Is the Shabbat for today?
Absolutely Positively Yes!
Many Christians and Gentiles, when asked if they believe in keeping the Ten Commandments, answer with a resounding "Yes!". Many will even have (often excerpts) of the Ten Commandments hanging on their walls in prominent places in house. All too often however, those ten commandments that they believe so much in keeping will stand there as a witness against them all the days of their life.
Here is the fourth Commandment:
Exod 20:9 (NKJV) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day [is] the Shabbat of the Yahweh your Elohim. [In] [it] you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who [is] within your gates. 11 For [in] six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that [is] in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Shabbat day and hallowed it.
All throughout history man has profaned the day Yahweh sanctified for rest. It was true even in the days when Isaiah was a prophet of Israel. Yahweh told him to stand in the gates of Jerusalem and instruct the rulers and people in Shabbat keeping, and rebuke them for their Shabbat desecration. (Isaiah 56:2-6, 58:13, 66:23)
150 years later the prophet Nehemiah asked the people:
Nehe 13:17 (NKJV) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing [is] this that you do, by which you profane the Shabbat day? 18 "Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Shabbat."
He then put forth measures for proper Shabbat keeping
Today is no exception. Keeping the Shabbat is indeed not a popular thing. We find large numbers of people reserving the seventh day Shabbat for worldly things rather than for holy things. Many start out to work on Shabbat morning. Many others spend the day doing their dirtiest cleaning chores, attending sports activities, buying, selling and just overall ignoring the Shabbat commandment. In the last 50 years, even keeping the Shabbat on the first day (Sunday) is ignored by those who believe in keeping it. Especially on days that it is inconvenient for them.
Yeshua and His Talmidim
(Disciples) Observed
and Kept the Shabbat
Many say that Yeshua defended Himself and His disciples for breaking the Shabbat. Think about this for a moment...If Yahshua broke the Shabbat then He did not keep the 4th commandment! Certainly our perfect Messiah kept the Shabbat and kept it perfectly. The issue was in how the Shabbat was to be kept. The scribes and pharisees had added over one thousand laws to Shabbat observance such as not carrying your bed or healing on the Shabbat.
John 5:8 (NKJV) Yeshua said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed , and walked. And that day was the Shabbat. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Shabbat; it is not lawful for you to carry [your] bed ." 11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, `Take up your bed and walk.' " 12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, `Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Yahshua had withdrawn, a multitude being in [that] place. 14 Afterward Yeshua found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Yahshua who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Yahshua, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Shabbat. 17 But Yeshua answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
Yeshua did not break the Shabbat according to Yahweh's commandment and neither did the man who was healed. But the Jews of that day had added these ideas of not healing, not carrying your bed and over a thousand other commandments of men that were added to Yahweh's commandment for the Shabbat. Yahshua emphasized that working for His purpose is never breaking the Shabbat. The Levites "broke" the Shabbat by sacrificing animals. Also circumcising a child on the Shabbat would have been forbidden if you could never work for His purpose. Yahweh knows the heart. That is why Yeshua said this.
Yeshua's custom was to go the the synagogue every Shabbat.
Luke 4:16 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day, and stood up to read.
It was a normal thing in those days. The idea of not keeping the Shabbat did not exist among the Jews of that day. This is why Yeshua did not emphasize it as much as the other commandments. The leaders of the day emphasized the outward appearance of serving Yahweh, but neglected important matters such as justice, mercy and faith.
Matt 23:23 (NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Note that Yeshua did say that "These you ought to have done". All too often people think all that is required of us is justice, mercy and faith because Yeshua had to emphasize it so much. Certainly these are important. But do not neglect the other points.
Yeshua is the founder of our faith. His teachings and example is in full harmony with Yahweh's will for our lives and is our highest authority. Did Yeshua abolish or change the Shabbat as a day for rest and worship? Yeshua declared Himself as "Master of the Shabbat". No scripture said that He had or would change the Shabbat, even after His death. Yeshua kept the commandments and came to set us an example. (John 8:55, 1Peter 2:21-22). In fact, Yeshua expects His followers in these last days to be praying about the Shabbat and keeping it:
Matt 24:20 (NKJV) And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Shabbat. 21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
A common form of reasoning against Yeshua's example of keeping the Shabbat is that He only 'went along' with Shabbat observance so that the law would be fulfilled. The problem with this reasoning is that it could be applied as an excuse to do away with anything Yeshua ever said or did! What percentage of His words and deeds are we to discount? This reasoning has no basis in scripture, it is only an attempt to ignore the example that Yahshua has given and also the example that the Heavenly Father gave when He created all things.
Another form of reasoning often used against Yeshua's example of Shabbat observance is that He only kept it because He was a Jew. But was the Shabbat made for all mankind or for Jews only? What did Yahshua teach?
Mark 2:27 (NKJV) And He said to them, "The Shabbat was made for man, and not man for the Shabbat.
While it is true that man was not made for the Shabbat, the Shabbat was made for man! Notice that Yahshua never said "The Shabbat was made for Jews, not Jews for the Shabbat," He plainly said the Shabbat was made for all mankind. When Yahweh rested on the 7th day as an example for us, a Jew did not even exist. Yahshua plainly knew the Scriptures when He said that the Shabbat was made for man:
Let's read the 56th chapter of Isaiah:
Isaiah 56:2 - Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Shabbat from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
It doesn't say "Blessed is the Jew that doeth this." In fact..
Isaiah 56:3 - Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to YAHWEH, speak, saying, YAHWEH hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 - For thus saith YAHWEH unto the eunuchs that keep my Shabbats, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 - Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 - Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YAHWEH, to serve him, and to love the name of YAHWEH, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Shabbat from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 - Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
This proves that the Shabbat was intended for anyone who has "Joined himself to Yahweh" for Yahweh says that "EVERYONE who keeps from defiling the Shabbat" will be accepted in His sight. To be certain, it is written that everyone will be observing His Shabbat day after the resurrection:
Isaiah 66:22 - For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith YAHWEH, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 - And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YAHWEH.
"All flesh" will be observing a regular Shabbat, not just Israelites or Jews therefore the teaching that Yeshua only kept the Shabbat because He was/is Jewish is simply false and not founded on any scripture whatsoever.
The Disciples Kept The Shabbat
Even the Apostle Paul, after being accused of teaching that the law had been abolished, said that He keeps the commandments:
Acts 24:14 (NKJV) "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Acts 25:8 (NKJV) while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all."
Now, unless Paul was lying here he had to have been keeping the Shabbat. In fact, he said that he didn't teach anything other than what the "Old Testament" writers taught:
Acts 26:22 (NKJV) "Therefore, having obtained help from Yahweh, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come-- 23 "that the Messiah would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles."
Many people would like to add: "......and abolish the law, especially the Shabbat." But this is very simply not there. You would think that such a momentous event as doing away with the Shabbat would be heavily prophesied in the Old Testament. But there is not a word about it. Rather to the contrary! (More on this later)
Even in the New Testament time period we see that the Gentiles and the Jews were keeping the Shabbat together in the Synagogue:
Acts 18:4 - And he reasoned in the synagogue every Shabbat, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Truly, the Shabbat was not for Jews only. James knew what day the Gentiles would be gathered:
Acts 15:19 - Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to YAHWEH:
20 - But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 - For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Shabbat day.
It was well known by James and others there that the Gentiles would be keeping the Shabbat and therefore would be in the synagogue on the Shabbat day and there they would learn more about Yahweh's law.
James also stated the same thing in his writings:
James 2:2 - For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
3 - and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
The word that is translated "assembly" in this scripture (verse 2) is the Strong's greek word 4864 "Sunagoge", translated synagogue 55 times in the new testament. I do wonder how many people honestly believe this scripture:
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in the Messiah Yahushua.
If you believe this then you cannot say that Yahweh holds one standard for one race of people and another standard for another race of people. This is not truth! Yahweh's law was never meant to be double sided.
Did Paul do one thing and preach another? Did he preach that the Shabbat had been abolished but yet keep the Shabbat himself? Did He really call the Galatians (some of whom were Jewish) "foolish" for observing the Shabbat day and then be a hypocrite by observing it himself?
I challenge anyone to show me one line of scripture that states that the keeping of the literal Shabbat is no longer a commandment of Yahweh. To say so is to say that the Ten Commandments is no longer for today. Some might cite Collosians 2. Read the study on Colossians 2 and see for yourself that indeed it PROVES that the keeping of the Shabbat is for today and has not been abolished.
The Sabbath is necessary in Spiritual development and growth
Why is it that so many people become believers in Messiah for a time but soon fall away back into the same sinful condition they were in before or perhaps even worse? For many it is because they fail to read God's word. Absorbing His word into our minds can fulfill us like nothing else. Words are very powerful. Often our actions and mannerisms are a carbon copy of our current group of friends or those we work with. There is wisdom in the proverb:
Prov 12:26 (NKJV) The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Words are "spirit". The very word "spirit" also means breath or wind. When we are around unbelievers in our work life or have unbelievers as friends, there are subtle influences that their words can have on us. The same holds true for Yahweh's word. However, when we read Yahweh's word we know we can put down our guard because His word is spirit, truth and life.
John 6:63 (NKJV) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life.
This is where the keeping the sabbath is so essential to our spiritual growth. If we have one day out of the week that we can withdraw ourselves from the world and its influences and concentrate on keeping the day holy by worshipping, praying and studying Yahweh's word, it truly strengthens our faith and a keeps us growing spiritually. Soon, keeping the Sabbath is no longer just a day of rest but rather a way of life! Often, the keeping of the sabbath will keep us from falling away. The idea of breaking it becomes unthinkable because it is the way we live! Just as it would be unthinkable to not go to work during the week. Ask anyone who keeps the Sabbath the way Yahweh wants us to and they will testify that it is truly a blessing!! Most importantly, it is keeping the fourth commandment.
John 14:15 (NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
The Holy Spirit is quenched by breaking the Sabbath just as it is quenched by murder or any disobedience. The principle is not "Give us the Comforter and then we will keep the commandments," but you must first take that step in obedience for the Spirit to do works in you. The gentiles in acts were given the Holy Spirit because they took a first step in obedience. Namely baptism. Clearly those who use the Sabbath day as a day for pursuing worldly pleasure, work or profit are not only missing out on a true spiritual blessing that will keep our minds and bodies strong but are also quenching His Spirit which leads us into all truth. Yahweh gives His Spirit to those who obey Him!
Acts 5:32 (NKJV) "And we are His witnesses to these things, and [so] also [is] the Holy Spirit whom Yahweh has given to those who obey Him."
Truly, when we disobey the truth given to us, then Yahweh will not convict us on more truth. But when we accept and obey the truth shown us, he will guide us into more truth.
The Shabbat is A Sign That We Are His People and Will Be Kept (Preserved) in the Future Kingdom
Exod 31:13 (NKJV) "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: `Surely My Shabbats you shall keep, for it [is] a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that [you] may know that I [am] Yahweh who sanctifies you.
The Shabbat is a sign between Yahweh and His people forever. And not just Israel, but for all who enjoin themselves unto the blessings and promises of Israel by accepting Yahshua the Messiah.
Isai 56:3 (NKJV) Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to Yahweh Speak, saying, "Yahweh has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree." 4 For thus says Yahweh: "To the eunuchs who keep My Shabbats, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. 6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to Yahweh, to serve Him, And to love the name of Yahweh, to be His servants--Everyone who keeps from defiling the Shabbat, And holds fast My covenant--
We know that not just Israel was to keep the Shabbat, but EVERYONE.
The Shabbat will also be kept when Yeshua returns:
Isai 66:22 (NKJV) "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says Yahweh, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass [That] from one New Moon to another, And from one Shabbat to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says Yahweh.
Does it Matter On Which Day We Observe the Shabbat?
Many have said that they believe that we should be keeping the Shabbat on the first day of the week (Sunday). Others say that we should keep every day as a Shabbat. What does the word of Yahweh have to say about these things? Let's examine the first statement concerning the first day of the week being the Shabbat. There are only eight passages in scripture that speak of the first day of the week. They are often used to "prove" a change of the Shabbat to Sunday so lets look at all eight to see whether any of them prescribes, allows or supports changing the Shabbat to the first day of the week.
Matt 28:1 (NKJV) Now after the Shabbat, as the first [day] of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The two Marys waited until the ending of the Shabbat--as the first day of the week began to dawn--before they went to Yeshua's sepulchre. Being Shabbat observers, it is reasonable that they would wait until the ending of the Shabbat and the beginning of the first day of the week before venturing out. This scripture says nothing of changing the Shabbat.
Mark 16:1 (NKJV) Now when the Shabbat was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary [the] [mother] of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first [day] of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
As Matthew 28:1 shows, the two women observed the Shabbat before venturing out on their mission to anoint the body of our Savior. They had the spices already purchased before the Shabbat. Now was a regular work day for them and not a new day of worship, as some claim.
Mark 16:9 (KJV) Now when [Yahshua] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Just because Yeshua appeared to Mary Magdalene on the first day of the week, it does not mean that He changed the Shabbat to Sunday. There is no statement here even hinting that.
Luke 24:1 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain [other] [women] with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Master Yeshua.
Clearly, Yeshua was already risen and gone before sunrise, which raises the question as to why there are Easter sunrise services? (A future article will be written on this subject) But again, nothing is said about resting or changing the Shabbat to Sunday.
John 20:1 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw [that] the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
John's account coincides with the others and still there is no mention of changing the Shabbat to a different day.
John 20:19 (NKJV) Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Yeshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you."
Some claim that this was a 'secret' meeting to change the Shabbat to Sunday. But the passage says Yeshua came and stood among them. He had died, was buried and had risen. The disciples, now locked in a room, were hiding from the Jews now that the Messiah had died. Suddenly, Yeshua stood in their midst. This would have been the perfect time to set them straight and now tell them that their had been a change in the Shabbat to the first day of the week. But their is no mention of anythign of this sort. A week later, when Thomas had doubts about Yeshua, the Saviour returned, but said nothing about worshipping on the first day of the week.
Acts 20:7 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
This is probably the scripture most quoted by those who believe that the Shabbat day was changed. Following Shabbat services, they had gathered in the evening (Saturday night). Paul was an esteemed visitor. Undoubtedly everyone wanted to talk with him after the Shabbat. They probably had many questions to ask him. This was not a Sunday worship service, but an after dinner talk lasting until midnight. Again, there is no mention of a change in the Shabbat.
1Cor 16:1 (NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
We find in Acts 11:28-30 and Romans 15:26 that the people in Jerusalem were having a great famine. The brethren were in dire need of food and help. Paul wants the brethren to prepare a collection of food and clothing on the first day of the week and keep it at home. He would come by and pick up the collections, bringing them to the needy in Jerusalem. This had nothing to do with bringing an offering to any meeting or worship service. It was a time consuming gathering of foodstuffs and clothing for the needy which the Crointhians were to do for transporting to Jerusalem. Now notice: Paul is not telling the people to "rest and worship---but to WORK by preparing the collections. The word day in the King James is in italics. This means that it is not in the ancient manuscripts. "Day" has been added because the translators assumed that Paul meant Sunday. Rather than reading "the first dayof the week" we should be reading "the first of the week." It could have been Sunday, Monday or even Tuesday and still have been the first part of the week.
The Disciples Kept the 7th Day Shabbat
84 Times in the Book of Acts
There are many scriptures that verify the Shabbat day being the 7th day of the week. In scripture, the first day of the week is called "The first day of the week". And in scripture, the 7th day of the week is called "The Shabbat". This fact alone should prove when the Shabbat truly is. However, let us examine the pattern of the disciples after Yahshua's resurrection in the book of acts to determine what day that they attended Shabbat Services and what day they expected others to observe. We will keep a count of how many times the Shabbat is observed.
We see one example in Acts 17:1...
Acts 17:1 (NKJV) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Shabbats reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 17:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying], "This Yahshua whom I preach to you is the Messiah." Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Here we see that Paul went to a Shabbat service where there were both Jews and Greeks. The scripture also mentions that this was a regular custom of Paul. Was this also the custom of Yeshua the Messiah?
Luke 4:16 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day, and stood up to read.
So here we can see that 22 years after Yeshua's death and resurrection the disciples were attending Shabbat services. In no place do we see Paul or any other disciple teaching them that they should come back the next day for a 'first day of the week' service. But they went to three Shabbat services where there were both Jews and Greeks present. So then the doctrine that says the Jews have their day (the 7th day) and the Gentiles have their day (the 1st day) is foreign to scripture Some would argue that Paul was at the synagogue only because that is where he would find people to witness to...not to observe the Shabbat. But the scripture does not say that. This is an assumption that those who refuse the simplicity of the scriptures want to make, not one that the scriptures support. Again, the Seventh Day is called "The Shabbat day" in this passage.
So lets see where we are at now..
Seventh day - 3 First day - 0
Another example is found in Acts 13...
Acts 13:13 (NKJV) Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day and sat down. Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men [and] brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."
So here is another example where Paul and the other disciples came to the Synagogue in Perga to attend the Shabbat Service.
Seventh day - 4 First day - 0
A little later in the chapter, after Paul shares Yahshua with them we see that the Gentiles were quite interested.
Acts 13:42 (NKJV) So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Shabbat.
Now here is a perfect situation for Paul to tell these Gentiles "Hey just come back tomorrow, we keep the Shabbat on the first day now!" But we don't see this written anywhere in scripture.
Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of Yahweh Acts 13:44 On the next Shabbat almost the whole city came together to hear the word of Yahweh.
So here is the fifth time that the disciples attended a Shabbat service on the day that Yahweh sanctified at creation. Again, the seventh day is called "the Shabbat" in this passage.
Seventh day - 5 First day - 0
Here is another example in Acts 16...
Acts 16:11 (NKJV) Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next [day] came to Neapolis, Acts 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. Acts 16:13 And on the Shabbat day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met [there].
It was the custom of the Jews of that day for the rabbi to shut down the synagogue if there were not at least 10 men that would show up for the Shabbat meeting. This could very well be why there were women meeting by the riverside for prayer. Nevertheless, we see that the disciples sought a place to meet for the Shabbat and they did. Again, the seventh day is called "the Shabbat Day" in this passage.
Seventh day - 6 First day - 0
Acts 18:1 (NKJV) After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. Acts 18:2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. Acts 18:3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Shabbat, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
So we see that he worked on the other days as a tentmaker...but on the Shabbat He was not. And here again we see that both Jews and Greeks are in the synagogue and on the Shabbat. Paul also is among them attending the Shabbat services. The interesting thing about this verse is that instead of the scripture saying that they attended only one or three Shabbat services, it says that he was there every Shabbat persuading both Jews and Greeks. Again, the seventh day is called "the Shabbat" in this passage so we know that we can at least count one. Let's do that..
Seventh day - 7 First day - 0
Now if Paul was in Corinth and was reasoning in the synagogue every Shabbat, if we could find out how long he stayed in Corinth then we would know how many Shabbats he actually attended. Let's look further..
Acts 18:5 (NKJV) When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews [that] Yahshua [is] the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook [his] garments and said to them, "Your blood [be] upon your [own] heads; I [am] clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain [man] named Justus, [one] who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Master with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. 9 Now the Master spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." 11 And he continued [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
A year and six months! Finally the ruler of the synagogue was converted to Yahshua and Paul was there a year and six months! So the scripture says that Paul was there every Shabbat and that he was there for a year and six months. If we counted this by our present calendar that would give us 52 Shabbats in a year plus 26 Shabbats in the following six months which gives us a total of 78 Shabbats! Now lets add this to our present total:
Seventh Day - 84 First day - 0
So we can see that the disciples observed the Shabbat and attended a Shabbat service 84 times in the book of acts alone! Again, the seventh day is called "the Shabbat" in this passage.
Now how many times do we see them meeting together on the first day? Some would cite one example in Acts 20. Let's examine the text...
Acts 20:6 (NKJV) But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Acts 20:7 Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Here we see an example of the disciples gathering together on the first day of the week. There is no mention of a Shabbat being observed in this verse. Nowhere is this day called "The Shabbat". In fact, we know that Paul was ready to depart the next day. According to verse 7, Paul spoke to them a message because for this very reason.
Now some would say that coming together to 'break bread' consitutes a meeting that includes the observance of partaking in Yahshua's body. But this is not true...consider this verse:
Acts 2:44 (NKJV) Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising Yahweh and having favor with all the people. And Yahweh added to the assembly daily those who were being saved.
According to this scripture, breaking bread was not an uncommon thing to do on a daily basis. It was one of the customs in those days to eat their 'daily bread'. Even in Yahshua's prayer He said "Give us this day our daily bread".
So we cannot confirm that this scripture in Acts 20 is a Shabbat day observance. Some will hang onto this one verse so that they don't have to forsake tradition and keep the true Shabbat. You can search the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations and you will not find a single verse that says His Shabbat was changed to a different day. There is not a single verse that tells us that the Ten Commandments are not to be kept. And there is not a single verse that prophesied either of these two events occuring! In fact, the scriptures declare the seventh day to be the Shabbat in the Law, in the words of the prophets, in the writings about Yahshua and in the acts of the apostles as well as in the scriptures that speak of Yahweh's kingdom. Therefore that final tally will remain at:
Seventh Day - 84 | First day - 0
There is also evidence that the early disciples kept the Shabbat on the true day:
"The primitive Christians did keep the Shabbat of the Jews;..therefore the Christians for a long time together, did keep their conventions on the Shabbat, in which some portion of the Law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council." The Whole Works of Jeremey Taylor, Vol. IX, p416 (R. Heber's Edition, Vol.XII, p.416)
"The ancient Christians were very careful in the observation of Saturday, or the seventh day..It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest part of the world, observed the Shabbat as a festival..Athanasius likewise tells us that they held religious assemblies on the Shabbat, not because they were infected with Judaism, but to worship [Yahshua], the [Master] of the Shabbat, Epiphanius says the same." Antiquities of the Christian Church, Vol. II, Book XX, chap. 3, Sec. 1, 66.1137, 1138
"Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, said that when he was in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome observed Sunday. This gave rise to the proverb 'When you are in Rome, do as Rome does,' " Heylyn, The History of the Shabbat, 1613
Constantine later enforced keeping a Shabbat on the first day of the week. In honor to the sun?
The text of Constantine's Sunday Law of 321 A.D. is:
"One the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for gain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost."
Seems to me that it wasn't Yahweh's Shabbat which forbids any kind of work at all on His day!
Later, those who observed the Shabbat were persecuted and killed by the Catholic church:
When the Jesuit St. Francis Xavier arrived in India he immediately requested to the pope to set up the Inquisition there.
"The Jewish wickedness" of which Xavier complained was evidently the Sabbah-keeping among those native Christians as we shall see in our next quotation. When one of these Shabbat-keeping Christians was taken by the Inquisition he was accussed of having *Judaized*; which means having conformed to the ceremonies of the Mosaic Law; such as not eating pork, hare, fish without scales, of having attended the solemnisation of the Shabbat." Account of the Inquisition at Goa, Dellon, p.56. London, 1815
"Of an hundred persons condemned to be burnt as Jews, there are scarcely four who profess that faith at their death; the rest exclaiming and protesting to their last gasp that they are Christians, and have been so during their whole lives." Ibid p.64
Today, some of the leading baptists even have admitted that the sunday Shabbat isn't in the scriptures:
"There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Shabbat day, but that Shabbat day was not on Sunday...It wiill be said, however, and with some show of truimph, that the Shabbat was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week....where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament. Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day, as we learn from the Christian Fathers and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of a sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to protestantism!" Dr. Edward Hiscox, author of The Baptist Manual
Amazing....
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
How should we keep the Shabbat?
Those who think that since we are in Yahshua, everyday is the Shabbat would think twice if they knew that if this were the case, then they would never be permitted to work or do anything having to do with our own pleasures on the Shabbat. There are many blessings attached to keeping the Shabbat day holy. So lets find out what it means to keep this day Holy:
Deut 5:13 (NKJV) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day [is] the Shabbat of Yahweh your Elohim. [In] [it] you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who [is] within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
So not only are we to rest, but those who work for us are to rest also. If we own a business, it is not acceptable to have all the employees working while we enjoy a restful Shabbat day. This commandment also includes anyone who we temporarily hire to work for us. For instance, when we go to restaurants we are hiring the cook and the waiter and the person who rings up the bill as a servant to work for us. Also anytime we purchase anything on the Shabbat such as groceries and other merchandise we are hiring others to stock the shelves, clean up and ring up the bill for us because we are paying for their service when we purchase the items. Nehemiah rebukes buying and selling quite sharply in this scripture:
Nehe 13:15 (NKJV) In those days I saw [people] in Judah treading wine presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all [kinds] [of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Shabbat day. And I warned [them] about the day on which they were selling provisions. 16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold [them] on the Shabbat to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing [is] this that you do, by which you profane the Shabbat day? 18 "Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Shabbat."
So buying and selling is clearly forbidden on the Shabbat. Going to restaurants and shopping malls and grocery stores is no way to keep the Shabbat holy. The Shabbat is a day of rest and prayer and worship. Not a day for doing our own pleasures:
Isai 58:13 "If you turn away your foot from the Shabbat, [From] doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Shabbat a delight, The holy [day] of Yahweh honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking [your] [own] words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in Yahweh; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of Yahweh has spoken."
So keeping the Shabbat day holy not only means that we aren't to buy or sell, but also means that we are to refrain from our own pleasures such as sporting events, television, movies, etc. Also we are not even to speak our own words! Even our speech should be about Yahweh and His word. I assure you, if we keep the Shabbat day in this manner it will be much easier keeping Yahweh's commandments because we have one day each week to refresh ourselves spiritually. It is a day that we can look forward to during the week that we can fully refresh ourselves both physically and spiritually. Yahweh never made our bodies to withstand constant labor day after day. It is no wonder that so many people we meet are so tired all of the time. And it is no wonder that people often fall away
Cooking and Preparation day.
When Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, he re-instituted the Shabbat day. No doubt that the Egyptians expected them to work seven days a week. Here is Moses telling the children of Israel what they should do in preperation for the Shabbat:
Exod 16:23 (NKJV) Then he said to them, "This [is] [what] Yahweh has said: `Tomorrow [is] a Shabbat rest, a holy Shabbat to Yahweh. Bake what you will bake [today], and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.' "
On preparation day, we should prepare our food that will be eaten on the Shabbat so that we will not have to cook or prepare it on the Shabbat. There are many variations of how to do this which will not be discussed in this study. I encourage all who want to know more to either email me or study it out for themselves.
What is permitted on the Shabbat?
Now there are some things that are always okay to do on the Shabbat that the Scribes and Pharisees in Yahshua's day would think forbidden:
John 5:10 (NKJV) The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Shabbat; it is not lawful for you to carry [your] bed."
Luke 13:14 (NKJV) But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Yahshua had healed on the Shabbat; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Shabbat day."
Luke 6:7 (NKJV) So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Shabbat, that they might find an accusation against Him.
Luke 6:1 (NKJV) Now it happened on the second Shabbat after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate [them], rubbing [them] in [their] hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Shabbat?"
Note that in the above verses that the issue was not whether or not to keep the Shabbat but rather how the Shabbat should be kept! Let's look at Yeshua's response to these accusations:
Healing on the Shabbat:
Luke 13:15 (NKJV) The Master then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Shabbat loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead [it] away to water it? 16 "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Shabbat?"
Luke 14:5 (NKJV) Then He answered them, saying, "Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Shabbat day?" 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.
John 5:16 (NKJV) For this reason the Jews persecuted Yahshua, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Shabbat. 17 But Yahshua answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
Mark 2:27 (NKJV) And He said to them, "The Shabbat was made for man, and not man for the Shabbat.
John 7:22 (NKJV) "Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Shabbat. 23 "If a man receives circumcision on the Shabbat, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Shabbat?
Also take into consideration that the Levites sacrificed animals on the Shabbat day and therefore had to work. This is Yahshua's answer to them when the disciples began to pluck grain to eat on the Shabbat:
Matt 12:3 (NKJV) But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 "how he entered the house of Yahweh and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests ? 5 "Or have you not read in the law that on the Shabbat the priests in the temple profane the Shabbat , and are blameless? 6 "Yet I say to you that in this place there is [One] greater than the temple. 7 "But if you had known what [this] means, `I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless
Yahweh expects us to keep the Shabbat day holy. But it is always ok to do good on the Shabbat day and clearly Yahshua and the disciples did not have time to prepare for the Shabbat because they were doing Yahweh's work. So if we have to do a little work on the Shabbat or cause another to do a little work on the Shabbat for Yahweh's purpose then this is not breaking the Shabbat. Of course one could take this to the extreme as well and say that it is impossible for them to refrain from going to work on the Shabbat or they would be fired and then not have any food. This is ridiculous. Yahweh will provide for us. We needn't be concerned about our food if we are obeying His Shabbat.
So, in summary we can see that Yahweh wants us to keep His Shabbat Holy by not working, buying, selling, causing others to work for us, speaking idle or vain words or doing our own pleasures on the Shabbat. There are only exceptions if we are fulfilling Yahweh's purpose for something. And this I leave to one's own heart for only Yahweh knows our heart. To add a bunch of laws to try and apply to specific situations is legalism. And this is what the scribes and pharisees were practicing. Yahshua clearly taught against that.
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions About Sunday
Otherwise Known As:
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
The Founders of Catholicism and Her Daughters
The Protestant Christian “denominations’
Have Always Acknowledged Yahweh’s True Shabbat.
So Why Do The Shepherds Within These Groups
Ignore Their Own Founders Teachings in this Regard?!
- Examples -
Baptist: Sunday Sabbath not in the scriptures
"There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not on Sunday...It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week....where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament. Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day, as we learn from the Christian Fathers and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of a sun god, when adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism!" Dr. Edward Hiscox, author of The Baptist Manual
"There was never any formal or authoritative change from the Jewish seventh day Sabbath to the Christian first day observance" William Owen Carver, The Lord's Day in One Day p.49
Roman Catholic: No such law in the bible
"Nowhere in the bible do we find that [Yahshua] or the apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed from Saturday to Sunday. We have the commandment of [Yahweh] given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is, the seventh day of the week, Saturday. Today, most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Roman] church outside the bible." Catholic Virginian, Oct. 3, 1947
Question: "Have you not any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept?"
Answer: "Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her - she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority" Stephen Keenan, A Doctrinal Catechism 3rd ed. p. 174
Some theologians have held that G-d likewise directly determined the Sunday as the day of worship in the NEW LAW, that he himself has explicitly substituted sunday for the Sabbath. But this theory is entirely abandoned. It is now commonly held that G-d simply gave His church the power to set aside whatever day or days she would deem suitable as holy days. The church chose sunday, the first day of the week, and in the course of time added other days as holy days." John Laux A Course in Religion for Catholic High Schools and Academies 1936, vol. 1 p. 51
Anglican/Episcopal: The Catholics changed it
"We have made the change from the seventh day to the first day, from Saturday to Sunday, on the authority of the one holy Catholic Church" Bishop Seymour Why We Keep Sunday
Lutheran: They err in teaching Sunday Sabbath
But they err in teaching that Sunday has taken the place of the Old Testament Sabbath and therefore must be kept as the seventh day had to be kept by the children of Israel.....These churches err in their teaching, for scripture has in no way ordained the first day of the week in place of the Sabbath. There is simply no law in the New Testament to that effect" John Theodore Mueller, Sabbath or Sunday, pp.15, 16
"We have seen how gradually the impression of the Jewish Sabbath faded from the mind of the Christian church, and how completely the newer thought underlying the observance of the first day too possession of the church. We have seen that the Christian of the first three centuries never confused one with the other, but for a time celebrated both." The Sunday Problem, a study book by the Lutheran Church (1923) p.36
"They [Roman Catholics] refer to the Sabbath Day, as having been changed into the L-rd's Day, contrary to the Decalogue, as it seems. Neither is there any example whereof they make more than concerning the changing of the Sabbath Day. Great, say they, is the power of the Church, since it has dispensed with one of the Ten commandments!" Augsburg Confession of Faith, art. 28;written by Melanchthon and approved by Martin Luther, 1530; as published in The Book of Concord of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Henry Jacobs, editor (1911), p.63
Presbyterian: Sunday kept the Gentiles happy
"Sunday being the first day of which the Gentiles solemnly adored that planet and called it Sunday, partly from its influence on that day especially, and partly in respect to its divine body (as they conceived it) the Christians thought fit to keep the same day and the same name of it, that they might not appear carelessly peevish, and by that means hinder the conversion of the Gentiles, and bring a greater prejudice that might be otherwise taken against the gospel" T.M. Morer, Dialogues on the L-rd's Day
Moody Bible Institute: "Sabbath was before Sinai"
"The Sabbath was binding in Eden, and it has been in force ever since. This Fourth Commandment begins with the word 'remember,' showing that the Sabbath had already existed when [Yahweh] wrote the law on the tables of stone at Sinai. How can men claim that this one commandment has been done away with when they admit that the other nine are still binding? D.L. Moody, Weighed and Wanting, p.47
Methodist: Yeshua did not abolish the moral law
The moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, He [Yeshua] did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which can never be broken...Every part of this law must remaining force upon all mankind and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other." John Wesley, Sermons on Several Occasions, Vol.1, No. 25
"Take the matter of Sunday. There are indications in the new testament as to how the church came to keep the first day of the week as its day of worship, but there is no passage telling Christians to keep that day or to transfer the Jewish Sabbath to that day." Harris Franklin Rall, Christian Advocate July 2, 1942 pg. 26
Recapping the Facts
There is no biblical command, example or even inference that the Shabbat day has been abolished or changed to the first day of the week. Following Yahshua's death, the Shabbat was observed by His followers. The first day of the week (beginning Saturday at sunset) they came to the tomb to anoint His body. But they found His tomb empty. At His first appearance since His resurrection, Yahshua found His disciples behind locked dorrs because they were afraid of the Jews. This was not to celebrate the resurrection. They did not believe that He had risen! It was the earliest opportunity He had to go and prove to the disciples that He was not dead, but living.
No scripture concerning the first day of the week gives authority to replace Shabbat worship with Sunday observance. Whether these eight New Testament passages even refer to Sunday is not entirely clear. In each of the verses, the word day appears in Italics or parentheses in the King James and New King James. That means that the word day did not exist int he original manuscripts. It was assumed by translators who brought the Greek into English.
To say that the Shabbat has been changed to the first day of the week is to say that the Ten commandments are no longer necessary to keep. For one of the commandments is:
Exod 20:9 (NKJV) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day [is] the Shabbat of Yahweh your Elohim.
It is the day that He sanctified at Creation:
Gene 2:2 (NKJV) And on the seventh day Elohim ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which Elohim had created and made The Ten commandments were written in stone by Yahweh's own finger.
Reve 11:19 (NKJV) Then the temple of Yahweh was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
Do you suppose that the 4th commandment is cut out of the Ten Commandments in this ark? Or do you suppose that the 4th commandment has the entire section about Him resting on the 7th day scratched out?
All of the Ten Commandments were written in stone to signify that it is forever. We must beware of spiritualizing away something that has its original kept safe in heaven. And I for one can tell you, keeping the true Shabbat the way that we should be keeping it reaps eternal blessings!
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
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