Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy – Exodus 20:8
Keeping the sabbath is the fourth commandment of the ten. These were given to Moses for the Hebrews when they came out of slavery in Egypt. It’s interesting that God gave a day of rest as an actual commandment. This was among the big ten like “Do not kill” and “Do not steal.”
As Christians, what are the benefits to us for taking a day to refrain from work? How much activity is too much on our sabbath? Can we be too lazy? What is considered work and what is not? The early church chose Sunday as their Sabbath day in commemoration of Jesus’s resurrection. Does it matter what day we choose as our sabbath? And, finally, how well are we doing in today’s society with this commandment?
In this post we’ll explore more fully what the Bible has to say about these common Sabbath questions.
How should sabbath be observed
The Sabbath Day has been a source of division over the years. The Pharisees adhered strictly to the Sabbath. They condemned Jesus for healing on this day. They also condemned him for allowing his disciples to pick grain when hungry. Although their condemnation was misplaced, it is somewhat understandable given that the penalty for breaking the Sabbath was once death. For instance, Numbers 15:32-36 recounts the execution of a man for collecting sticks on the Sabbath. Today, such penalties are not enacted, but the story underscores the significance of Sabbath rest to God.
In contemporary society, individuals often use their days off to catch up on household chores. They go shopping or work on special projects. The consequence of not allocating time to rest has adversely affected our health and well-being.
Divergent sabbath views
Growing up, Sundays in my home were distinct from the rest of the week. From Monday to Saturday, country music was the soundtrack of our days. Southern Gospel praise music took over on Sunday mornings. My father tended to our small farm and his full-time job throughout the week. Sundays were reserved for church services. The afternoons were relaxed. He would recline in his easy chair, reading the newspaper or watching television.
Oddly, on certain Sundays, he would embark on a major cleaning task, like scrubbing all the baseboards in the house.
Strangely, I was prohibited from playing cards on Sundays. I never grasped why it was considered a sin just on that day, yet I complied. I also took pleasure in fashioning new dresses for my Barbie Doll. He reprimanded me for sewing on Sundays, even though I found it enjoyable. To me, it wasn’t work; it was play.
We all have differing interpretations of how to spend the Sabbath. Our views depend on what we’ve been taught and how we were raised. Here’s what some of the scriptures say about the sabbath.
Sabbath is a gift
Take note! The Lord has given you the Sabbath. – Exodus 16:29a
The Sabbath is a gift from God! Imagine the joy of the Hebrew children. They were liberated from Egyptian slavery. These children had toiled every day of their lives. They discovered they would now have one full day each week free from labor.
Likewise, we ought to be grateful for this weekly blessing from God and embrace the possibilities it presents.
Sabbath is for rest
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made” Genesis 2:2
The undeniable purpose of the Sabbath is to rest. Throughout the week, we juggle jobs, child-rearing, house cleaning, laundry, cooking, appointments, and a myriad of other tasks each day. Many of us start our day at full speed. We don’t stop until we collapse into bed at night, worn out. And that’s perfectly fine. God designed us to be laborers, innovators, and achieve accomplishments. Feeling weary at the day’s end is to be expected.
Nevertheless, God set an example for us to rest one day in every seven. He provided Manna to the Hebrews in the wilderness for six days. On the sixth day, He provided enough to last through the seventh day. They were instructed to stay inside and not seek Manna on the seventh day, as none would be available. They were instructed to rest on this day. God also made provisions that enabled them to do so.
Sabbath is for worship
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. – Acts 15:21
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. – Acts 13:44
The scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments, recount individuals visiting the temple for worship. This includes Jesus. They went there for teaching of scripture and prayer. Worshiping the Lord is an incredibly rejuvenating and uplifting experience for our spirits. In church, we are encouraged by the Word of God to lead a victorious Christian life. In Hebrews 10:25, Paul cautions us against neglecting to gather together.
Engaging in worship, teachings, and prayer in pursuit of the Lord is an integral part of our Sabbath.
Sabbath is for relationships
On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people were observing him. – Luke 14:1
It’s intriguing to learn that Jesus shared a meal with the Pharisees on the Sabbath. Considering the Pharisees strict adherence to Sabbath rules, it raises a question about the meal they provided. Jesus was aware of the Pharisees intentions against him. Still, he chose to spend time with them on the Sabbath. He dined and visited in their home.
Sunday dinners are a cherished tradition for many. They offer a chance to gather with family or friends for a leisurely meal. Just as Jesus shared meals with others on the Sabbath, we too should embrace the opportunity to connect over food. We should do this when possible on our Sabbath.
Sabbath is for doing good
So, it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” – Matthew 12:12
Jesus provoked the Pharisees by healing a man on the Sabbath and instructing him to carry his mat. He also formed clay to heal another man’s eyes. This further offended them because he performed this act on the Sabbath. Notably, there is no mention of the Pharisees showing any compassion for those who were healed. It is recorded that Jesus performed many healings on the Sabbath. This illustrates that when it comes to benevolence, no day should be restricted.
Sabbath is for reflection
If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the sabbath a delight, the Lord’s holy day; glorious; If you glorify it by not following your ways, seeking your own interest, or pursuing your own affairs – Then you shall delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. – Isiah 58: 13-14
The beauty of Sunday lies in the opportunity for reflection, one of my favorite things about this day. It’s a time to seek divine guidance and understand the Lord’s will, which brings clarity to our lives. This verse encourages us to set aside personal interests, find joy in the Sabbath, and pursue God’s path. In doing so, we are assured of blessings.
Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath,” – Luke 6:5
Finally, this word in the Bible about Sabbath comes from the Apostle Paul. In Colossians 2:16 he writes, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days.”
According to Paul, we should be led by the Spirit and not judge fellow Christians on their observance of it. We ought to follow the Lord’s example from the scriptures. We should follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We should do this just as we would on any other day of the week.
Enjoying your gift
What revitalizes one individual may not have the same effect on another. For instance, I enjoy hiking in the woods on my rest day. But for someone with a physically demanding job, a five-mile hike might be the least desirable activity. Yet, for those with a sedentary nine-to-five job, there is little chance to exercise during the week. Engaging in some form of physical exercise can be incredibly refreshing.
Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for humankind. Beyond worship, it might include catching up on much-needed rest. It might also involve contemplation. Other activities could be enjoying a good movie. They could also include spending time with friends, playing with children or grandchildren, or partaking in recreational activities. As long as these activities are not sinful, they can refresh both body and spirit for the week ahead.
What about you
Have you experienced a difference in your energy, productivity, and internal peace on weeks where you enjoyed a sabbath rest? How does this compare to weeks where Sunday was just another hectic day?
If you’ve never taken advantage of a full Sabbath rest day, I encourage you to do that this week. Notice the difference in the way you feel.
Enjoy your gift!
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Then he said to them. “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” Mark 2:27
