THE LAW: ANOTHER COMMANDMENT

Read and Observe

What is the command?

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Don’t let anyone in your household or under your authority do any work on the Sabbath.

When is the Sabbath?

See Genesis 2:1-3...

What does it mean to keep it holy?

Holy means “set apart”. It carries the idea of moral purity; of being set apart from sin and set apart for righteousness.

What seems to be the main reason behind the commandment?

Analyze and Interpret

Examine the passage in light of the immediate context and the rest of Scripture.

Ask questions to better understand the commandment.

When do we first see instructions on what was required or forbidden on the Sabbath? (Exodus 16:1-30)

What all was forbidden on the Sabbath? (See Exodus 31:12-18, Exodus 35:1-3)

The aim of the Sabbath restrictions was to stop regular, everyday work—because if God had “set aside” the sabbath (Ex 20:11), the most obvious way of profaning it was to treat it just like any other day.

What were the consequences of breaking the Sabbath? (Numbers 15:32-36, Exodus 35:2)

Ask more questions to better understand the history and purpose of the Sabbath.

Is this a creation ordinance? What was required of us in the creation account? (Genesis 2:1-3)

Genesis 2 is the first time in Scripture that something has been described as holy. God blessed the 7th day BY making it holy. To make something holy means to set it apart. This is a day that the Lord has set apart to commemorate His work of creation.

In brief, “bless” is the language of giving, while “declare holy” is the language of claiming. When something is blessed by God, it becomes a vehicle of his generous giving and an expression of his warm concern. When God declares something holy, he claims it for himself, taking it out of ordinary circulation (whether it is a place, a day, or an animal for sacrifice) and declaring it special.

Were there any additional Sabbath teachings, rules, or regulations?

Observing the Sabbath was a lot more than just not working on the 7th day. Sabbath laws were applied to the various feasts of Israel, monthly New Moon convocations, Sabbath years, and the Year of Jubilee.

Feasts- (Leviticus 23): This chapter lists the Sabbath, followed by the feasts that Israel was required to observe. The feasts are listed with the same kind of language and restrictions as the Sabbath. The feasts listed are Passover, Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths.

New Moons- (Numbers 28:11-15, Amos 8:5): New moon convocations were monthly celebrations that had sacrifices and Sabbath regulations applied to them.

Sabbath Years- (Leviticus 25:1-7, Deuteronomy 15:1-18, 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, Jeremiah 25:11-12): During the Sabbatical Year, Israelites were to let the ground to remain fallow and debts were forgiven.

Year of Jubilee- (Leviticus 25:8-22) The 50th year in a cycle of Sabbath Years was a time in which economic debts were forgiven, land that had been sold to repay debt was restored to the original families, and slaves sold to repay debt were liberated. It was was also another year of rest for the land.

What were the purposes of the Sabbath? (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 31:12-14, Exodus 31:17)

It was a reminder that we need rest.

It was a reminder that the Lord created all things.

It was a reminder that the Lord had redeemed Israel from Egypt.

It was are reminder that the Lord was the one who sanctified His people.

It was a day to worship the Lord. (see Psalm 92)

It was a reminder that we are dependent on the Lord and He would provide for His people. (Deuteronomy 8:1-3)

It pointed to our need of an ultimate rest in Christ (Hebrews 4)

Questions to consider for next lesson:

Are Christians required to observe the Sabbath and Sabbath regulations?

Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath?