Showing posts with label Shabbat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shabbat. Show all posts

Things Not Required for Sabbath Rest

Text says "Things not required to keep the Sabbath" in front of two loaves of challah bread with poppy and sesame seeds.


How do you participate in the Sabbath day correctly? Are there certain things you have to do to do it right? When I first started keeping the Sabbath day I was bombarded with feedback about what I had to do to "do it correctly." Christians, Messianics, and Jews alike warned that there were certain steps that, if skipped, would mean that my attempts at Sabbath rest "wouldn't count."

While the Bible gives us directions about the Sabbath day, those instructions are looser and less in number than most people realize. Scripture tells us to rest, not to work, and to worship YHWH and that's really the bulk of the commandments surrounding the day of rest. But well-meaning people would tell me that if I tore any toilet paper on the Sabbath, that would wipe out any physical benefit or spiritual credit that I might have gotten if I had kept the Sabbath 'perfectly.' I'd like to point out that this is not something the Bible says! 

Like the Pharisees who accused the Messiah of breaking the Sabbath, many of us have put our focus on what other people tell us about Sabbath observance, and not what the word of God says. | Land of Honey


Like the Pharisees who accused the Messiah of breaking the Sabbath in Matthew 12, many of us have focused our attention on what other people tell us about Sabbath observance, instead of what the word of God says. Jesus didn't actually break any rules in the Bible around the Sabbath day, he only broke the rules imposed by man.

You can keep the Sabbath according to what the Bible says, without worrying that you're doing it wrong if you skip on cultural expectations of what the Sabbath day "should" look like. 

Your home doesn't need to be clean for you to rest on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


You don't have to:

-Clean your house the day before. 

-Light candles.

-Have challah bread.

-Not use electricity or shut the light off in your refrigerator.

-Recite blessings.

-Make a fancy meal.

-Tear toilet paper ahead of time.

You don't need challah bread to keep the Sabbath | Land of Honey


And a whole lot of other things! If it's not in the Bible, it's not required. Note that there's not necessarily anything wrong with some of these things, but it is wrong to believe that we can only enter into YHWH's Sabbath rest when we've checked all these boxes. The gift of the Sabbath isn't about doing these things, it's about pausing to honor a commandment from the Living God! Make sure you're not telling people that it's harder than it really is or that they have to follow any instructions that aren't from the Bible.

Related posts:
What To Do on the Sabbath
Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness
What NOT To Do on the Sabbath

Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath

Why I'm Still Keeping the Sabbath | Land of Honey

You've heard why I first started keeping the Sabbath. It's been more than 11 years since then! I'm still keeping it. Here's why:

-The conviction still holds. Throughout the past decade plus, I have heard a zillion arguments for why believers don't need to honor the Sabbath. But none of these hold up under the examination of Scripture. As I continue to read and study YHWH's word, the significance of Sabbath comes up in many ways, and I still feel conviction to set apart this holy day. My faith has grown through this time of Sabbath keeping, and I'm more convicted of the importance of this than when I first started.

-I like it. I should be following the Bible's instructions whether I appreciate them or not, but I truly do enjoy and look forward to the Sabbath! It is a calming factor throughout the whole week. No matter how busy the season I find myself in is, I know I will have a break and time to rest each and every week, and I look forward to that. The time to rest and study the word is a joy, and I'm happy to be able to set aside work, chores, and other obligations on the Sabbath.

-It benefits me. I find myself overwhelmed with life far less often than I did before Sabbath keeping, even though I have more going on to balance. The mental, as well as physical, break refreshes me for the upcoming week, and I know myself to be far more productive 'working' six days a week instead of seven. My energy level is higher, I feel refreshed, inspired, and more alert mentally thanks to Sabbath keeping.

-It really is doable! Many people find this hard to believe but setting apart the Sabbath as a day of rest and not working is not too hard. It took time to learn how to rest and relax and not focus on the cares of the rest of the week, but once you know how, you know! Now that I'm used to keeping the Sabbath, it is completely natural to prepare for it and keep that day free of other commitments. My husband and I have both found jobs where we don't work on the Sabbath. Our families and friends have accepted this part of our lifestyle. I've found that the world does go on, even if I'm not participating in the same things that I used to on Saturdays.

-I can see how others who started keeping the Sabbath benefit. When I started keeping Sabbath I did so at the same time as my now-husband, my parents, and several other friends and families from our small congregation. They're still keeping Sabbath too and would tell you it is meaningful and valuable. I can see how their faith has grown through taking this tangible step of faith.

-To show others that it is possible. When I get together with people who don't keep the Sabbath, there's usually a clear theme: everyone is mind-numbingly busy and stressed to the point of tears. I hear this from friends, relatives, coworkers, and people in my community. I don't look down on anyone for not keeping the Sabbath - I didn't either for much of my life - but I do feel for those who are overwhelmed with no break in sight. I want to show others that even if you're juggling a million responsibilities and commitments, you can still partake in this incredible gift of rest and restoration from our God!

I don't look down on anyone for not keeping the Sabbath - I didn't either for much of my life - but I do feel for those who are overwhelmed with no break or rest in sight. I want to show others that even if you're juggling a million responsibilities and commitments, you can still partake in this incredible gift of rest and restoration from our God! | Land of Honey


More on the Sabbath:
Sabbath in the New Testament
Tips for Resting on the Sabbath
Things I Love about the Sabbath

Summertime Sabbath Ideas

Ideas for great Sabbath rest in the summertime | Land of Honey




How do you like to spend the Sabbath during summer months? Are you taking advantage of the season and enjoying the weather and fresh produce that this time of year offers? Here are a few ideas for making the most of summer!

Summertime Sabbath Ideas:

-Spend your day outside. Get outside for some fresh air! Not only is the fresh air and sunshine good for your health, but it can make for a more restful day. Being outside means I'm not as distracted by all the things there are to do at home, and my focus isn't on whatever work there is to get caught up on or what needs cleaned up around the house. If you have kids, getting them outside means less mess to clean up later. Time in creation naturally calls our attention to the Creator's ways. Enjoy your backyard, a nearby park, lake, or the beach.

-Fresh fruit. Can you beat the convenience or deliciousness of fresh fruit at this time of year? Make fresh produce a big part of your food intake on the Sabbath and you'll spend less time in the kitchen. Pick up whatever is in season at a nearby orchard, the farmers market, or the grocery store and you have instantly taken care of part of the food you'll need for the Sabbath. Have a big bowl of blueberries out to snack on, or serve peaches or melon for part of the meal, or dessert. Support your health while having less work to do!

-Sprinkler baths. While bathing kids can be a lot of work, sometimes it's necessary on the Sabbath. Why not make it a little easier - and a lot more fun - by swapping out the bathtub for the sprinkler, the hose, kiddie pool, or dip in the lake or swimming pool? Send kids out to swim or play in water and call it good enough. Make this chore into something a lot more fun for kids and more peaceful for you.

-Make ahead salads. In the warm weather, I find cold dishes so refreshing. Most salads are simple to make, and if you're utilizing a lot of fresh vegetables in raw form, they come together quickly. And is there a better feeling when you're hungry of opening up the fridge and seeing something delicious ready to eat? You don't need to be coordinated, just grab the salad when you're ready to eat, no need to heat up the kitchen or making sure the crockpot gets started by whatever time. Make a cold salad or two to enjoy on the Sabbath. Here are some great recipes to get you inspired.

Ideas for Sabbath rest in the Summer | Land of Honey


Related posts:
Five Ways to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath
Get Outside this Shabbat
Summer Salads for Shabbat

What Not To Do on the Sabbath

What Not To Do on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


What sorts of things are we supposed to avoid doing on the Sabbath? The Bible gives us instructions to rest and not to work, but what does that look like, practically, for us today? I want to point out some specific things we aren't to do, because when I first started keeping the Sabbath there were many things that I overlooked. As with the post on what to do on the Sabbath, this is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather a general guideline of Scripture's instructions surrounding the set apart day.

The Bible tells us that on the Sabbath day we shouldn't:

Work:

-Work professionally. Full time, part time, or as needed. This includes side hustles or any sort of gig. Whether you work for yourself or someone else, working should be avoided. See this post for information about how to stop working on the Sabbath.

-Do unnecessary household tasks. I'm talking about things like yardwork or doing the laundry or general cleaning, as well as tasks like balancing the checkbook or paying bills. These things could easily wait another day so that you can enjoy Sabbath rest.

-Work on special projects. This could be anything from party planning to blogging to helping someone move to finally hanging up that framed family photo.

-Promote your work or business. The Sabbath is not for professional networking or trying to solicit new business. Trust in YHWH to provide for your needs. 


Have someone work for us:

-Shop. If you go to a store or business then the employees are working on your behalf. Save your shopping list for another day.

-Hire help. If you need an electrician, plumber, etc. or if you pay someone to do yard work or to fix your vehicle, schedule that for a day that is not the Sabbath. I would also think twice before enrolling a child in dance class or art class that meets on the Sabbath, because the instructor would be working (not to mention that this wouldn't be very restful for you or your child).

-Run errands like going to the bank.

-Make appointments. Sabbath is not the day to call about getting an oil change or to set up a dentist appointment, etc. 

-Eat out. Going to a restaurant for a meal or coffee shop for a drink means that cooks, servers, baristas, etc. are working on your behalf.

-Give other people things to do. While there is nothing wrong with talking to friends and family, please be considerate of other people's day of rest and refrain from asking them to do things for you, whether that's look something up, email you information, or schedule an appointment. I know from experience that there is nothing relaxing about being asked to do some sort of errand or chore, even if the person doesn't expect you to do it until later in the week. Saving your requests for another day helps to promote a restful atmosphere for all.

What Not To Do on the Sabbath - how not to spend the day of rest | Land of Honey


I'd like to point out that these restrictions are for normal circumstances. The Messiah used the analogy of the ox in the ditch (Luke 14:5) to say that emergencies happen, and sometimes it is necessary to do something on the Sabbath that is not restful or ideal. If you are in need of the police, immediate medical care, etc. please do not hesitate to get the services you need!


The following are things not expressly ruled out by Scripture, but that generally don't lend themselves well to a day of rest. You can certainly choose to do these things if you wish, but consider if taking part in these is helping or hindering rest in your life.

A few more suggestions of things to avoid for a better Sabbath day:

-Spending the day on the internet. Is all of that time on social media doing you any favors? Does website hopping leave you feel refreshed or drained? Consider how your internet activity makes you feel, and see if YHWH is calling you to something better on the Sabbath.

-Watching the news. Tuning into the news is a great way to invite fear and anxiety into your life and home. Most of what the news covers has very little impact on our daily lives, and much of what is news today will be forgotten by tomorrow. Keeping the television shut off can make for a more peaceful atmosphere for your home.

-Stressing yourself out. Sabbath rest is a reminder that we depend on YHWH. Therefore, a great gift to give yourself and your family is to not ruminate on things that worry you, be that finances, needing to buy a new car, relationship trouble, or concern for a loved one. Instead of focusing on the 'what-ifs', redirect your thinking to remind yourself of YHWH's promise to work all things together for good. This post about how Scripture says to handle anxiety can help you to manage this.

-Trying to quickly knock something off your to do list. It's easy to let yourself think that if you just get whatever thing done, then you'll be able to rest. But you are called to set aside work, even when there are things to do or the house needs cleaned. Don't fall for the lie that rest can only be had when everything is done, or that whatever thing "needs" to be done. Unless it's an emergency, let it go and set apart the Sabbath.

Helping others to rest and how not to spend the Sabbath day. - What Not To Do on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Related posts:

What To Do on the Sabbath
Five Things the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath
How to Have a More Peaceful Sabbath

What To Do on the Sabbath

What to do on the Sabbath day - helpful guide to what you can do on the Sabbath | Land of Honey




If the Sabbath is a day of rest what are we supposed to do on it? What should this set apart day look like when we are pausing from so many of our regular activities? If we aren't working or "being productive" what can or should our day look like? I want to give some suggestions for Sabbath appropriate activities, because when I first started keeping this day set apart, I was forever wondering things like, should I be doing this? is this okay?

Note that these activities are suggestions. This is not a checklist of things to get done, but rather ideas for how you can enjoy the Sabbath day. Hopefully you are able to do a couple of things from the 'spiritual' category each week, but please don't feel pressured to try and do every single thing mentioned here each Sabbath. The beauty of the Sabbath is that it's not a day for being 'productive' or getting things done. It's the day when we are commanded to stop those other things and to rest and worship YHWH. If you "don't do anything" or get "nothing" done, it's more than okay.

What to do on the Sabbath to worship YHWH | Land of Honey


Here are some ideas for how we can spend the Sabbath.

Spiritual things to do:

Listen to or sing worship songs

Read Scripture

Do a Bible study

Attend congregation

Listen to a teaching or sermon

Study with friends and family

Listen to an audio Bible

Speak a blessing over yourself and others

Spend time in prayer


Self care related activities:

Personal hygiene

Nap

Take a bath

Go for a walk

Sit outside

Stretch

Have a cup of tea


Relationships:

Have lunch or dinner with family

Call or visit an older relative

Sit and talk with your spouse, friends, or family


Caring for others:

Basic care of children, the sick, and the elderly

Basic care of animals

Necessary house cleaning (i.e. cleaning up a broken glass or pet's accident)


Fun things to do:

Enjoy the beach or the lake

Play a board game

Watch a movie

Read

What to do on the Sabbath - ways to spend your time that are restful and honoring to the Creator | Land of Honey


These are ideas for how you can spend your time in Biblically permissible ways, not a conclusive list of all permissible activities on the Sabbath. Are you wondering about something not on the list? Familiarize yourself with Scripture's directions for the Sabbath. Then ask yourself some questions about that activity. Does this fit with keeping God's word? Would it be restful to do it? Would that cause someone else to work? Is it necessary to do this today?

The Sabbath is the day we are commanded to rest and worship. Those are the only things we need to accomplish. Give yourself permission to step back from the other things and enjoy the gift of rest and time with the Creator. We truly do well if that's what we accomplish on the Sabbath!

Related posts:
What Not To Do on the Sabbath
Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath
How to Stop Working on Shabbat

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath

Tips for More Rest on the Sabbath | Land of Honey

Awhile back, I asked on Instagram what tips readers have to make Sabbath rest possible - especially if you are a parent to young children, a caregiver, or take care of farm animals. Here are a few tips!

Tips for More Rest on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Let those in your care rest by putting on a movie or music, and then use that time to rest yourself.

Tips for More Rest on the Sabbath | Land of Honey



Enlist help from the entire household in getting ready for Sabbath. Go into the day of rest a little less exhausted by having your family chip in with preparations.

Tips for More Rest on the Sabbath | Land of Honey

Do everything through the week, a little each day. Feel free to divide up the work of any necessary Sabbath preparations at your household in whatever way works best for you.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Batch cook and have something ready that just needs to be popped in the oven. Batch cooking is simply cooking a larger amount (say a double batch) when you are cooking other meals. Use the extra for the Sabbath or stick it in the freezer for a convenient meal down the road.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Stop preparing gluttonous meals with meat, chicken, six sides, and desserts. Things don't need to be elaborate! Simple food is less stress and just as tasty.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey



Feed the kids mostly raw fruits and veggies all day, then throw a frozen meal in the oven. You can't beat the easiness of raw produce, and it's so important for our health! I love the simplicity of this and the practical benefits.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


We don't have a dishwasher so we use paper plates. Or be willing to turn a blind eye to the sink! I absolutely love this...the Sabbath does not require fine china, or a perfectly clean home. There's no shame in doing something easy or for not having a spotless house!

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Bake extra bread and cookies and freeze to eat on later Sabbaths. Keep your freezer stocked with foods you can easily turn to on the Sabbath.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


When needed, sign off of social media and turn off notifications. This is a great way to give yourself mental rest! No sense in having your rest interrupted all day long by silly or frustrating alerts and updates from your phone.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Give animals extra food and water to last them until Sunday.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Hang up a cabbage for chickens in the coop - keeps them busy and fed the next day!

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Let things be messy. It's a day of rest, not having a perfect home.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Skip kid baths unless absolutely necessary. And if they're necessary in the summer, send them outside to the sprinkler or hose (if that's easier) and call it good enough.

Tips for Resting on the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Remember that you have nothing to accomplish! Just connect with YHWH and your family and enjoy time with them.

Related posts:
Sabbath Prep and the Idol of Cleanliness
How to Stop Working on the Sabbath
20 Tips to Simplify Shabbat Prep

Seven Things the Bible Says About the Sabbath

Seven Things the Bible Says About the Sabbath | Land of Honey


Here are seven things the Bible says about the Sabbath day.

Exodus 31:16 says that the Sabbath is for all believers today! | Land of Honey




It is for all believers, even today.

"You are to observe the Sabbath throughout all generations as a perpetual covenant."
-Exodus 31:16

Sabbath is not just for natural born Israelites or people who identify as Jewish | Land of Honey



We are expected to keep the Sabbath even if we aren't native born Israelites.

"The sons of foreigners that join themselves to YHWH should guard the Sabbath."
-Isaiah 56:6

The Creator's Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week | Land of Honey



It is the seventh day of the week.

"YHWH blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because in it he rested from all his work."
-Genesis 2:3

Exodus 20:10 - you are not to do any work on the Sabbath day - Seven Things the Bible Says About the Sabbath | Land of Honey


We aren't supposed to work on it.

"The seventh day is a Sabbath for YHWH. On it you are not to do any kind of work."
-Exodus 20:10

The Sabbath is a day of rest to honor YHWH. -Exodus 35:20 - you are not to do any work on the Sa Seven Things the Bible Says About the Sabbath | Land of Honey


It is a day of rest.

"A Sabbath of complete rest to honor YHWH."
-Exodus 35:2

Isaiah 56:2 - Keeping the Sabbath is a delight. - verse of the day - Bible Scripture verses | Land of Honey



Keeping the Sabbath is a delight.

"Happy is the person who keeps the Sabbath."
-Isaiah 56:2

Sabbath is a sign between you and the Creator. - verse of the day - Seven Things the Bible Says About the Sabbath | Land of Honey











It is a sign between us and the Creator.

"You are to observe my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you through all your generations, so that you will know I am YHWH who sets you apart for me."
-Exodus 31:13

Related posts:
20 Things Scripture Says About the Name of YHWH
Sabbath in the New Testament
Joy of Shabbat: Finding Rewards in Sabbath Rest

Happy Are Those Who Set Apart the Sabbath Day

Happy are those who set apart the Sabbath day. - Isaiah 56:2 - Bible encouragement about happiness and joy | Land of Honey

Did you know that the Bible tells us one of the keys to happiness? I absolutely love this promise:

"Happy are those who set apart the Sabbath day." -Isaiah 56:2

First and foremost I keep the Sabbath simply because the Bible tells us to and I want to honor the Creator by doing my best to be obedient to that instruction. But I certainly cannot miss that Sabbath keeping has brought a slew of blessings to my life in the form of joy, peace, and rest.

It makes me happy that there is a day each and every week where I'm not striving or working to get ahead. Having not just permission, but specific instruction, to rest instead of head into work, or try to get a few things 'done'. It is a joy that YHWH instructed me to read or take a nap or focus on worshipping him instead of unload the dishwasher or do the laundry. In busy seasons, it gives me peace to know that I and my husband will have time together each Sabbath. It's peaceful to know that a day of restoration is never more than six days away.

Is my life perfect now that I am a Sabbath keeper? It is not, and it's important to note here that this verse doesn't say that we won't have any problems if we honor the Sabbath day. It doesn't say that we won't have worries or things to be upset about. But by resting on the Sabbath we are building up ourselves to be "content in all circumstances," (Philippians 4:12) and that means that we can have peace and joy, even when circumstances aren't to our liking. As we exercise our faith by putting the commandment of keeping the Sabbath day set apart into practice, we grow in the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, etc. If you want more of those blessings from the Creator in your life, then it's time to call his Sabbath a delight and set it apart.

Isaiah 58:13 - call the Sabbath a delight. Encouraging Bible verses. Sabbath rest is rest for our souls. | Land of Honey

More on the Sabbath:

Fifteen Things Scripture Says About the Sabbath
Things I Love About the Sabbath
What the Messiah Taught About the Sabbath

Sabbath in the New Testament

Sabbath in the New Testament - where Scripture talks about the day of rest for believers in Messiah | Land of Honey

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.

The Sabbath is in the New Testament - a look at what the Bible says about the day of rest | Land of Honey

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?

Sabbath rest remains for YHWH's people today. Hebrew's 8:10 - New Testament verses on the Sabbath | Land of Honey

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