For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD. For six days work may be doneThis phrase establishes the pattern of a six-day workweek, reflecting the creation narrative in Genesis 1, where God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This work-rest cycle is foundational to the rhythm of life for the Israelites and emphasizes the value of labor while also setting boundaries for it. The six days of work symbolize human participation in God's creative order, highlighting the dignity and purpose of work. but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest
The seventh day, the Sabbath, is a day set apart for rest, mirroring God's rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). This rest is not merely physical but also spiritual, providing time for reflection, worship, and renewal. The concept of "complete rest" underscores the importance of ceasing from all forms of labor, allowing individuals to focus on their relationship with God. The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16-17). a day of sacred assembly
The Sabbath is not only a day of rest but also a day for communal worship and gathering. This sacred assembly fosters a sense of community and shared faith among the Israelites. It is a time for teaching, prayer, and reading of the Scriptures, reinforcing the spiritual and communal aspects of the Sabbath. The practice of gathering for worship on the Sabbath is echoed in the New Testament, where early Christians met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). You must not do any work
This commandment is a direct prohibition against engaging in any form of labor on the Sabbath. It emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's law and the need to trust in His provision. By refraining from work, the Israelites demonstrate their reliance on God rather than their own efforts. This principle is reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches about the true purpose of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). wherever you live
This phrase indicates the universality of the Sabbath commandment for the Israelites, applying to them regardless of their location. It underscores the idea that the Sabbath is not bound by geography but is a perpetual ordinance for God's people. This universality points to the broader application of Sabbath principles in the lives of believers today, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. it is a Sabbath to the LORD
The Sabbath is dedicated to the LORD, signifying its primary purpose as a day of worship and devotion to God. It is a time to honor God, acknowledge His sovereignty, and reflect on His goodness. The Sabbath serves as a reminder of God's creation and redemption, pointing forward to the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). This dedication to the LORD highlights the spiritual significance of the Sabbath as a foretaste of eternal rest. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God, including the instructions for the Sabbath. 2. IsraelitesThe chosen people of God to whom the laws, including the Sabbath, were given. 3. SabbathA day of rest and sacred assembly, instituted by God as a sign of the covenant with His people. 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God who commands the observance of the Sabbath as a day dedicated to Him. 5. Sacred AssemblyA gathering for worship and rest, emphasizing community and devotion to God. Teaching Points The Principle of RestThe Sabbath teaches us the importance of rest in our lives. In a world that glorifies busyness, God calls us to pause and rejuvenate. Sacred Time with GodThe Sabbath is not just about physical rest but also about spiritual renewal. It is a time to focus on God, worship, and community. Obedience to God's CommandObserving the Sabbath is an act of obedience and trust in God's provision, acknowledging that He is in control. Community and WorshipThe sacred assembly aspect of the Sabbath emphasizes the importance of gathering with fellow believers for worship and encouragement. A Sign of CovenantThe Sabbath serves as a reminder of God's covenant with His people, a sign of His faithfulness and our identity in Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of Sabbath rest challenge the current cultural emphasis on productivity and work? 2. In what ways can you incorporate a Sabbath rest into your weekly routine to ensure both physical and spiritual renewal? 3. How does the Sabbath serve as a reminder of God's provision and sovereignty in your life? 4. What are some practical ways to make your Sabbath a time of sacred assembly and community worship? 5. How does understanding the Sabbath as a sign of God's covenant deepen your relationship with Him and your identity as His follower? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 2:2-3The origin of the Sabbath is rooted in creation, where God rested on the seventh day, setting a pattern for humanity. Exodus 20:8-11The Ten Commandments reiterate the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy, linking it to God's creation rest. Mark 2:27-28Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, highlighting its purpose for human benefit and rest. Hebrews 4:9-10The Sabbath rest is a foreshadowing of the ultimate rest believers will find in Christ. People Ephah, Israelites, MosesPlaces TemanTopics Assembly, Complete, Convocation, Dwellings, Holy, Manner, Rest, Sabbath, Sacred, Seventh, Six, Solemn, Sort, Special, Therein, Wherever, WorshipDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 23:3 1653 numbers, 6-10
5057 rest, physical
5338 holiday
5386 leisure, nature of
5636 work, and rest
7429 Sabbath, in OT Leviticus 23:1-8 8270 holiness, set apart Library The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureOf a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth "But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Leviticus 23:3 NIVLeviticus 23:3 NLTLeviticus 23:3 ESVLeviticus 23:3 NASBLeviticus 23:3 KJV
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