The Sabbath - Youth lesson

What is the Sabbath?

What do you think is so special about the sabbath?

Exodus 20:8 ESV

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Sabbath by Hebrew definition means rest.

In other words, a day to clean our mind of our work life, a day to worship our God, a day to rest.

Matthew 12:1–8 ESV

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

The king of kings defined some of the standards here for what the Sabbath is and how to follow it.

The Pharisees set some of the most unimaginable standards for the sabbath

Concerning Sabbath observance, the Mishnah lists 39 primary kinds of labor that were not allowed on that day. The first 11 of these were steps leading to the production and preparation of bread: sowing, plowing, reaping, binding sheaves, threshing, winnowing, selecting, grinding, sifting, kneading, and baking.

The next 12 apply to similar steps in the preparation of clothing, from the shearing of sheep to the actual sewing of garments. These are followed by 7 steps in preparing the carcass of a deer for use as food or for leather. The remaining items listed have to do with writing, building, kindling and extinguishing of fires. And also they deal with the transportation of articles from one place to another.

In addition to these major regulations, there were countless other provisions concerning the observance of the Sabbath. Most commonly known is the so-called “sabbath day’s journey” of 2,000 cu.— somewhat less than 2/3 mi. It was also counted as Sabbath breaking to look in a mirror fixed to the wall. And also even lighting a candle. Sadly, these same regulations permitted an egg laid on the Sabbath to be sold to a Gentile. And allowed for a Gentile to be hired to light a candle or a fire.

This all being said, what is your opinion of the sabbath, what is work and what is rest?

The difference between us and the Pharisees is that the pharisees believed that if you follow rules, such as their rules for the sabbath then you will be saved.

But following rules cannot lead us to salvation.

In order to be led to salvation, we must have faith in jesus, seek repentance for our sin, and live and then leave an obedient life to him.

In other words, living a life of obedience in order to be saved cannot happen.

Now, the reason for the Sabbath as a commandment, once again God seeks to be praised and honored, for us to slow down and worship him is really important. Beyond that God knows what is best and I believe the Sabbath is a day to reflect and catch your breath.

Why should we honor the Sabbath?

The same as these others, we are bringing glory to God through our obedience to him.