What Jesus Said about the Sabbath

What did the Messiah say about the Sabbath? The Sabbath day holds a significant place in Judeo-Christian tradition. It symbolizes rest and spiritual renewal, and is mentioned well over 150 times in the Bible. This post takes a look at the words and teachings of Jesus about the Sabbath, examining his perspective on Sabbath rest, healing, and Biblical law. We will take a look at his words in the New Testament, and explore what that means for believers today.

Many people say that the Sabbath day is insignificant because it 'doesn't come up much,' in the New Testament, but that is not the case. If we remember that the Old Testament is three to four times the size of the New Testament, then it's actually the New Testament that brings it up more frequently! Jesus himself talks about the Sabbath at least 10 times, and it is mentioned about 50 times just in the Gospels.

The Messiah's words on the Sabbath:

"The son of man is master of the Sabbath." -Luke 6:5, Mark 2:28

Here the Messiah establishes that he has a deep relationship with the Sabbath, because you can only be master of something that matters to you. Sometimes people take this to mean he rules over the Sabbath, and therefore it's obsolete, but a good King does not do away with his kingdom. Rather, he rules over it with justice. So when Jesus says this, he's calling attention to the fact that he is the one who decides what is and is not appropriate Sabbath behavior. He does this because religious leaders at the time had added on all sorts of rules about what you couldn't do on the Sabbath. He's saying that we can get our Sabbath laws from him, and not abide by the traditions we grew up with.

"It is lawful to do good deeds on the Sabbath." -Matthew 12:12

Here's Jesus once again explaining what is actually permissible to do on the Sabbath, because at the time the religious leaders had placed significant restrictions on Sabbath keeping. The Bible's directions for keeping the Sabbath are focused on resting, not working, and worshipping YHWH. Nowhere in the Bible does it give nitpicky rules about the Sabbath, and it certainly never says that we can't help people or creation on this day.

"Sabbath was made for mankind." -Mark 2:27

The Messiah taught that Sabbath was made for us. It was created to be a gift to mankind. Because a day of rest is the gift that the world desperately needs right now. This passage of Scripture demonstrates that Jesus didn't intend for this to go away so that we could just be 'free' to work all the time. He's reminding us that it's a good thing to have the freedom to rest each and every week.

What Jesus said about healing on the Sabbath:

"Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" -Mark 3:4, Luke 6:9

"Shouldn't this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day?" -Luke 13:16

"Why are you angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?" -John 7:23

"If any of you has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?" -Matthew 12:11, Luke 14:5

"If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man's whole body on the Sabbath?" -John 7:23

Healing on the Sabbath was a major debate in Jesus's day. The Messiah frequently healed people on the Sabbath, which greatly offended the Pharisees and other religious leaders of that time. The Pharisees went as far to say that Jesus wasn't a Sabbath keeper and not from God because he did so. In fact, this was one of the main reasons they plotted to kill him (John 5:18). This was simply because they had decided it wasn't lawful to heal on the Sabbath. This is not a directive of Scripture. So when the Messiah healed on Shabbat, it was a violation of manmade religious law, not Biblical commandments. 

One of the key takeaways we have from this ongoing debate in the New Testament is that Jesus approved of stripping away tradition and religious customs in favor of what the word of God says. 

It's also noteworthy that he did a huge amount of healings on the Sabbath. This speaks to the simple truth that Sabbath is healing. It also demonstrates that God is not legalistic. Many people have the impression that YHWH would rather have people suffer than to have a healing happen on the Sabbath, and that is absolutely false! The Messiah often railed against the religious leaders for lacking mercy and compassion, and he purposefully healed on the Sabbath to show that God's nature is that he cares for people and wants them healed.

Related posts:
Did Jesus Break the Sabbath? The Meaning of John 5:18
What Jesus Said about Biblical Law
Five Things the Messiah Taught about the Sabbath

What Does the Bible Say about Veganism? (It's Not a Commandment)

This post explores what the Bible really says about veganism and whether believers must adhere to a vegan diet or not. Discover Biblical perspectives on dietary choices.

Does the Bible say that believers have to or "should" have vegan diets? What does Scripture say about veganism? If you're not familiar, veganism is a diet that only allows for plant based foods. No animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, honey, or dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, etc. are to be eaten by vegans. There are people who will tell you that the only way to truly eat Biblically is to have a vegan diet, but this belief is not consistent with Scripture. To cut to the chase, to say that the Bible says that believers have to be vegan is blatantly against the teachings of Scripture. It is Biblically permissible (and sometimes a requirement) to have animal products in our meals.

Many people look at YHWH's directive to Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the trees of the garden of Eden as a sign that this was God's original plan for mankind, and therefore his preferred option for us now. It's true that Adam and Eve were initially on a vegan diet, but it was very different than modern veganism. Adam and Eve ate only tree fruit. Since the ground wasn't tilled until after the fall, there would have been only perennial plants in the garden of Eden. Today the majority of most of the food we eat is made up of annual plants, not perennials. Annual plants include things like most grains, corn, soybeans, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, melons, beans, and a substantial portion of foods commonly eaten today. In order to truly eat like Adam and Eve, you would have to eat only tree fruit that is in season in your area. (You could also make the case that you would need to tend and harvest this fruit yourself.) Unless you live in the tropics, the season for tree fruit is only a few months of the year.

Adam and Eve were also naked in the garden of Eden. That does not mean going around nude is an appropriate choice for believers today. In cold temperatures exposure can be deadly. While nakedness may very well have been ideal at the time, we can all agree that that would not serve us well today.

If we look at the whole of Scripture, it quickly becomes apparent that while Adam and Eve may have eaten only plants, that's not a requirement for others. And since it's not a commandment of the Bible, it is wrong to act like or tell others that veganism is something that God expects of people today. Way too many people have been told that a vegan diet is the only way to please God. This is no different than the Pharisees claiming that before eating you had to do a ritual hand washing that they invented in order for food to be clean (Mark 7, Matthew 15). Neither is a commandment of Scripture. We know that the Messiah did not tolerate any stand-ins for Biblical instruction.

We will take a look at Bible verses that demonstrate that veganism is not a commandment.

Biblical evidence that veganism is not required of believers:

-The Bible articulates in concise language which animals can and cannot be eaten. If all animals were forbidden to believers, Leviticus 11 would be a much shorter chapter. It would simply say not to eat animals or animal products. But it doesn't say that. It tells us which animals are appropriate for food.

-Abraham and Sarah served milk, curds, and meat to their supernatural visitors - and weren't reprimanded for it. (Genesis 18:8)

-All believers were given the directive to eat lamb or goat on Passover. (Exodus 12:8)

-YHWH provided quail for the Israelites when they wandered the desert. (Numbers 11:31)

-The promised land is repeatedly described as a land of milk and honey...neither product is vegan. (Exodus 3:8, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27, Jeremiah 11:5)

-The Levitical priests were provided with meat from certain animal sacrifices, as directed by Scripture. (Leviticus 7:8)

-Animal products are frequently spoken well of throughout Scripture. The Torah is compared to both milk and honey...how crazy would it be for the Bible to liken the word of YHWH to something forbidden, or considered less than ideal?

-The Messiah's example of a "good gift" was an egg. (Luke 11:12)

-The Messiah himself served fish both before and after his resurrection. (Matthew 14:19, John 21:9)

-In Acts 10 when Peter had the vision of animals being lowered on a sheet and heard the words, "Kill and eat," his response wasn't that he had never eaten any animals, but that he hadn't eaten unclean animals.

-The shepherding culture of Israel...and before anyone tells you that they just kept sheep around for the wool, see 1 Corinthians 9:7, "Who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?"

These are just a few of many examples in the Bible about why veganism is not necessary or required for believers.

Balancing dietary choices with Scripture:

Now you can make an argument that you could eat only plant based products because the Bible doesn't say that you can't (although note that in Exodus in order to keep Passover, you ate lamb), and that choice is up to you. If you're eating at a restaurant, dinner party, or event where abominable animals are being served, sticking with vegan options can be an appropriate way to eat Biblically, as Daniel did when he was captive in Babylon. However, there being certain situations where only plants are eaten does not mean that this is a commandment of God. Whether or not you are a vegan, it would be wise to be mindful of the problems that have sprung up from this diet today.

Causes for concern about believers adhering to a vegan diet:

-Many vegans perpetuate the lie that veganism is a commandment when it is not. Veganism is a personal choice, nothing more.

-Often vegans emphasize how sad they find it that animals are being harvested for food. Acting like animal-consumption is cruel is an affront to the character of God who said this was okay. Dread of animal death is also a good way to skew the meaning of sacrifice in the Levitical priesthood, which can ultimately lead to misunderstanding the Messiah's sacrifice.

-The virtue-signaling is nauseating. I've met believers who are vegans who will talk about very little besides veganism. I've been excited to connect with others only to have the conversation be nothing but moral posturing and put-downs as people believe they are somehow above others and earning extra points with God for their veganism. To be clear, veganism does not get you extra points with God, just as Jesus did not give extra points to the Pharisees for their pre-meal rituals. Focusing too much on a specialty diet in conversations is a poor witness to others.

-Many people who claim to be vegans are not. Many "vegans" will talk continually of their diet and it's supposed superiority to what others eat, and then may knowingly help themselves to a dessert or other dish that is filled with dairy or meat at a congregational potluck. If you tell people that you don't eat animal products, and then you intentionally eat animal products, you are not a vegan. In fact, you are a liar. Again, this is a poor witness to those who already see people of faith as very hypocritical. 

-This is a self centered belief. Sure, if you're doing well in America today, it's relatively easy to go to a corporate grocery store and fill your cart with ready-to-eat vegan foods, and subsist only on them. But for most of history, it was simply not possible to survive, let alone thrive, without including any animal products in your diet. This is still true in many parts of the world today. It should give us pause if this supposed instruction of Scripture is only obtainable to those of a certain socio-economic status or geographic location!

-It places a huge stumbling block in front of others! We need to be careful that we do not place unnecessary obstacles in front of other believers or, as the Messiah said, "weigh them down with heavy burdens and not lift a finger to help them." We have no right to burden others with extra rules that are blatantly against what the Bible teaches - Jesus took issue with the Pharisees for doing just that in Mark 7. Just cutting pork and shellfish out of meals is extremely challenging for most people - and it's an effort that deserves to be celebrated! We should not treat a Biblically clean diet with meat and dairy as some sort of lesser option.

Eating only plants is not a commandment and should not be treated as such. The Bible does not call for a vegan diet. This creates the opportunity for people of all cultures and locations to honor YHWH by eating how he says, in a way that also makes sense with their local ingredients. According to Scripture, we are free to eat meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products from the animals in Leviticus 11.

Related posts:
Understanding Mark 7 (Jesus Made All 'Foods' Clean)
What the Bible Says about Meat and Dairy - And If They Can Be Mixed
How to Eat Biblically Clean
Why Daniel Refused to Eat the King's Meat

Biblically Clean Fall Recipes: Healthy Dishes for Autumn Inspired by Biblical Dietary Laws

Here are Biblically clean recipes for the fall harvest season! I love the abundant produce at this time of year and these recipes take advantage of seasonal ingredients like squash, pumpkin, broccoli, and apples. With everything from pasta to pot pie to apple pie bars to enchiladas cider waffles and harvest salads, you'll find recipes that will work well for meals or snacks for holiday gatherings like the Feast of Trumpets and Tabernacles, and they all work great for cozy meals anytime during the autumn season. Of course all the recipes listed here fit within the Biblical dietary laws and contain no pork, shellfish, or other animals that aren't considered food by Scripture. 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal from Making Thyme for Health

Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad from Half Baked Harvest

One Pot Fall Vegetable Orzo with Chickpeas from How Sweet Eats

Acorn Squash Soup  from Love and Lemons

Honeycrisp Apple Kale Salad from How Sweet Eats

Creamy White Bean Chicken Enchilada Soup from Ambitious Kitchen

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats with Chicken Sausage from Half Baked Harvest

Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie from Ambitious Kitchen

Cider Braised Pot Roast from How Sweet Eats

Apple Pie Bars from A Couple Cooks

Crunchy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Brown Butter Dressing from How Sweet Eats

Apple Sage Grilled Cheese from Love and Lemons 

Turkey Pumpkin Chili from Salt and Lavender 

Roasted Butternut Squash Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Couscous from Ambitious Kitchen

Cider Pumpkin Waffles from Half Baked Harvest

Pumpkin Turkey Chili from How Sweet Eats

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal from This Healthy Table

Pumpkin Soup from Love and Lemons

 Butternut Squash Chickpeas from Ambitious Kitchen

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread from A Couple Cooks

Spiced Pumpkin Maple Latte from Half Baked Harvest

Apple Cider Slushie from A Couple Cooks

More on Biblically clean food:
How the Bible Defines Food
What is Biblically Clean Eating?
Biblically Clean Soup Recipes

The Beginner's Guide to Yom Kippur (Day of Cleansing)

This is a guide to learning about and taking part in the Biblical holiday of the Day of Cleansing, also known as Yom Kippur or the Day of Covering, or the Day of Atonement. I believe this holiday that God told his people to celebrate and remember is still relevant today for New Testament believers. As with the other Bible holidays, it has historic and prophetic significance and points to the work of the Messiah, which we will learn about in this post. This guide will help you with the basics of Yom Kippur, it's spiritual significance, and how you can observe this set apart time in your life.

Even those familiar with the Biblical holidays haven't necessarily heard of the Day of Cleansing. Why are we referring to Yom Kippur as that instead of it's common English name, the Day of Atonement? Simply because if we study the Hebrew words and their context we see that atone is not necessarily the best fit for what happens at this significant day of Scripture. Animal blood from sacrifices was never about 'atoning' for the sins of God's people, but the Temple system was used for cleansing and as a covering. According to N.T. Wright, cleansing would be a more appropriate word choice.

Yom Kippur shares the same root word, kapporeth, with mercy seat, which was essentially the lid of the ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle. On the Day of Cleansing, the high priest would sprinkle blood from the sacrifice onto this lid, or mercy seat. Scripture tells us that God would speak from above this lid (Exodus 25:22, Numbers 7:89).

Please note that while the Bible gives instructions for sacrifices the Levitical priests were to make during Yom Kippur that doesn't mean we are to sacrifice animals today. Because the Messiah's priesthood is of the Melchizedek order, the Levitical priesthood is no longer in operation. This means that observing Yom Kippur today as a believer in Messiah will look different than the animal sacrifices that Scripture called for in the Tabernacle. However that doesn't mean Yom Kippur is done away with or not relevant to us - Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the priesthood was a shadow of how things work in heaven. That means we have a lot to learn from this Biblical holiday!

Looking at Yom Kippur from this perspective sheds new light onto what is often seen in Christian and Messianic circles as sort of a redundant holiday. After all, weren't our sins forgiven when the Messiah died on Passover? Why would they then need atoned for later? If we celebrate the Day of Cleansing from this perspective, it's not about repeating what happened on Passover, or needing an additional animal sacrifice to cover sins. Passover is about forgiveness and freedom, and on Yom Kippur we are called to go deeper in our faith. There is connection between these holidays but they are not the same. On Passover the Israelites left Egyptian slavery, and on Yom Kippur their land was returned to them! We are not called to stop at Passover.

What you need to know about the Day of Cleansing:

-It is a one-day holiday that typically happens in the early fall (in the northern hemisphere).

-Yom Kippur is in the Bible in passages such as Leviticus 23:27-32, Leviticus 16, and Numbers 29:7-11. It is also talked about in the New Testament in Acts 27:9, Romans 3, and the book of Hebrews 9:3-10.

-It is considered a Sabbath day, which means we are not to work. Like the weekly Sabbath, this is a day of rest.

-The Hebrew name for this holiday is Yom Kippur. It is often referred to as the Day of Atonement, but a better translation would be the Day of Cleansing or Covering.

-It is a day filled with reflection, repentance, and worship of YHWH.

Spiritual significance of the Day of Covering:

-Historically the Day of Cleansing was the only day of the year when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle.

-The jubilee year was announced by a shofar blowing on Yom Kippur. This meant a forgiveness of debt, restoration of family property, and restoration of financial equity. (Leviticus 25:9-10)

-The Biblical 'judgment day' is expected to happen on Yom Kippur. I think it's likely that this would look like the jubilee year, where the focus isn't on our shortcomings and mistakes but on restoration and release from bondage.

-On Yom Kippur the priest is directed to symbolically lay the sins of Israel onto a goat, which is then sent into the wilderness. This symbolizes a departure of sin from God's people. 

How to observe the Day of Cleansing:

-Take the day off of work, errands, homework, and household chores. Since this holiday is considered a Sabbath, we aren't to do any work on it and treat it as we would the weekly Sabbath. Honor YHWH with your full attention on this day.

-Scripture says this is a day to 'afflict' our souls. The word for afflict (ana - Strongs 6031) means something like occupy or busy yourself or humble yourself. I believe that we are called to use this day to carefully examine our hearts, minds, and lifestyle choices and see if they are in accordance with what the Bible says or not, and repent as necessary! We are called to humble ourselves before the Living God on Yom Kippur. Judaism has taken 'afflict' to mean that, if possible, believers should fast all food and water for the duration of this day. Setting aside food, can be one way to afflict ourselves certainly, but a fast is not explicitly called for in Scripture.

-Spend time in prayer. In addition to confessing our sins, the Day of Cleansing is an appropriate time to ask God to cover people, situations, and circumstances with his mercy and to cleanse us of wrong doing.

-Gather with other believers, if possible. Attend congregation if that's an option or think about inviting friends and family over for Bible study, worship, or fellowship time.

-Worship. While the Day of Covering is a more solemn holiday, there is much to celebrate and give thanks for! Take joy in being truly forgiven! Celebrate the Messiah being the ultimate sacrifice, and thank the Father for using this special time to strengthen your relationship with him.

-Have a special meal. If you are planning to fast, have a meal prepared ahead of time to break the fast with. 

More on the Day of Covering:
The Meaning of Yom Kippur
Prayer and Fasting on Yom Kippur
Day of Covering Scripture Reading List