Sabbath: For the Jewish People?
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
The ongoing theological debate on whether the modern believer should follow the biblical concept of Sabbath has been one that has been present since the beginnings of Christianity. One of the most prevailing arguments that tends to be brought up is that of “it was only for the Jewish people”. There are three main problems with that specific and major argument that need to be addressed in order for the main branches of doctrine to be truly in line with the Biblical truth: who started Sabbath, who is Sabbath for and racism.
The first problem with the idea of “sabbath only being for the Jewish people” is that of who instituted Sabbath. The first mention of Sabbath comes in the book of Genesis, 2:2 - 3 :
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Yahweh is the one who instituted the practice of Sabbath and who made it holy. Therefore, it isn’t some foreign concept that it only meant for the Jewish people of Israel. Note to the fact that since Adam - someone who was not denoted by race as the concepts of Israel and the Jewish religion didn’t exist yet - was born on the sixth day and lived in the Sabbath with God (Genesis 1:24 - 2:1 - 25). In truth, all of this means that the concept precedes the foundation of race, making the argument that all people should follow the commandment if they want to obey Yahweh's commands.
The second problem that comes with the Jewish sabbatical argument comes from something that Yeshua said explicitly. The book of Mark says that “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Yeshua does not say here that this reserved for the Jewish people, or for those who are specifically males. He is saying that men, as a species, are meant to follow Sabbath. If animals are able to bring glory and praise the living Lord Yahweh (Psalm 148), than who is man to not follow and praise Him by practicing what He brought to humanity?
The final element that needs to be covered when studying the idea of whether Sabbath is reserved to the Jewish people is that of racism. To insinuate that it is only for the Jewish people could perpetuate one's acquired belief that they are better than them or that one is superior to the other. However, the Hebrews, Jews and those who follow the law are those who stand in truth. There is a clear antisemitic message that is being delivered by Christians whenever the Sabbath is brought up; that is due to a clear theological separation that was made by the early Christians, who wanted to distance themselves from the Jewish people, even though it is through them that salvation is acquired (John 4:22).
In conclusion, Sabbath isn’t an element that is reserved for the Jewish people. It is a powerful tool and element of one’s spiritual life that was instituted by God and retold again by Yeshua once He came to Earth. Sabbath is made for man to be able to rest in the many stresses of life, from the 9-to-5 shift or the tireless work that is subjected on many believers. Like Yeshua said: “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people.”
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Sabbath: Sunday Service?
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
Modern christian theology dictates that the day of worship is meant to be on Sunday. However, the last article of Bible 101, the topic of Sabbath was discussed and its impact in the life of the believer. How Sabbath is meant to be lived is therefore something that is meant to be lived and understood fully by many believers in today’s modern world. This leads to the ever present debate: why should the modern follower of Yahweh worship Him on Sunday and not Sabbath? What are the arguments that support Sunday as the Lord’s Day? Can these arguments be dispelled?
Christ rose on Sunday
That seems to be a general consensus as to why Christians today go to church on Sunday. However, there is a fallacy in the argument that tends to get overlooked. If basic theology is to be followed and Yeshua truly died on Friday, therefore He did not die for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:38-40), but only two. If one delves into the Holy calendar set by Yahweh Himself in the books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, one can see that Passover (the feast He was celebrating in Matthew 26:17) was on a Tuesday, making His death on a Wednesday and His resurrection on a Saturday Sabbath. This fits very well with the calendar and the writings of Daniel, when He says “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” (Daniel 9:27).
Early Christians celebrated on Sunday
The two most pervasive bible verses used to support the argument to go to church on Sunday is that of Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2. Each verse present their own specific problem. The first verse, that of Acts of the Apostles 20:7, speaks of a meeting between early believers led by Paul. Further reading, specifically near the end of the verse presents that Paul had been preaching since the previous Sabbath - as Yahweh counts days from sunset to sunset - and that this had just been an extension of the preaching that He was giving. The second reading, that of 1 Corinthians 16:2 seems to be more complex, but can be simply understood by understanding who Paul is speaking to. He is talking to the people who follow the law and the Sabbath, knowing well that they cannot buy, sell or use money during Yahweh’s sacred period (Nehemiah 10:31), therefore the next best day would be on the first day of the week, Sunday.
Christians chose to worship Sunday
The idea that Christians chose to worship on Sunday and that trumps Yahweh’s holy day is blasphemous in nature. It presents the idea that we are above God in any way. However, He asks His creation to “Remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8 - 10) as it is “a sign between us so they would know that I the LORD made them holy” (Ezekiel 20:12). The question that arises with this argument is the following: who is the sovereign in your life, you or Yahweh? The answer to that is the source of your salvation and will determine your eternity.
In the end, there is no bible verse that discards the idea of Sabbath. The only thing that discarded Sabbath was us humans, when we forgot the love that the Lord gave us to rest. Sunday service is something that was created by man to celebrate something that was unfounded. The Bible is clear in its instructions on how to praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We should know that praising Him is at His appointed times and how He wants us to do it, so that we may see the true glory that He has planned for us all.
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Sabbath
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. (Exodus 20:8 - 11)
Christian theology is an ever expanding field of work. Within the folds of the Bible, new elements constantly appear, making believers of all denominations have to reconsider their beliefs. Sometimes, it’s a foundational belief. Sunday has long been the day of worship for most believers, but not forever. The Bible tells of another day, the Sabbath, where Israël was supposed to spend time in the presence of Yahweh. What is the practice of Sabbath? Why did it change to Sunday? In the modern age, are believers of the Most High supposed to practice Sabbath?
Sabbath, to be brief, is the day of rest and worship ordered by Yahweh at Mount Sinaï (Exodus 20:8 - 11). While it becomes institutional at that moment, the practice predates the Isrealites to the creation story: “ On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested[a] from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. (Genesis 2:2 - 3)”. The Sabbath is meant to be a day of rest, both physically and spiritually, while spending time in the presence of the Most High. This weekly occurrence lasted a full twenty-four hours, from sunset Friday to sunset on Saturday.
Why the day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday varies from person to person and is an entire argument. All the while, there is historical proof as to when the practice of Sunday service became popularized: the year 321. The change was made official by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, making it a day of rest across the Empire. Writings of the time by scholars could indicate an anti-semitic sentiment behind the changing of the date. Those analyses of the historical letters do not change the outcome; for the next seventeen centuries, the day of rest would be Sunday and not Saturday.
Common understanding of the day of Sabbath tends to be an acquired idea; a notion that has been passed along, but never researched by the listener. Practice of the Sabbath is now almost exclusive to people who practice Judaïsm, Hebrew Isrealites, Seventh-Day Adventists and smaller congregations. Should the practice be a universal one? Reading of the scripture leads one to believe that that was Yahweh’s intention. The first point that brings this to light is that it isn’t reserved to the jewish people, as Yahweh rested on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2 - 3). As well, He instituted the practice within the ten commandments in the Torah, telling His people that they are to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8 - 11). Finally, Yeshua speaks on the subject Himself during His time on Earth, saying that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
Yeshua says in the book of John, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Knowing what the Sabbath is, its history and why the modern believer should practice it should change perceptions. Knowledge of this sort is meant to be reasons to rejoice, as your relationship with Yahweh grows and you become a worker who knows scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). All the while, there is an almost ominous biblical verse that comes into play, that of Hosea 3:3. If the people refuse to acknowledge one of the ten commandments and Yahweh’s instructions, does it make sense why they perish? They lack knowledge and refuse to acquire it.
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The Covenant
I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth (Genesis 9:13)
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds… (Genesis 9:1 - 17, v. 13)
The Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:4 - 3:24) is oftentimes seen as a cautionary tale: perfection destroyed by the sin of disobedience. What was once a promise becomes a dream deferred, lost to humanity, seemingly forever. A tantalizing aspect of the story is that of the covenant that Yahweh creates with Adam after He puts him in the garden (Genesis 2:15 - 17). It’s a precedent that will continue all throughout the Bible: the concept of the covenant. What is a covenant? When does Elohim create these covenants? Why would He want one with us?
To define a covenant would be to understand that is an agreement between the two parties. In the legal sense, it holds weight as it is properly convened and accepted by those who are involved. Biblically, circumstances in which a covenant is made often have the person doing something for Yahweh and Him returning by doing something for the person and their descendants.
Most scholars can not agree on the number of covenants that Yahweh made in the Bible, with numbers varying wildly. However, what can be agreed upon by theologians and can be easily understood in the Bible is that there is a minimum of five: Edenic (Genesis 1:28 - 30; Genesis 2:15 - 17), Noahic (Genesis 9:12 - 17), Abrahamic (Genesis 12 - 17), Mosaic (Exodus 19 - 24) and Davidic (2 Samuel 7). Every one of these present how much love Elohim has for His people and His servants.
The source of these covenants between Yahweh and man come from Him: Yahweh sees what desire fills your heart (Psalm 37:4); what drove Noah, Moses, Abraham and David was wanting to know Elohim and serving Him. Call to Him and He will answer you, telling you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3). Matthew 6:33 says to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” God will intiate it and tell you what you must do as to not break the covenant that was made between you and Him.
What Yahweh did with them long ago, has not stopped for He has not changed (Numbers 23:19). Those who seek the Holy One of Israël with all of their hearts, of their power and time, will receive Him and build a relationship with Him. He will not abandon you, nor your descendants, as long as you all heed to His commandments and to the covenant that He made with you (Deuteronomy 28:1 - 2)
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Yeshua's Mission
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53: 1 - 2)
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53: 1 - 2)
The biblical story of Mary and the angel can easily considered to be one of the most famous. Everyone knows it in some form or another. The problem with such a known story is that the details tend to be forgotten. One of the notable ones is what Yeshua’s mission truly was. What was the mission for the Son of Man? Why did He come to Earth?
To answer the question of the mission of Yeshua, one must look at the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke. The book of Luke recounts that the angel told Mary that “Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever and His Kingdom will ever end” (Luke 1:33). To add to that, the Gospel according to Matthew says that an angel will visit Joseph and tell him “She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Yeshua [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Finally, further along in Yeshua’s life, in the book of Matthew 15:24, that “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” To be brief, Yeshua was sent to save the people of Israel as their king, to redeem them from their sins and align them to the Father.
The understanding of the original purpose as to why Yeshua came to Earth tends to generally lead to questions such as: who are the lost sheep of the nation of Israël? What about those who aren’t the chosen people of Yahweh?
To explain the lost sheep of Israël is to return to the book of Genesis, when Yahweh changes Jacob’s name to Israël (Genesis 28:10 - 22, Genesis 32: 1 - 32, v. 9 - 10, 24 - 31). He would have twelve sons, who would themselves have children and develop into the twelve tribes of Israël. After the reign of kings such as David and Solomon, the nation would be divided in two: Judah and Benjamin as well as the Nation of Israel, which incorporated the ten other tribes (1 King 11:29-31). This was due to Solomon's disobedience (1 King 11:11 - 13) The Nation of Israël would be driven out of the promised land by invaders and would seemingly disappear all over the Earth:
Israel is scattered sheep, driven away by lions. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and last, this King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon . . . (Jer 50:17)”
Yeshua, as the Good Shepherd, is supposed to bring all of the lost sheep of the House of Israël together once more. Bringing them back to Yahweh so that the people that He had chosen (Deuteronomy 6:7 - 9) can truly be the vehicle for salvation for people from all over the Earth (John 4:22).
For those who are not descendants of Israël, anybody can be part of Yahweh’s people: we see it with Ruth (Ruth 4:21 - 22), Rahab (Matthew 1:5) . Even in Egypt, people who were not of the house of Israël joined them in the Exodus (Exodus 12:38), eventually receiving the instructions of Yahweh after Moses’s time on Mount Sinaï. Yahweh does not exclude people from joining Him and His people; He wants humanity to get to know Him (Psalms 34:8) and obey his commandments (1 John 5:3).
In conclusion, the mission of Yeshua is to reconnect humanity to Yahweh, however, that is done by bringing back the lost sheep of Israël. Today, there are still people who have not found their identity in Israël, as it was written in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verse 26. The mission for the modern church is to present the Lamb of Yahweh; His people will hear the call and know their identity.
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Applying the Law
…7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert. 8 Now we know that the Law is good, if one uses it legitimately. 9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,… (1 Timothy 1:7 - 9)
…7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert. 8 Now we know that the Law is good, if one uses it legitimately. 9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,… (1 Timothy 1:7 - 9)
The Torah - the law that was prescribed by Yahweh and given to his servant Moses for the people of Israël - was, once upon a time, the law of the land. It wasn’t always respected (Numbers 14:20-23; 1 Samuel 8:7-8), but it was something that people attempted to live regularly. Today, that is no longer the case, due to the belief that the law was abolished - a reality that came from a misunderstanding of many passages in the New Testament. However, Yahweh calls for His people to follow the law: how are we supposed to do that?
To begin, one must understand what the Torah is. As previously mentioned in Grace or the Law?, “These laws are specific in nature, detailing how one is to serve Him”. One may serve Yahweh in many ways, especially today as we are a chosen people and a priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). That can be in the way that we act towards our family, friends, employees and coworkers. These laws should be seen as more of a lifestyle than a duty, as this change is made to bring you closer to Yahweh with every breath and step (Galatians 3:24, Berean Study Bible). Therefore, the Torah is a lifestyle.
With the understanding that Torah is a way you live your life more than a tiresome set of rules that you adhere to, understanding how it affects your life is important. As all things that are spiritual affect the physical world (Matthew 18:18), there must be positives to living in the law in this physical plane of existence. Yahweh never wanted us to live negatively (Jeremiah 29:11), so an analysis of the laws will prove that they are beneficial for us. Take the example of not committing fraud (Leviticus 19:35): it’s a nice thing to do for someone and both of you will come out of it as beneficiaries.
In all of the 613 laws that constitute the Torah, there is a breathtaking realisation that can take place if one thinks logically: you may be in the law without thinking about it. Some of the laws may not even apply to you. Consider this: if you’re not married, you can not commit adultery, therefore you have never infringed that law. The same can be applied if you’re not a soldier, a nazarite or know a leper; as there are laws specifically for those but they may not apply to your life, than to follow them is inherently simple.
In conclusion, the Torah that Yahweh prescribed to us is for our own good. To follow it everyday allows you to be holy, to align yourself with the Holy One who protected Israël. It is easy to follow the laws of this world, why not follow the ones that are prescribed by the Lord who created it? Meditate on His word and how you want to apply Yahweh’s truth in your life; you will be surprised by how much He wants you to follow Him.
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Prosperity Theology
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2:1 - 3)
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2:1 - 3)
What we watch and what we listen to are often dictated by small excerpts and titles. Whatever attracts the eyes tends to get our attention. In the modern church, ideas of riches and great earthly glory is commonly found in assemblies, with the original teachings being discarded. They attract the masses, creating mega-churches with lavish studios, selling products and sermons. This entire system is based of the Prosperity Theology. But is all of this truly in accordance with what the Bible says?
Prosperity Theology can be summarized as a contractual situation: if you have faith in Yahweh, you will receive financial blessings or a better life here on earth. Some call it “Wealth and Health” while others call it “Word of Faith” - to the believers, GOD reward their faithfulness with physical gifts. The covenant that was made between the Lord and those who follow Him is a means of financial gains, while the act of the cross destroyed sin, including that of poverty. Through giving tithe or other offerings to the preacher or the church, parishioners can receive much more than what they asked for - which can be compared to investing in the Stock market - and receive even more than that through the tool of prayer.
Teachings in this branch of learning tend to be based on misrepresentations or often too literal interpretations of biblical scripture such as passages Malachi 3:10, John 10:10 and the Parable of the talents, found in the book of Matthew, chapter 25 from verse 14 to 30. While their interpretations are wrong, the promises that Yahweh has for His people are right as He said that He would in Philipians 4:19.
The Prosperity Theology is a false doctrine.
The first teachings that were espoused by Yeshua and John the Baptist were of repentance (Marc 1:4, 15) . True doctrine bases itself on the idea of reconnecting ourselves to Yahweh, as we were separated by iniquities (Isaiah 59:2) and we need Yeshua to receive forgiveness as He is the way to the Father (John 14:6). That iniquity that started it all was the sin of Adam in the book of Genesis, and death spread itself to everyone (Romans 5:12 - 21). In fact, Yeshua is blatant when speaking on the concept of the rich, saying “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24). We, as His children, were never meant to search for the peace or prosperity of this world (Ezra 9:12; Deuteronomy 23:6)
While it is not wrong to argue that Yahweh communicated and used rich people such as Job, a young Solomon and Abraham to convey His message and love, the error comes when understanding the source of these riches. All of them had a deep connection with Yahweh that superseded the money and influence, as a true connection with the Holy One was their only goal. Prosperity theology does not prescribe a relationship with the Holy one as it was once done, but only for Him to be a conduit for one's selfish needs. Those that practice this belief have fallen to false teachers and commit idolatry by worshipping money and their carnal desires (Matthew 6:24).
Prosperity isn’t just about money or the fact that you are healthy; it goes well beyond that. When put in its original context of a semitic, nomadic and agricultural society, the term prosperity - which is roughly translated to tsalach - extends not past the individual and provides for all. It’s the ability to give to others the extra; to be able to borrow and not lend (Deuteronomy 15:6). That true prosperity comes from teachings and a continuous thirst for the Kingdom of Heaven and its principles (Mathew 6:33) ; the only way to do that is through the Messiah (Jean 14:6) , not any commercial, special tithe or televangelist.