Sabbath in the New Testament

If you've ever wondered about the Sabbath day in the New Testament this post is for you. Many people have told me that if the Sabbath was truly important for us it would have been mentioned by the Messiah or in the New Testament. The thing is though that the day of rest actually gets brought up a lot in the New Testament. More times than in the Torah! And with the New Testament only making up about a third of the whole of Scripture, the Sabbath appears in higher proportions than in the entire Old Testament.

Honoring the Sabbath day is such a foundational part of the lifestyle that Scripture teaches it often goes without saying. Sort of like how I've never seen the days of the week listed in order in a newspaper or magazine. This information is so obvious in our world that it's unspoken. The New York Times does not need to tell readers that Monday is after Sunday and that it's the most dreaded day of the week, but a time traveler from another era wouldn't realize what a "case of the Mondays" means. Knowledge that's ubiquitous in one culture is often lost on another.

If honoring the Sabbath is not part of your culture, then the implied presence of it is easy to miss. I think one of the reasons Peter, John, and Paul don't talk about observing the Sabbath more expressly is that it never crossed their minds that those who follow the Messiah would scratch off one of the ten commandments. 

And speaking of those ten commandments, do you realize the Messiah spent comparatively little time on the other nine? Sabbath keeping comes up far more often in the New Testament than things like not killing or having no gods in your life besides YHWH. Do we think YHWH has "freed" us from the restriction to not murder or that we can go ahead and lie and steal? Of course not! Even without saying much on the subject we know that the Messiah still wants us to honor these commandments. Hopefully seeing how much the Sabbath comes up throughout Scripture will help us to see how valuable it is to the Living Word.

Let's take a look at where Sabbath appears in the New Testament:

Hebrews 4:9 - There remains a Sabbath for the people of YHWH.

Did you hear that? This book was written many years after Yahusha ascended into Heaven and the writer of Hebrews still believed that the Sabbath was applicable to our lives.


Luke 6:5 - The Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath.

Why would the Messiah give himself this title if he wanted us to ignore this commandment? Does that make any kind of sense? He also described himself as the Good Shepherd - do we say he is out of the shepherding game? Do we think he used to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life for other people but not for us? Scripture tells us that not only did Yahusha keep the Sabbath but also that he has taken ownership of the idea of it. The commandment that his people make the seventh day a set apart one belongs to him.


Matthew 12:12 - It is permitted in Torah to do good deeds on the Sabbath.

You know how Yahusha was accused of violating the Sabbath day? Those accusations were false. Here he explains that the Torah actually permits healing on the Sabbath. This is not him bending the rules or blowing off part of Scripture. This is the Living Word explaining correct understanding of YHWH's commandments regarding the Sabbath. If his intent was to do away with one of the commandments in a year or two after his death he would not have spent so much time working to correct our understanding of it.


Acts 13:14 - They came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath.

I used to work for a Christian ministry that is very passionate about the book of Acts being a life manual for today's Believers. The ministry believes healings and miracles were not just limited to the early church, but what YHWH desires for his people today. I totally agree with this but I would also take things a step further: look at the other parts of the lives of the people in this book. These miracles happened through Sabbath keepers. Let's view this as a manual and live the way they did.


Luke 23:56 - They went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Here is an example of the Messiah's followers observing the Sabbath after his death. Many say there is too much pressing work that needs to be done to take a day of rest, but Yahusha's followers didn't violate the Sabbath, even for his sake. I imagine if these women had ever heard the Messiah teach that Sabbath keeping was not important they would have made an exception at such a significant time. But they didn't. The spices were an important part of burial tradition and it was clear they wanted to do this as soon as possible since they went "very early" in the morning after the Sabbath to anoint his body. 


Colossians 2:16-17 - Let no one judge you in connection with the Sabbath...except the Israelite body of the Messiah.

YHWH knew that many people would not understand our desire to honor his Sabbath, which is why he warned us not to let their opinion sway us. This also tells us that it's not optional. We are not free from judgment regarding the Sabbath (and also foods and feast days) so we can just do whatever we want. This verse tells us that judgment is passed by the body of the Messiah. As the bride, the body's beliefs on the Sabbath should be unified with the Messiah's.


1 Corinthians 16:2 - After one of the Sabbaths let everyone one of you lay aside and store up what YHWH has blessed him with.

The Sabbath day is still treated like a normal part of life here because it was. The Messiah never wanted his followers to give up a commandment of YHWH and early on his followers were aware of that.


Matthew 24:20 - Pray that you will not have to escape in winter or on the Sabbath.

Yahusha is talking here about a time that 2,000 years later has not yet happened. The escape in question is after the abomination of desolation occurs in the Temple. Why does he use this anecdote about praying that you won't have to flee on the Sabbath? It's obvious he expects his people to be aware of and desire to honor the Sabbath day.


Acts 17:2 - As was his custom, Paul went into a synagogue on the Sabbath and reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Why does Paul have a habit of teaching from Scripture on the Sabbath? Because that is an activity that is approved of on the Sabbath day. We do not see him working in his profession as a tent maker, traveling, or shopping on the set apart day. One of the greatest Scripture teachers of all time knew not to violate the Sabbath and we have no record that he ever did. The book of Acts frequently talks about what Paul was up to on the Sabbath, and his actions are always keeping with the commandment to set the day apart.


Acts 15:21 - For Moses from old times has in every city those that proclaim his teachings, with his Torah being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Here instructions are given on how to handle people coming into the faith that have no foundation of the commandments about set apart living. A few basic pointers are given to them (stay away from idols, sexual sin, and blood), and then Scripture tells us to get these people to start observing the Sabbath. On the Sabbath day, get to somewhere that is teaching YHWH's instructions so that you can learn how to live.


Revelation 12:17 - The dragon went to make war with the remnant of the woman's children, the ones that keep the commandments of YHWH, and have the testimony of Yahusha the Messiah.

The commandments and the Messiah. YHWH wants us to have both.

There are something like 58 express mentions of the Sabbath in the New Testament, so this is by no means a conclusive list. Did you ever realize what a popular word this was in Scripture?

More on the Sabbath: 
Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath
Six Reasons Why Believers Should Keep the Sabbath
Five Things the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath

A Hebraic Perspective on Acts 15:19-20

Let's talk about Acts 15! I have heard so many people use this passage to say the commandments have been done away with, or that we don't need to bother with the rest of Scripture's instructions as long as we stick to these four things:

"Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the nations who are turning to YHWH, but that we should write to them to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring, and from what is strangled, and from blood." -Acts 15:19-20

So that's all we have to do, right? Just focus on those four things, and don't worry about anything else. The rest of Scripture is really too much trouble, so let's just ignore it. I used to think this verse was giving permission for believers to ignore the Sabbath and set apart times, and eat unclean animals, and things like that. I thought I could do whatever I wanted as long as I wasn't being sexually immoral or didn't eat something that was sacrificed to an idol. I figured as long as I was sticking to that list that was enough. But then I finally read the next verse.

"For from ancient times Moses is read in congregation every Sabbath." -Acts 15:21

Does this verse seem to be a little out of place? What does Scripture reading each week have to do with verses 19 and 20? They are telling others to abstain from idols, whoring, strangled animals, and consuming blood...because on the Sabbath the Bible is read?

And - wait a minute - doesn't the part of the Scripture that's being read give us a lot of other commandments? Including the very commandments that many people believe are no longer valid because of the previous verses?

This is because those four instructions are a starting point, not a list totaling Scripture's instructions for believers. The disciples assumed that anyone coming to the faith would go to congregation each Sabbath and learn more! What are the writings of Moses? The Torah, which includes the bulk of instructions for believers. So by going and listening, these people would slowly learn the word of YHWH and all of Scripture's commandments. So they weren't saying, "this is all there is," but they did say, "here's your starting point - you'll learn the rest as you go."

Seriously, if the disciples thought that the commandments were done away with or not applicable to gentiles, why on earth would they send new believers to learn about them each week? Why would they take the time to teach Scripture's instructions if only those four things were important? That literally makes no sense! That would be like taking a job and your employer training you every single week in the way they used to do business and their old policies. Talk about confusing and a waste of time.

The disciples were giving some basic starting points for people new to the faith. When you're teaching something, you always start with the basics. If you're learning math, you need to start with numbers, counting, and addition before understanding calculus. Focusing on the basics doesn't negate the rest of mathematics. Starting with addition doesn't mean that multiplication or trigonometry aren't valid or valuable. You start with the basics and then continue learning as you go to school.

Scripture is extensive, and there's no way to grasp it all at once. In the book of Acts people from all nations and backgrounds are turning to the faith. Many of these people would have been completely unfamiliar with Scripture. Others were entrenched in idol worship and pagan traditions. The need in verses 19 and 20 to clarify that sexual immorality and idol worship are not okay shows us that many new believers were participating in these things, and even found them acceptable. These practices are wrong, and cause much damage to believers. So Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and other leaders were making a game plan to handle this. They selected a few starting points, and then figured believers would learn more of Scripture's instructions each week when they heard the writings of Moses read. Of course by even bringing up that Scripture is read on the Sabbath day they were showing that they expected new followers to be keeping the Sabbath day.

When we understand this passage to be a starting point when people come into the faith, it fits with the rest of Scripture. We can see that these instructions do not negate the rest of the commandments. In fact the leaders are actually advocating for Sabbath keeping in this very passage! This is not a write-off of the word of YHWH, but rather a place to start when we enter into the faith. We should be encouraged here to consistently study Scripture's instructions so that we can continue to grow in our faith and understanding of how we are to live.

Related posts:
What Does 'No Greater Burdens' in Acts 15 Mean?
On Peter's Vision
The Book of Hebrews
Galatians

Four Wintertime Sabbath Ideas

How do you like to spend the Sabbath day during the Winter months? Do you embrace the seasonality of this time of year? I really enjoy the different, slower pace that the cold brings. There is nothing like snow and ice to make for a cozy day of rest, snug inside the house. Here are a few habits that I have been enjoying through the wintertime. Any or all of these would be a lovely touch to the next Sabbath!

Four Habits for Wintertime Sabbaths:

1. Soup! Lately I've been making up a big pot of soup on Fridays. It's easy to do, doesn't need to be watched too closely, is frugal to make, and creates such a cozy environment. There's nothing like walking into a house when the soups on - especially if that means dinner is waiting in the crock pot after a busy day. And eating soup calls for a certain amount of slowness, it's a nice way to settle yourself and your family down to the pace of the Sabbath. Making a big pot doesn't take a whole lot more effort than a smaller batch and is a great way to ensure leftovers for Shabbat lunch. Just reheat and serve. Need a recipe? Here are some of my favorite soups!

2. Going to bed earlier. When the daylight turns into darkness much earlier it seems natural to climb into bed sooner rather than later. Do you ever feel like it's really late, only to discover that it's 8:00pm? That might be your body trying to get you to get more sleep. With our circadian rhythm it is natural to rest more in the wintertime. I know with children, or depending on when your congregation starts, sleeping in is not an option for everyone. Try going to bed half an hour to an hour before you usually do to get more rest. Even if you don't fall asleep right away, climbing into bed earlier just to wind down, or to do some reading, can help you to rest better when you do doze off.

3. Blankets. It might be cold outside but you don't need to freeze in misery all day long. Wrap yourself up in a thick blanket while you study, watch a movie, read, or talk with family and friends. It is far more comforting and cozy to get out the blankets and thick socks than it is to crank up the heat. Plus, having blankets out signals to your body that it's time to relax. Getting outside for a bit can make you appreciate the contrast in temperatures all the more. Then get cozy!

4. Tea. Tea is perfect for the Sabbath. Do you want to extend a meal with family? Or offer something hot during fellowship time at congregation? Do you want to host a friend without it being a lot of work? Just switch on the kettle, and add hot water to a tea bag and steep for a few minutes. Having a few different selections means that anyone can find something they enjoy. Tea is the perfect way to show hospitality. With or without company, it's lovely to warm up with a steaming mug of tea on the Sabbath.

More on the Sabbath:
Sabbath in the New Testament
Tips for Resting on the Sabbath
Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness

Dear Torah Keeper

Dear Torah Keeper,

I am proud of you.

What you are doing is beautiful. You have chosen the narrow road. It takes a strong person to reroute the course of their life. It's not easy to stand up against centuries of tradition and loads of cultural pressure. But you're doing it! And doing so well.

I am proud of you when you mark the days on your calendar for the set apart times...even when you're not sure exactly how to celebrate. I am proud of you when you work to have a restful Shabbat again this week, even though last week didn't go how you wanted it. 

I'm proud of you for having those awkward conversations where you explain that you don't eat pork or that you can't eat leavened bread one week a year. I'm cheering you on when you have those tough discussions with your family about why you're not celebrating Christmas or Easter anymore. When you comfort an upset child because they feel different than the kids in their class or on their team...you are doing a work that will transform the Kingdom.

When you get those looks, those judgmental comments, when you are misunderstood, when you feel scrutinized or not good enough because someone else keeps Torah differently than you, I am proud of you for putting what you do know into practice. While you might beat yourself up for stumbling along the narrow road, all of Heaven cheers as you work to follow the instructions of your loving Father.

You're doing great and godly things when you rearrange your life and your work in order to honor the Sabbath. These are the kind of actions that will make our world a little bit closer to what the Creator intended. I am proud of you when you share what you've learned with people who don't agree. You're shining a light that will show many people the truth.

I am so proud of you for walking on this road. For keeping the commandments even when it's hard. I'm proud of you for trying your best. YHWH sees what you're doing and it's beautiful and precious to him.

You can do this.