Leviticus 23:32
It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath."
It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you
This phrase emphasizes the importance of rest as a divine command. The Sabbath is a day set apart for cessation from labor, reflecting God's rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). It serves as a reminder of God's provision and sovereignty, encouraging trust in Him rather than in human effort. The concept of "complete rest" underscores the totality of this cessation, pointing to the spiritual rest found in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10), who offers rest for the soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

and you shall humble yourselves
Humbling oneself is a call to repentance and self-denial, often associated with fasting and prayer (Psalm 35:13; Isaiah 58:3-5). This act of humility is a recognition of human frailty and dependence on God. It aligns with the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), a time for the Israelites to seek forgiveness and purification (Leviticus 16:29-31). This foreshadows the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening
The Jewish day begins at sunset, a practice rooted in the creation account where "there was evening, and there was morning" (Genesis 1:5). This timing reflects the biblical understanding of a day and is significant for the observance of holy days. The evening-to-evening observance highlights the continuity and completeness of the Sabbath rest, symbolizing the eternal rest believers will experience in God's presence (Revelation 21:3-4).

you are to keep your Sabbath
The command to "keep" the Sabbath involves active participation in rest and worship. It is a covenant sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:16-17), distinguishing them from other nations. Observing the Sabbath is an act of obedience and faith, acknowledging God's authority and provision. In the New Testament, Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28), fulfilling its purpose and inviting believers into a deeper spiritual rest through His finished work on the cross.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
- The prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God, including the instructions in Leviticus.

2. Israelites
- The chosen people of God to whom the laws and festivals, including the Day of Atonement, were given.

3. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
- A significant and solemn Jewish holy day focused on atonement and repentance, which is the context of this verse.

4. Sabbath
- A day of rest instituted by God, which in this context refers to a special Sabbath associated with the Day of Atonement.

5. Ninth Day of the Month
- Refers to the ninth day of the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, marking the beginning of the Day of Atonement observance.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Sabbath Rest
The Sabbath is a gift from God, designed for physical rest and spiritual renewal. It is a time to cease from regular work and focus on God.

Humility Before God
The command to "humble yourselves" is a call to repentance and self-examination. It is a reminder of our need for God's grace and mercy.

The Significance of Timing
Observing the Sabbath from evening to evening highlights the biblical understanding of a day and emphasizes the importance of God's timing in our lives.

Spiritual Rest in Christ
While the Old Testament Sabbath was a physical rest, it points to the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ, who provides spiritual rest for our souls.

Living a Life of Repentance
The Day of Atonement and its associated Sabbath remind us of the importance of living a life marked by continual repentance and seeking God's forgiveness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of Sabbath rest in Leviticus 23:32 apply to our modern lives, and how can we incorporate it into our weekly routine?

2. In what ways can we "humble ourselves" before God today, and how does this practice impact our relationship with Him?

3. How does the observance of the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament point to the work of Christ in the New Testament?

4. What are some practical ways we can find spiritual rest in Christ amidst the busyness of life?

5. How can the principles of repentance and atonement from Leviticus 23:32 influence our daily walk with God and our interactions with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 16
Provides detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, emphasizing the need for atonement and purification.

Isaiah 58
Discusses the true nature of fasting and humility, which aligns with the call to "humble yourselves" in Leviticus 23:32.

Hebrews 4
Relates to the concept of Sabbath rest, drawing a parallel between the physical rest commanded in the Old Testament and the spiritual rest found in Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus invites those who are weary to find rest in Him, echoing the rest and humility themes of the Sabbath.

Colossians 2:16-17
Discusses the shadow of things to come, with Christ being the substance, providing insight into the fulfillment of the Sabbath in the New Testament.
The FestivalsR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the LordW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 23:2-44
God's FestivalsHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy DaysHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This ChapterD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great FeastsJ. C. Gray.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy FestivalsJ. A. Seiss, . D. D.Leviticus 23:2-44
The HebdomadJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:23-44
The Annual Repentance: the Day of AtonementR.M. Edgar Leviticus 23:26-32
The Day of AtonementJ. B. Lowe, B. A.Leviticus 23:26-32
The Feast of ExpiationJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:26-32
The Great Day of AtonementR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:26-32
People
Ephah, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Afflict, Beginning, Celebrate, Complete, Deny, Evening, Humble, Humbled, Kept, Month, Nightfall, Ninth, Observe, Pleasure, Rest, Sabbath, Solemn, Souls, Special, Till, Yourselves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 23:32

     4933   evening

Leviticus 23:23-36

     7435   sacrifice, in OT

Leviticus 23:26-32

     5378   law, OT
     8430   fasting, nature of

Leviticus 23:26-36

     8629   worship, times

Leviticus 23:27-32

     5338   holiday
     8451   mortification

Leviticus 23:32-36

     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 Scripture

Of 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

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