The Importance of Resting on the Sabbath
The Sabbath day is a day of the week that many religious people observe. It is seen as a day of rest; a time that people can take a break from hectic schedules and enjoy some peace and quiet. Some religions celebrate it from sun down Friday night to sun down on Saturday night, while some use Sunday as their Sabbath day. However, many people have gotten too busy in the rush of life to enjoy the Sabbath day for what it's meant to be. Rest is important for the human body, which is why God wanted to make sure people took a day off from work and chores every week to relax. There are many different advantages to resting on the Sabbath day, and it offers much more than just spiritual benefits. Even if you are not a religious person, you might find that you benefit greatly from taking a day off from your schedule every week.
Lower Stress Levels
High levels of stress can really take a toll on a person's health. It can cause heart problems, weakened immune systems, and shorter lifespans. Because of this, it's important to do everything we can to keep it from taking over our lives. One of the ways we can do this is by committing to take a day off from our hectic lives every week. This can help reduce stress, because your body has the opportunity to take a break from the stress and regroup. Some of the most common things people stress about include:
Health
Finances
Relationships
It's a bit ironic that people stress so much about health when stress itself can be so detrimental to one's physical well-being. However, many people worry about their health in the future, or the health of a family member or other loved one. Taking a break one day a week can help reduce your stress levels, which can have a very positive impact. Have you noticed how much better you are able to think and solve problems when you have a clear mind? Sometimes a day off is all you need to feel rejuvenated and less stressed.
Less Depression
Depression is something that seems to be more and more common, and it has led to many people feeling miserable and unable to escape. Part of this is because of the constant 24/7 working attitude so many people have. This outlook on life can negatively impact health and relationships. Many people begin turning to prescription drugs to try to manage their symptoms, when there may be a much easier solution. If you find yourself increasingly depressed or less anxious, try taking a day off every week and spend it with family or doing something you love. You may notice that your symptoms begin to dissipate on their own. While this won't help everyone with depression, it can be worth a try. However, if you find that you are experiencing symptoms of depression, speak with your doctor about it. Also, don't stop taking any medications without the advice from your doctor.
Improved Relationships
There are many reasons that relationships are suffering these days. People are spending too much time working, and spend too much time on technology. This is leading to people with disconnected relationships. Taking a day off every week can help repair and build these relationships. If you feel that your marriage or another important relationship is suffering, try to commit to taking a day off every week. Unplug and try staying away from electronic devices. If you and your significant other have a chance to focus on each other instead of your busy lifestyles, you may find that things change for the better.
More Organized
You may find that when you know you will have a day off every week, you won't procrastinate as much. This may lead to you getting work done more quickly, and ahead of deadlines. When you get your work finished early, you are more likely to be stress free and able to enjoy life. Give it a try and see if you experience these results.
These are just a few of the ways taking a day off from the week can benefit you. The Sabbath day is important, and not just because of religious reasons. The many health benefits it provides should be more than enough to convince you that it is worth it to give your body a break every once in a while.
50 comments
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howard masters
This is a great article it can be a great start to a very good sermon . good job I'm going to use this Sunday. Rev H. Masters
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John Owens
LOL! You're going to preach about keeping the Sabbath on Sunday! Do you not see the irony in that?
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George R Taylor
Very good topic. Sunday is the day we use to stay in contact with 14 grandchildren and our cousins. Thank you. G.R. Taylor
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Chris Coulson
I know that a lot of religons start that you should observe the Sabbath on a certain day of the week( example Monday). But if u search the bible yes it is the first day of the week but I believe from doing research Chris was Jewish and they observed the Sabbath from Fri. night at sun down till Sat at sun down.
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Christa
Both my Priest and Rabbi agree that the biblical sources do indicate you take "Saturday" off, by which they meant sunset Friday to sundown Saturday. Europeans saw a day not measured by sundowns, but rather by sunrises. The natural European tendency to move the days in the story to their way of seeing time is obvious; less so is how it changed to Sunday. I'm afraid I'm useless about why that happened, because I've heard so many theories. However, the one I hear with the greatest frequency is that since Jesus was seized Friday (remember, we're counting by sunsets) after Sabbath dinner, held by the corrupt Jewish leaders He was railing against (The "Romanization" and watering down of the true faith He held and defended), they turned Him over to the civil authorities for judgement, which would be the next day. He would have been tried and crucified the following day, that "What time of day are you counting as a new day" thing pushed it to Sunday. Hope that helped, or at least will get someone to correct me and we'll both know for sure.
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John Owens
It is a common misconception or misinterpretation that Jesus was crucified on Friday, because his body had to be removed before the Sabbath. (That alone tells you that those who teach this know which day of the week is the Sabbath.) However, there was more than one Sabbath on THAT particular week. Each of the seven annual Holy Days are also called Sabbaths (Leviticus 23). You know He had a Passover meal the night He was taken, and the "Sabbath" before which He was crucified was a "High Day" (John 19:31), which could fall on any day of the week. The ONE SIGN that He verbally gave that He was the Messiah was this: "Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. "
If you read the account, when the women got to the tomb BEFORE dawn (it was just beginning to dawn, and the sun was not up), He was already gone. Regardless of what anyone says about 3 days and 3 nights and the Greek language, Noah's account was 3 days and 3 nights--roughly 72 hours. He was placed in the tomb before sunset, and already gone before the women arrived before sun-up Sunday. The only way any of that makes mathematical sense is that He was risen the evening before they arrived, which would mean He rose at the end of the weekly Sabbath. Then count backwards 3 days and 3 nights. That would put the crucifixion close to the middle of the week. History cannot tell us what day of the week the original Passover was, but it does go back to the time of Christ. The first day of Unleavened Bread, the Holy Day in question, was on a THURSDAY that year.
If people observed the Holy Days, as did the all the churches founded by the apostles, this would not be so mysterious, but as the Roman religion appropriated the scriptures, they ended up just changing the names of their many gods to saints and blended their pagan practices with those taught by the bible. There is no biblical record of the day of worship being changed. When Christ spoke of the time just before His return in Matthew 24, He said, "pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath Day." If He didn't intend us to continue His Sabbath, why would He have said that? The prophets from Isaiah to Malachi also tells us that in the future, when God's Kingdom is on the Earth, that the whole planet will observe the Sabbath AND the Holy Days that He commanded through Moses. Babylon is the source of sun-worship and we are commanded to come out from Babylon. If my feeble writings can stir thought and you read THE SCRIPTURES the words I have written will make things more clear to you. Without all the theories and writings of people that are NOT scripture, all of this would be relatively obvious.-
John Owens
In the third paragraph, I wrote, "Noah's account was 3 days and 3 nights." I meant Jonah, or Jonas.
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Minister Charles
Absolutely right . God told people that the Sabbath is everlasting covenant is a physical and spiritual law well
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John Owens
Well said, Charles. Those who worship on any other day are like the Samaritans, who DID worship, but did not know what they were worshipping.
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John Owens
I completely agree with you that Christ observed the Sabbath on the 7th day, as do I, but I am just curious. Where is any scripture that says it was on the FIRST day of the week? God only commanded us to go on the first day of the week once a year, on the Day of Pentecost, or Feast of Firstfruits. The weekly Sabbath has been the 7th day ever since Creation, which is even explained in Exodus 20 why God Almighty (Yahweh Elohim) blessed that particular day and made it Holy. This practice will continue forever in the Kingdom of God. Really, I'd like you to give me chapter and verse on any day OTHER than the seventh day. I just don't believe it is there, but I'd like to know what you are reading.
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Rt Rev Dr N
Yes I believe you should be able to observe the Sabbath but... unfortunately, the world has changed beyond recognition since the earth was created by God. If we look at how today is; governments putting up taxes leaving people struggling to the point of being on the streets, more people needing to work to pay their bills because if they don't, they too will end up on the streets. The demand for shops to open because people working all week can not get to do their shopping other than perhaps a Sunday so they have enough food for the week. There are so many factors now in life that prevent people from being able to observe the Sabbath and possibly the reality is, if given the choice, they would certainly want to observe it. The need is there for many not to observe the Sabbath but I know that God sees all and knows that people are put in an impossible situation. Also, what of those that do not follow Christianity? If Christians did observe the Sabbath, all shops business etc was closed, if we take for example the Jewish community who celebrate Fri-Sat, they work all week, their only day to get any food, anything done is a Sunday for example, what happens to them then? There has to be a balance that will suit everyone.
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REV . Eugene Moore.
REV.Eugene D. Moore,Sr. YES we all are to observe the Sabbath
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bdennir
Would not the assertion that Christian churches often meet on the 1st day of the week because Christ was risen that day, met the apostles & gave them the Holy Spirit & divine commission to evangelize the world & that therefore that's when the early church did business be true? & if so, how would that change history, the fact of the Sabbath being on the 7th day? Christians are expected to fulfill the law in spirit, performing it's requirements through the action of love God brings to them, not to worship laws with slavish obedience or kowtow to so-called experts who lend so much lip service to God's laws & so on for their own selfish ends (which actually more resembles idolatry). Just the same, it seems to me that the command from OT to "remember My Sabbath, to keep it holy" is a very special gift that God has given us, a moment in our lives to renew our mindfulness of Him bringing Him to the forefront of our daily cares & considerations, like a sort of renewal. A person cannot realistically expect to serve God 1 or 2 days a week, but the carries of the daily activities can callous even the most devout. So Sabbath would be like a moment for a person to pause, to again recall Him — a distinct idea from the business of the gospel & the activities of the organized church. However, the meeting together, regardless of when it occurs, can become a powerful refreshment in the souls of people as well, I think.
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John Owens
I concur bdennir. Scripture is scripture. Everything else is conjecture.
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Gallet Christ Sampu
Yes give 1 day to God!!!
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Stan
I give every day to God not just one
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Christa
Give every moment to your God. I inhale the word "Please" and exhale "Thank You". My children are too young for me to do any of my older rituals. [shrug] I'm sure God will understand.
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Yvette
Every human being needs a day off to rest, I find for myself personally if I don't take time each week to spend doing absolutely nothing, just lying in bed reading the Bible. The following week I'll be overwhelmed and stressed out, vision blur & headaches, so I take time for myself so I can be a better person an have better communication and relationships with others
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Reverend Mary Riordan
I am not Christian, but Unitarian Universalist. We celebrate our service on Sunday but are busy with activities through the church every day. That could be housing the homeless, volunteering at a soup kitchen, watching a movie with a message, hiking, or one of several dozen other activities. All foster at the least , building relationships. Most UUs don't believe in God although some do belive in a higher power of some sort. I would say the majority of us are agnostic or atheist. Some are humanists.We follow 7 principles that include showing respect for all living creatures and the earth. I guess we'd call our sabbath Sunday but that's not true for all. I personally consider Saturday my usual day of rest because I have no standing committments on that one day. To each their own.
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dvaunhowe
I rest during the work week. I have no god to which to give time, but I love to give time to my family!
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Valerie Ward
As a retired pastor of a Metaphysical Spiritual Center, Sunday services were the norm. Now, I know the Divine everywhere, all the time. Communing with Spirit happens anywhere and anytime you desire. Meditation is the perfect way to keep in contact with the God of your understanding. Thank you.
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William
The New Covenant does not list the Sabbath as a commandment. It's not a requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. Matt 19:17-21
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John Owens
I respectfully have to disagree. Matthew 19 does not tell us everything associated with the New Covenant. It is in Jeremiah 31, also found in Ezekiel and Hebrews. In each place, it says nothing about doing away with any of God's law, but says that He will make it our nature to observe His Law. Anything else might make Moses look like a buffoon. Also, the prophets say that (in the Kingdom of God) it shall come to pass from one Sabbath Day to another and one New Moon to another, shall all flesh worship. Zechariah 14 also tells us that we shall observe Succoth, or the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles in the Kingdom. The Sabbath and Holy Days are a package, commanded to the Israelites for perpetual generations (Lev 23). They are a sign between God and His people. There cannot be one set of rules for Israelites and a different set for everyone else. Jesus kept the Sabbath and Holy Days, as did Paul and all of the godly characters in the books from Matthew to Jude. I know what is taught to people and it disagrees with scripture, which is the only guide that can be trusted.
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Rubisel
What day did Jesus rest? Luke 4:16, Luke 23:56. Acts 17:2, Isa 66: 22-23.
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John Owens
A very good question. I appreciate you having asked it. I keep the Sabbath, as shall all in the Kingdom of God.
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rev.cindy Massie
I agree Amen to that
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Debbie
We go to mass at 7:30am every Sunday and the rest of the day is devoted to family...we look forward to Sundays
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Stephen
We look forward to Sunday being our most special day for the family. Everything we do from worshiping to visiting is centered around the family. We do our best to make sure we keep the Lord's commandment in our hearts.
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Jay
I have long been a proponent of Sabbath rest and of times of Jubilee. I agree that the specific when isn't nearly as important as the actual time of rest. I'm responding on Wednesday during my lunch break. This one hour of rest during my workday is very related to Sabbath for me, and I guard it strongly against work. Because I see the benefit of such regular "rest from the cares of the world," in my own life and experience, recommend and commend similar practices to others, both when I counsel and when I preach.
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Craig
Simply put yes we rest, it is a commandment of God. If the entire world followed this Sabbath day how different the we would be as a people, Amen
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Joseph Lee Langer
Well, yeah. Most of the commandments have very practical purposes. Don't lie, don't steal, don't kill, don't want things you can't have.......... these are things that can lead to very negative consequences. If you don't take a day off at least once a week your not going to be a very happy individual, nor are those who have to put up with you.
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John Owens
I do observe the Sabbath. It was instituted at Creation and set aside as a day for humans to rest and acknowledge God as Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He set aside a specific day for this and says it is a sign for His people. He also said it will be observed in the world to come. The early Christian church observed it and there has always been a small minority of the people who call themselves Christian that have observed it. Constantine made a decree changing it, and the majority of Christendom has never gotten back to it. God never at any time said, "Y'all just pick a day and keep it." He also never said, "My disciples don't have to pay any attention to the stuff I told Moses." I don't judge people who don't keep the Sabbath. I was raised a Baptist and many of my friends are Catholics. Some are Jehovah's Witnesses. None of these groups keeps the Sabbath. They keep a substitute for the Sabbath. That is another word for counterfeit. No matter-- when the Kingdom of God (the true subject of the true gospel, though hardly ever actually taught) comes to pass, they will keep it. If not in the first 1000 years, then in the second, after the grave and the sea give up their dead.
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James Pace
Whether you call it the Sabbath or whatever, taking a day to focus on refreshing oneself is important to everyone...you can't just go go go all the time and not take some time out to replenish....you are no good to anyone else if your own well is dry.
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Revelyn
At the time of Creation, as God made everything He blessed it. The Sabbath was the FIRST that He consecrated and made Holy. After much time studying the Holy textS I keep Sabbath with Israel as best I can. We light Shul lamps, have Communion and I do a fast (best I can) for the 24 hours. The Spiritual blessings have POURED OUT! We also got Prayer Shawls and write my praters in a special journal, with a pen just for it. I feel an "intimacy" with Yeshua that I never felt in the "Traditional" church, and trying to explain my "discovery" to them just seems to upset them. The one thing we do seem to agree on, is the "last word" belongs to the Lord.
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John Owens
Revelyn, Good for you! The Sabbath truly is a blessing, and the KNOWLEDGE to keep it is a blessing in itself. Scripture says, "A good understanding have all they which keep Thy commandments," and, "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom." Most people stubbornly refuse to keep His commands which mean they do not fear (respect) Him. That prevents them from understanding His Word. You can take statements from the Bible, and invert them, to find opposites. For instance, "A good understanding have all they which keep Thy commandments," can be inverted to say, "A lack of understanding have all they which do NOT keep Thy commandments." My people consider the commandment to keep the Sabbath as a test commandment. It tends to separate those who are really seriously trying to obey God and those who just want to look godly to others.
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Jennifer Kemper
All days are sacred. My god(s) do not require a special day out of the week to be honored. Take a little time each day to remind yourself of that which is important to you and honor that which connects you to the divine power of which you are a part.
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Minister R Sepeda
Many years ago my jobs required me to work Saturday and Sunday. I would pray it would be nice not to have to work on weekends. So now here I am, weekends off only working five days a week. God does hear our prayers. I am for so ever thanking and praising God for the many blessings I have received.
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Rev. John Patrick Fitzhenry
Very good article spend time with loved ones.
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Gallet Christ Sampu
The word of the Father never change and He is the Alpha and Omega and is work will never end, We are only living in the Earth, but there are many Heavens and planets and stars add sun and the Moon. so Human has been created by the image of God (Spirit into spirit The greater spirit run over the lesser spirit, so it look like a team. Never change what has been revealed!!! We do have 7 days a week and we know all of Sabbath is Saturday(Repos). And Sunday is the first day of the week. So Are we right or wrong? Take heed yourself and ask for the spirit of understanding. We don't have to change the word or add one point in it. May God bless all of you
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Minister Charles
First day of the week is Sunday Genesis chapter 1 . Jesus died on the Wednesday passover afternoon . Falling even was a high sabbath
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John Owens
Correct again, Charles.
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Gallet Christ Sampu
Brothers and sisters , we don't have to confuse the revelation that has been revealed. So now let the light shine upon everyone like the Sun it shining for all. Firstly the Sabbath has be made for a man not a man for the Sabbath. We can't change the word or add one point on it. I t is written God works for six days and the seven days after seeing what had been down they were happy and on the seven day they rest. This revealed in Hold testament(Torah). Now for to understand when was the Sabbath, the historical or the Atonement of Jesus Christ tell us more when is was arrested and when is body was buried in a Sabbath day, and on the first day of the week Marie M went to see if the body was in the crave but He was resurrected and appear to her and He said to Her touch me not because I am not the same. Brothers and sister just read the scripture and ask for the guidance to enlighten your mind and only the comforter will teach how to learn truth. Don't be confuse for what a men or a teacher trying to change the reality. May God bless all of you.
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John Owens
Just FYI, Gallet, He was NOT buried on the Sabbath Day (though He was still in his tomb), but was buried the Day of Preparation before the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread. John 19:31 (The first and last days of the 7 days of Unleavened Bread are Holy Days, and Sabbaths. Leviticus 23) It wasn't even Friday. Because people do not study their WHOLE Bible, they are unlearned in these things.
He had already risen before dawn (which is before sunrise) on the first day of the week. His own sign that He was the Messiah was that AS JONAS was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, He would be in the belly of the Earth the same amount of time, so, no way He rose at sunup. Now, even if He had, that has NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on the weekly Sabbath Day, which will be observed forever in the Kingdom of God. Isaiah 66:23 Even in Matthew 24, prophesying about the Last Days before His triumphant return, He said, "pray that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath Day." If He had any intention of "changing" the Sabbath, why didn't He say, "...neither on Sunday." The chief error here is a lack of study of the Holy Scriptures, and too much study of the writings of groups of people, who seek to justify their own dogma. They have not received a love of the truth, but love the world.
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Gallet Christ Sampu
Yes brother!!! From Friday To Sunday!!Thank you for your sharing and may God bless you
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John Owens
Yes. "Six days shalt thou labor, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God (Yahweh, your Elohim). In it thou shalt not do any labour--thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy ox, nor thy ass, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. FOR in six days the Lord created the heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." The Biblical Sabbath begins at evening on the sixth day, and lasts until evening on the seventh, and this is also how the 7 annual Holy Days are figured. Did you that September means the seventh month (septo=7), October the eight(octo=8), November the ninth(nove=9), and December the tenth (deci=10)? July and August were months named after the Caesars, thrust into the middle of the year, obscuring the months and times as taught by Moses. This has been fun. Later.
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Gallet Christ Sampu
Thank you brother John for explaining things clearly for to fulfill the work of the Father and let me share again some good news about concerning the Sabbath that something will open more the mind of our fellowmen add youth, children and women and believers of any religious or no believers and readers to enlighten their memories more again for better understanding.
Day after day, wherever Jesus went, the Pharisees and Temple scribes followed him, arguing with him and attacking his character. When the religious leaders accused him of performing unlawful healing on the Sabbath, Jesus replied ,''My Father is continually working, even on the Sabbath day. so I must keep working, even on the Sabbath day. so I must keep working as well.'' This just made the scribes and Pharisees even more enraged and determined to kill him.
To the religious rulers, it was bad enough that Jesus violated the Sabbath. what made matters worse was that he spoke as if God were in some special sense his own Father, and he made himself out to be the Son of God and therefore an equal with God!
On another Sabbath day, Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field of grain. as they walked, some of the disciples picked a few ripe heads of grain. they rubbed the heads of grain in their hands to separate the edible seeds from the husks and straw, then they ate the seeds.
The Pharisees saw this and were outraged. they surrounded Jesus as he and his disciples emerged from the grain field. ''Look at what your disciples are doing! They are violating the Sabbath law!''
When they talked about ''the Sabbath law'', these rigid Pharisees were not referring to the fourth commandment that God had given to Israel through Moses. That law simply said, ''Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
You shall work for six days and accomplish your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God, and you shall not do any work on that day.''
Over the years, the scribes and Pharisees had come up with nearly forty additional Sabbath restrictions, and it was these man-made restrictions that the Pharisees referred to as the Sabbath law. According to these restrictions, it was illegal to pick heads of grain on the Sabbath, because that was the labor of harvesting. It was illegal to rub the heads of grain in your hands on the Sabbath, because that was the labor of the threshing.
Jesus replied to the Pharisees by pointing them to their own Scriptures. ''Haven't you read the story of what David did when he fled from the wrath of King Saul? David and the men with him were hungry, and they went into the Temple of God. There they ate the sacred loaves of ceremonial bread- the bread that was only for the priests to eat. They broke the religious rules in order to save in order to save their strength and their lives.''
The Pharisees tried to shift the argument . ''No man may break the rules God has established!'' they said. ''The Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath, ''Jesus replied.'' Though God gave the Sabbath commandment to the people, he cares more about the real needs of people than he cares about rigid adherence to a set of rules. You act as though people were created to be servant of the Sabbath; I tell you that God created the Sabbath to serve people, to give them a day of rest for their bodies and souls.''
So I would like to mention again about when people doubt about Jesus the Son of God; and it is written THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things , through whom also He made the world.
And He is the radiance of his glory and exact representation of his nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say ''YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU''? and again ''I WILLBE A FATHER TO HIM AND SHALL BEA SON TO ME''? And when he again brings the firstborn into world, He says, ''AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.'' And of the angels HE says, ''WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.''
Brothers and sisters as Ministers let a flame of fire empower the mind of people to acknowledge the truth by having faith all together. May God bless all of you.
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Brother John
One of the principal sources of "keeping the Sabbath holy" is the 4th of the "10 Commandments" from Exodus 20. However, the real 10 commandments (those written on the fabled stone tablets) are in Exodus 34, not 20. This is confirmed in Exodus 34:28. Why aren't these recognized as the actual 10 Commandments?
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John Owens
The WHOLE book of Leviticus was given on Sinai, John. You can read that at the end of Leviticus. The Sabbath predates the Old Covenant, though, going back to Creation. Exodus 20 is like a very broad outline of Leviticus, minus the ceremonial law.
Humans should rest at least once a week. Even those who are not Christian are exhorted to give one day to God.
Good article. However, one should be careful about why God instructed us to "keep it holy." You cannot know God's reasoning