Why we are Supposed to Keep the Sabbath

[trophy33]

Why cant you just Trust God and do what Jesus said to do instead of fighting so hard against scripture, it would ease your burden as it did mine, rely on Christ for everything and you will see what happens.

I am not fighting against Scripture, I am debating your interpretation of Scripture in the context of Christianity. And your putting various verses together in a way that suits your views. Also, the logical errors in your reasoning (like arguing with the book of Genesis about what was before that book).

 

[DamianWarS]

You speak of things like you can know GOD's mind, well, none of us can, we simply have to trust in Him. I never spoke of a ritual service, I would be a hypocrite like the pharisees if I did. To follow the sabbath, it is really simple really look at how we are supposed to do do correctly below in the words by Isaiah, no complex instructions here so simple please read this and comment back to me about what Isaiah wrote;

Ritual
"a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order."

the 4th commandment calls us into ritual practice, this is not a controversial statement it is just a matter of fact. I'm not demonizing ritual or sabbath practice, they are not innately evil and certainly may have many different benefits but a ritual act itself does not address the heart. The church has adopted many beloved rituals that have become sacred rites of passage into Christendom like baptism. But God is not interested in the ritual, he is interested in the heart. Sure you can do both as you respond to the obedience God calls upon you.

“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,

Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” — Isaiah 58:13-14 NKJV.

Christ tells us it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (Mat 12:12). he says this right after speaking of rescuing sheep fallen into pits, getting that sheep out of the pit is lawful. Are fallen sheep however really fallen sheep? we are called to do good, we are called to rescue sheep. the elephant in the room if it is lawful to do good on the sabbath then why not just do good every day, then we will always be lawful. This is indeed what the NT teaches us, for example, Gal 5:14 "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”" This is the law of Christ and is our Christian mandate we should be focused on keeping and this may or may not include ritual weekly rest.

The thing with keeping the Sabbath is that no one can actually keep it, we only keep a version of it because modern society has made it near impossible to keep the letter of the law. Sabbath is not just for rest of self, it is for rest for all those in our power. So do you also rest electricity on the Sabbath? do you rest cell service? Do you rest television or internet? There may be perhaps aspects of essential services but I'm addressing our non-essential consumption. Because when we consume of these service-based industries we are engaging in a workforce demand to provide those services. Think of the population of America, and the impact it would have if every Christian reduced electrical consumption to non-essential use only on the Sabbath, (many wouldn't even need to use any electricity). It would have a dramatic impact on the industry that would significantly reduce the demand which would have a direct impact on the workforce. Believe it or not, computers don't do it all, people are working to ensure these services are uninterrupted.

The Hebrews weren't even allowed to kindle a fire. It can get cold in Israel, and our "essential use" would be humiliated by any ancient Hebrew. We live comfortable lives and we rest comfortably. I'm not saying we need to freeze ourselves but we live in a vacuum where we don't care about the hamster wheel that keeps on turning outside our house so long as we can say we rested and that hamster wheel keeps on turning. We should be ashamed of what we call rest. This doesn't even address the demand the Sabbath points to over it's requirement pointing to our every breath as work and our beating hearts. But we can't stop those can be? Can you think of one who did over the Sabbath then resurrected the next day?

I'm not your enemy, I don't actually work on the Sabbath and I do rest, many would say I even keep the Sabbath, but I'm far from keeping it. It would do us all well to just admit it, we can't keep the Sabbath. This is incredibly freeing, because now we are no longer looking at our ritual rest that we do over and over, never-ending, round and round just like that hamster wheel, and we start looking to the one the Sabbath points to who has authority to give us the rest we can never accomplish ourselves.

 

[DamianWarS]

The Sabbath in Jerusalem gives us the distance to the International Date Line of God’s prime meridian.

you've lost me here. I think we may have different goals when discussing Sabbath values that perhaps may be too distant to have a productive discussion. Based on your topics you seem very passionate about fixing a timeline of the Sabbath that no one else can seem to see. I'm interested in studying how the sabbath points to Christ, so if you show how your sabbath adjustment is needed to point to Christ then you may pique my interest. For me, the earth started in darkness and light is spoken into it. Darkness must be first to affirm the posture of death first before there is resurrection of the new and this is echoed with each passing of day from sunset to sunset, showing a framework of salvation. it is also echoed in baptism, we always rise up new from the posture of death. If sunrise starts the day, then then darkness overcomes the light and the hope is lost. That metaphor to me is too significant to profess a light-to-darkness order. biblical speaking it is a darkness-to-light order that carries meaning, where the former destroys meaning.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

I am not fighting against Scripture, I am debating your interpretation of Scripture in the context of Christianity. And your putting various verses together in a way that suits your views. Also, the logical errors in your reasoning (like arguing with the book of Genesis about what was before that book).

"(like arguing with the book of Genesis about what was before that book)." I doubt that was me, i rarely argue if I am nor certain. the verses I put together I get from memory mostly, or cross links and software bible searches I would not put together verses that cannot complement the topic at hand.

Your views on Christianity must be different from mine that is based on the words of Jesus for the most part, I know many here follow Paul almost exclusively even forgetting the words of Christ that they almost never quote. I am not certain it fits your description but Know that all I write here is in line with what the bible Holds. Things I do not know I do, not discuss.

I am not against debating but if we both use proper verses quoted in their proper context then i would debate but we both must be clear. if you have examples to give me then do so but just one or 2 at a time.

Peace

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Ritual
"a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order."

the 4th commandment calls us into ritual practice, this is not a controversial statement it is just a matter of fact. I'm not demonizing ritual or sabbath practice, they are not innately evil and certainly may have many different benefits but a ritual act itself does not address the heart. The church has adopted many beloved rituals that have become sacred rites of passage into Christendom like baptism. But God is not interested in the ritual, he is interested in the heart. Sure you can do both as you respond to the obedience God calls upon you.


Christ tells us it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (Mat 12:12). he says this right after speaking of rescuing sheep fallen into pits, getting that sheep out of the pit is lawful. Are fallen sheep however really fallen sheep? we are called to do good, we are called to rescue sheep. the elephant in the room if it is lawful to do good on the sabbath then why not just do good every day, then we will always be lawful. This is indeed what the NT teaches us, for example, Gal 5:14 "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”" This is the law of Christ and is our Christian mandate we should be focused on keeping and this may or may not include ritual weekly rest.

The thing with keeping the Sabbath is that no one can actually keep it, we only keep a version of it because modern society has made it near impossible to keep the letter of the law. Sabbath is not just for rest of self, it is for rest for all those in our power. So do you also rest electricity on the Sabbath? do you rest cell service? Do you rest television or internet? There may be perhaps aspects of essential services but I'm addressing our non-essential consumption. Because when we consume of these service-based industries we are engaging in a workforce demand to provide those services. Think of the population of America, and the impact it would have if every Christian reduced electrical consumption to non-essential use only on the Sabbath, (many wouldn't even need to use any electricity). It would have a dramatic impact on the industry that would significantly reduce the demand which would have a direct impact on the workforce. Believe it or not, computers don't do it all, people are working to ensure these services are uninterrupted.

The Hebrews weren't even allowed to kindle a fire. It can get cold in Israel, and our "essential use" would be humiliated by any ancient Hebrew. We live comfortable lives and we rest comfortably. I'm not saying we need to freeze ourselves but we live in a vacuum where we don't care about the hamster wheel that keeps on turning outside our house so long as we can say we rested and that hamster wheel keeps on turning. We should be ashamed of what we call rest. This doesn't even address the demand the Sabbath points to over it's requirement pointing to our every breath as work and our beating hearts. But we can't stop those can be? Can you think of one who did over the Sabbath then resurrected the next day?

I'm not your enemy, I don't actually work on the Sabbath and I do rest, many would say I even keep the Sabbath, but I'm far from keeping it. It would do us all well to just admit it, we can't keep the Sabbath. This is incredibly freeing, because now we are no longer looking at our ritual rest that we do over and over, never-ending, round and round just like that hamster wheel, and we start looking to the one the Sabbath points to who has authority to give us the rest we can never accomplish ourselves.

NO IS IS NOT A RITUAL, what you describe is from the Jews, they added to it making it a burden, read Matthew chapter 23. what you describe does not stand today.

If God gave us the commandments it is because we can but not perfectly like Jesus could. If we could not he would not have given them at all. I will add practice makes perfect, try and see!

remember the new covenant where the 10 commandments will be in our hearts and minds, this includes the sabbath, it started when Christ was on earth but will grow. At this time and this, people will contest but in vain, I tell you some that are under the new covenant do want to follow all of the 10 commandments because they love GOD and one another, but not everyone is because it is not in them yet.

the pharisees gave appearances of keeping the law but in reality were murderous hypocrites ( see Matt chapter 23) these we must not follow. Jesus explained how to follow the commandments, with the heart.

THE BASE OF THE LAW IS this; 1-LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND 2 - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. LOVE IS THE Core or the 10 Commandments that are the Covenant.

Peace

 

[DamianWarS]

NO IS IS NOT A RITUAL, what you describe is from the Jews, they added to it making it a burden, read Matthew chapter 23. what you describe does not stand today.

it is indeed a ritual. look up the definition and tell me why it isn't.

remember the new covenant where the 10 commandments will be in our hearts and minds

what verse might that be? Can you show me where it isolates the 10 commandments? You're conflating.

THE BASE OF THE LAW IS this; 1-LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND 2 - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. LOVE IS THE Core or the 10 Commandments that are the Covenant.

Christ says "All of the Law and the Prophets hang upon those" How is it from that statement all you see the 10 commandments? What I see is "all of the law and the prophets"

 

[guevaraj]

you've lost me here. I think we may have different goals when discussing Sabbath values that perhaps may be too distant to have a productive discussion. Based on your topics you seem very passionate about fixing a timeline of the Sabbath that no one else can seem to see.

Brother, the biblical Sabbath is different from the human tradition in Judaism. The biblical Sabbath is fixed in the time zone of creation in Eden and does not revolve around the earth with the week as Judaism has assumed since Joshua. The Sabbath in Jerusalem is half a day before the true seventh day of the week.

I'm interested in studying how the sabbath points to Christ, so if you show how your sabbath adjustment is needed to point to Christ then you may pique my interest.

Jesus' greatest contribution to the Sabbath message in the book of Hebrews is that Jesus kept that earlier Sabbath by half a day from the true seventh day of the week in Jerusalem. Once one is convinced that the days are from morning to morning, one may mistakenly assume that Judaism is keeping an incorrect earlier Sabbath, but Jesus established that the earlier Sabbath in Jerusalem is correct because He kept it before the seventh day of the week in Jerusalem.

For me, the earth started in darkness and light is spoken into it. Darkness must be first to affirm the posture of death first before there is resurrection of the new and this is echoed with each passing of day from sunset to sunset, showing a framework of salvation. it is also echoed in baptism, we always rise up new from the posture of death. If sunrise starts the day, then then darkness overcomes the light and the hope is lost. That metaphor to me is too significant to profess a light-to-darkness order. biblical speaking it is a darkness-to-light order that carries meaning, where the former destroys meaning.

There was darkness before the light, but that darkness was before the week of creation. There are two different periods of time separated by that first light in the week of creation. Everything before that first light in the week of creation happened long before the week of creation, an unspecified time earlier than that first light on the week of creation. God came to an already existing earth to turn it into a home for us during the week of creation.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NLT)​

A lot of time passed between the earlier beginning account above and the later account below that begins the week of creation with that first light. The first day is from that first light to light again in the morning and the days following from morning to morning. Evening falls in the middle of the first day, separating the first light God called "day" and the first darkness God called "night" in that order.

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and MORNING came, marking the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5 NLT)​

The order given above of "day" before "night" is verified in the following passage where the previous night is the day before and the next night to come is part of the current day.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” (Genesis 19:34 NIV)​

United in our hope for the soon return of Jesus, Jorge

 

[DamianWarS]

Jesus' greatest contribution to the Sabbath message in the book of Hebrews is that Jesus kept that earlier Sabbath by half a day from the true seventh day of the week in Jerusalem.

You've given me an answer for a question I didn't ask. I'm not interested in how Jesus points to the Sabbath. I'm interested in how the Sabbath points to Jesus. I don't worship sabbath, so the fundamental message much always come back to Jesus, you've somehow found a way to make sabbath the central message, even above Christ himself which I cannot track with.

The order given above of "day" before "night" is verified in the following passage where the previous night is the day before and the next night to come is part of the current day.

This is a counter gospel message that I cannot support. Light overcomes darkness not the other way around. You have failed to show me how your time adjusted version of Sabbath better give Christ the glory and all I see is sabbath getting glory. It's is a backward system of values to me that I cannot support.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Part 1 of 5: The Sabbath in the Ten Commandments​

The Sabbath was established by God at creation as a sacred and sanctified day. In Genesis 2:2-3, it is written that God completed His work of creation on the seventh day, rested, and blessed it, making it holy. This act was not because God was weary but to establish a divine pattern for humanity to follow. The sanctification of the seventh day was an act of God, setting it apart from the other days of the week, making it a day dedicated to Him.

While the Ten Commandments formally established the Sabbath law, there is evidence in earlier chapters of Genesis and Exodus that God's people were aware of the Sabbath and observed it in some form before the formal command was given at Sinai. The creation narrative (Genesis 2:2-3), the instructions regarding the gathering of manna (Exodus 16:23-30), and the obedience of Abraham (Genesis 26:5) demonstrates that the concept of the Sabbath was known and followed even before the covenant at Sinai. In particular, the instructions regarding the gathering of manna (Exodus 16:23-30) stand out and shows that the knowledge of the sabbath was known before the commandments were formalized by the finger of GOD on tablets of stone at Sinai;

23 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” 24 So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 25 Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? 29 See! For the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
(Exodus 16:23-30 NKJV)​

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel at Mount Sinai, He reaffirmed the importance of the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8-11 commands,

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
(Exodus 20:8-11)
​

The command begins with the word "Remember," showing that the Sabbath was not a new institution but something that had been established long before. By commanding them to remember, God pointed back to creation, reaffirming that this day was not exclusive to Israel but for all who acknowledge Him as the Creator.

The Sabbath stands as a declaration of God's sovereignty over time and creation. It serves as a sign that humanity is dependent on Him and must recognize His authority.

The Sabbath is an act of obedience, an acknowledgement that all things come from Him, and a weekly reminder of His power and provision.

Part 2 of 5 below;

Peace.

It appears to be pretty serious business. Has any sect put to death any of their members yet, who missed a service?

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

It appears to be pretty serious business. Has any sect put to death any of their members yet, who missed a service?

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

Where does it say "who missed a service" I can't find that in my bible.

We serve a God of love and if one is sick do you think He is going to kill someone for missing church? He tells us to quarantine Leviticus 13:46. But being sick does not mean one can't keep the day holy by resting, praying and reading God's Word. Thats why Jesus went to church according to His custom on the Sabbath,, meaning the majority of the time, but Jesus never broke the Sabbath or ever taught anyone it was okay to.

There was also a death penalty for murder and adultery in the OT under the theocracy, because the penalty of sin, which is breaking God's law and God's law includes the 4th commandment that God personally wrote, requires death because it shows rebellion against God, but since we are no longer under a theocracy, judgement is the last day. God gives us another choice, we can choose Christ but He says, if you love Me, keep My commandments John 14:15 Exo 20:6 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

It sad that man feels they have the right to question God because they don't understand or don't want to keep one of His commandments as if our ways are above His and we know better than the God who created us and all things. This is not an example of what His faithful did in His holy Word.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The law does point us to Christ including the Sabbath commandment Exo 20:11 because the law is a reflection of God's holy character that we are to become like- why His law is perfect for converting the soul. Psa 19:7 God's law points us to Christ and Christ points us to keeping His law, If you love Me, keep My commandments John 14:15 Exo 20:6 and abide in Him John 15:10 and follow His example 1 John 2:6

 

[SabbathBlessings]

For the record the Sabbath is not fixed "on the time zone of creation in Eden" which is a false teaching leading people away from keeping the biblical Sabbath. The Sabbath is the seventh day Exo 20:10 from evening to evening Lev 23:32 Days start in the evening so from Friday evening at sunset to Saturday evening at sunset. The way its been kept for centuries.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Where does it say "who missed a service" I can't find that in my bible.

What does one have to do in order to be put to death.

Obviously there's a "doing work penalty of being put to death."

Feel free to elaborate on work and put

 

[SabbathBlessings]

What does one have to do in order to be put to death.

Obviously there's a "doing work penalty of being put to death."

Feel free to elaborate on work and put

You are changing your position. You said one would be put to death by missing a service. Thats not in the bible.

There is scripture that says we are not to do secular work on the Sabbath- God gives us 6 days for that Exo 20:9 and asks to only keep one day holy, the seventh day Exo 20:8-11 as that is God's holy day thus saith the Lord and we are to keep our focus on God the entire day Isa 58:13

And before you say it, that does not mean one doesn't worship God 365 24/7 but God knows we have to work to sustain our lives. He knows whats best for us and have given us this pattern from the beginning. It was never a suggestion or optional choice for God's people, we either trust Him at His Word or don't.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

You are changing your position. You said one would be put to death by missing a service. Thats not in the bible.

Did I disclose any position? I'm asking you to clarify being put to death and what one has to do in order to be put to death for the SABBATH violation(s) whatever you claim these are

I believe every Word of God applies to everyone exactly as Jesus said, just so you know my position, per Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4 and Deut. 8:3

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Did I disclose any position? I'm asking you to clarify being put to death and what one has to do in order to be put to death for the SABBATH violation(s) whatever you claim these are

It appears to be pretty serious business. Has any sect put to death any of their members yet, who missed a service?

Its a misunderstanding of the Sabbath and the theocracy in the OT and how it is to be kept. It misrepresents God's character as if He would kill someone if they were sick, or at a place where there wasn't a church so therefore couldn't keep the Sabbath and deserve death. Remember Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days He still kept the Sabbath. The apostles were building churches and still kept the Sabbath holy Acts 16:13 even when there was no churches in the area. The Sabbath is a holy convocation Lev 23:3 because God wants us to be one body and the blessing of fellowship, but understands circumstances happen and we can still keep the Sabbath day holy if we miss church once in a while for good reasons.

I believe every Word of God applies to everyone exactly as Jesus said, just so you know my position, per Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4 and Deut. 8:3

The Ten Commandments including the Sabbath proceeded out of the mouth of God that Jesus told us to live by, so I find it odd one would be arguing against obeying the Sabbath commandment instead of living by it.

Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, (Quoting OT) ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Exo 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying:

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

It appears to be pretty serious business. Has any sect put to death any of their members yet, who missed a service?

Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

You do not understand what Jesus said about the commandments, read the parts where he explained the commandments and see what he says.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

it is indeed a ritual. look up the definition and tell me why it isn't

In the temple, much of the activity was indeed ritualistic, sacrifices, daily oblations, grain offerings, purification rites, and other ceremonial acts. These were regular practices, but the Sabbath is not merely a ritual if we must call it so; it is a command from God to intentionally remember Him and set aside time to worship Him. In order to do this properly, it’s necessary to have a time of rest, which allows for reflection, renewal, and connection with God.

Rituals, in a broader sense, can take many forms—whether it’s something as simple as drinking coffee each morning or going to work every day. These daily routines, though repetitive, are not inherently negative. Similarly, many Christians gather every Sunday (which, though a day of worship, is not the traditional Sabbath day). While the Sabbath does have repetitive elements, this doesn’t reduce its importance or divine purpose. God ordained the Sabbath to be kept throughout all generations. Disputing or disregarding God's command is a personal choice, but it does not change the fact that the Sabbath remains His will for us.

what verse might that be? Can you show me where it isolates the 10 commandments? You're conflating.

Exodus 34:28 (NKJV): "So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

Deuteronomy 4:13 (NKJV): "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone."

Christ says "All of the Law and the Prophets hang upon those" How is it from that statement all you see the 10 commandments? What I see is "all of the law and the prophets"

In Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV), Jesus summarizes the Ten Commandments by focusing on love as the essence of God's law. He says;

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 22:37-40)​

Here, Jesus summarizes the entire moral law into two fundamental principles rooted in love. The first commandment emphasizes a total, undivided love for GOD, urging us to give GOD our full devotion, which encompasses our emotions, our will, and our intellect. Loving GOD with all our heart means we prioritize Him above everything else, ensuring that He is the center of our lives. Loving Him with our soul points to a deep, spiritual connection, while loving Him with our mind suggests that our thoughts and understanding should be directed toward Him.

The second commandment mirrors the first in its intensity and significance, instructing us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not merely a feeling, but an active choice that reflects our care, kindness, and respect for others. Loving others as ourselves implies empathy and treating others with the same dignity and value that we hold for our own lives. In doing so, we are called to be selfless in our actions, seeking the well-being of others, as we would our own.

Jesus' teaching shows that the entire moral law or the ten Commandments is built upon these two commands, and that love is the key to fulfilling GOD's will. The commandments that deal with our relationship with GOD (the first four in the Ten Commandments) find their foundation in loving GOD with all we are, while the commandments that concern our relationship with others (the last six) flow out of our love for our neighbors. In essence, love is the core principle that unites and fulfills all of GOD's law.

Peace

 

[guevaraj]

I'm not interested in how Jesus points to the Sabbath. I'm interested in how the Sabbath points to Jesus. I don't worship sabbath, so the fundamental message much always come back to Jesus, you've somehow found a way to make sabbath the central message, even above Christ himself which I cannot track with. This is a counter gospel message that I cannot support. Light overcomes darkness not the other way around. You have failed to show me how your time adjusted version of Sabbath better give Christ the glory and all I see is sabbath getting glory. It's is a backward system of values to me that I cannot support.

Brother, just like the King James translators who inserted Jesus into the Sabbath message against the context to say something completely different from the original message about the Sabbath in the book of Hebrews, you side with those who "desire" to "turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" in the following passage.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV)​

United in our hope for the soon return of Jesus, Jorge

 

[DamianWarS]

In the temple, much of the activity was indeed ritualistic, sacrifices, daily oblations, grain offerings, purification rites, and other ceremonial acts. These were regular practices, but the Sabbath is not merely a ritual if we must call it so; it is a command from God to intentionally remember Him and set aside time to worship Him. In order to do this properly, it’s necessary to have a time of rest, which allows for reflection, renewal, and connection with God.

a duty or act of remembrance specific to a day of the week repeated so to keep this day as holy is indeed a ritualistic.

Rituals, in a broader sense, can take many forms—whether it’s something as simple as drinking coffee each morning or going to work every day. These daily routines, though repetitive, are not inherently negative. Similarly, many Christians gather every Sunday (which, though a day of worship, is not the traditional Sabbath day). While the Sabbath does have repetitive elements, this doesn’t reduce its importance or divine purpose. God ordained the Sabbath to be kept throughout all generations. Disputing or disregarding God's command is a personal choice, but it does not change the fact that the Sabbath remains His will for us.

you've misunderstood me. I've never said rituals are negative, in fact I explicitly said the opposite in my response to you. however God does not desire the ritual, he desires the heart. given contrasting scenarios of ritual with the heart it is the heart that God welcomes over the ritual, not the ritual over the heart. The old covenant views the physical as a means to reach the heart. the physical was a required presence and intrinsic to the faith. it was a mechanism of separating a people group called Holy and used to show other nations God's glory.

The new covenant however views the heart as a means to reach the physical. We see this demonstrated in various ways for example in the Mat 5 Jesus tells us of the commandments of do not murder and do not commit adultery, a reference to 2 of the 10. Then he steps off script and addresses hatred insteaof d merely resisting murder, or addresses lust instead or merely resisting having sex with another woman. Jesus addressed the heart and showed how these commandments do not address the heart. We see Christ's dialogue with the rich man. He is asking Christ in Mat 19:20 "All these I have kept .... what do I still lack?” He kept the commandments yet still was lacking. Showing again the commandments themselves are lacking and do not address the heart. This all feels good except when we challenge the Sabbath. Still blinding keeping it according to law but are we asking "what do I still lack" and unlike the rich man are we ready to commit? Jesus does challenge Sabbath practice in Mat 12:12 saying it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. So while you may keep the Sabbath according to the letter, my motivation instead is to do good. I don't bother to count the days either, I just strive to do good everyday. is this not lawful?

Exodus 34:28 (NKJV): "So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

Deuteronomy 4:13 (NKJV): "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone."

this question was regarding law written upon our hearts. You said it was the 10 that is written upon our hearts. These verses do not show me where it is the 10 that are separated and then written upon our hearts. The 10 are tablets of the covenant law, they are placed in the ark of the covenant and the sign of the covenant is the sabbath. What part of this tells you it is universal, intended to be extracted then superimposed over all people groups forever? Circumcision is extremely similar, also a sign of an everlasting covenant for generations to come (Gen 17), also very specific in the physical act, and also a requirement. But NT teaching calls it nothing (1 Cor 7:19, Gal 5:6, Gal 6:15). Which covenant was God's perfect law? Why are we so quick to dimiss one, but not the other?

In Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV), Jesus summarizes the Ten Commandments by focusing on love as the essence of God's law. He says;
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 22:37-40)

how did you conclude that "all the law and the prophets" actually meant only the 10 commandments? I would rather not change the words. the context is all the law and the prophets, so let's keep it there. scripture does not separate law, does not give it labels and segment it then say this group is for keeping and this group we can sweep under the wrong. This phrase "all the law and the prophets" means just that, and Jesus also uses it in Mat 5:17 saying "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." again the context being "all the law and the prophets" and not reduced to the 10 commandments. so in v18, in the immediate context, when Christ says "For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." why conflated this with the 10? This is not the 10, it is all the law and the prophets. stop conflating these references to things that cannot be supported. the 10 may be regardest as some of the greatest, yet Christ explicitly calls out the least as well, but still, all you see is the 10.

Here, Jesus summarizes the entire moral law into two fundamental principles rooted in love. The first commandment emphasizes a total, undivided love for GOD, urging us to give GOD our full devotion, which encompasses our emotions, our will, and our intellect. Loving GOD with all our heart means we prioritize Him above everything else, ensuring that He is the center of our lives. Loving Him with our soul points to a deep, spiritual connection, while loving Him with our mind suggests that our thoughts and understanding should be directed toward Him.

The second commandment mirrors the first in its intensity and significance, instructing us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is not merely a feeling, but an active choice that reflects our care, kindness, and respect for others. Loving others as ourselves implies empathy and treating others with the same dignity and value that we hold for our own lives. In doing so, we are called to be selfless in our actions, seeking the well-being of others, as we would our own.

the 4th commandment is not a moral practice. sure we can argue that any commandment from God may be called moral but that's not critically engaging the subject and if we stick to that we must also include the stuff we don't want to talk about, for example, circumcision would also be called moral under the same measure. When we isolate the practices in the 10 the 4th does not address moral behaviour, it addresses ritual rest. There are also many laws outside the 10 that do address moral behaviour that does not fit with cutting up laws into these categories calling the 10 only moral code. For example, Lev 19:18 says "‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself." This is indeed included in moral code, and Jesus quotes this moral code and calls it the second greatest commandment. Leviticus is often entirely erased because the priestly duties are no longer active thus the levitical teachings have the same fate, yet here it is, explicit moral code and affirmed by Christ plus as a bonus outside of the 10. is this not a part of God's perfect law?

Jesus' teaching shows that the entire moral law or the ten Commandments is built upon these two commands, and that love is the key to fulfilling GOD's will. The commandments that deal with our relationship with GOD (the first four in the Ten Commandments) find their foundation in loving GOD with all we are, while the commandments that concern our relationship with others (the last six) flow out of our love for our neighbors. In essence, love is the core principle that unites and fulfills all of GOD's law.

This paragraph that you have written feels like a copied and pasted devotional but it is not critically engaging the subject. The entire Torah may be separating into these two categories that you have made here. This is not unique to the 10 so in no way does it isolate the 10 either. Nowhere in scripture is the 10 commandments called moral law. the term moral law is not even biblical and is a post-biblical label applied to scripture and traditionally used synonymous with the 10, but this is a misnomer, the 10 are not all moral in nature. the 2 greatest commandments are also not a summary of the 10, all the law and prophets hang upon them (that is what Jesus said isn't it). "summary" is an interesting word to use. It is used in Mat 7:12 "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets". (again the phrase "the law and the Prophets") but you seem to be using it to manipulate the text as uniquely identifying the 10 as a moral code. this is not how the word is used as the context is not uniquely the 10 it is all the law and the Prophets.

There is no reason to extract the 10 or conflate it with some other term that you're hiding in your back pocket to pull them out of their covenant. Whatever measure you apply to the 10 using these greatest commandments also needs to be applied to all the law and the prophets as is the explictly context. so if you conclude you pull out the 10 as requirement for Christian living then you you pull with it the law and the prophets over Christian living the same way, it is the package deal and this would be counter-gospel. There is no precedence to separate the 10 as you are doing and it robs the glory from Christ as he is what the 10 and all the law and Prophets are pointing to, instead you've found a way to point back to the 10. I don't want to hear how the NT points to the 10, I want to hear how the 10 points to Christ. Surely the latter is a more noble and greater cause, elevating the 10 beyond mere commandments or ritual and far better use of our attention.