnes:

Abide ye every man in his place - The expression in Hebrew is unique and seems almost to enjoin a position of complete repose: "in his place" is literally under himself, as the Oriental sits with his legs drawn up under him. The prohibition must however be understood with reference to its immediate object; they were not to go forth from their place in order to gather manna, which was on other days without the camp. The spirit of the law is sacred rest. The Lord gave them this Sabbath, as a blessing and privilege. It was "made for man." Mark 2:27.

As the guy who is first in and last out, everywhere: Religiosity is a vain waste of life, death by malnutrition. Truly, 'staying put’ or ’staying at home’ during Sabbath is idyllic, if practicable. Wherever you rest is where you should be, aiming to maximising one-on-one quality time with God, avoiding anything that even resembles the blood, sweat, and tears from the ordinary week. Sabbath time must be like paradise, a walled garden in the privacy/intimacy of a loving and godly home.

Blessings to all and shalom

 

[SabbathBlessings]

“Usually was” or “always was”? If you claim to follow "Jesus's example", you'd better have a true answer.

I quoted this: Luke 4:16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. NKJV

But if this version is easier, it works as well.

New Living Translation
When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.



I am pretty sure this is eisegesis:

‘Going to church’, temple, synagogue is laughable and absolutely carnal since Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years when the Decalogue was given.
and
and since God already sanctified Sabbath anyone who enters into sabbath is ‘made holy’ by the same promise/efficacy of the commandment.

I have never read anything like these comments in scripture.

We are told to follow the example of Jesus 1 John 2:6 and as His example He was in the synagogues as per His usual or custom on the Sabbath reading God's Word. A practice of Jesus is not something that is "Thus, to seek ‘to go to church’ is abomination" and something again you will not find in the scriptures.

In the wilderness they still had a Holy Convocation on the Sabbath, which is a gathering or assembly on the seventh day Sabbath Leviticus 23:3 since they were traveling in the wilderness which makes sense why they were not in the synagogues.

There is no scripture that says we enter into the Sabbath. The Sabbath is to be observed on the seventh day according to the commandment. Exodus 20:8-11

Most of your post is either making arguments I am not making or seem to be your personal opinion, which I am more interested in discussion of the scriptures.

Take care.

 

[philadelphos]

I am pretty sure this is eisegesis:
I have never read anything like these comments in scripture.

Comparing text with text is cross-referencing and reading between the lines. “Exposition”.

The letter of the law is meaningless otherwise, cold fundamentalism and legalism.

If you want “exegesis” you are welcome to discourse in Hebrew/Greek. But the Bible you quote from is copyrighted and a commercial publication, missing a bite. Textual criticism.

[Staff Edit]

For instance, the NT is a midrash (an interpretive act) or aggadah (rabbincal interpretation) of the OT, via Rabbi Yeshua and Rabbi Paul etc. SO MANY elements mentioned in the Bible are documented OUTSIDE the Bible. That doesn’t make it “eisegesis”. It just means hardlined "sola Scripture" is ignorant.

[Staff Edit]

Quoting passages verbatim, introducing presuppositions, agendas, and biases. Literally citing SDA creeds. [Staff Edit]

[Staff Edit]

[Staff Edit]

Many laws in human history change as empires grow or are overtaken. e.g. by-laws, local laws, state laws, fall under the Constitution. Aboriginal Law is irrelevant since British colonisation. Magna Carta.

Torah is eternal but it’s application is not. Privy Council trumps Federal Court. British monarchy is not subject to commoner law. Moses > Elders > households. If households can self-regulate there is no need for elders or Moses.

Demo:

“Thou shalt not kill” is an inapplicable section IF a person thinks no ill will towards others, thus, there can be no ill will, thus, it is impossible “kill”. Similar for ’staying at home’ on Sabbath.

[Staff Edit]

Sabbath points to this: “If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.” (Num 14:8) + Gentile nations at Zech 14.

Sabbath is a subordinate/secondary commandment because the ‘heart’ or ‘love’ trumps Torah.

Thus, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mt 22:40).

The Royal Law:

1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Mt 22:37)
2. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Mt 22:39)

Sabbath law is not ‘repealed’ or ‘re-enacted’ as others say, but Christ’s law is an ex post facto law (“after the fact”) that retroactively changes the legal consequences (or status) of actions that were committed, or relationships that existed, before the enactment of the law. Sinai < New Covenant. Making it legally/morally possible for a sinner to be liberated/released/saved. Gentiles to join the Commonwealth of Israel. The law remains eternal, however the “curse of the law” or the “penalty” (applied penalty) is absorbed by the King. Speeding fine issued, debt paid. Sacrifice atoned. And IF the High King says you are free, you are free. No judge can trump the ruling. Royal pardon. Grace.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (δόγμα, dogma) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Col 2:14)

Scripture also has amnesty law that is evident during invasion/liberation campaigns, retroactively exempts a select group of people, e.g. military. We are arguably in such an age (Church Age = persecution). Men were “killed” but the 6th commandment isn’t applied the same way as homocide or manslaughter. Similar for Sabbath and circumcision in that there were not given to the Gentiles specifically. We follow God’s law as nations liberated/subjected to God, but outward signs like “circumcision” or “sabbath” (external sabbath) is not mandated. Spiritual people, foremost.

Precedence per the order of creation:

1. God 6 days creating > 7th day resting
2. God > Man + Animals + Woman

Precedence per the order of Abrahamic history:

1. Cain
2. Abel
3. Seth > others > Noah

Notice the parallel: Noah’s Ark = unity/harmony in God’s creation.

Eve sinned because “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9). Her heart was the problem, not sabbath-keeping. Even if she had lived eternally in Eden she would have eaten the forbidden fruit. The problem/disorder was with HER, not her sabbath-keeping. Internal/mental not environmental.

Had Adam and Eve not been driven out of their home in Eden/paradise there would be no need to “Remember”. Had Cain not slain Abel there would be no “Thou shalt not kill”.

Therefore, ‘home’ is where the heart is, where God and holiness is found, foremost.

To demo, the equivalence of temple and body:

“The body (σῶμα, sōma) is of Christ" (Col 2:17)
“But he spake of the temple of his body.” (Jn 2:21)

ὁ ναός τοῦ σωματου αὐτοῦ
the temple which was his body

ναός naos = σῶμα sōma
temple = body

The Torah is metaphorical for the image of Christ implanted into men’s hearts, the law-word of God “written men’s hearts”.

Strongs: ναός, ναοῦ, ὁ (ναίω to dwell), the Sept. for הֵיכָל, used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of holies (in classical Greek used of the sanctuary or cell of a temple, where the image of the god was placed

ὁ ναός τοῦ σωματου αὐτοῦ, the temple which was his body, John 2:21; plural, Romans 1:24; 1 Corinthians 6:15; Ephesians 5:28; the genitive of the possessor is omitted where it is easily learned from the context, as 1 Corinthians 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Hebrews 10:22(23), etc.

See Strongs/Thayers, G4983 - sōma - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

Holiness is found (made) within, not outside. Spiritual housekeeping.

Hence, “The most High dwelleth not in temples (ναός naos) made with hands” (Acts 7:48) And “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples (ναός naos) made with hands” (Acts 17:24)

See also 2 Cor 5:1, Isa 66:1, 29:13, Mk 7:7, Mt 15:8-9, Col 2:22

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (2 Cor 3:3)

[Staff Edit]

Sabbath-keeping is legal and righteous HOWEVER sabbath zeal is blindness and fallacy. Fine line.

The Decalogue is a LATE introduction. It is headed by the 1st commandment indicating priority and supremacy. IF the 1st commandment is met then remaining/sequential commandments (2-10) are met also. Order. Supremacy.

[Staff Edit]

[Staff Edit]

[Staff Edit]

Synagogues,[Staff Edit] are man-made buildings for official use. But if these places are false and unfit for purpose then they are void. Therefore, defaulting to house churches as unofficial places, is permissible as it predates the church/synagogue tradition, predating architecture itself. God gave Adam and Eve “skins”, not buildings of stone.

[Staff Edit]

“Know ye not that ye are the temple (ναός naos) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Cor 3:16-17)

οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν = HOUSED in you.

Sabbath is foremost kept internally ‘at home’ because, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

[Staff Edit]

[Staff Edit]

Abomination contradicts God’s order: “For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deu 25:16); “A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” (Pro 11:1); “For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” (Pro 8:7); “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” (Pro 12:22)

Toeba (תּוֹעֵבָה) are “things with are made impure and illicit by the decrees of religion” (Gesenius)

Hence, James says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (Js 1:27)

Hence, temples “made with hands” fall under abomination: “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman… “ (Deu 27:15)

The “gathering” of people over the “building”.

The Lord’s Prayer reproves temple tradition: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Pro 15:8)

Hence Christ’s revolt about people commercialising his “house of prayer”.

Traditional synagogue/church decorum (10 man minimum) is also abolished. Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name” (Mt 18:20)

i.e. peace between

• Adam + Eve
• Cain + Abel + Seth
• Shem + Ham + Japheth

Lawlessness is the other extreme of abomination: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Pro 28:9)

Scales of justice:

Idolatry (abomination) <— BALANCE/JUSTICE/RIGHTEOUSNESS —> Lawlessness (abomination)

Justification/judgement start from within, behaviour at home,when no one can see, not by strict/dogmatic churchianity.

The Lord says to “Enter into thy closet” (Mt 6:6)

Because,

“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jer 17:10)

“God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things” (1 Chron 29:17)

“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Rev 2:23)

“He knew what was in man” (Jn 2:25)

Sabbath is for knowledge of law which means knowledge of sin: “The law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 3:20) Which leads to repentance from sin and returning home, back to the Father’s house.

Amen

 

[Leaf473]

Building on the idea that "Sabbath is foremost kept internally ‘at home'", a purpose of the Sabbath is to build community.

From Exodus 16
Everyone stay in their place/neighborhood. Let no one go out of their place/neighborhood on the seventh day.

A Jewish perspective:
Thus our Shabbat day existence centers on our home life, and on activities — going to synagogue, visiting friends, enjoying a walk in the park — which take place within walking distance of the home (or wherever you are for Shabbat).
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/253225/jewish/5-Travel.htm

 

[BukiRob]

It never ceases to amaze me how people vainly try to marry keeping God's commandments to salvation. At no time in mankinds history was the Torah EVER, a means to attain salvation. Genesis shows CLEARLY the pattern of Salvation FAITH (BELIEVING AND TRUSTING GODS WORD) coupled with GRACE (unmerited.) favor! Abraham BELIEVED God and it was CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Walking in the Light of the Torha is a matter of OBEDIENCE and has nothing to do with attaining salvation by works.

 

[Clare73]

most of these sabbath threads soon turn into the same back and forth from the same people and with the same canned arguments (myself included and if it's you too you know who you are). But for the moment let's table the arguments of the requirement of the Sabbath and talk about the purpose of the Sabbath which I feel is a more noble conversation.
So in whatever you say, make sure you are speaking about the purpose and not just rehashing the same things we can see in pages and pages of threads before this. A mother may say to her child "eat your vegetables" so the immediate instruction/requirement is clear which is to eat the vegetable but nothing is said about the purpose of eating the vegetables and it's to that purpose I'm getting at.
Let's try and be critical about this too and avoid sentiments like "because God says to obey it". Although that may be a statement of motivation it is not a statement of purpose and to that expect a reply of "Why does God say to obey it?" Better yet ask yourself why first, and keep asking why until you can get to the root and that should show you the purpose.

What is the purpose of the Sabbath?

Man's rest from work.

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

 

[Freth]

It never ceases to amaze me how people vainly try to marry keeping God's commandments to salvation. At no time in mankinds history was the Torah EVER, a means to attain salvation. Genesis shows CLEARLY the pattern of Salvation FAITH (BELIEVING AND TRUSTING GODS WORD) coupled with GRACE (unmerited.) favor! Abraham BELIEVED God and it was CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Walking in the Light of the Torha is a matter of OBEDIENCE and has nothing to do with attaining salvation by works.

And yet...

Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Romans 2:13 "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 22:11-16 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

 

[Gary K]

most of these sabbath threads soon turn into the same back and forth from the same people and with the same canned arguments (myself included and if it's you too you know who you are). But for the moment let's table the arguments of the requirement of the Sabbath and talk about the purpose of the Sabbath which I feel is a more noble conversation.

So in whatever you say, make sure you are speaking about the purpose and not just rehashing the same things we can see in pages and pages of threads before this. A mother may say to her child "eat your vegetables" so the immediate instruction/requirement is clear which is to eat the vegetable but nothing is said about the purpose of eating the vegetables and it's to that purpose I'm getting at.

Let's try and be critical about this too and avoid sentiments like "because God says to obey it". Although that may be a statement of motivation it is not a statement of purpose and to that expect a reply of "Why does God say to obey it?" Better yet ask yourself why first, and keep asking why until you can get to the root and that should show you the purpose.

What is the purpose of the Sabbath?

God set aside the Sabbath before sin entered the earth so I think He had multiple purposes in creating it. I think His greatest reason was He knew we all, even before sin, need a day to devote exclusively to our relationship with Him for He is, and always has been, our righteousness. None of us have any righteousness outside of Him.

 

[Gary K]

The title of this thread is purpose.

The Lord made it pretty clear the purpose of His Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Isaiah 58:13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,

It's simple really. The purpose of the Sabbath is to have a full day to focus and honor Him, to keep His Sabbath holy. Six days we work Exodus 20:9, but the seventh day is set apart for holy use to honor our Lord on His holy, blessed and sacred day. Exodus 20:8-11, Genesis 2:1-3

Your post doesn't actually address the purpose of Jesus creating the Sabbath. It addresses the how of how God commands us to keep it. You didn't address what you think was His reason for giving us the Sabbath. Yes, that requires a little speculation on our part, but very little as we know He loves all of His creation and what His character is like.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Your post doesn't actually address the purpose of Jesus creating the Sabbath. It addresses the how of how God commands us to keep it. You didn't address what you think was His reason for giving us the Sabbath. Yes, that requires a little speculation on our part, but very little as we know He loves all of His creation and what His character is like.

It’s an older thread and I remember saying more on this subject so not sure what context this exact reply is about without going back and rereading, but will pass on that.

That said, yes the commandment is to Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 and the purpose of the Sabbath is the day to honor God. Isaiah 58:13

There are many gods that people have, but there is only one true God who made the heavens and earth and all that is in them. When we keep the Sabbath day holy it shows we worship the one true God and the Sabbath is a memorial for his creative and redemptive power. Keeping the Sabbath is trusting Christ and being in full submission to Him and showing our allegiance is to the the one true God. It’s also the day to commune with Christ on the day He set aside for holy use to spend time with us. If you have more to add feel free to do so.

 

[DamianWarS]

Man's rest from work.

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Sabbath points to the completed work of Christ in us.

 

[sparow]

It never ceases to amaze me how people vainly try to marry keeping God's commandments to salvation. At no time in mankinds history was the Torah EVER, a means to attain salvation. Genesis shows CLEARLY the pattern of Salvation FAITH (BELIEVING AND TRUSTING GODS WORD) coupled with GRACE (unmerited.) favor! Abraham BELIEVED God and it was CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Walking in the Light of the Torha is a matter of OBEDIENCE and has nothing to do with attaining salvation by works.

I believe you have your premises confused; the Torah (covenant) is forced in Israel, optional for gentiles; but the law still defines sin and gentiles are still judged in accordance with the Law, when judged.

What is God's word if it does not begin with the Law followed by the Prophets?