Sabbath Day – What it Really Means

One of the 10 commandments in the Bible is to keep the seventh day as a Sabbath rest. That is, this commandment teaches that there is no work that is to be done on this day. However, the Christian church today, by and large, believes that the first day of the week is now the day which worship is to be performed. In Christianity, many believe that the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday) was changed to the first day of the week. Others believe that the 7th day Sabbath day was completed at the cross of Jesus Christ and the church has determined that there is a new day of worship called the Lord’s Day. But, what does the Bible teach about the Sabbath Day? Is the Sabbath to be kept on Saturday (as originally commanded in the Bible)? Is the Sabbath now on Sunday (Lord’s Day)? Or, based on Hebrews 3-4, is there another Biblical solution that the Sabbath Day is every day for the Christian? Please click below to watch a You Tube video on this topic. Or, continue below for a written study.

Introduction

Various Beliefs

Is this Just a ‘Doubtful Disputation’?

The Original Sabbath Day Command (4^th Commandment)

Sabbaths are a Sign (Symbol)

Old Testament – Sabbath Day symbolizes Salvation

Only Commandment with Symbolic Basis (Creation / Exodus)

No Work allowed on the Sabbath – type of Salvation by Grace

Sabbaths Profaned

Sabbaths Polluted

No Work Allowed

No Servile Work

Kindle no Fire

No Merchandising on Sabbath (Nehemiah, Amos, Jesus Cleanses Temple)

But, Priestly Service was Allowable

All Christians ‘Keep’ the Sabbath – Not Saved by Works

Death Penalty for Violation of the 7^th Day / Man Carrying Sticks

7^th Day Sabbath as an Eternal Covenant

Sabbath Everlasting

Sabbath is a Perpetual (Everlasting) Covenant – Salvation

Sabbath is Holy

Christians are Called to be Holy

Isaiah 58:13-14 – Salvation a Delight, Honoring God, not Doing Own Ways or Pleasing Self

Manna From Heaven not Collected on 7^th day

7^th day – Perfection of God’s Purpose of Salvation (Rest)

Jeremiah 17 – Bear no Burden / Bring no Burden through the Gates of Jerusalem

Psalm 92 – A Psalm for the Sabbath – Salvation

New Testament – Sabbath Day symbolizes Salvation

God’s Rest on 7^th Day Points to Salvation (Heb 3-4, Ps 95)

Hebrews 3:1-4:11

‘Today’ – The Day of Salvation

What about the Lord’s Day of Rev 1:10?

Rest in Jesus Christ – Points to Salvation

Sabbaths are Ceremonial in Nature (Shadows of Salvation – Col 2:16-17)

Sabbath Days Cease

The 7^th Day – Just one of the Sabbaths of Lev 23

Picking Corn on the Sabbath – Mercy / Salvation

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath – Type of Salvation

Healing as a Type of Salvation

Healing of the Man with a Withered Hand in the Synagogue

The Bowed Over Woman

The Man with Dropsy

The Lame Man (John 5, explained further in John 7:21-23)

The Man Born Blind

Sabbath not in NT References of 10 Commandments

The Daily (Sabbath Rest) Activities of a Christian

Christians met Daily: Daily Activities – New Testament

Fellowship with Other Christians provides Rest

Apostles Attend the Synagogue / Teach on Sabbath Day

Daily – Old Testament

Each Day to the Glory of God

What about the ‘First Day’ Bible Verses?

Appendix – Bible Words for Sabbath and Rest (~310 occurrences)

Sabbath – Old Testament (~193 occurrences)

Shabbath (H7676 – intermission – 111 occurrences)

Shabbathon (H7677 – special holiday, cease, rest – 11 occurrences)

Rest – Old Testament

Shabath (H7673 – to cease, rest – 71 occurrences)

H4771 (from H7280 – margoa – 1 occurrence) – a resting place

H5117 / H5118 (nuach) – to rest

H5146 (noach) – Noah

H4494 / H4495 / H4496 (manoach) – quiet

H7280 (raga – 13 occurrences) – rest / quiet

Sabbath – New Testament (115 occurrences)

G4520 (sabbatismos – 1 occurrence)

G4521 (sabbaton – 68 occurrences)

Plural (week)

Sabbath (singular)

G4315 (prosabbaton – 1 occurrence)

Rest – New Testament (45 occurrences)

G2663 (katapausis – rest down – 9 occurrences)

G2664 (katapauo – settle / rest down – 4 occurrences)

G372 (anapausis – a rest – 5 occurrences)

G373 (anapauo – take a rest – 12 occurrences)

G3973 (pauo – stop, cease – 15 occurrences)

 

Introduction

 

Various Beliefs

 

One of the 10 commandments of the Mosaic Law was to keep the 7^th day (Sabbath) as a holy day.  The people were to do all their work in 6 days and rest on the 7^th day.  Because of the high significance of this 4^th commandment, all Christians understand that it is important to ‘keep’ the Sabbath rest.  However, there are divergent Christian understandings of exactly when (which day) to keep the Sabbath.  Also, there are varying opinions on how to ‘keep’ the Sabbath.

 

The differing Christian opinions on when to keep the Sabbath can be broken down into 3 opinions:

1. Sunday (1^st day)
   • Held by vast majority of Christians (Catholic / Protestant)
   • Protestants: Sabbath Day changed from Saturday at the resurrection of Christ (becomes the Lord’s Day) – (e.g., Westminster Confession of Faith 21.7)
   • Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21, article 7: “As it is of the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord’s day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.”
   • Confession of the Free-will Baptists (1834,1868): “… Under the gospel, the first day of the week, in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, and by the authority of the apostles, is observed as the Christian Sabbath. On this day all men are required to refrain from secular labor, and devote themselves to the worship and service of God.”
   • New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833): We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, or Christian Sabbath; and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes, by abstaining from all secular labor and sinful recreations; by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private and public; and by preparation for that rest that remaineth for the people of God.”
   • The Augsburg Confession (1530), Art. VII: “The Scripture, which teacheth that all Mosaic ceremonies can be omitted after the Gospel is revealed, has abrogated the Sabbath. And yet, because it was requisite to appoint a certain day, that the people might know when they ought to come together, it appears that the [Christian] Church did for that purpose appoint the Lord’s day: which for this cause also seemed to have been pleasing, that men might have an example of Christian liberty, and might know that the observation, neither of the Sabbath, nor of another day, was of necessity.”
   • Catholic: Sunday – its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath and fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath announcing man’s eternal rest in God.
2. Saturday (7^th day)
   • Held by 7^thDday Adventists and others
   • The Sabbath day has never changed – moral obligation to keep all 10 commandments
3. Sabbath is symbolic of the continual rest of salvation
   • Advocated by certain 16^th century reformers (e.g., Knox, Luther, Calvin) and the early church fathers (e.g., Justin, Irenaeus, Tertullian)
     • Ref: History of Christian Doctrine, George Park Fisher, Published by Charles Scribner & Sons, 1896.
   • 4^th commandment is ceremonial in nature and pointed to the eternal rest of salvation in Jesus Christ
   • 4^th commandment is kept by those who are saved (holy) by their entrance into the day of eternal rest
   • A day of meeting (some called the Lord’s Day) is established by the local church but is not directly tied to keeping the 7^th day commandment
   • Although the Reformers recognized that Sabbath keeping was fulfilled in Christ, they still allowed for Catholic traditions to be kept such as:
     • Sunday as the Lord’s Day
     • Observance of various Christian holidays

 

As far as the how to keep the Sabbath is concerned, Catholics and Protestants find harmony around what is found in the following two summaries, whether it be kept on the 7^th day (Saturday) or the 1^st day (Sunday):

• Catholic
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 1, Article 3
• ‘Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath … Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God.”
• Moral commandment to render unto God an ‘outward, visible, public, and regular worship’ as a sign
• ‘Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life … and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation …’
• ‘The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” ‘
• Protestant
• Westminster Confession (Chapters 21.7 and 21.8)
• Observe a holy rest from their own works, words and thoughts about worldly employments and recreations
• Take up public and private exercises of worship and in the duty of necessity and mercy

 

Similar to some 16^th century reformers and some early church fathers, this study concludes that the keeping of the 4^th commandment is fulfilled by the eternal rest that all true Christians receive by God’s grace. This is the Day of Salvation: the rest of being saved by grace and not any work at all including man’s self-generated faith. True rest comes by the saving faith given to God’s people by God’s sovereign God pleasure.  In this eternal rest, Christians because of the indwelling Holy Spirit will be characterized by the spiritual traits of daily activities such as prayer, praise, worship, service to others, gathering together as a church and groups, pursuit of holiness and Bible reading / study.  All activities that Christians engage in every day of the week is to be done with Christ in mind, for the glory of God and with continual prayer.

 

Is this Just a ‘Doubtful Disputation’?

 

In Ro 14:1-13, there is a lengthy passage concerning ‘doubtful disputations’.  A ‘doubtful disputation’ is a disagreement that involves spiritual matters, but the dispute is not important.  Literally in the Greek language, a ‘doubtful disputation’ means a thorough discussion (dialogisimos – G1261) involving thorough judgment (diakrisis – G1253).  In other words, it is an argument.  The primary example in this passage is about whether one can eat any food or just herb (Ro 14:2-3).  The admonition is that whether one eats or not (doubtful disputation), it is before God that they are accountable (Ro 14:4).  Therefore, the argument is not important.

 

The second example in the passage of a ‘doubtful disputation’ is that of whether one esteems one day above another or another who considers all days equal (Ro 14:5-6).  This argument would apply to things such as Christian holidays, birthdays, traditions and potentially the sabbath day.  This passage is important since it teaches that those who hold either Saturday or Sunday could be related to those who ‘esteem one day above another’ while those who ‘esteem every day alike’ could be related to those who believe that the sabbath day is ‘kept’ by recognizing that every day is a sabbath day of rest  (Heb 4:1-9).  However, to include the truth of the sabbath rest and its spiritual implications is not valid for the context on Ro 14.  The symbolic significance of the sabbath day is an important topic in the Bible in that it relates to important spiritual truth.  Sabbath keeping is not a ‘doubtful disputation’. For those who correctly believe that the sabbath is ‘kept’ by Christians who are born-again and trust in God’s work (and not their own works), a ‘doubtful disputation’ could arise concerning the method or timing of when Christians actually meet together.  Insisting on meeting together on a particular day would be an example of a ‘doubtful disputation’.  This lead to legalism and inappropriate guilt placed on people who do not meet on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day.  The Bible truth is that Christians are to meet together, not as to the exact time or day(s) that they meet.  The apostolic church met daily (Acts 2:46, Acts 5:42, Acts 6:1).

 

Romans 14 verses:

• Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  (Rom 14:1)
• For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  (Rom 14:2)
• Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  (Rom 14:3)
• Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  (Rom 14:4)
• One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  (Rom 14:5)
• He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  (Rom 14:6)

 

The Original Sabbath Day Command (4^th Commandment)

 

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  (Exo 20:8-11)

 

Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 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.   (Deu 5:12-15)

 

And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

(Num 28:9-10)

 

Sabbaths are a Sign (Symbol)

 

• Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.  (Exo 31:13)
• It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.  (Exo 31:17)
• Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.  (Eze 20:12)
• And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.  (Eze 20:20)

Old Testament – Sabbath Day symbolizes Salvation

 

Only Commandment with Symbolic Basis (Creation / Exodus)

 

The 10 commandments were given to Moses on the Holy Mount Sinai (Ex 34:28, Deut 4:13, Deut 10:4).  Of these 10 commandments, the only commandment that has a symbolic bases for it is the 4^th commandment to ‘keep’ the Sabbath Day:

• God’s rest on the 7^th day after 6 days of creation (Exo 20:11. Gen 2:1-3, Heb 4:4)
• Israel’s rest and God’s work of bringing His people out of Bondage in Egypt (Deut 5:6, Deut 5:15, Deut 16:12, Deut 24:18-22

 

Creation – 7^th day symbolizes rest / salvation:

• For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exo 20:11)

Exodus – deliverance from servitude:

• 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. (Deu 5:15)
• I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.  (Act 7:34)
• But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.  (Deu 24:18)
• I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.  (Deu 5:6)
• O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.  (Psa 116:16)
• In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.  (Isa 63:9)
• Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  (Tit 2:14)
• Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (Psa 20:6)
• For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. (Psa 44:3)
• And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: (Deu 26:8)
• I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. (Jer 27:5)
• And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place. (Act 7:6-7)
• For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom 8:15)
• Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Heb 2:14-15)

 

No Work allowed on the Sabbath – type of Salvation by Grace

 

Sabbaths Profaned

• Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? (Neh 13:17)
• Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths. (Eze 22:8)
• Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (Eze 22:26)
• Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. (Eze 23:38)
• Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (Mat 12:5)

 

Sabbaths Polluted

• But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. (Eze 20:13)
• Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. (Eze 20:16)
• Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. (Eze 20:21)
• Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. (Eze 20:24)

 

No Work Allowed

• Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates (Exo 20:8-10)
• But the seventh day  is the sabbath  of the LORD  thy God:  in it thou shalt not  do  any  work,  thou,  nor thy son,  nor thy daughter,  nor thy manservant,  nor thy maidservant,  nor thine ox,  nor thine ass,  nor any  of thy cattle,  nor thy stranger  that  is within thy gates;  that  thy manservant  and thy maidservant  may rest as well as thou. (Deu 5:14)
• Six days  shall work  be done:  but the seventh  day  is the sabbath  of rest,  an holy  convocation;  ye shall do  no    work  therein: it  is the sabbath  of the LORD  in all  your dwellings.  (Lev 23:3)
• 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.   (Exo 31:15)
• Six days  shall work  be done,  but on the seventh  day  there shall be  to you an holy  day, a sabbath  of rest  to the LORD:  whosoever  doeth  work  therein shall be put to death.  (Exo 35:2)

 

No Servile Work

• In the first day  ye shall have an holy  convocation:  ye shall do  no servile  work   (Lev 23:7)
• But ye shall offer an offering made by fire  unto the LORD  seven  days:  in the seventh  day  is an holy  convocation:  ye shall do no servile  work   (Lev 23:8)
• And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day,  that it may be  an holy  convocation  unto you: ye shall do  no    servile  work  therein: it shall be a statute  for ever  in all  your dwellings  throughout your generations.  (Lev 23:21)
• Ye shall do no servile  work  therein: but ye shall offer  an offering made by fire  unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:25)
• On the first day  shall be an holy  convocation:  ye shall do  no    servile  work   (Lev 23:35)
• Seven days  ye shall offer  an offering made by fire  unto the LORD:  on the eighth  day  shall be  an holy  convocation  unto you; and ye shall offer  an offering made by fire  unto the LORD:  it  is a solemn assembly;  and ye shall do  no    servile  work   (Lev 23:36)
• In the first day  shall be an holy  convocation;  ye shall do  no manner of servile  work  therein: (Num 28:18)
• And on the seventh day  ye shall have  an holy  convocation;  ye shall do no servile    (Num 28:25)
• Also in the day of the firstfruits,  when ye bring  a new  meat offering  unto the LORD,  after your weeks  be out, ye shall have  an holy convocation;  ye shall do  no    servile  work:  (Num 28:26)
• And in the seventh month,  on the first  day of the month,  ye shall have  an holy  convocation;  ye shall do  no  servile  work:  it is  a day of blowing the trumpets  unto you. (Num 29:1)
• And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy  convocation;  ye shall do  no servile work,  and ye shall keep  a feast unto the LORD  seven  days:  (Num 29:12)
• On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly:  ye shall do  no servile  work  therein: (Num 29:35)

 

Kindle no Fire

• Ye shall kindle no  fire  throughout  your habitations  upon the sabbath    (Exo 35:3)

 

No Merchandising on Sabbath (Nehemiah, Amos, Jesus Cleanses Temple)

• Saying, When  will the new moon  be gone,  that we may sell  corn?  and the sabbath,  that we may set forth  wheat,  making the ephah small,  and the shekel  great,  and falsifying  the balances  by deceit?  (Amo 8:5)
• And if the people of the land  bring ware  or any  victuals  on the sabbath  day  to sell,  that we would not  buy  it of  them on the sabbath,  or on the holy  day:  and that we would leave the seventh  year,  and the exaction  of every    (Neh 10:31)
• In those days  saw  I in Judah  some treading  wine presses  on the sabbath,  and bringing in  sheaves,  and lading    asses;  as also  wine,  grapes,  and figs,  and all  manner of burdens,  which they brought into  Jerusalem  on the sabbath  day:  and I testified  against them in the day  wherein they sold   (Neh 13:15)
• There dwelt men of Tyre  also therein, which brought  fish,  and all  manner of ware,  and sold  on the sabbath  unto the children  of Judah,  and in Jerusalem.  (Neh 13:16)
• Then I contended with  the nobles  of Judah,  and said  unto them, What  evil  thing  is this  that  ye  do,  and profane the sabbath  day?  (Neh 13:17)
• Did not  your fathers  thus,  and did not our God  bring all  this  evil  upon  us, and upon  this  city?  yet ye  bring more  wrath  upon  Israel  by profaning the sabbath.  (Neh 13:18)
• And it came to pass, that when  the gates  of Jerusalem  began to be dark  before  the sabbath,  I commanded  that the gates  should be shut,  and charged  that  they should not  be opened  till  after  the sabbath:  and some of my servants    set  I at  the gates,  that there should no  burden  be brought in  on the sabbath   (Neh 13:19)
• Then I testified against them, and said  unto  them, Why  lodge  ye  about  the wall?  if  ye do so again,  I will lay  hands  on you. From  that  time  forth came  they no  more on the sabbath.  (Neh 13:21)
• And I commanded the Levites  that  they should  cleanse themselves,  and that they should come  and keep  the gates,  to sanctify the sabbath    Remember  me, O my God,  concerning this  also,  and spare    me according to the greatness  of thy mercy.  (Neh 13:22)
• And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables (Joh 2:13-15)

 

But, Priestly Service was Allowable

• Or have ye not  read  in  the  law,  how  that on the  sabbath days  the  priests  in  the  temple  profane  the  sabbath,  and  are  blameless?  (Mat 12:5)
• And other of their brethren,  of the sons  of  the Kohathites,  were over  the shewbread,    to prepare  it every sabbath.   (1Ch 9:32)
• And to offer all  burnt sacrifices  unto the LORD  in the sabbaths,  in the new moons,  and on the set feasts,  by number,  according to the order  commanded unto  them, continually  before  the LORD:  (1Ch 23:31)
• Behold, I  build  an house  to the name  of the LORD  my God,  to dedicate  it to him, and to burn  before  him sweet  incense,  and for the continual  shewbread,  and for the burnt offerings  morning  and evening,  on the sabbaths,  and on the new moons,  and on the solemn feasts  of the LORD  our God.  This  is an ordinance for ever  to    (2Ch 2:4)
• Even after a certain rate every day,    offering  according to the commandment  of Moses,  on the sabbaths,  and on the new moons,  and on the solemn feasts,  three  times  in the year,  even in the feast  of unleavened bread,  and in the feast  of weeks,  and in the feast  of tabernacles.  (2Ch 8:13)
• This is the thing  that  ye shall do;  A third part  of  you entering  on the sabbath,  of the priests  and of the Levites,  shall be porters  of the doors  (2Ch 23:4)
• So the Levites and all  Judah  did  according to all things  that  Jehoiada  the priest  had commanded,  and took  every man his men  that were to come in  on the sabbath,  with  them that were to go  out on the sabbath:  for  Jehoiada  the priest  dismissed  not the courses.  (2Ch 23:8)
• He appointed also the king’s portion  of  his substance  for the burnt offerings,  to wit, for the morning  and evening  burnt offerings,  and the burnt offerings  for the sabbaths,  and for the new moons,  and for the set feasts,  as it is written  in the law  of the LORD.  (2Ch 31:3)
• Moses therefore    gave  unto you  circumcision;  (not  because  it is  of  Moses,  but  of  the  fathers;)  and  ye on  the sabbath day  circumcise  a man.  (Joh 7:22)
• If a man  on  the sabbath day  receive  circumcision,  that  the  law  of Moses  should not  be broken;  are ye angry  at me,  because  I have made  a man  every whit  whole  on  the sabbath day?  (Joh 7:23)
• And on the sabbath day  two  lambs  of the first  year  without spot,  and two  tenth deals  of flour  for a meat offering,  mingled  with oil,  and the drink offering  thereof (Num 28:9)
• For the shewbread,   and for the continual  meat offering,  and for the continual  burnt offering,  of the sabbaths,  of the new moons,  for the set feasts,  and for the holy  things, and for the sin offerings  to make an atonement  for  Israel,  and for all  the work  of the house  of our God.  (Neh 10:33)
• This is the burnt offering of every sabbath,    beside  the continual  burnt offering,  and his drink offering.  (Num 28:10)

 

All Christians ‘Keep’ the Sabbath – Not Saved by Works

 

All Christians ultimately ‘keep’ the sabbath because they enter the rest of God completely by God’s grace.  There is no work that anybody can do that can save.  Only the work of Christ on the cross saves:

• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph 1:3-5)
• Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2Ti 1:9)
• Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (Tit 3:5)
• Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  (Rom 3:20)
• I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  (Gal 2:20)
• For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  (Php 1:29)

 

The Hebrew word for ‘keep’ is shamar (H8104).  The Greek word for ‘keep’ is tereo (G5083).  Both the Greek and Hebrew words literally mean to ‘guard or watch’.  Therefore, it is important that Christians guard the truth about what the Sabbath Day is.  This is done by earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints:

• Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (Jud 1:3)
• Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.  (Rev 1:3)

 

Bible verses regarding ‘keep’:

 

• Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.  (Deu 5:12)
• Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;  (Isa 56:6)
• And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.  (Exo 20:6)
• Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.  (Deu 4:2)
• O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!  (Deu 5:29)
• Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;  (Deu 7:9)
• In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.  (Deu 30:16)
• And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Mat 19:17)
• If ye love me, keep my commandments. (Joh 14:15)
• He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (Joh 14:21)
• If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (Joh 15:10)
• Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. (1Co 7:19)
• And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1Jn 2:3)
• He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1Jn 2:4)
• And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1Jn 3:22)
• And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1Jn 3:24)
• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1Jn 5:2)
• For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1Jn 5:3)
• And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Rev 12:17)
• Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Rev 14:12)

 

Death Penalty for Violation of the 7^th Day / Man Carrying Sticks

• Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 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. (Exo 31:14-15)
• Six days  shall work  be done,  but on the seventh  day  there shall be  to you an holy  day, a sabbath  of rest  to the LORD:  whosoever  doeth  work  therein shall be put to death. (Exo 35:2)
• And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Num 15:32-36)

 

7^th Day Sabbath as an Eternal Covenant

 

Sabbath Everlasting

• And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 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. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exo 31:12-17)
• Day of Atonement:
  • And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute forever. (Lev 16:29-31)
• And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. (Lev 24:5-8)
• Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. (2Ch 2:4)

Sabbath is a Perpetual (Everlasting) Covenant – Salvation

 

• (H1285 – covenant, H5769 – everlasting / perpetual)
• And God said,  This  is the token  of the covenant  which  I  make  between  me and you and every  living  creature  that  is with  you, for perpetual  generations  (Gen 9:12)
• And the bow shall be  in the cloud;  and I will look upon  it, that I may remember  the everlasting  covenant  between  God  and every  living  creature  of all  flesh  that  is upon  the earth.   (Gen 9:16)
• And I will establish my covenant between  me and thee and thy seed  after  thee in their generations  for an everlasting  covenant,  to be  a God  unto thee, and to thy seed  after    (Gen 17:7)
• He that is born in thy house,  and he that is bought  with thy money,  must needs be circumcised:    and my covenant  shall be  in your flesh  for an everlasting     (Gen 17:13)
• And God said,  Sarah  thy wife  shall bear  thee a son  indeed;  and thou shalt call his name  Isaac:  and I will establish my covenant  with  him for an everlasting  covenant,  and with his seed  after   (Gen 17:19)
• Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exo 31:16-17)
• Every sabbath he shall set it in order  before  the LORD  continually,  being taken from    the children  of Israel  by an everlasting    (Lev 24:8)
• All the heave offerings  of the holy things,  which  the children  of Israel  offer  unto the LORD,  have I given  thee, and thy sons  and thy daughters  with  thee, by a statute  forever:  it  is a covenant  of salt  for ever  before  the LORD  unto thee and to thy seed  with    (Num 18:19)
• And he shall have it, and his seed  after  him, even the covenant  of an everlasting  priesthood;  because    he was zealous  for his God,  and made an atonement  for  the children  of Israel.  (Num 25:13)
• Then ye shall answer them, That  the waters  of Jordan  were cut off  before    the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD;  when it passed over  Jordan,  the waters  of Jordan  were cut off:  and these  stones  shall be  for a memorial  unto the children  of Israel     (Jos 4:7)
• And an angel of the LORD  came up  from  Gilgal  to  Bochim,  and said,  I made you to go up  ( ) out of Egypt,    and have brought  you unto  the land  which  I sware  unto your fathers;  and I said,  I will never    break  my covenant  with   (Jdg 2:1)
• Although my house  be not  so  with  God;  yet  he hath made  with me an everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in all  things, and sure:  for  this is all  my salvation,  and all  my desire,  although  he make it not  to grow.  (2Sa 23:5)
• Be ye mindful always  of his covenant;  the word  which he commanded  to a thousand  generations  (1Ch 16:15)
• And hath confirmed the same to Jacob  for a law,  and to Israel  for an everlasting  covenant  (1Ch 16:17)
• Ought ye not to know  that  the LORD  God  of Israel  gave  the kingdom  over  Israel  to David  forever,  even to him and to his sons  by a covenant of salt?  (2Ch 13:5)
• Will he make a covenant  with  thee? wilt thou take  him for a servant  forever?  (Job 41:4)
• My mercy will I keep  for him for evermore,  and my covenant  shall stand fast  with him.  (Psa 89:28)
• He hath remembered his covenant  forever,  the word  which he commanded  to a thousand     (Psa 105:8)
• And confirmed the same unto Jacob  for a law,  and to Israel  for an everlasting  covenant:  (Psa 105:10)
• He hath given meat  unto them that fear  him: he will ever  be mindful  of his covenant.  (Psa 111:5)
• He sent redemption  unto his people:  he hath commanded  his covenant  forever:  holy  and reverend  is his name.   (Psa 111:9)
• The earth also is defiled  under  the inhabitants  thereof; because  they have transgressed  the laws,  changed  the ordinance,  broken  the everlasting    (Isa 24:5)
• Incline your ear,  and come  unto  me: hear,  and your soul  shall live;  and I will make  an everlasting  covenant  with you, even the sure  mercies  of David.  (Isa 55:3)
• As for me, this  is my covenant  with  them, saith  the LORD;  My spirit  that  is upon  thee, and my words  which  I have put  in thy mouth,  shall not  depart  out of thy mouth,    nor out of the mouth    of thy seed,  nor out of the mouth    of thy seed’s  seed,  saith  the LORD,  from henceforth    and forever.   (Isa 59:21)
• For I  the LORD  love  judgment, I hate robbery  for burnt offering;  and I will direct  their work  in truth,  and I will make  an everlasting  covenant  with them. (Isa 61:8)
• And I will make an everlasting  covenant  with them, that  I will not  turn away  from    them, to do them good;  but I will put  my fear  in their hearts,  that they shall not  depart from   (Jer 32:40)
• They shall ask the way  to Zion  with their faces  thitherward,  saying, Come,  and let us join ourselves  to  the LORD  in a perpetual  covenant  that shall not  be forgotten. (Jer 50:5)
• Nevertheless I will remember my covenant  with  thee in the days  of thy youth,  and I will establish  unto thee an everlasting     (Eze 16:60)
• Moreover I will make a covenant  of peace  with them; it shall be  an everlasting  covenant  with  them: and I will place  them, and multiply  them, and will set  my sanctuary  in the midst  of them for evermore.  (Eze 37:26)

 

Everlasting Salvation:

• And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. (Exo 14:13)
• He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. (2Sa 22:51)
• Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2Sa 23:5)
• LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. (Isa 33:2)
• But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. (Isa 45:17)
• Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (Isa 51:6)
• For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. (Isa 51:8)

 

Sabbath is Holy

 

• And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (Exo 16:23)
• Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exo 20:8)
• Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. (Exo 31:14)
• 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. (Exo 31:15)
• Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. (Exo 35:2)
• Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. (Lev 23:3)
• Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. (Lev 23:24)
• And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: (Neh 9:14)
• If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: (Isa 58:13)
• Keep the sabbath day  to sanctify  it, as  the LORD  thy God  hath commanded   (Deu 5:12)
• And I commanded the Levites  that  they should  cleanse themselves,  and that they should come  and keep  the gates, to sanctify  the sabbath    Remember  me, O my God,  concerning this  also,  and spare me according to the greatness  of thy mercy.  (Neh 13:22)

 

Christians are Called to be Holy

• Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  (2Ti 1:9)
• But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (1Pe 2:9)
• But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Pe 1:15-16)
• That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luk 1:74-75)
• Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Co 7:1)
• For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1Th 4:3-7)
• But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Th 2:13-14)

 

Isaiah 58:13-14 – Salvation a Delight, Honoring God, not Doing Own Ways or Pleasing Self

 

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

(Isa 58:13-14)

 

In the context of Isaiah 58, both fasting (Isa 58:1-12) and the Sabbath Day (Isa 58:13-14) are clarified that they are earthly symbols of salvation.  The fleshly fasting is of no value.  However, the spiritual fast that is the true fast is that which brings forth works that are characteristics of salvation.  Similarly, the sabbath day discussed in the last 2 verses of Isaiah 58 point to the sabbath being a symbol for salvation.

 

Isaiah 58:13-14 is very important in order to understand the nature of keeping the Sabbath Day.  God’s people, who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, desire to please God, are obedient and always want to live a holy life (although never perfectly because of the flesh).  Isa 58:13-14 provides an important glimpse into the real rest of the Sabbath Day (being saved by grace and following the Lord in discipleship through the work of the Holy Spirit).  The following 6 characteristics of God’s people are characteristics of a Christian every day, not just on one of the seven days. These characteristics are not just for one day a week!

 

• Turn your foot from doing your pleasure
  • Pleasure – Heb: H2656 (see also H2654 and H2655)
  • Pleasure – Gr: (G2237) – hedone – pleasure – see also G5369
    • Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  (Heb 11:25)
    • For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  (Tit 3:3)
    • And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (Luk 8:14)
    • From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?  (Jas 4:1)
    • Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.  (Jas 4:3)
    • And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  (2Pe 2:13)
    • This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come … Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (2Ti 3:1,4)
  • Pleasure (delight) in the Messenger of the Covenant – Mal 3:1
  • Desires life – Ps 34:12
  • Pleasure of God’s wisdom – Pr 3:15, Pr 8:11
  • Favor God’s righteous cause – Ps 35:27
  • Lose soul for Christ – Mat 16:26, Mk 8:36
  • Delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake – 2 Cor 4:11
  • Sell all and follow Christ – Mat 19:21, Lk 18:22, etc.
  • Crucified with Christ – Gal 2:20, Gal 5:24
  • Die daily – 1 Cor 15:31
• Honor Him by not doing your own ways (i.e., following the way of Christ)
  • Honor – Heb: kabad (H3513) – to give weight to
  • Way – Heb: derek (H1870)
  • Follow Christ / way of salvation – John 14:6, Is 35:8-9, Isa 62:10, Jer 31:21
• Not speaking your own words (rather, speaking the Word of God)
  • New song – Rev 5:9, Ps 33:3, Ps 40:3
  • New creation / new man – 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 4:24
  • And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.  (Psa 40:3)
  • Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16)
  • Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you … (Mat 28:19-20)
• Call the Sabbath day a Delight – H6027 (see also H6026, H6028) – soft, pliable, effeminate
  • God’s people always delight themselves in God – Job 22:26, Job 27:10, Ps 37:4, Ps 37:11, Is 55:2, Is 58:14, Is 66:11
  • Rejoice in salvation:
    • To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! (Psa 21:1)
    • And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. (Psa 35:9)
    • Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psa 51:12)
    • O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. (Psa 95:1)
    • I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (Psa 132:16)
    • Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isa 12:3)
    • I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isa 61:10)
    • Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab 3:18)
    • And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. (1Sa 2:1)
    • For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? (1Sa 19:5)
    • Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. (2Ch 6:41)
    • That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. (Psa 9:14)
    • But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (Psa 13:5)
    • Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (Psa 14:7)
    • We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. (Psa 20:5)
    • To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! (Psa 21:1)
    • And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. (Psa 35:9)
    • Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. (Psa 40:16)
    • Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (Psa 53:6)
    • Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (Psa 70:4)
    • The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. (Psa 118:15)
    • And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isa 25:9)
    • I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isa 61:10)
    • Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab 3:18)
    • Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zec 9:9)
  • Call the Sabbath day a holy of the Lord
    • Now is the day of salvation – 2 Cor 6:2, 1 Chr 16:23, Ps 96:2
  • Call the Sabbath Honorable
    • H3513 (Heb: kabad) – literally, to make heavy (see also H3519, Heb: kabod – glory, honor)
      • Those who have mercy on the poor honor God – Pr 14:31
      • Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  (Pro 3:9)
      • Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.  (Psa 22:23)
      • And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.  (Psa 50:15)
      • And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.  (Deu 5:24)
      • Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.  (Pro 3:16)
      • In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.  (Isa 4:2)
      • And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.  (Isa 4:5)
      • And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.  (Isa 11:10)
      • As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.  (Eze 1:28)
    • New Testament:
      • Honor God (due to what He does) – 1 Tim 1:17, 6:16, Heb 2:7-9,Heb 3:3, Rev 5:12-13, Rev 4:11, Rev 19:1

 

In Isa 58:14, we find 3 important results of honoring God on the Sabbath Day.  These results are characteristics of the saved:

• Delight yourself in the Lord
  • Delight (H6026, anag) – see above on Isa 58:13
• Cause you to ride in the high places of the earth – see also Manasseh’s Road to Babylon study
  • Summary: Victory in spiritual battle of truth
  • Ride (H7392, Heb: rakab) – 78 occurrences
    • Ride upon high places – Is 58:14, Deut 32:13-14
    • Ride on horses and chariots of salvation – Hab 3:8
    • Ride in chariots and on horses – Jer 17:25
    • God will overthrow those who ride on chariots and horses – Hag 2:22
    • God rides in majesty because of truth – Ps 45:4
    • Ride on horses in battle – Jer 50:42
    • God will smite horse and rider on Judgment day – Zech 12:4
    • God rides in the heavens – Deut 33:26 (on a cherub – Ps 18:10)
  • High places (H1116, Heb: bamah) – that which is exalted against then knowledge of God
    • Provoked God to anger – Ps 78:58, Lev 26:30
    • Place of worship other gods / idols –
      • Jeroboam (4^th king of Israel) set up high places which were never completely removed – 1 Ki 12:31-32, 13:2, 13:32-33, 2 Chr 11:15
      • Jehoram (8^th king of Judah) – 2 Chr 21:11
      • Ahaz (15^th king of Judah) – 2 Ki 16:4, 2 Chr 28:4, 5
      • Israel exiled in part due to high places – 2 Ki 17:9-11
      • After exile of Israel (northern 10 tribes), Samaritans continued to worship in high places – 2 Ki 17:29-32
      • Manasseh built again high places -2 Ki 21:3, 2 Chr 33:3, 2 Chr 33:17
    • Jerusalem considered to be ‘high place’ of Judah where sin occurred – Micah 1:5, 3:12, Jer 26:18
    • The Lord treads upon the high places of the earth – Micah 1:3, Amos 4:13
    • God’s people tread on the high places – Deut 33:20
      • Makes feet as hinds feet and sets up on high places – Hab 3:19, Ps 18:33
    • New Testament fulfillment:
      • For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12)
      • For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2Co 10:3-5)
    • Fed with the heritage of Jacob thy father
    • Feed – see Tree of Life – Rev 22:2, Rev 12:6, Feed – Christian feeds on Christ as the Bread of the Word of God – Mat 4:4, Deut 8:3-4, John 6, Eph 4:7, 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27, 1 Pet 2:2, Heb 5:11-14, 2 Pet 3:18, etc.
      • Feed on the Word of God – Ps 119:103, Job 23:12, Deut 8:1-3, Jer 15:15-16, Mat 25:37, Heb 5:12-13, Psa 78:70-72, Jer 3:15, Jer 23:4, Eze 34:2-10, Eze 34:23, Act 20:28, 1Ti 4:15-16, Heb 13:20, 1Pe 2:25, 1Pe 5:1-4, Pro 12:18, Pro 15:4, Job 4:3-4, Job 23:12, Job 29:21-22, Psa 37:30, Ecc 12:9-10, Jer 15:16, Joh 21:15-17, 1 Pet 5:2
      • The promised land – new heavens, new earth – Rev 21:1, Isa 65:17-19, Isa 51:16, Isa 66:22, 2 Pet 3:13, Heb 12:27-28
      • The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isa 60:19-21)
      • Christians are heirs – Joint Heirs of eternal life ‑ Ro 8:16‑17, Col 3:24, Titus 3:7, Rev 21:7, Acts 20:32
        • Inheritance ‑ Points to salvation, eternal life in the new heavens and new earth
        • Col 1: 1 2, 3:24, Eph 1:11,14,18,5:5, Gal 3:17‑,29, 4:7, Ro 4:13, 8:16‑17, Acts 20:32, James 2:5, Mat 21:38, Gen 15:3, Jer 49: 1, Mat 5:5, 19:29, 25:34, Heb 6:17, 9:15, 11:8, Acts 26:18, 1 Pet 1:4, Rev 21:7, Mk 12:7, Lk 10:25, 1 Cor 6:9,15:50, Titus 3:7
      • If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  (Isa 1:19)
      • Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: (Psa 105:9-11)
      • And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.  (Psa 135:12)
      • And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:  (Psa 136:21)
      • But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.  (Jer 3:19)
      • Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:  (Gen 27:28)

 

Manna From Heaven not Collected on 7^th day

 

And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto the LORD: today ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 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. (Exo 16:23-29)

 

The commandment to not collect manna on the 7^th day points to the rest of salvation.  God’s work is performed in 6 days, which provides for the 7^th day (a day of rest in salvation in God).

 

7^th day – Perfection of God’s Purpose of Salvation (Rest)

 

• The Number 7
  • H7651 (sheba / shibah, 395 occurrences, the number 7)
    • Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. (Psa 119:164)
    • These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him (Pro 6:16)
    • Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars (Pro 9:1)
    • The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. (Pro 26:16)
    • When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  (Pro 26:25)
    • And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (Isa 4:1)
  • H7655 (shibah, Aramiaic, the number 7, 6 occurrences – Ezra 7:14, Dan 3:19, Dan 4:16, Dan 4:23, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32)
  • H7658 (shibanah, 1 occurrence, prolonged form of number 7 – Job 42:13)
  • G2033 (hepta, 87 occurrences)
    • Mat 12:45 – 7 other spirits more wicked
    • Mat 18:22 – forgiveness
    • Mat 22:25-28, Luke 20:29-33 – 7 brothers with 1 wife
    • Rev 1:11-20 – 7 stars, 7 golden candlesticks, 2 churches
    • Acts 13:19 – 7 nations in the land of Canaan – land give to Israel
    • Acts 6:3 – 7 original deacons

• Churches (Rev 1:4), Spirits (Rev 1:4), Candlesticks (Rev 1:12, 20), stars (Rev 1:16, 200, lamps (Rev 4:5), seals (Rev 5:1,5), angels (Rev 8:2, Rev 15:1, Rev 17:1, Rev 21:9), trumpets (Rev 8:2), thunders (Rev 10:3‑4), plagues (Rev 15:6-8, Rev 21:9), bowls (Rev 15:7, Rev 21:9), mountains (Rev 17:9), kings (Rev 17:10)

• • • Rev 17:3-11 – 7 heads of the scarlet beasts
    • Rev 12:3 – 7 heads of Satan (dragon)
    • Rev 13:1 – 7 heads of Beast
• Seven oneself (sware / take oath) – H7650 / H7621
  • H7650 (shaba, 186 occurrences) – to sware
  • H7621 (shebuah, 30 occurrences) – to take oath
  • The Lord swears – Promised Land – Deut 8:1, Gen 24:7, Ex 13:5, Ex 13:11, Ex 33:11, Deut 1:8
  • The Lord swears – the Covenant – Deut 7:12, Deut 8:18

• Lord swears – salvation – Heb 6:16-18; Gen 22:15-18 (see verses 16);

 

 

Jeremiah 17 – Bear no Burden / Bring no Burden through the Gates of Jerusalem

 

(1)  Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;  (20)  And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:  (21)  Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;  (22)  Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.  (23)  But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.  (24)  And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;  (25)  Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.  (26)  And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.  (27)  But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

 

In the above passage, there is an important truth about the Sabbath Day.  The gates of Jerusalem symbolize the way of salvation (entrance into the kingdom of God).  To bear no burden or bring any burden through these gates on the Sabbath refer to the spiritual truth that humans cannot be saved by their works.  It is only by the grace of God, they can enter the kingdom of God (Eph 2:8-9).  In verse 25, the Bible teaches us that the outcome of not bearing burdens or bringing them through the gates of Jerusalem is that kings and princes come to sit on the throne of David.  This is symbolic of God’s people seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6).  Also, verse 25 teaches us that the inhabitants of Jerusalem (God’s people) and the city shall remain forever.  This is a symbol of eternal New Jerusalem, where the gates will never be closed and God will dwell with His people forever (Rev 21).

 

 

Psalm 92 – A Psalm for the Sabbath – Salvation

 

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  (Psa 92:1-15)

New Testament – Sabbath Day symbolizes Salvation

 

God’s Rest on 7^th Day Points to Salvation (Heb 3-4, Ps 95)

 

Hebrews 3:1-4:11

 

In Hebrews 3-4, there is important truth that the 7^th day sabbath was indeed a symbol for salvation.  In this passage there are 9 references to the ‘rest’ of God (Heb 3:1,3,11,18, 4:5,8,10-11) which use the Greek word for ‘rest’ (e.g., katapausis, G2663).  But, there is also one occurrences in Heb 4:9, where the word translated as ‘rest’ is actually the Greek word for ‘sabbath (G4520- sabbatismos):

• There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (Heb 4:9)

This usage of the ‘sabbath’ in Heb 4:9 is important to recognize that the true meaning of the ‘sabbath day’ is that of salvation since that is the context of Heb 3:7-4:11. This important truth can be seen in the following outline of this passage:

 

Heb 3:1-6: Christians are of the House of Jesus Christ (worthy of more glory than Moses, because Moses was a witness of Jesus Christ):

• (1) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;  (2)  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.  (3)  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.  (4)  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.  (5)  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;  (6)  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Heb 3:1-6)

 

Heb 3:7-14: Warning – Today, do not harden your hearts as those did in the wilderness 40 years, resulting in not entering the rest of the Promised Land (salvation)

• (7)  Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,  (8)  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  (9)  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  (10)  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  (11)  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (12)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end  (Heb 3:7-14)

 

Heb 3:15-19:  Those who died in wilderness could not enter into God’s rest due to unbelief

• (15) While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  (16)  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  (Heb 3:15-19)

 

Heb 4:1-2:  Promise of the Gospel (Rest for God’s People)

• (1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.  (Heb 4:1-:2)

 

Heb 4:3-8:  Rest (salvation) is Related to God’s 7^th Day of Rest from His works

• (3)  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  (4)  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.  (5)  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.  (6)  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:  (7)  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.  (8)  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (Heb 4:3-8)

 

Heb 4:9-11:  Sabbath rest (salvation not by works) remains for God’s people

• (9)  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  (10)  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  (11)  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (heb 4:9-11)
  • Rest – Gr: sabbatismos

 

Related passage from Ps 95:

• For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. (Psa 95:7-11)

 

‘Today’ – The Day of Salvation

 

The phrase ‘To day’ is notable.  It is used in Ps 95:7, Heb 3:7, Heb 3:15 and Heb 4:7.  The phrase ‘to day’ is the Greek word semeron (G4594).  This word is different from the Greek word for ‘day’ (gemera, G2250). Semeron (G4594) literally means ‘this day’.  This signifies that salvation is in view:

 

• Day of salvation
  • And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isa 25:9)
  • In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (Isa 26:1)
  • (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Cor 6:2)
  • But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thess 5:8)
  • That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (Philippians 1:10)
  • Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (Philippians 2:16)
  • That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thessalonians 2:2)
  • Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

 

What about the Lord’s Day of Rev 1:10?

 

Many use the term ‘Lord’s Day’ to refer to the changed Sabbath from the 7^th day to the 1^st day of the week:

This term (the Lord’s Day) is primarily based on Rev 1:10:

• I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book … (Rev 1:10-11)

 

On the surface, it appears that Rev 1:10 may refer to the weekly Sabbath Day.  However, this is not explicitly stated in the Bible. In the context of the Book of Revelation, the Lord’s Day is better understood as referring to the vision given to John as pointing to the prophecy of the Lord’s coming in salvation and judgment.  Moreover, the Lord’s Day (Day of the Lord) is typically used in the Bible as referring to the Day of Salvation / Judgment.  When we search the Scriptures, we find that the Lord’s Day (or Day of the Lord) points to the day of salvation including the second coming of Christ (i.e., salvation).  Consider the following references:

• “Day of Salvation” – 2 Cor 6:2,  2 Tim 4:8, 2 Thess 2:2, Phil 2:16, Phil 1:10, 1 Thess 5:8, Is 26:1, Is 25:9
• “Day of Redemption” – Eph 4:30
• Last Day refers to a point in time for Second Coming of Christ – Mat 24:36, Heb10:25
• “The Last Day” – John 6:39,40,44,54, 12:48, 11:24, 5:28-29
• Day of Wrath – Rev 6:17, see Appendix C
• “His Day” – Lk 17:24, Mat 24:36,42,50, Mk 13:32
• “Day of God” – 2 Pet 3:12, Rev 16:14
• “That Day” – Mat 7:22, 24:36,26:29, Lk 10:12, 2 Thess 1:10, 2 Tim 1:8
• “Day of the Lord Jesus Christ” – 1 Cor 1:7-8, 1 Cor 5:5, 2 Cor 1:13-14, 1 Cor 1:8, Phil 1:6-10, 2:16, 2 Thess 2:1-2
• “Day of the Lord” – Is 2:12, 13:6-9, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1, Joel 2:11, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:14, Amos 5:18,20, Ob 15, Zeph 1:7, Zeph 1:14, Zech 14:1-2, Mal 4:5, Ac 2:20, 1 Thess 5:2-3, 2 Pet :10, 2 Thess 2:2

Careful study of these references indicates that the Day of Lord points to salvation and the final day of God’s Coming and Judgment. It should also be noted that the Last Days also refer to the church age – Acts 2:17, 2 Tim 3:1-2, 1 Tim 4:1, 2 Pet 3:3, Heb 1:2, Jude 18. Therefore, it can be seen that the Lord’s Day is the final day of the church age.

 

Rest in Jesus Christ – Points to Salvation

• Come unto  me,  all  ye that labour  and  are heavy laden,  and I  will give you rest.    (Mat 11:28)
• Take my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me;  for  I am  meek  and  lowly  in heart:  and  ye shall find  rest  unto your    (Mat 11:29)
• And white  robes  were given  unto every one of them;  and  it was said  unto them,  that  they should rest  yet  for a little  season,  until    their  fellowservants  also  and  their  brethren,  that should  be killed  as  they were,  should be fulfilled.  (Rev 6:11)
• And I heard  a voice  from  heaven  saying  unto me,  Write,  Blessed  are the  dead  which die  in  the Lord  from henceforth:  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they may rest  from  their  labours;  and  their  works  do follow them.  (Rev 14:13)
• And they came  to him, and awoke  him,  saying,  Master,  master,  we perish.  Then  he  arose,  and rebuked  the  wind  and  the  raging  of the  water:  and  they ceased,  and  there was  a calm.  (Luk 8:24)
• When the  unclean  spirit  is gone  out of  a man,  he walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest,  and  findeth    (Mat 12:43)
• When the  unclean  spirit  is gone  out of  a man,  he walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest;  and  finding  none,  he saith,  I will return  unto  my  house  whence  I came out.  (Luk 11:24)
• And the  smoke  of their  torment  ascendeth up  for ever and ever:  and  they have  no  rest  day  nor  night,  who worship  the  beast  and  his  image,  and  whosoever  receiveth  the  mark  of his    (Rev 14:11)

 

Sabbaths are Ceremonial in Nature (Shadows of Salvation – Col 2:16-17)

 

Sabbath Days Cease

 

• Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Col 2:16-17)
  • Holyday – literally, festival
  • 7^th day Sabbath was a ‘festival’ – Lev 23:2-3
• But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (Gal 4:9-10)
• Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Heb 8:5-10)
• For then would they not  have ceased to be offered?  because that the  worshippers  once  purged  should have had  no more conscience  of sins.   (Heb 10:2)
• In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.  (Heb 8:13)
• For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  (Heb 10:1)
• Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear (Isa 1:9-14)
• I will also cause all her mirth  to cease,  her feast days,  her new moons,  and her sabbaths,  and all  her solemn feasts.   (Hos 2:11)
• If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. (Heb 7:11-12)

 

The 7^th Day – Just one of the Sabbaths of Lev 23

 

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,   Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.  (Lev 23:1-2)

 

7^th Day Sabbath

• Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.  (Lev 23:3)

 

Passover

• These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.  (Lev 23:4)
• In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover.  (Lev 23:5)

 

Feast of Unleavened Bread (No servile work)

• And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.  (Lev 23:6)
• In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (Lev 23:7)
• But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (Lev 23:8)

 

Feast of First-fruits (day after the Sabbath)

• And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (Lev 23:9)
• Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:  (Lev 23:10)
• And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.  (Lev 23:11)
• And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:12)
• And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.  (Lev 23:13)
• And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  (Lev 23:14)

 

Pentecost (50^th day after 7 sabbaths):

• And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:  (Lev 23:15)
• Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:16)
• Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:17)
• And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:18)
• Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.  (Lev 23:19)
• And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.  (Lev 23:20)
• And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.  (Lev 23:21)
• And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.  (Lev 23:22)
• And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (Lev 23:23)

 

Feast of Trumpets (Sabbath):

• Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.  (Lev 23:24)
• Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:25)

 

Day of Atonement (Sabbath):

• And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (Lev 23:26)
• Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:27)
• And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  (Lev 23:28)
• For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.  (Lev 23:29)
• And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.  (Lev 23:30)
• Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  (Lev 23:31)
• It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.  (Lev 23:32)

 

Feast of Tabernacles (Sabbath):

• And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (Lev 23:33)
• Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:34)
• On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.  (Lev 23:35)
• Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.  (Lev 23:36)
• These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:  (Lev 23:37)
• Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.  (Lev 23:38)
• Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.  (Lev 23:39)
• And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.  (Lev 23:40)
• And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.  (Lev 23:41)
• Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:  (Lev 23:42)
• That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.  (Lev 23:43)
• And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.  (Lev 23:44)

 

Picking Corn on the Sabbath – Mercy / Salvation

 

An important event that describes the spiritual nature of the Sabbath Day is the occurrence of Jesus and His hungry disciples picking corn (rubbing with their hands) on the Sabbath Day (Mat 12:1-8, Mk 2:23-28 Lk 6:1-5).  The Pharisees saw this happening and noted that plucking and eating corn was not lawful (Mat 12:2, Mk 2:24, Lk 6:2).

• Jesus cites 2 cases where mercy is more important
  • David’s men who were hungry ate the showbread (Mat 12:3-4, Lk 6:3-4, 1 Sam 21:1-9)
  • David (literally, Beloved) ‑ type of Christ ‑ Eze 34:23‑24, 37:24, Jer 30:9, Is 55:3‑5, Hos 3:5, Lk 1:69, Acts 2:30, 13:23‑24
  • Priests profane the Sabbath on the Sabbath Days (Mat 12:5, Num 28:9-10, Lev 24:5, 1 Chr 9:32 – see also Circumcision on Sabbath – John 7:22-23 with Lev 12:3, Gen 17:10-14)
• Key spiritual truths regarding the Sabbath Day
  • Sabbath made for the man and not man for the Sabbath – Mk 2:27
    • Sabbaths are a sign that God may be known (salvation – Ex 20:12, Ex 20:20)
    • Sabbaths are for doing good – John 7:23, Isa 58:13-14, Neh 9:13-14
  • God desires mercy and not sacrifice – Mat 12:7, Mat 9:13, Isa 1:11-17, Hos 6:6, Mic 6:6-8
    • God’s mercy of salvation – Ro 9:16-18, Ro 9:23, Ro 11:30-33, 1 Cor 7:25
    • Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (Jud 1:21)
    • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (1Pe 1:3)
    • Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (Heb 4:16)
    • Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  (Tit 3:5)
    • But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Eph 2:4-5)
    • And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  (Rom 9:23)
    • Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  (Heb 2:17)
    • Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  (Mat 5:7)
  • Occurred on second sabbath after the first – Lk 6:1
    • And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.  (Luk 6:1)
    • Second sabbath after the first – literally, second-first (deuteroprotos – G1207, only occurrence) – points to the new covenant fulfillment of the sabbath day (day of salvation)
      • Second-first points to the fulfillment of the first 7^th day sabbath of the law
    • G1207 (Gr: deutero)
      • Second birth – John 3:3-6
      • For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  (Heb 8:7)
      • Heb 9:3-15  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;  (4)  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;  (5)  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.  (6)  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.  (7)  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:  (8)  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:  (9)  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;  (10)  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.  (11)  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (13)  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  (14)  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (15)  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
    • Son of man is the Lord of the Sabbath – Mat 12:8, Mk 2:28, Lk 6:5
      • Lord – Greek: kurios (the authority)
      • Jesus is the source of salvation – Acts 4:12, Heb 12:2, John 14:6
    • The Lord of salvation:
      • Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. (Psa 38:22)
      • Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psa 68:19)
      • He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. (Psa 68:20)
      • O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. (Psa 140:7)
      • For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. (Act 13:47)
      • For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Th 5:9)
      • But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2Th 2:13)
      • And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2Pe 3:15)
    • Lord of mercy
      • O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. (Neh 1:11)
      • Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. (Psa 62:12)
      • For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psa 86:5)
      • But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psa 86:15)
      • But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. (Psa 109:21)
      • O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psa 136:3)
      • Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Isa 9:17)
      • Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; (Eze 39:25)
      • And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; (Dan 9:4)
      • And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. (Mat 15:22)
      • Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. (Mat 17:15)
      • And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. (Mat 20:30)
      • And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. (Mat 20:31)
      • And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. (Luk 1:58)
      • Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. (1Co 7:25)
      • Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1Ti 1:2)
      • To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2Ti 1:2)
      • The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (2Ti 1:16)
      • The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. (2Ti 1:18)
      • To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Tit 1:4)
      • Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (Jas 5:11)
      • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Pe 1:3)
      • Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. (2Jn 1:3)
      • Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jud 1:21)
    • At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the cornfields; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck ears of corn, and to eat. But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; how be entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath. (Mat 12:1-8)
    • And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath. (Mar 2:28)
    • And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.  (Luk 6:1)
    • Cornfield – Gr: sporimos (G4702) – 3 occurrences (Mat 12:1, Mk 2:23, Lk 6:1)
      • Gr: sporos (G4703) – 5 occurrences
        • The seed is the Word of God – Lk 8:5, Lk 8:11, 2 Cor 9:10, Mk 4:26 (parable of the seed – kingdom of God)
      • Gr: spora (G4701) – 1 occurrence – incorruptible seed (Word of God) – 1 Pet 1:23
      • Gr: speiro (G4687) – 53 occurrences – literally, sown
        • Mat 6:26, Mat 13:3, Mat 13:4, Mat 13:18, Mat 13:19, Mat 13:20, Mat 13:22, Mat 13:23, Mat 13:24, Mat 13:25, Mat 13:27, Mat 13:31, Mat 13:37, Mat 13:39, Mat 25:24, Mat 25:26, Mar 4:3, Mar 4:4, Mar 4:14, Mar 4:15, Mar 4:16, Mar 4:18, Mar 4:20, Mar 4:31, Mar 4:32, Luk 8:5, Luk 12:24, Luk 19:21, Luk 19:22, Joh 4:36, Joh 4:37, 1Co 9:11, 1Co 15:36, 1Co 15:37, 1Co 15:42, 1Co 15:43, 1Co 15:44, 2Co 9:6, 2Co 9:10, Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8, Jas 3:18.
      • Ears of corn (Gr: stachus, G4719 – 5 occurrences) – Mat 12:1, Mk 2:23, Lk 6:1, John 4:28 (2)
        • And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mar 4:26-29)
        • Rubbing (Lk 6:1) ears of corn to harvest the fruit
          • Rubbing (G5597) – Gr: psochos (rubbing) which is based on G5567 (Gr: psallo – (sing psalm – rubbing surface for music) and Gr: psalmo (G5568 – psalm)
          • G5567: Sing psalms, make melody – Ro 15:9, 1 Cor 14:15, James 5:13, Eph 5:19
          • G5568: Lk 20:42, Lk 24:44, Acts 1:20, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Acts 13:33, 1 Cor 14:26
        • Showbread represents the Word of God (Bread of Life / salvation / Jesus Christ) that is witnessed by God’s people (body of Christ) who do the work of sharing the Bread of Life
          • H3899 (lechem – literally, bread) and H6440 (paniym – literally, before / face)
          • G740 (artos – literally bread) and G4286 (prosthesis – literally, purpose / proposal) – 12 occurrences
            • Purpose – Acts 11:23, Acts 27:13, Ro 8:28, Eph 3:11, 2 Tim 3:9-10
            • Showbread – Mat 12:4, Mk 2:26, Lk 6:4, Heb 9:2
            • Two rows of 6 cakes (bread) – Lev 24:5-9
              • 12 – number of God’s organization of His people
              • 2 – number of witness
              • 6 – number of work
            • Bread points to Christ’s body (Lords supper) – 1 Cor 11:23-24
            • Christians are the body of Christ – Eph 5:23, Eph 5:30, Eph 4:12, 1 Cor 12:12, 1 Cor 12:27, Ro 12:5
            • Bread – points to the Word of God – Mat 4:4, John 6:63, Deut 8:3, Lk 4:4
            • Jesus is the Word of God – John 1:1, Rev 19:13
            • Jesus is the Bread of Life – John 6:33, John 6:35, John 6:48, John 6:51

 

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath – Type of Salvation

 

Healing as a Type of Salvation

 

• Healing on Sabbath linked to salvation:
  • And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. (Mar 2:27-3:4)
    • Save life = save soul
  • Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? (Joh 7:21-23)
    • Every whit whole – literally, wholly healed (G3650, G5199)
  • Sickness represents spiritual sickness of sin – Mat 8:17, Eze 34:4, Ps 102:4, Pr 13:12, Ps 38:2-3, Is 1:4-6, Jer 8:22, Jer 30:12, 1 Cor 11:26-30, Jer 31:8, Ps 41:4, Ps 103:1-4, John 9:39, 12:40, Is 35:5-6, Acts 28:7, Mal 4:2, Isa 35:5‑6, Acts 28:27, Ps 107:20, Ps 19:22, Psa 30:2, Psa 33:6, Job 5:18, Ex 23:25
    • Sound (healing, G5198, hugiaino) doctrine – 1 Tim 1:10, 2 Tim 1:13, 2Ti 4:3, Tit 1:9, Tit 1:13, Tit 2:1-2, 1 Tim 6:3 – also Titus 2:8 (G5199)
    • Healing – people made ‘whole’ (G5199, hugies) – Mat 12:13, Mat 15:31, Mar 3:5, Mar 5:34, Luk 6:10, Joh 5:4, Joh 5:6, Joh 5:9, Joh 5:11, Joh 5:14-15, Joh 7:23, Act 4:10
    • Healing of the nations ‑ Ps 147:3, Is 6:10, 57:18‑19, Jer 17:14, Mal 4:2, Hos 14:4, Ez 47:8‑11, Rev 22:2
    • Healed from sickness of iniquity ‑ Is 57:19
    • Heals bruise / wound of sin ‑ Is 30:6, Jer 30:14‑17, Micah 1:9, Nah 3:19, Deut 32:39, Is 53:5
    • Heal unfaithfulness ‑ Jer 3:22
    • Heal soul from sin ‑ Ps 41:4
    • Heal iniquity, Heal diseases ‑ Ps 103:1‑4
    • Healed from transgression ‑ Is 53:4-5, 1 Pet 2:24
    • Heal from disease ‑ Ex 15:26
    • Heal brokenhearted ‑ Ps 147:3
  • Old Testament Healing (Heb raphe, H

 

Healing of the Man with a Withered Hand in the Synagogue

 

In Mat 12:9-14, Mk 3:1-6, Lk 6:6-11, a man with a withered right hand is in the synagogue. The scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus as to whether it is lawful to heal (which is a work work) on the Sabbath. The key spiritual truths concerning the Sabbath Day include:

• It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day – Mat 12:12, Mk 3:4, Lk 6:9 – see also Lk 14:3
• Healing of the withered hand is equated to saving a sheep that is fallen into a pit (salvation) – Mat 12:11-12
• And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.  (Mar 3:4)
  • Save life – Gr: salvation of soul
• Right hand represents the will of a person – Ps 44:3, Jud 11:32, Jud 13:1, Jud 15:12‑13, Jud 16:23‑24, 1 Chr 14:10, 1 Ki 15:18, 2 Sam 8:1, Ps 37:33, 71:4, Ps 106:41, etc.
  • The healing of the withered right hand points to salvation by restoring a person’s withered free will – The elect’s will is changed and caused to believe in Jesus Christ by grace – Eph 2:8-10, John 1:12-13, Phil 1:29, 1 Cor 7:25, etc.
• Pharisees held a council (with the Herodians) on how to destroy Jesus – Mat 12:14, Mk 3:6, Lk 6:11 (see also John 5:18, John 10:39, John 11:53, John 11:57, Mat 27:1)

 

The Bowed Over Woman

 

In Lk 13:10-17, while Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, He heals a woman who had a spirit of infirmity (asthenia, G769) and was bowed-over for 18 years (Lk 13:11).  The key spiritual truths with regard to the Sabbath include:

• Ruler of the synagogue was indignant due to the healing on the Sabbath Day and said that there are only 6 days of which people should work (healing was a work), not on the Sabbath Day – Lk 13:14
• Infirmity (weakness, G769 through G772) can point to spiritual infirmity
• Healing was a portrait of salvation since she was ‘loosed’ from her infirmity of which Satan had her bound – Lk 13:12,16
  • Loosed (Gr: apoluo, G630) – to set free, set loose from bondage, forgiven)
    • Cognate with G629, G3083, G3089 – redemption (loosing, freeing)
  • Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  (Luk 6:37)
• Laid hands on – will of God
• Woman made straight – Lk 13:13
  • Straight (Gr: anorhtoo, G461 – lift up, make straight) – Type of salvation
• Ruler a hypocrite since all will loose their ox or ass to lead them away to be watered – Lk 13:15-16
  • Loosed (G3089, luo – to be made free, loosed) – salvation
  • Watered – Word of God, spiritually restored
  • Satan had bound – bondage to sin, Satan’s kingdom

 

The Man with Dropsy

 

While Jesus was eating bread at the house of one of the chief Pharisees (with the lawyers also in attendance) on the Sabbath day, Jesus healed a man with dropsy (Lk 14:1-6). Jesus asked them whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day, but the Pharisees and lawyers did not respond (Lk 14:3-4).  The key spiritual truth with regard to the Sabbath Day include:

• Dropsy (Gr: hudropikos, G5203 – literally, watery looking (edema))
• Points to salvation – who would have an ox or ass and falls into a pit, would not pull it out – (Lk 14:5 – see also Lk 13:15-16). Pit is a place of damnation.
  • Pit – Gr: Pit – Gr: phrear – Lk 14:5, John 4:11-12, Rev 9:1-2
  • ‘Phrear’ is used 6 times in the New Testament (Lk 14:5, Rev 9:1-2 (twice), John 4:11-12). In Rev 9:1-2, it is called a bottomless (abussos) pit, where the locusts come out to torment those in the world during the Great Tribulation (i.e., place of damnation).
  • Bottomless – Gr: abussos (other than Revelation used only twice – Ro 10:7, Lk 8:31 – Gadarene demoniac symbolic of place of being under torment) – A place where Jesus was – Ro 10:7. This term is used 9 times in the New Testament (Lk 8:31, Ro 10:7, Rev 9:1-2, Rev 9:11, Rev 11:7, Rev 17:8, Rev 20:1-3). It literally denotes the meaning ‘bottomless’.

 

The Lame Man (John 5, explained further in John 7:21-23)

 

In John 5:1-18 (and recounted in John 7:21-23), Jesus went up to Jerusalem because of the feast of the Jews (John 5:1). At the sheep pool of Bethesda having 5 porches was a man that was lame for 38 years and not able to be healed by the angel who stirred the waters (John 5:3-7).  Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made whole (John 5:6). Jesus healed him on the Sabbath Day and told him to take up his bed and walk (John 5:8-9).  This healing was also further discussed at the later Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:21-23.  This healing is a portrait of salvation for the following reasons:

• Whole – (Gr: hugies (G5199) – see above on healing as salvation)
• Rise (John 5:8-9) – (Gr: egeiro (G1453) – points to rising of Christ) – Christians are raised together with Him in salvation – Col 2:12, 1 Cor 15:52, Eph 2:5, Col 3:1, etc.
• Walk (John 5:8-9) – walk Walking in truth / walk in the Spirit ‑ Eph 5:2,7‑10, 1 John 1:6,7, 2:3‑6, 3 John 3‑4, 1 Th 4:1, Eph 5:2, Eph 5:8, Col 1:10, Gal 5:16, Ro 6:4
• Jews said it was not lawful to carry the bed on the Sabbath – John 5:10-11
• Jesus said – My Father works and I work – John 5:17, John 7:21 (admitted it was work – the healing was the work of God)
• Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him because he broke the Sabbath and said God was His Father making Himself equal with God – John 5:16-18 (see also Mat 27:1, Mk 3:6, Mat 12:14, Lk 6:11, John 10:39, John 11:53, John 11:57)
• At the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:21-23, Jesus pointed out that circumcision (which is a work, not given of Moses, but the fathers) is still done on the Sabbath day, whether it is a Sabbath or not (John 7:22-23). Jesus compared circumcision to making a man ‘every whit whole’ (G3650, G5199) on the Sabbath Day (John 7:23):
  • If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? (Joh 7:21-23)
    • Every whit whole – literally, wholly healed (G3650, G5199)
  • Circumcision – a Type of salvation (cutting away of the flesh with blood, seed of Abraham)
    • Physical circumcision – Gen 17:10-27, Gen 34:15-24, Ex 12:44-48, Gen 21:4, Josh 5:2-7, Lev 12:3, Ex 4:26, Lk 1:59, Lk 2:21, Phil 3:5, Acts 16:3, 10:45, 11:2, Ro 3:1, Eph 2:11, Col 3:11, 4:11
    • 8^th day – Gen 17:12, Gen 21:4, Lev 12:3, Lk 1:59 (John), Lk 2:21 (Jesus), Acts 7:8 (Paul)
      • David 1^st child of Bathsheba died on the 7^th day – 2 Sam 12:15-23
    • A sign of the seal of the true circumcision (Ro 4:9-12)
    • A covenant of works – Acts 7:8, Ro 2:25
    • A removal of the body of sin – Col 2:11-13 w/ Gal 5:24, 1 Cor 7:19
    • A type of grace, compared to the Sabbath Day – John 7:22-23, Ro 15:8
    • Those who worship God in spirit – Phil 3:3 (true circumcision)
    • A type of faith and works – Acts 15:1,5,24, Gal 2:3,7-9, 5:3-11, 6:12-15, Titus 1:10, Acts 10:45
    • Hearts circumcised ‑ Deut 10:16, Deut 30:6, Jer 4:4, Jer 9:25, Col 2:11, Ro 2:25‑29, Phil 3:3
    • Sons of Abraham – Gal 3:7, Gal 3:16, Gal 3:29, Lk 19:9, Ro 9:7, Acts 3:25
  • Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.  (Joh 7:24)

 

The Man Born Blind

 

In John 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind.  This miraculous healing is an important portrait of an elect child becoming saved. At the moment of salvation, the Christian’s spiritual eyes are made clear. In John 9:39-41, Jesus instructs us that He has come into the world that the blind many see.  That is, humans are in a state of spiritual blindness until the point of salvation.  At that time, their spiritual eyes are opened to see the truth of God (Eph 1:18).

 

Important to this study, we find that this healing was performed on the Sabbath Day (John 9:14).  When the Pharisees became aware of this healing, they stated that this healing was not done by a man of God since he broke the Sabbath Day (John 9:16).

 

In John 9:28, we also find that the Pharisees revile the healed man (portrait of a Christian) since he became a disciple of Jesus, while the Pharisees insisted that they were disciples of Moses.  In John 9:31, the healed man corrected the Pharisees and told them that God hears not sinners, but God heard Jesus and healed the man.

 

Sabbath not in NT References of 10 Commandments

 

• Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Rom 13:8-9)
• For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. (Jas 2:11)
• Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (Rom 2:21-23)
• And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (Luk 18:18-22)
• And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mar 10:17-21)
• He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Mat 19:18-21)
• Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:27-28)
• And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mar 12:28-31)
• But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:34-40)

 

The Daily (Sabbath Rest) Activities of a Christian

 

If it is understood that the Christian sabbath day is every day, then there is great harmony with many other Bible verses that teach what Christians are to do on a daily.  Unfortunately, the incorrect teaching that the Sabbath Day is on Saturday or Sunday implies that on this day a Christian is to act differently than on other days.  However, when we study other Bible verses we find that Christians in the apostolic age met together daily, worshiped God daily, exhorted one another daily and studied the Scriptures on a daily basis.

 

Christians met Daily: Daily Activities – New Testament

 

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

(Col 2:14-17, see also Heb 8:5, 9:9, 10:1, 13:9, Gal 4:10-11, etc.)

 

Turning to the New Testament, we find the fulfillment of daily activities in the following verses:

• Word of God – give us this day our daily bread – Mat 4:4, Mat 6:11, Ps 1:1-2, Ps 119:97-99, Deu 6:6-9, Deu 17:19; Jos 1:8
• Jesus and disciples taught and learned daily – Mk 14:49, Lk 19:47, Acts 2:46, 5:42, 6:1, 17:17, 19:9
• Pray without ceasing – 1 Thess 5:17, Ps 88:1, Lk 2:37, Lk 18:7, 2 Tim 1:3, prayer of incense (Ps 141:2)
• Die daily – 1 Cor 15:31
• Christians always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake – 2 Cor 4:11
• Take up cross daily – Lk 9:23
• His mercies are new every morning (Gospel light) – Lam 3:22-23
• Preached Gospel daily – 1 Thess 2:9
• Give us this day our daily bread – Mat 6:11, Lk 11:3 (note: Jesus is the bread of life, Mat 4:4, John 6:51, 58, etc.)
• Exhort one another daily – Heb 3:13
• Paul’s daily care for the churches – 2 Cor 11:28
• Jesus taught daily – Lk 19:47
• Jesus daily in the temple – Mk 14:49, Lk 22:53, Mat 26:55
• Take up one’s cross daily – Lk 9:23
• Christians die daily in service to Christ – 1 Cor 15:31
• Paul disputing daily for Christ – Acts 19:9, Acts 17:17
• Bereans searched Scriptures daily to verify truth – Acts 17:11
• Number of Christians increased daily – Acts 2:47, 3:2, 16:5
• Daily ministration to the saints – Acts 6:1
• Teaching and preaching daily – Acts 5:42
• Disciples met daily, broke bread and of one accord daily – Acts 2:46
• Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing – 1 Thess 5:16-17, 1 Thess 2:9, 2 Tim 1:3
• Present oneself as a living sacrifice – Ro 12:1-2
• Christians always delivered to death for Jesus’ sale – 2 Cor 4:11
• Paul offered upon the sacrifice of service– Phil 2:17, 2 Tim 4:6
• Offer the sacrifice of praise – Heb 13:15
• Christians are a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices – 1 Pet 2:5
• Helping Christians in need is a sacrifice (sweet savor) – Phil 4:18, Heb 13:16

 

It is reasonable to conclude that the ‘daily’ that was taken away was the Biblical expectation that Christians die daily by following Christ through Bible study, worship, witness, discipleship and service.  With these sacrifices and offerings God is well pleased.

 

Fellowship with Other Christians provides Rest

• For they have refreshed  my  spirit  and  yours:  therefore  acknowledge  ye them that are such.  (1Co 16:18)
• Therefore we were comforted  in  your  comfort:  yea, and  exceedingly  the more  joyed  we for  the  joy  of Titus,  because  his  spirit  was refreshed  by  you    (2Co 7:13)
• For we have  great  joy  and  consolation  in  thy  love,  because  the  bowels  of the  saints  are refreshed  by  thee,    (Phm 1:7)
• Yea, brother,  let me  have joy  of thee  in  the Lord:  refresh  my  bowels  in  the Lord.  (Phm 1:20)

 

Apostles Attend the Synagogue / Teach on Sabbath Day

• But when they  departed  from  Perga,  they came  to  Antioch  in Pisidia,  and  went  into  the  synagogue  on the  sabbath  day,  and sat down.  (Act 13:14)
• For they that dwell  at  Jerusalem,  and  their  rulers,  because they knew him not,    nor  yet the  voices  of the  prophets  which are read  every    sabbath day,  they have fulfilled  them in condemning   (Act 13:27)
• And when the  Jews  were gone  out of  the  synagogue,  the  Gentiles  besought  that these  words  might be preached  to them  the  next    (Act 13:42)
• And the  next  sabbath day  came almost the whole city together to hear  the  word  of God.  (Act 13:44)
• For Moses  of old time hath  in every city them that preach  him,  being read  in  the  synagogues  every sabbath day.  (Act 15:21)
• And on the sabbath  we went  out  of the  city  by  a river side,  where  prayer  was wont  to be made;  and  we sat down,  and spake  unto the  women  which resorted   (Act 16:13)
• And Paul,  as his manner was, went in  unto  them, and three sabbath days  reasoned  with them  out of  the  scriptures, (Act 17:2)
• And he reasoned  in  the  synagogue  every sabbath, and  persuaded  the Jews  and  the Greeks.  (Act 18:4)

 

Daily – Old Testament

 

The Hebrew word for ‘daily’ is tamiyd which occurs about 100 times in the Old Testament and literally means ‘continuance’.  It is important to note that the word ‘sacrifice’ is added by the translators in Daniel 8:11-14, Dan 11:31 and Dan 12:11 and does not appear in the original text. However, in Dan 9:27, term sacrifice and offering is used in place of daily (see further discussion below on Daniel Chapter 9).

 

The Hebrew word for ‘daily’ appears throughout the Old Testament.  In Psalm 25:13, the Scripture says that ‘my eyes are ever toward the Lord’ and Ps 51:3 says that ‘my sin is ever before me’.  In Ps 105:4, we are instructed to seek the Lord’s face evermore.  In Pr 28:14 we are told that happy is the man that fears the Lord always.  In Ps 16:8, the Lord is always before me.  Other actions that were performed ‘continually’:

• Kindness and truth – Ps 40:11
• Love Salvation – Ps 40:16, 70:4
• Praise the lord – Ps 34:1, 35:27, Ps 71:6
• God’s love and truth to be continually preserved – Ps 40:11
• Continually resort to God – Ps 71:3
• Fear God always – Pr 28:14
• Set Lord before me always – Ps 105:4, Ps 16:8, Ps 25:15
• Magnify the Lord – Ps 35:27
• Prayer – Ps 72:14-15
• Servant who hear wisdom of Solomon – 1 Ki 10:8, 2 Chr 9:7
• Lord’s eyes always upon the land – Deut 11:12
• Soul in God’s hand – Ps 119:107
• Keeping commandments, God’s law, statutes – Pr 6:21, Ps 119:44, Ps 119:117, Ps 119:109
• Mephibosheth – eat at king’s table (type of salvation) – 2 Sam 9:7-13
• People who stand continually before Solomon for wisdom – 1 Ki 10:8, 2 Chr 9:7
• Stand upon the watchtower – Is 21:8
• Gates open continually for salvation – Is 60:11
• Pray without ceasing – Ps 88:1, Lk 2:37, Lk 18:7

 

These verses are significant, but let us look at the ceremonial law regarding sacrifices and offerings.  We find that there were various ceremonial activities that were performed in the tabernacle on a daily (continual) basis:

• Showbread – Ex 25:30, 2 Chr 2:4, Num 4:7
• The box always on Aaron’s head (high priest) – represents Word of God – Ex 28:38
• Aaron goes into Holy Place – Ex 28:29-30
• Lamps burning with oil – Ex 27:20, Lev 24:1-8
• Burnt offerings – Num 29:6, Neh 10:33, Ezra 3.5, Num 28:3-31, Num 29:11-38, Ex 29:38, 29:42, 1 Chr 16:40, Ps 50:8, 2 Chr 2:4, Lev 6:13 (fire on altar), (Ex 29:38, Num 28:3 (two lambs))
• Food (meat) offering – Num 4:16, Neh 10:33, Lev 6:20, Num 28:4-6 (with the two lambs), Eze 46:14-15
• Incense altar burning – Ex 30:8
• Could by day, pillar of fire by night continually – Num 9:16
• Aaron’s breastplate – Ex 28:29-30
• Zacahrias fulfilling the priest’s course – Lk 1:5, Lk 1:8
• Priests stood daily ministering offerings – Heb 7:27, 10:11

 

From the above, we can see that there were two primary usages of the Hebrew word for ‘daily’:

1. Daily actions that involve worship and fellowship with the Lord, and
2. Various actions associated with the ceremonial law (including sacrifices and offerings)

 

It should be apparent that all the actions of the ceremonial law pointed to the work of Christ.  Also, the ceremonial law had many symbols that represented the Holy Spirit (oil, light), the church (lampstand), Christians (light), the Word of God (bread, food, light, etc.) and prayer (incense).  Since the activities of the little horn occur in the latter days prior to the return of Christ, we should see that although the ceremonial law had daily physical activities that needed to be performed, we find in the New Testament that these activities were completed in Christ and typified greater truths about Him.

 

Each Day to the Glory of God

 

• One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom 14:5-12)
• Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  (1Co 10:31)
• And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  (Col 3:17)
• And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  (Col 3:23)

 

What about the ‘First Day’ Bible Verses?

 

Many have used the following verses as a basis for changing the Sabbath Day from the 7^th day (Saturday) to the 1^st day of the week (Sunday): Mat 28:1, Mk 16:2, Mk 16:9, Lk 24:1, John 20:1, John 20:19, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2

• In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Mat 28:1
  • end of the sabbath – literally, ‘evening of sabbaths (plural)
    • End – Gr: opse (G3796) – 3 occurrences – evening (adverb), after close of the day (points to a new day is about to start) – see also G3798 (noun) notes on John 20:19
      • Mk 11:19 – When evening came, He went out of the city
      • Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  (Mar 13:35)
        • Even – after sunset (~ 6 pm)
        • Midnight – 12:00 am
        • Cockcrowing – 3 am
        • Morning – 6 am
      • Sabbath (Gr: sabbaton, G4521 – 68 occurrences (plural occurrences usually translated as ‘week’ – Mat 28:1, Mk 16:2, Mk 16:9, Lk 24:1, John 20:1, John 20:19, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2)
        • Note Lk 18:12 – week (sabbaton) is singular
      • Began to dawn – Gr: epiphosko (G2020) – literally – upon appearing (dawn)- 2 occurrences
        • G2017 – Gr: epiphauo (G2017) – upon light – only occurrence – Eph 5:14
          • Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  (Eph 5:14)
        • G2014 – Gr: epiphaino – literally, to shine upon – to appear – Acts 27:20, Tit 2:11, Tit 3:4 (see Gr: phaino (G5316) – to appear)
        • And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a epulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. (Luk 23:53-54)
      • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek)
        • One – Gr: mia (G3391) – one – 79 occurrences
          • Only translated as ‘first’ in Mk 16:1-2, John 20:1, John 20:19, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 16:2, Tit 3:10
        • Week – Sabbaths (plural)
      • And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark 16:2
        • Very early – Gr: lian (G3029) – literally, much
        • Morning – Gr: proi (G4404) – literally, before
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek) see above on Mat 28:1
      • Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9
        • Risen :Gr: anistemi (G450) – to stand again
        • Early – Gr: proi (G4404) – literally, before
        • First – Gr: protos (G4413) – literally first (beginning, best, first) – points to the fact that this day is the first after Christ’s resurrection
        • Day – not in Greek text
        • Week – G4521 – sabbaton (plural)
      • Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Luke 24:1
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek) – see Mat 28:1 above
      • The first day of the weekcometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.  John 20:1
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek) – see Mat 28:1 above
      • Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. John 20:19
        • Evening – Gr: opsios (G3798) – evening (as a noun) – G3796 on Mat 28:1 (adverb)
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’; the word ‘day’ is not in the Greek) – see Mat 28:1 above
      • And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. Acts 20:7
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek) – see Mat 28:1 above
      • Upon the first day of the weeklet every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  1 Cor 16:2
        • First day of the week – literally, ‘one of the sabbaths’ word, day not in the Greek) – see Mat 28:1 above

 

In 7 of the 8 of the above verses (all but Mk 16:9), the phrase ‘first day of the week’ is literally, ‘one of the Sabbaths’.  Due to the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross, the Sabbath is now fulfilled (Col 2:16-17, Heb 3-4).  Also, it can be seen that Jesus was resurrected on one of the Sabbaths.  More specifically, He was resurrected on the first of the Sabbaths (Mk 16:9).  Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ ushered in the Day of Salvation (2 Cor 6:2), the everyday Sabbaths have begun of the first of the Sabbaths (Resurrection Day).  The sabbath was an Old Testament symbol for the day of rest (a.k.a., the day of salvation).

 

While it is tempting to move the ‘Sabbath’ day from the 7^th day to the 1^st day of the week based on the above 8 verses, there is no Biblical commandment to do so.  It has been inferred by churches that since Jesus Christ was raised on the first day of the week, then the Sabbath has been changed to the Lord’s Day and therefore, Sunday should be the Sabbath Day.  But, again, there is no Biblical basis for this.

 

Of the above verses, 6 of the 8 verses point to the resurrection of Christ on the 1^st day of the week.  The other two verses (Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor 16:2) refer to breaking bread on the 1^st day of the week and taking up an offering.  However, we find other verses that point to the fact that the disciples broke bread on a ‘daily’ basis (Acts 2:46, Acts 6:1, etc. – see above verses on ‘Christians met Daily: Daily Activities’).  The phrase ‘first day of the week’ is literally ‘one of the sabbaths’.  The word ‘day’ is not in the original Greek of the New Testament.  The phrase ‘one of the sabbaths’ underscores the day of salvation since the sabbath day is a symbol from the salvation of resting in the word of Jesus Christ.  Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor 16:2 both point to things that are done on the Sabbath day of salvation (i.e., raising of the dead in Acts 20 and giving / serving others in 1 Cor 16:2).  Both in Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor 16:2, there is no command and no Biblical basis for changing the Sabbath day from the 7^th day to the 1^st day of the week.

 

Appendix – Bible Words for Sabbath and Rest (~310 occurrences)

 

Sabbath – Old Testament (~193 occurrences)

 

Shabbath (H7676 – intermission – 111 occurrences)

 

• Sabbath, 73
  • Exo 16:23, Exo 16:25-26 (2), Exo 16:29, Exo 20:8, Exo 20:10-11 (2), Exo 31:14-16 (5), Exo 35:2-3 (2), Lev 16:31, Lev 23:3 (2), Lev 23:11, Lev 23:15-16 (2), Lev 23:32 (2), Lev 24:8, Lev 25:2, Lev 25:4 (2), Lev 25:6, Num 15:32, Num 28:9-10 (2), Deu 5:12, Deu 5:14-15 (2), 2Ki 4:23, 2Ki 11:5, 2Ki 11:7, 2Ki 11:9 (2), 2Ki 16:18, 1Ch 9:32, 2Ch 23:4, 2Ch 23:8 (2), Neh 9:14, Neh 10:31 (2), Neh 13:15-19 (8), Neh 13:21-22 (2), Isa 56:1-2 (2), Isa 56:6, Isa 58:13 (2), Isa 66:23, Jer 17:21-22 (3), Jer 17:24 (2), Jer 17:27 (2), Eze 46:1, Eze 46:4, Eze 46:12, Amo 8:5
• Sabbaths, 34
  • Exo 31:13, Lev 19:3, Lev 19:30, Lev 23:15, Lev 23:38, Lev 25:8 (2), Lev 26:2, Lev 26:34-35 (3), Lev 26:43, 1Ch 23:31, 2Ch 2:4, 2Ch 8:13, 2Ch 31:3, 2Ch 36:21, Neh 10:33, Isa 1:13, Isa 56:4, Lam 2:6, Eze 20:12-13 (2), Eze 20:16, Eze 20:20-21 (2), Eze 20:24, Eze 22:8, Eze 22:26, Eze 23:38, Eze 44:24, Eze 45:17, Eze 46:3, Hos 2:11

Key passages:

• Blessed is the man  that doeth  this,  and the son  of man  that layeth hold  on it; that keepeth  the sabbath  from polluting    it, and keepeth  his hand  from doing   any    (Isa 56:2)
• For thus  saith  the LORD  unto the eunuchs  that  keep my sabbaths,  and choose  the things that  please  me, and take hold  of my covenant;  (Isa 56:4)
• Also the sons of the stranger,  that join themselves  to  the LORD,  to serve  him, and to love  the name  of the LORD,  to be  his servants,  every one  that keepeth  the sabbath  from polluting    it, and taketh hold  of my covenant;   (Isa 56:6)
• If thou turn away  thy foot  from the sabbath,    from doing  thy pleasure  on my holy  day;  and call  the sabbath  a delight,  the holy  of the LORD,  honourable;  and shalt honour  him, not doing    thine own ways,  nor finding    thine own pleasure,  nor speaking  thine own words:  (Isa 58:13)
• And it shall come to pass, that from    one new moon  to another,  and from one sabbath  to another,  shall all  flesh  come  to worship  before  me, saith  the LORD.  (Isa 66:23)
• Thus saith  the LORD;  Take heed  to yourselves,  and bear  no  burden  on the sabbath  day,  nor bring it in  by the gates  of Jerusalem;  (Jer 17:21)
• Neither carry forth  a burden  out of your houses    on the sabbath  day,  neither  do  ye any  work,  but hallow  ye the sabbath  day,  as  I commanded  your fathers.  (Jer 17:22)
• And it shall come to pass, if  ye diligently hearken unto  me, saith  the LORD,  to bring in  no  burden  through the gates  of this  city  on the sabbath  day,  but hallow the sabbath  day,  to do  no    work  therein; (Jer 17:24)
• But if ye will not  hearken  unto  me to hallow  the sabbath  day,  and not  to bear  a burden,  even entering  in at the gates  of Jerusalem  on the sabbath  day;  then will I kindle  a fire  in the gates  thereof, and it shall devour  the palaces  of Jerusalem,  and it shall not  be quenched.  (Jer 17:27)
• And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle,  as if it were of a garden:  he hath destroyed  his places of the assembly:  the LORD  hath caused the solemn feasts  and sabbaths  to be forgotten  in Zion,  and hath despised  in the indignation  of his anger  the king  and the priest.  (Lam 2:6)
• Moreover also I gave  them my sabbaths,  to be  a sign  between  me and them, that they might know  that  I  am the LORD  that sanctify   (Eze 20:12)
• But the house of Israel  rebelled  against me in the wilderness:  they walked  not  in my statutes,  and they despised  my judgments,  which  if a man  do,) he shall even live  in them; and my sabbaths  they greatly  polluted:  then I said,  I would pour out  my fury  upon  them in the wilderness,  to consume   (Eze 20:13)
• Because they despised  my judgments,  and walked  not  in my statutes,  but polluted  my sabbaths:  for  their heart  went  after  their idols.  (Eze 20:16)
• And hallow my sabbaths;  and they shall be  a sign  between  me and you, that ye may know  that  I  am the LORD  your God.  (Eze 20:20)
• Notwithstanding the children rebelled  against me: they walked  not  in my statutes,  neither  kept  my judgments  to do  them, which  if a man  do, he shall even live  in them; they polluted my sabbaths:  then I said,  I would pour out  my fury  upon  them, to accomplish  my anger  against them in the wilderness.  Eze 20:21)
• Because they had not  executed  my judgments,  but had despised  my statutes,  and had polluted  my sabbaths,  and their eyes  were  after  their fathers’    (Eze 20:24)
• Thou hast despised mine holy things,  and hast profaned  my sabbaths.  (Eze 22:8)
• Her priests have violated  my law,  and have profaned  mine holy things:  they have put no difference    between  the holy  and profane,  neither  have they shewed  difference between  the unclean  and the clean,  and have hid  their eyes  from my sabbaths,    and I am profaned  among   (Eze 22:26)
• Moreover this  they have done  unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary  in the same  day,  and have profaned  my sabbaths.  (Eze 23:38)
• And in controversy  they  shall stand  in judgment;  and they shall judge  it according to my judgments:  and they shall keep  my laws  and my statutes  in all  mine assemblies;  and they shall hallow  my sabbaths.  (Eze 44:24)
• And it shall be the prince’s part    to give burnt offerings,  and meat offerings,  and drink offerings,  in the feasts,  and in the new moons,  and in the sabbaths,  in all  solemnities  of the house  of Israel:  he  shall prepare the sin offering,  and the meat offering,  and the burnt offering,  and the peace offerings,  to make reconciliation  for  the house  of Israel.  (Eze 45:17)
• Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  The gate  of the inner  court  that looketh  toward the east  shall be  shut  the six  working  days;  but on the sabbath    it shall be opened,  and in the day  of the new moon  it shall be opened.   (Eze 46:1)
• Likewise the people of the land  shall worship  at the door  of this  gate  before  the LORD  in the sabbaths  and in the new moons.   (Eze 46:3)
• And the burnt offering that  the prince  shall offer  unto the LORD  in the sabbath  day  shall be six  lambs  without blemish,  and a ram  without blemish.   (Eze 46:4)
• Now when the prince  shall prepare  a voluntary  burnt offering  or  peace offerings  voluntarily  unto the LORD,  one shall then open  him the gate  that looketh  toward the east,  and he shall prepare his burnt offering  and his peace offerings,  as  he did  on the sabbath  day:  then he shall go forth;  and after  his going forth  one shall shut  the gate.  (Eze 46:12)

 

Shabbathon (H7677 – special holiday, cease, rest – 11 occurrences)

• And he said unto  them, This  is that which  the LORD  hath said,  To morrow  is the rest  of the holy  sabbath  unto the LORD:  bake  that( ) which  ye will bake  to day, and seethe  that  ye will seethe;  and that which  remaineth over  lay up  for you to be kept  until  the morning.  (Exo 16:23)
• 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.    (Exo 31:15)
• Six days  shall work  be done,  but on the seventh  day  there shall be  to you an holy  day, a sabbath  of rest  to the LORD:  whosoever  doeth  work  therein shall be put to death.  (Exo 35:2)
• It shall be a sabbath  of rest  unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls,  by a statute  for ever.  (Lev 16:31)
• Six days  shall work  be done:  but the seventh  day  is the sabbath  of rest,  an holy  convocation;  ye shall do  no work  therein: it  is the sabbath  of the LORD  in all  your dwellings.  (Lev 23:3)
• Speak unto  the children  of Israel,  saying,  In the seventh  month,  in the first  day of the month,  shall ye have  a sabbath,  a memorial  of blowing of trumpets,  an holy    (Lev 23:24)
• It shall be unto you a sabbath  of rest,  and ye shall afflict your souls:  in the ninth  day of the month  at even,  from even    unto  even,  shall ye celebrate  your sabbath.  (Lev 23:32)
• Also in the fifteenth    day  of the seventh  month,  when ye have gathered in the fruit  of the land,  ye shall keep a feast  unto the LORD  seven  days:  on the first  day  shall be a sabbath,  and on the eighth  day  shall be a sabbath.  (Lev 23:39)
• But in the seventh year  shall be  a sabbath  of rest  unto the land,  a sabbath  for the LORD:  thou shalt neither  sow  thy field,  nor  prune  thy vineyard.  (Lev 25:4)
• That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest  thou shalt not  reap,  neither  gather  the grapes  of thy vine undressed:  for it is  a year  of rest  unto the land. (Lev 25:5)

 

Rest – Old Testament

 

Shabath (H7673 – to cease, rest – 71 occurrences)

• And on the seventh day  God  ended  his work  which  he had made;  and he rested  on the seventh  day  from all    his work  which  he had made.  (Gen 2:2)
• And God blessed the seventh  day,  and sanctified  it: because  that in it he had rested  from all    his work  which  God  created  and made. (Gen 2:3)
• While the earth  remaineth,  seedtime  and harvest,  and cold  and heat,  and summer  and winter,  and day  and night  shall not    (Gen 8:22)
• And Pharaoh said,  Behold,  the people  of the land  now  are many,  and ye make them rest from their burdens.    (Exo 5:5)
• Seven days  shall ye eat  unleavened bread;  even  the first  day  ye shall put away  leaven  out of your houses:    for  whosoever  eateth  leavened bread  from the first day      until  the seventh  day,  that  soul  shall be cut off  from Israel.   (Exo 12:15)
• So the people rested  on the seventh    (Exo 16:30)
• Six days  thou shalt do  thy work,  and on the seventh  day  thou shalt rest:  that  thine ox  and thine ass  may rest,  and the son  of thy handmaid,  and the stranger,  may be refreshed.  (Exo 23:12)
• It is a sign  between  me and the children  of Israel  for ever:  for  in six  days  the LORD  made heaven  and earth,  and on the seventh  day  he rested,  and was refreshed.   (Exo 31:17)
• Six days  thou shalt work,  but on the seventh  day  thou shalt rest:  in earing time  and in harvest  thou shalt rest.   (Exo 34:21)
• And every oblation  of thy meat offering  shalt thou season  with salt;  neither  shalt thou suffer the salt  of the covenant  of thy God  to be lacking  from  thy meat offering:  with  all  thine offerings  thou shalt offer    (Lev 2:13)
• It shall be unto you a sabbath  of rest,  and ye shall afflict your souls:  in the ninth  day of the month  at even,  from even    unto  even,  shall ye celebrate  your sabbath.  (Lev 23:32)
• Speak unto  the children  of Israel,  and say  unto  them, When  ye come  into  the land  which  I  give  you, then shall the land  keep  a sabbath  unto the LORD.  (Lev 25:2)
• And I will give peace  in the land,  and ye shall lie down,  and none  shall make you afraid:  and I will rid  evil  beasts  out of  the land,  neither  shall the sword  go  through your land.  (Lev 26:6)
• Then shall the land  enjoy her sabbaths,  as long as it lieth desolate,  and ye  be in your enemies’  land;  even then  shall the land  rest,  and enjoy her sabbaths.  (Lev 26:34)
• As long as   it lieth desolate  it shall rest;  because  it did not  rest  in your sabbaths,  when ye dwelt  upon   (Lev 26:35)
• I said, I would scatter them into corners,  I would make the remembrance  of them to cease  from among men:   (Deu 32:26)
• And the manna ceased  on the morrow    after they had eaten  of the old corn    of the land;  neither  had  the children  of Israel  manna  any more;  but they did eat  of the fruit    of the land  of Canaan  that    (Jos 5:12)
• For the LORD hath made Jordan  a border  between  us and you, ye children  of Reuben  and children  of Gad;  ye have no  part  in the LORD:  so shall your children  make our children  cease  from fearing the LORD.  (Jos 22:25)
• And the women said  unto  Naomi,  Blessed  be the LORD,  which  hath not  left  thee this day  without a kinsman,  that his name  may be famous  in Israel.  (Rth 4:14)
• And he put down the idolatrous priests,  whom  the kings  of Judah  had ordained  to burn incense  in the high places  in the cities  of Judah,  and in the places round about  Jerusalem;  them also that burned incense  unto Baal,  to the sun,  and to the moon,  and to the planets,  and to all  the host  of heaven.  (2Ki 23:5)
• And he took away the horses  that  the kings  of Judah  had given  to the sun,  at the entering in    of the house  of the LORD,  by  the chamber  of Nathanmelech  the chamberlain,  which  was in the suburbs,  and burned  the chariots  of the sun  with fire.  (2Ki 23:11)
• And it came to pass, when Baasha  heard  it, that he left off  building  of Ramah,  and let his work    (2Ch 16:5)
• To fulfil the word  of the LORD  by the mouth  of Jeremiah,  until  the land  had enjoyed her sabbaths:  for as long as    she lay desolate  she kept sabbath,  to fulfil  threescore and ten    (2Ch 36:21)
• And our adversaries said,  They shall not  know,  neither  see,  till    we come  in  the midst among  them, and slay  them, and cause the work  to cease.  (Neh 4:11)
• And I sent messengers  unto  them, saying,  I  am doing  a great  work,  so that I cannot    come down:  why  should the work  cease,  whilst  I leave  it, and come down  to  you? (Neh 6:3)
• So these three  men  ceased  to answerJob,  because  he  was righteous  in his own eyes.  (Job 32:1)
• Out of the mouth   of babes  and sucklings  hast thou ordained  strength  because of  thine enemies,  that thou mightest still  the enemy  and the avenger.  (Psa 8:2)
• He maketh wars to cease  unto  the end  of the earth;  he breaketh  the bow,  and cutteth  the spear  in sunder; he burneth  the chariot  in the fire.  (Psa 46:9)
• Thou hast made his glory   to cease,  and cast  his throne  down to the ground.  (Psa 89:44)
• Thou puttest away all  the wicked  of the earth  like dross:  therefore  I love  thy testimonies.  (Psa 119:119)
• The lot causeth contentions  to cease,  and parteth  between  the mighty.  (Pro 18:18)
• Cast out the scorner,  and contention  shall go out;  yea, strife  and reproach  shall cease.  (Pro 22:10)
• And I will punish the world  for  their evil,  and the wicked  for  their iniquity;  and I will cause the arrogancy  of the proud  to cease,  and will lay low  the haughtiness  of the terrible.  (Isa 13:11)
• That thou shalt take up this  proverb  against  the king  of Babylon,  and say,  How  hath the oppressor  ceased!  the golden city  ceased!  (Isa 14:4)
• And gladness is taken away,  and joy  out of  the plentiful field;  and in the vineyards  there shall be no  singing,  neither  shall there be shouting:  the treaders  shall tread  out no  wine  in their presses;  I have made their vintage shouting  to cease.  (Isa 16:10)
• The fortress also shall cease  from Ephraim,    and the kingdom  from Damascus,    and the remnant  of Syria:  they shall be  as the glory  of the children  of Israel,  saith  the LORD  of hosts.  (Isa 17:3)
• A grievous vision  is declared  unto me; the treacherous dealer  dealeth treacherously,  and the spoiler    Go up,  O Elam:  besiege,  O Media;  all  the sighing  thereof have I made to cease.  (Isa 21:2)
• The mirth of tabrets  ceaseth,  the noise  of them that rejoice  endeth,  the joy  of the harp    (Isa 24:8)
• Get you out of  the way,  turn aside  out of  the path,  cause( ) the Holy One  of Israel  to cease  from before   (Isa 30:11)
• The highways lie waste,  the wayfaring man    ceaseth:  he hath broken  the covenant,  he hath despised  the cities,  he regardeth  no    (Isa 33:8)
• Then will I cause to cease from the cities    of Judah,  and from the streets    of Jerusalem,  the voice  of mirth,  and the voice  of gladness,  the voice  of the bridegroom,  and the voice  of the bride:  for  the land  shall be    (Jer 7:34)
• For thus  saith  the LORD  of hosts,  the God  of Israel;  Behold,  I will cause to cease  out of  this  place  in your eyes,  and in your days,  the voice  of mirth,  and the voice  of gladness,  the voice  of the bridegroom,  and the voice  of the bride.  (Jer 16:9)
• If those  ordinances  depart  from before    me, saith  the LORD,  then the seed  of Israel  also  shall cease  from being    a nation  before  me for ever.    (Jer 31:36)
• And thou shalt say to  Jehoiakim  king  of Judah,  Thus  saith  the LORD;  Thou  hast burned  ( ) this  roll,  saying,  Why  hast thou written  therein,  saying,  The king  of Babylon  shall certainly come    and destroy  this  land,  and shall cause to cease  from  thence man  and beast?
  (Jer 36:29)
• And joy and gladness  is taken  from the plentiful field,    and from the land    of Moab;  and I have caused wine  to fail  from the winepresses:    none  shall tread  with shouting;  their shouting  shall be no    (Jer 48:33)
• Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab,  saith  the LORD,  him that offereth  in the high places,  and him that burneth incense  to his gods.  (Jer 48:35)
• The elders have ceased  from the gate,    the young men  from their musick.    (Lam 5:14)
• The joy of our heart  is ceased;  our dance  is turned  into mourning.  (Lam 5:15)
• In all your dwellingplaces  the cities  shall be laid waste,  and the high places  shall be desolate;  that  your altars  may be laid waste  and made desolate,  and your idols  may be broken  and cease,  and your images  may be cut down,  and your works  may be abolished.  (Eze 6:6)
• Wherefore I will bring the worst  of the heathen,  and they shall possess their houses:  I will also make the pomp  of the strong  to cease;  and their holy places  shall be defiled.  (Eze 7:24)
• Tell   them therefore,  Thus  saith  the Lord  GOD;  I will make this  proverb to cease,  and they shall no  more  use it as a proverb in Israel;  but    say  unto  them, The days  are at hand,  and the effect  of every    (Eze 12:23)
• And they shall burn thine houses  with fire,  and execute  judgments  upon thee in the sight  of many  women:  and I will cause thee to cease  from playing the harlot,    and thou also  shalt give  no  hire  any more.  (Eze 16:41)
• Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease  from  thee, and thy whoredom  brought from the land    of Egypt:  so that thou shalt not  lift up  thine eyes  unto  them, nor  remember  Egypt  any more.   (Eze 23:27)
• Thus will I cause lewdness to cease  out of  the land,  that all  women  may be taught  not  to do  after your lewdness.   (Eze 23:48)
• And I will cause the noise of thy songs  to cease;  and the sound  of thy harps  shall be no  more    (Eze 26:13)
• Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  I will also make the multitude  of Egypt  to cease  by the hand  of Nebuchadrezzar  king  of Babylon.  (Eze 30:10)
• Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  I will also destroy  the idols,  and I will cause their images  to cease  out of Noph;    and there shall be  no  more  a prince  of the land    of Egypt:  and I will put  a fear  in the land  of Egypt.  (Eze 30:13)
• At Tehaphnehes also the day  shall be darkened,  when I shall break  there the yokes  of Egypt:  and the pomp  of her strength  shall cease  in her: as for her,  a cloud  shall cover  her, and her daughters  shall go  into captivity.  (Eze 30:18)
• For I will lay the land most desolate,    and the pomp  of her strength  shall cease;  and the mountains  of Israel  shall be desolate,  that none    shall pass through.  (Eze 33:28)
• Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  Behold,  I am against  the shepherds;  and I will require  my flock  at their hand,    and cause them to cease  from feeding    the flock;  neither  shall the shepherds  feed  themselves any more;  for I will deliver  my flock  from their mouth,    that they may not  be  meat  for them. (Eze 34:10)
• And I will make with them a covenant  of peace,  and will cause the evil  beasts  to cease  out of  the land:  and they shall dwell  safely  in the wilderness,  and sleep  in the woods.  (Eze 34:25)
• And he shall confirm the covenant  with many  for one  week:  and in the midst  of the week  he shall cause the sacrifice  and the oblation  to cease,  and for  the overspreading  of abominations  he shall make it desolate,  even until  the consummation,  and that determined  shall be poured  upon  the desolate.  (Dan 9:27)
• After this shall he turn his face  unto the isles,  and shall take  many:  but a prince  for his own behalf shall cause the reproach  offered by him to cease;  without  his own reproach  he shall cause it to turn  upon him. (Dan 11:18)
• And the LORD said  unto  him, Call  his name  Jezreel;  for  yet  a little  while, and I will avenge the blood  of Jezreel  upon  the house  of Jehu,  and will cause to cease  the kingdom  of the house  of Israel.  (Hos 1:4)
• I will also cause all her mirth  to cease,  her feast days,  her new moons,  and her sabbaths,  and all  her solemn feasts.  (Hos 2:11)
• They are all adulterers,  as  an oven  heated  by  the baker,  who ceaseth  from raising    after he hath kneaded    the dough,  until  it be leavened.  (Hos 7:4)
• Hear this,  O ye that swallow up  the needy,  even to make the poor  of the land  to fail  (Amo 8:4)

 

H4771 (from H7280 – margoa – 1 occurrence) – a resting place

 

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.  (Jer 6:16)

 

H5117 / H5118 (nuach) – to rest

 

H5117:

• Gen 2:15; Gen 8:4; Gen 19:16; Gen 39:16; Gen 42:33; Exo 10:14; Exo 16:23; Exo 16:24; Exo 16:33; Exo 16:34; Exo 17:11; Exo 20:11; Exo 23:12; Exo 32:10; Exo 33:14; Lev 7:15; Lev 16:23; Lev 24:12; Num 10:36; Num 11:25; Num 11:26; Num 15:34; Num 17:4; Num 17:7; Num 19:9; Num 32:15; Deu 3:20; Deu 5:14; Deu 12:10; Deu 14:28; Deu 25:19; Deu 26:4; Deu 26:10; Jos 1:13; Jos 1:15; Jos 3:13; Jos 4:3; Jos 4:8; Jos 6:23; Jos 21:44; Jos 22:4; Jos 23:1; Jdg 2:23; Jdg 3:1; Jdg 6:18; Jdg 6:20; Jdg 16:26; 1Sa 6:18; 1Sa 10:25; 1Sa 25:9; 2Sa 7:1; 2Sa 7:11; 2Sa 16:11; 2Sa 16:21; 2Sa 17:12; 2Sa 20:3; 2Sa 21:10; 1Ki 5:4; 1Ki 7:47; 1Ki 8:9; 1Ki 13:29; 1Ki 13:30; 1Ki 13:31; 1Ki 19:3; 2Ki 2:15; 2Ki 17:29; 2Ki 23:18; 1Ch 16:21; 1Ch 22:9; 1Ch 22:18; 1Ch 23:25; 2Ch 1:14; 2Ch 4:8; 2Ch 9:25; 2Ch 14:6; 2Ch 14:7; 2Ch 15:15; 2Ch 20:30; Neh 9:28; Est 3:8; Est 9:16; Est 9:17; Est 9:18; Est 9:22; Job 3:13; Job 3:17; Job 3:26; Psa 17:14; Psa 105:14; Psa 119:121; Psa 125:3; Pro 14:33; Pro 21:16; Pro 29:17; Ecc 2:18; Ecc 5:12; Ecc 7:9; Ecc 7:18; Ecc 10:4; Ecc 11:6; Isa 7:2; Isa 7:19; Isa 11:2; Isa 14:1; Isa 14:3; Isa 14:7; Isa 23:12; Isa 25:10; Isa 28:2; Isa 28:12; Isa 30:32; Isa 46:7; Isa 57:2; Isa 63:14; Isa 65:15; Jer 14:9; Jer 27:11; Jer 43:6; Lam 5:5; Eze 5:13; Eze 16:39; Eze 16:42; Eze 21:17; Eze 22:20; Eze 24:13; Eze 37:1; Eze 37:14; Eze 40:2; Eze 40:42; Eze 41:9; Eze 41:11; Eze 42:13; Eze 42:14; Eze 44:19; Eze 44:30; Dan 12:13; Hos 4:17; Amo 5:7; Hab 3:16; Zec 5:11; Zec 6:8.

 

H5118:

• Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.  (2Ch 6:41)

 

H5146 (noach) – Noah

 

Gen 5:29; Gen 5:30; Gen 5:32; Gen 6:8; Gen 6:9; Gen 6:10; Gen 6:13; Gen 6:22; Gen 7:1; Gen 7:5; Gen 7:6; Gen 7:7; Gen 7:9; Gen 7:11; Gen 7:13; Gen 7:15; Gen 7:23; Gen 8:1; Gen 8:6; Gen 8:11; Gen 8:13; Gen 8:15; Gen 8:18; Gen 8:20; Gen 9:1; Gen 9:8; Gen 9:17; Gen 9:18; Gen 9:19; Gen 9:20; Gen 9:24; Gen 9:28; Gen 9:29; Gen 10:1; Gen 10:32; 1Ch 1:4; Isa 54:9; Eze 14:14; Eze 14:20.

 

H4494 / H4495 / H4496 (manoach) – quiet

 

H4495:

• Manoah (Samson’s father – Jdg 13:2, Jdg 13:8, Jdg 13:9, Jdg 13:11, Jdg 13:12, Jdg 13:13, Jdg 13:15, Jdg 13:16, Jdg 13:17, Jdg 13:19, Jdg 13:20, Jdg 13:21, Jdg 13:22, Jdg 16:31.

 

H4494:

• But the dove found  no  rest  for the sole  of her foot,  and she returned  unto  him into  the ark,  for  the waters  were on  the face  of the whole  earth:  then he put forth  his hand,  and took  her, and pulled her in  unto  him into  the ark.   (Gen 8:9)
• And among these nations  shalt thou find no ease,    neither  shall the sole  of thy foot  have  rest:  but the LORD  shall give  thee there  a trembling  heart,  and failing  of eyes,  and sorrow  of mind:   (Deu 28:65)
• Then Naomi her mother in law  said  unto her, My daughter,  shall I not  seek  rest  for thee, that  it may be well  with thee?  (Rth 3:1)
• And these are they whom  David  set  over  the service  of song  in the house  of the LORD,  after that the ark    had rest.     (1Ch 6:31)
• Return unto thy rest,  O my soul;  for  the LORD  hath dealt bountifully  with    (Psa 116:7)
• The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet  with  the wild beasts of the island,  and the satyr  shall cry  to  his fellow;  the screech owl  also  shall rest  there,  and find  for herself a place of rest.   (Isa 34:14)
• Judah is gone into captivity  because of affliction,    and because of great    servitude:  she  dwelleth  among the heathen,  she findeth  no  rest:  all  her persecutors  overtook  her between  the straits.   (Lam 1:3)

 

H4496:

• And he saw that  rest  was good,  and the land  that  it was pleasant;  and bowed  his shoulder  to bear,  and became  a servant  unto tribute.   (Gen 49:15)
• And they departed from the mount    of the LORD  three  days’  journey:  and the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD  went  before  them in the three  days’  journey,  to search out  a resting place  for them.  (Num 10:33)
• For ye are not  as yet    come  to  the rest  and to  the inheritance,  which  the LORD  your God  giveth    (Deu 12:9)
• Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased  them, and trode them down  with ease  over against    Gibeah  toward the sunrising.       (Jdg 20:43)
• The LORD grant  you that ye may find  rest,  each  of you in the house  of her husband.  Then she kissed  them; and they lifted up  their voice,  and wept.   (Rth 1:9)
• Then thine handmaid said,  The word  of my lord  the king  shall now  be  comfortable:  for  as an angel  of God,  so  is my lord  the king  to discern  good  and bad:  therefore the LORD  thy God  will be  with    (2Sa 14:17)
• Blessed be the LORD,  that  hath given  rest  unto his people  Israel,  according to all  that  he promised:  there hath not  failed  one  word  of all    his good  promise,  which  he promised  by the hand  of Moses  his servant.   (1Ki 8:56)
• Behold, a son  shall be born  to thee, who  shall be  a man  of rest;  and I will give him rest  from all    his enemies  round about:    for  his name  shall be  Solomon,  and I will give  peace  and quietness  unto  Israel  in his days.   (1Ch 22:9)
• Then David the king  stood up  upon  his feet,  and said,  Hear  me, my brethren,  and my people:  As for me, I  had in  mine heart  to build  an house  of rest  for the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD,  and for the footstool    of our God,  and had made ready  for the building:   (1Ch 28:2)
• He maketh me to lie down in green  pastures:  he leadeth  me beside  the still     (Psa 23:2)
• Unto whom I sware  in my wrath  that  they should not enter  into  my rest.   (Psa 95:11)
• Arise, O LORD,  into thy rest;  thou,  and the ark  of thy strength.   (Psa 132:8)
• This is my rest  for ever:    here  will I dwell;  for  I have desired    (Psa 132:14)
• And in that day  there shall be  a root  of Jesse,  which  shall stand  for an ensign  of the people;  to  it shall the Gentiles  seek:  and his rest  shall be     (Isa 11:10)
• To whom  he said,  This  is the rest  wherewith ye may cause the weary  to rest;  and this  is the refreshing:  yet they would  not     (Isa 28:12)
• And my people shall dwell  in a peaceable  habitation,  and in sure  dwellings,  and in quiet  resting places;   (Isa 32:18)
• Thus saith  the LORD,  The heaven  is my throne,  and the earth  is my footstool:    where  is the house  that  ye build  unto me? and where  is the  place  of my rest?   (Isa 66:1)
• Thou didst say, Woe  is me now!  for  the LORD  hath added  grief  to  my sorrow;  I fainted  in my sighing,  and I find no rest.   (Jer 45:3)
• The word which  Jeremiah  the prophet  commanded Seraiah  the son  of Neriah,  the son  of Maaseiah,  when he went  with  Zedekiah  the king  of Judah  into Babylon  in the fourth  year  of his reign.  And this Seraiah  was a quiet     (Jer 51:59)
• Arise ye, and depart;  for  this  is not  your rest:  because  it is polluted,  it shall destroy  you, even with a sore     (Mic 2:10)
• The burden of the word  of the LORD  in the land  of Hadrach,  and Damascus  shall be the rest  thereof: when  the eyes  of man,  as of all  the tribes  of Israel,  shall be toward the LORD.   (Zec 9:1)

H7280 (raga – 13 occurrences) – rest / quiet

• And among these nations  shalt thou find no ease,    neither  shall the sole  of thy foot  have  rest:  but the LORD  shall give  thee there  a trembling  heart,  and failing  of eyes,  and sorrow  of mind:   (Deu 28:65)
• My flesh is clothed  with worms  and clods  of dust;  my skin  is broken,  and become loathsome.   (Job 7:5)
• He divideth the sea  with his power,  and by his understanding  he smiteth through  the proud.   (Job 26:12)
• The lip of truth  shall be established  for ever:  but  a lying  tongue  is but for a moment.   (Pro 12:19)
• The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet  with  the wild beasts of the island,  and the satyr  shall cry  to  his fellow;  the screech owl  also  shall rest  there,  and find  for herself a place of rest.   (Isa 34:14)
• Hearken unto  me, my people;  and give ear  unto  me, O my nation:  for  a law  shall proceed  from    me, and I will make my judgment  to rest  for a light  of the people.   (Isa 51:4)
• But I am the LORD  thy God,  that divided  the sea,  whose waves  roared:  The LORD  of hosts  is his name.   (Isa 51:15)
• Thus saith  the LORD,  The people  which were left  of the sword  found  grace  in the wilderness;  even Israel,  when I went  to cause him to rest.   (Jer 31:2)
• Thus saith  the LORD,  which giveth  the sun  for a light  by day,  and the ordinances  of the moon  and of the stars  for a light  by night,  which divideth  the sea  when the waves  thereof roar;  The LORD  of hosts  is his name:   (Jer 31:35)
• O thou sword  of the LORD,  how long    will it be ere  thou be quiet?  put up thyself  into  thy scabbard,  rest,  and be still.   (Jer 47:6)
• Behold, he shall come up  like a lion  from the swelling    of Jordan  against  the habitation  of the strong:  but  I will suddenly  make him run away  from    her: and who  is a chosen  man, that I may appoint  over  her? for  who  is like me?  and who  will appoint  me the time? and who  is that  shepherd  that  will stand  before  me?  (Jer 49:19)
• Their Redeemer is strong;  the LORD  of hosts  is his name:  he shall throughly plead their cause,  that  he may give rest  to the land,  and disquiet  the inhabitants  of Babylon.   (Jer 50:34)
• Behold, he shall come up  like a lion  from the swelling    of Jordan  unto  the habitation  of the strong:  but  I will make them suddenly  run away  from    her: and who  is a chosen  man, that I may appoint  over  her? for  who  is like me?  and who  will appoint me the time?  and who  is that  shepherd  that  will stand  before  me?  (Jer 50:44)

 

Sabbath – New Testament (115 occurrences)

 

G4520 (sabbatismos – 1 occurrence)

There remaineth  therefore  a rest  to the  people  of God. (Heb 4:9)

 

G4521 (sabbaton – 68 occurrences)

 

Plural (week)

• In the end() of the sabbath,  as it began to dawn  toward  the first  day of the week,  came  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  to see  the    (Mat 28:1)
• And very  early in the morning  the  first  day of the  week,  they came  unto  the  sepulchre  at the rising  of the    (Mar 16:2)
• Now when Jesus was risen  early  the first  day of the week,  he appeared  first  to Mary  Magdalene,  out of  whom  he had cast  seven    (Mar 16:9)
• I fast twice  in the  week,  I give tithes  of all  that  I possess.  (Luk 18:12)
• Now upon the  first  day of the  week,  very early in the morning,    they came  unto  the  sepulchre,  bringing  the spices  which  they had prepared,  and  certain  others with    (Luk 24:1)
• The first  day of the  week  cometh  Mary  Magdalene  early,  when it was  yet  dark,  unto  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth  the  stone  taken away  from  the    (Joh 20:1)
• Then the  same  day  at evening,  being  the  first  day of the  week,  when  the  doors  were shut  where  the  disciples  were  assembled  for  fear  of the  Jews,  came  Jesus  and  stood  in  the  midst,  and  saith  unto them,  Peace  be unto you.  (Joh 20:19)
• And upon  the  first  day of the  week,  when the  disciples  came together  to break  bread,  Paul  preached  unto them,  ready  to depart  on the  morrow;  and  continued  his speech  until    (Act 20:7)
• Upon the first   day of the week  let every one  of you  lay  by  him  in store,  as    God hath prospered  him, that  there be  no  gatherings  when I come.  (1Co 16:2)

 

Sabbath (singular)

• At that  time  Jesus  went  on the  sabbath day  through  the  corn;  and  his  disciples  were an hungred,  and  began  to pluck  the ears of corn,  and  to eat.  (Mat 12:1)
• But when the  Pharisees  saw  it, they said  unto him,  Behold,  thy  disciples  do  that which  is not lawful    to do  upon  the sabbath day.  (Mat 12:2)
• Or have ye not  read  in  the  law,  how  that on the  sabbath days  the  priests  in  the  temple  profane  the  sabbath,  and  are  blameless?  (Mat 12:5)
• For the  Son  of man  is  Lord  even  of the  sabbath day.  (Mat 12:8)
• And, behold,  there was  a man  which had  his hand    And  they asked  him,  saying,  Is it lawful  to heal  on the  sabbath days?  that  they might accuse  him.  (Mat 12:10)
• And he  said  unto them,  What  man  shall there be  among  you,  that  shall have  one  sheep,  and  if  it  fall  into  a pit  on the  sabbath day,  will he not  lay hold  on it,  and  lift it out?  (Mat 12:11)
• How much then  is a man better    than a sheep?  Wherefore  it is lawful  to do  well  on the  sabbath days.  (Mat 12:12)
• But pray  ye that  your  flight  be  not  in the winter,  neither  on  the sabbath day:  (Mat 24:20)
• In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn  toward  the first  day of the week,  came  Mary  Magdalene  and  the  other  Mary  to see  the    (Mat 28:1)
• And they went  into  Capernaum;  and  straightway  on the  sabbath day  he entered  into  the  synagogue,  and taught.  (Mar 1:21)
• And it came to pass,  that he  went  through  the  corn fields  on  the  sabbath day;  and  his  disciples  began,  as they went, to pluck  the  ears of corn.  (Mar 2:23)
• And the  Pharisees  said  unto him,  Behold,  why  do  they on  the  sabbath  day that which  is not lawful?   (Mar 2:24)
• And he said  unto them,  The  sabbath  was made  for  man,  and not  man  for  the  sabbath:  (Mar 2:27)
• Therefore the  Son  of man  is  Lord  also  of the    (Mar 2:28)
• And they watched  him,  whether  he would heal  him  on the  sabbath day;  that  they might accuse    (Mar 3:2)
• And he saith  unto them,  Is it lawful  to do good  on the  sabbath days,  or  to do evil?  to save  life,  or  to kill?  But  they  held their peace.  (Mar 3:4)
• And when the sabbath day  was come,  he began  to teach  in  the  synagogue:  and  many  hearing  him were astonished,  saying,  From whence  hath this  man these things?  and  what  wisdom  is this which is given  unto him,  that  even  such  mighty works  are wrought  by  his  hands?   (Mar 6:2)
• And now  when the even  was come,  because  it was  the preparation,  that is,  the day before the sabbath  (Mar 15:42)
• And when the  sabbath  was past,  Mary  Magdalene,  and  Mary  the  mother of James,  and  Salome,  had bought  sweet spices,  that  they might come  and anoint    (Mar 16:1)
• And 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  for to read.  (Luk 4:16)
• And came down  to  Capernaum,  a city  of Galilee,  and  taught    them  on  the  sabbath days.  (Luk 4:31)
• And it came to pass  on  the second sabbath after the first,    that he  went  through  the  corn fields;  and  his  disciples  plucked  the  ears of corn,  and  did eat,  rubbing  them in their  (Luk 6:1)
• And certain  of the  Pharisees  said  unto them,  Why  do  ye that which  is not lawful    to do  on  the  sabbath days?  (Luk 6:2)
• And he said  unto them,  That  the  Son  of man  is  Lord  also  of the    (Luk 6:5)
• And it came to pass  also  on  another  sabbath,  that he  entered  into  the  synagogue  and  taught:  and  there  was  a man whose  right  hand  was    (Luk 6:6)
• And the  scribes  and  Pharisees  watched  him,  whether  he would heal  on  the  sabbath day;  that  they might find  an accusation  against him.  (Luk 6:7)
• Then said  Jesus  unto  them,  I will ask  you  one thing;  Is it lawful  on the  sabbath days  to do good,  or  to do evil?  to save  life,  or  to destroy  it? (Luk 6:9)
• And he was  teaching  in  one  of the  synagogues  on  the    (Luk 13:10)
• And the  ruler of the synagogue  answered  with indignation,  because  that Jesus  had healed  on the  sabbath day,  and said  unto the  people,  There are  six  days  in  which  men ought  to work:  in  them  therefore  come  and  be healed,  and  not  on the  sabbath    (Luk 13:14)
• The Lord  then  answered  him,  and  said,  Thou hypocrite,  doth not  each one  of you  on the  sabbath  loose  his  ox  or  his ass  from  the  stall,  and  lead him away  to watering?  (Luk 13:15)
• And ought  not  this woman,  being  a daughter  of Abraham, whom Satan  hath bound,  lo,  these eighteen      years,  be loosed  from  this  bond  on the  sabbath day?  (Luk 13:16)
• And it came to pass,  as he  went  into  the house  of one  of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.  (Luk 14:1)
• And Jesus  answering  spake  unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal  on the  sabbath day?  (Luk 14:3)
• And answered  them,  saying, Which  of you  shall have an ass  or  an ox  fallen  into  a pit,  and  will not  straightway  pull him out on the  sabbath  day?  (Luk 14:5)
• And that day  was  the preparation,  and  the sabbath  drew on.  (Luk 23:54)
• And they returned,  and prepared  spices  and  ointments; and rested  the sabbath day  according  to the    (Luk 23:56)
• And immediately  the  man  was made  whole,  and  took up  his  bed,  and  walked:  and  on  the  same  day  was  the sabbath.  (Joh 5:9)
• The Jews  therefore  said  unto him that was cured,  It is  the sabbath day:  it is not lawful    for thee  to carry  thy  (Joh 5:10)
• And therefore    did the  Jews  persecute  Jesus,  and  sought  to slay  him,  because  he had done  these things  on  the sabbath day.  (Joh 5:16)
• Therefore the Jews  sought  the more  to kill  him,  because  he not  only  had broken  the  sabbath,  but  said  also  that God  was his  Father,  making  himself  equal  with God.  (Joh 5:18)
• Moses therefore    gave  unto you  circumcision;  (not  because  it is  of  Moses,  but  of  the  fathers;)  and  ye on  the sabbath day  circumcise  a man.  (Joh 7:22)
• If a man  on  the sabbath day  receive  circumcision,  that  the  law  of Moses  should not  be broken;  are ye angry  at me,  because  I have made  a man  every whit  whole  on  the sabbath day?  (Joh 7:23)
• And it was  the sabbath day  when  Jesus  made  the  clay,  and  opened  his    (Joh 9:14)
• Therefore said  some  of  the  Pharisees,  This  man  is  not  of  God,  because  he keepeth  not  the  sabbath day.  Others  said,  How  can  a man  that is a sinner  do  such  miracles?  And  there was  a division  among    (Joh 9:16)
• The Jews  therefore,  because  it was  the preparation,  that  the  bodies  should not  remain  upon  the  cross  on  the  sabbath day,  (for  that  sabbath  day  was  an high day,)  besought  Pilate  that  their  legs  might be broken,  and  that they might be taken away.  (Joh 19:31)
• Then returned  they unto  Jerusalem  from  the mount  called  Olivet,  which is  from  Jerusalem  a sabbath day’s    (Act 1:12)
• But when they  departed  from  Perga,  they came  to  Antioch  in Pisidia,  and  went  into  the  synagogue  on the  sabbath  day,  and sat down.  (Act 13:14)
• For they that dwell  at  Jerusalem,  and  their  rulers,  because they knew him not,    nor  yet the  voices  of the  prophets  which are read  every    sabbath day,  they have fulfilled  them in condemning   (Act 13:27)
• And when the  Jews  were gone  out of  the  synagogue,  the  Gentiles  besought  that these  words  might be preached  to them  the  next    (Act 13:42)
• And the  next  sabbath day  came almost the whole city together  to hear  the  word  of God.  (Act 13:44)
• For Moses  of old time hath  in every city them that preach  him,  being read  in  the  synagogues  every    sabbath day.  (Act 15:21)
• And on the  sabbath  we went  out  of the  city  by  a river side,  where  prayer  was wont  to be made;  and  we sat down,  and spake  unto the  women  which resorted   (Act 16:13)
• And Paul,  as his manner was,    went in  unto  them,  and  three sabbath days  reasoned  with them  out of  the  scriptures,  (Act 17:2)
• And he reasoned  in  the  synagogue every  sabbath,  and  persuaded  the Jews  and  the Greeks.  (Act 18:4)
• Let no man  therefore  judge  you  in  meat,  or  in  drink,  or  in  respect  of an holyday,  or  of the new moon, or of the sabbath  days:  (Col 2:16)

 

G4315 (prosabbaton – 1 occurrence)

• And now  when the even  was come,  because  it was  the preparation,  that is,  the day before the sabbath  (Mar 15:42)

 

Rest – New Testament (45 occurrences)

 

G2663 (katapausis – rest down – 9 occurrences)

• Heaven is my  throne,  and  earth  is my  footstool:    what  house  will ye build  me?  saith  the Lord:  or  what  is the place  of my  rest?  (Act 7:49)
• So I sware  in  my  wrath,  They shall not enter  into  my  )  (Heb 3:11)
• And to whom  sware  he that they should not  enter  into  his  rest,  but  to them that believed not?  (Heb 3:18)
• Let us therefore fear,  lest,  a promise  being left  us of entering  into  his  rest,  any  of  you  should seem  to come short  of it. (Heb 4:1)
• For we which have believed  do enter  into  rest,  as  he said,  As  I have sworn  in  my  wrath,  if  they shall enter  into  my  rest:  although  the  works  were finished  from  the foundation  of the world.  (Heb 4:3)
• And in  this  place again,  If  they shall enter  into  my    (Heb 4:5)
• For he that is entered  into  his  rest,  he  also  hath ceased  from  his own  works,  as  God  did from    (Heb 4:10)
• Let us labour therefore  to enter  into  that  rest,  lest  any man  fall  after  the  same  example  of unbelief.  (Heb 4:11)

 

G2664 (katapauo – settle / rest down – 4 occurrences)

• And with these  sayings  scarce  restrained  they the  people,  that they had not  done sacrifice  unto them.  (Act 14:18)
• For he spake  in a certain place  of  the  seventh  day on this wise,  And  God  did rest  the  seventh  day  from  all  his    (Heb 4:4)
• For if  Jesus  had given them rest,    then would he not afterward    have spoken  of  another    (Heb 4:8)
• For he that is entered  into  his  rest,  he  also  hath ceased  from  his own  works,  as  God  did from    (Heb 4:10)

 

G372 (anapausis – a rest – 5 occurrences)

• Take my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me;  for  I am  meek  and  lowly  in heart:  and  ye shall find  rest  unto your    (Mat 11:29)
• When the  unclean  spirit  is gone  out of  a man,  he walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest,  and  findeth    (Mat 12:43)
• When the  unclean  spirit  is gone  out of  a man,  he walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest;  and  finding  none,  he saith,  I will return  unto  my  house  whence  I came out.  (Luk 11:24)
• And the four  beasts  had  each of them  six  wings  about  him; and  they were full  of eyes  within:  and  they rest    not  day  and  night,  saying,  Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  Almighty,  which was, and is, and is to come.  (Rev 4:8)
• And the  smoke  of their  torment  ascendeth up  for ever and ever:      and  they have  no  rest  day  nor  night,  who worship  the  beast  and  his  image,  and  whosoever  receiveth  the  mark  of his    (Rev 14:11)

 

G373 (anapauo – take a rest – 12 occurrences)

• Come unto  me,  all  ye that labour  and  are heavy laden,  and I  will give you rest.    (Mat 11:28)
• Then cometh  he to  his  disciples,  and  saith  unto them,  Sleep on  now,  and  take your rest:  behold,  the  hour  is at hand,  and  the  Son  of man  is betrayed  into  the hands  of sinners.  (Mat 26:45)
• And he said  unto them,  Come  ye  yourselves  apart    into  a desert  place,  and  rest  a while:  for  there were  many  coming  and  going,  and  they had no leisure so much as to eat.  (Mar 6:31)
• And he cometh  the  third time,  and  saith  unto them,  Sleep on  now,  and  take your rest:  it is enough,  the  hour  is come;  behold,  the  Son  of man  is betrayed  into  the  hands  of sinners.  (Mar 14:41)
• And I will say  to my  soul,  Soul,  thou hast  much  goods  laid up  for  many  years;  take thine ease,  eat,  drink,  and be merry.  (Luk 12:19)
• For they have refreshed  my  spirit  and  yours:  therefore  acknowledge  ye them that are such.  (1Co 16:18)
• Therefore   we were comforted  in  your  comfort:  yea, and  exceedingly  the more  joyed  we for  the  joy  of Titus,  because  his  spirit  was refreshed  by  you    (2Co 7:13)
• For we have  great  joy  and  consolation  in  thy  love,  because  the  bowels  of the  saints  are refreshed  by  thee,    (Phm 1:7)
• Yea, brother,  let me  have joy  of thee  in  the Lord:  refresh  my  bowels  in  the Lord.  (Phm 1:20)
• If ye be reproached  for  the name  of Christ,  happy  are ye; for  the  spirit  of glory  and  of God  resteth  upon  you:  on their part he is evil spoken of,  but  on your part he is glorified.  (1Pe 4:14)
• And white  robes  were given  unto every one of them;  and  it was said  unto them,  that  they should rest  yet  for a little  season,  until  their  fellowservants  also  and  their  brethren,  that should  be killed  as  they were should be fulfilled.  (Rev 6:11)
• And I heard  a voice  from  heaven  saying  unto me,  Write,  Blessed  are the  dead  which die  in  the Lord  from henceforth:  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they may rest  from  their  labours;  and  their  works  do follow them.  (Rev 14:13)

 

G3973 (pauo – stop, cease – 15 occurrences)

• Now when  he had left  speaking,  he said  unto  Simon,  Launch out  into  the  deep,  and  let down  your  nets  for  a draught.  (Luk 5:4)
• And they came  to him, and awoke  him,  saying,  Master,  master,  we perish.  Then  he  arose,  and rebuked  the  wind  and  the  raging  of the  water:  and  they ceased,  and  there was  a calm.  (Luk 8:24)
• And it came to pass,  that, as he  was  praying  in  a certain  place,  when  he ceased,  one  of his  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lord,  teach  us  to pray,  as  John  also  taught  his    (Luk 11:1)
• And daily    in  the  temple,  and  in every house,    they ceased  not  to teach  and  preach  Jesus    (Act 5:42)
• And set up  false  witnesses,  which said,  This  man  ceaseth  not  to speak  blasphemous  words  against  this  holy  place,  and  the  law:  (Act 6:13)
• And said, O  full  of all  subtilty  and  all  mischief,  thou child  of the devil,  thou enemy  of all  righteousness,  wilt thou not  cease  to pervert  the  right  ways  of the Lord?  (Act 13:10)
• And after the  uproar  was ceased,  Paul  called unto  him the  disciples,  and  embraced  them, and departed  for to go  into    (Act 20:1)
• Therefore watch,  and remember,  that  by the space of three years  I ceased  not  to warn  every  one  night  and  day  with    (Act 20:31)
• Who immediately  took  soldiers  and  centurions,  and ran down  unto  them:  and  when they  saw  the  chief captain  and  the  soldiers,  they left  beating  of Paul.  (Act 21:32)
• Charity never  faileth:  but  whether  there be prophecies,  they shall fail;  whether  there be tongues,  they shall cease;  whether there be knowledge,  it shall vanish away.  (1Co 13:8)
• Cease not  to give thanks  for  you,  making  mention  of you  in  my  prayers;  (Eph 1:16)
• For this cause  we  also,  since  the day  we heard  it, do not  cease  to pray  for  you,  and  to desire  that  ye might be filled  with the  knowledge  of his  will  in  all  wisdom  and  spiritual  understanding;  (Col 1:9)
• For then would they not  have ceased to be offered?  because that the  worshippers  once  purged  should have had  no more conscience  of sins.  (Heb 10:2)
• For he that will  love  life,  and  see  good  days,  let him refrain  his  tongue  from  evil,  and  his  lips  that they speak  no  guile:  (1Pe 3:10)
• Forasmuch then as Christ  hath suffered  for  us  in the flesh,  arm  yourselves  likewise  with the  same  mind:  for  he that hath suffered  in  the flesh  hath ceased  from sin  (1Pe 4:1)