Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Denunciations Against Those Who Profane

◄ The Sabbath: Denunciations Against Those Who Profane ►

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The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, is a cornerstone of Judeo-Christian practice, rooted in the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments. It is a day set apart by God for rest and spiritual reflection, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. The sanctity of the Sabbath is emphasized throughout Scripture, and numerous passages denounce those who profane it.

Old Testament Denunciations

The Old Testament contains stern warnings against the desecration of the Sabbath. In Exodus 31:14-15, the seriousness of Sabbath observance is underscored: "You must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must surely be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people." This severe penalty highlights the importance God places on this day of rest.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks against those who disregard the Sabbath. In Isaiah 56:2, the blessing is pronounced on those who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it: "Blessed is the man who does this, the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." Conversely, Isaiah 58:13-14 warns of the consequences of treating the Sabbath as ordinary: "If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD."

Jeremiah also delivers a message of warning to the people of Judah regarding the Sabbath. In Jeremiah 17:27, God warns, "But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, while the emphasis shifts from legalistic observance to the spirit of the law, the importance of the Sabbath remains. Jesus, in His ministry, often confronted the Pharisees over their rigid interpretation of the Sabbath laws. In Mark 2:27-28, He declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This statement reaffirms the Sabbath's purpose as a gift to humanity, while also asserting Christ's authority over it.

The early church grappled with the application of the Sabbath in light of Christ's resurrection and the new covenant. While the specific denunciations of Sabbath-breaking are less frequent in the New Testament, the principle of setting aside time for rest and worship continues to be upheld.

Theological Implications

The denunciations against profaning the Sabbath serve as a reminder of the day’s sacredness and the broader call to holiness. The Sabbath is not merely a day of physical rest but a symbol of spiritual rest and trust in God. It reflects a rhythm of work and rest instituted by God Himself, pointing to the ultimate rest found in Christ.

In summary, the biblical denunciations against those who profane the Sabbath underscore the day’s significance and the call to honor it as a divine ordinance. The Sabbath remains a testament to God’s creation, His covenant with His people, and the rest He offers to all who come to Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 13:18
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 17:27
But if you will not listen to me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... Against this charge, rightly understood, Judaism has in vain ... before fell the hailstorm
of His denunciations, as He ... was lawful to kill a louse on the Sabbath. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... and intemperance; our profaneness, Sabbath-breaking, neglect ... With these are interspersed
denunciations of the ... with a series of prophecies against seven foreign ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Religion and Amusement.
... so long as she persists in wholesale denunciations which she ... to denounce slavery
as a crime against God and ... there are religious services on Sabbath evenings. ...
/.../vincent/amusement a force in christian training/religion and amusement.htm

On the Interpretation of Scripture
... have altered, we say, since these denunciations were uttered ... the violation of the
Sabbath, but only against its formal ... the new moon, or of the sabbath-days.' (ii ...
/.../on the interpretation of scripture.htm

The Gospels
... reduced in number, and is followed by corresponding denunciations. ... The main argument
against the existence of a Proto ... 19), and also with breaking the sabbath (cf ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter ii the gospels.htm

Authenticity and Credibility of the Gospel Narratives.
... blamed him for working on the Sabbath-day; when ... an eye he turned their wiles against
themselves, and ... In truth, the most severe denunciations of hypocrisy and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter iv authenticity and credibility.htm

Healing for the Wounded
... Delivered on Sabbath Morning, November 11, 1855, by the. ... Take up arms against a sea
of troubles, and ... repeated fiery sermons, and terrible denunciations do break ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/healing for the wounded.htm

The Feeblest Essay in the Volume is the First. ...
... Certain withering denunciations of "a wicked and adulterous ... the spiritual observance
of the Sabbath and the ... 26.) We are warned therefore against supposing that ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/i the feeblest essay in.htm

The Gentle Boy
... On the second Sabbath after Ilbrahim became a member ... his hearers of weaker parts
against calling in ... became distinct though wild, and her denunciations had an ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the gentle boy.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... That being the place where a perpetual Sabbath is to be ... 2. To swear also is a sin
against he same ... is the way to destroy him; that is, in those tender beginning ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm