THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. 6 days you shall labor & do all your work; but the 7th day is a Sabbath to YHWH your EL; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, daughter, manservant, maidservant, cattle, or the sojourner who's within your gates; for in 6 days, YHWH made Heaven & Earth, the sea & all that is in them & rested the 7th day; therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day & hallowed it. - Exodus 20:8-11
'Remember the Sabbath' plainly implies that this Law wasn't then given for the 1st time, but only renewed, so they'd exercise care in this matter & not be unmindful of it as before.
In the beginning, EL created the Heavens & the Earth - Genesis 1:1
This Commandment refers to the 1st verse of the Bible. There's a spiritual link to Sabbath & being a true witness of YHWH. The world's full of evolution theories & atheists, etc. Man's logic dominates the thinking of the most highly educated & they scoff at creation requiring a CREATOR. Many professing-Christian scholars deny the Biblical creation. Observing the 7th day Sabbath keeps us in constant remembrance that our faith's founded on the existence of a real CREATOR: By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of YHWH, so that the things which are seen weren't made of things which are visible. - Hebrews 11:3
We're made in HIS image, so we must apply HIS Sabbath principle. Observing Sabbath brings that fact to our minds weekly. HE knows that all who neglect this lose sight of who & what HE is. If the universe was created, there must be a CREATOR & that HE must be always existing & independent of the world. HE must be almighty, infinite in wisdom & goodness. As men believe in creation, they must believe in YHWH. This accounts for the fact that so much is laid on the right observance of Sabbath. Men are prone to be engrossed by things of this world that it's of importance that there should be one day of frequent recurrence on which they're forbidden to think of worldly things & forced to think of the things unseen/eternal. Sabbath keeps us in constant remembrance that we worship the CREATOR of the universe. Without it, people will have pictures/statures, crosses, beads, etc. to remember the FATHER, which is idolatry & breaking other Commands. The pollution of Sabbaths stems from idolatry. YHWH punishes the nation for failing to honor HIM & HIS Laws: Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against ME: they didn't walk in MY statutes, neither kept MY judgments to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them; they polluted MY Sabbaths: then I said, I'd pour out MY fury on them, to accomplish MY anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless, I withdrew MY hand & wrought for MY name's sake, that it shouldn't be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. I lifted up MY hand to them also in the wilderness, that I'd scatter them among the heathen & disperse them through the countries; Because they hadn't executed MY judgments, but had despised MY statutes & had polluted MY Sabbaths & their eyes were after their fathers' idols. - Ezekiel 20:21-24
Sabbath isn't just a reminder of a past creation. HE's finished the physical part of creation but the spiritual part is still under way. Sabbath's the primary day which that spiritual creation, the new man in MESSIAH, takes place. This is internal, in the heart of man. This new man's renewed in knowledge according to the image of HIM who created him. (Colossians 3:10)
Why Sabbath?
The Sabbath was made for man'kind' & not man for the Sabbath. - Mark 2:27
I don't know anyone who observes the Sabbath & takes medicine for stress/anxiety or is emotionally drained, has serious marital/family problems or doesn't have enough time for YHWH. Hmmm! Sabbath is HIS holy day; it's not just Israel's, it's for all man. The prophets said that under MESSIAH, the true religion was to be extended to the ends of the Earth. To those who think that Sabbath was temporary, it doesn't make sense that prophets would represent its faithful observance as one of the chief blessings of MESSIAH's reign. This is enough to say that Sabbath was instituted from the beginning & was designed to be universal & permanent. The Word says it's 'perpetual.' (Exodus 31:16)
Perpetual 1. Never ceasing; continuing forever in future time without intermission; uninterrupted; destined to be eternal; permanent; not temporary; everlasting; endless.
Great! No work, it'll help me get caught up with my errands, I can do some shopping, catch a movie, maybe even a ballgame…. Wrong! This isn't a day to do whatever we feel like doing! Sabbath reminds us of YHWH: renews our love, values, soul, etc. HE has a claim on our time & it's our responsibility to follow through: If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on MY holy day & call the Sabbath a delight & the Holy Day of YHWH honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, seeking your own pleasure, talking idly; then you shall take delight in YHWH & I'll make you ride on the heights of the earth; I'll feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. - Isaiah 58:13-14
When Sabbath was reenacted at Moses' time, it was to be a sign between YHWH & HIS children. They were to be distinguished as the Sabbath-keeping people among all the nations & as such were to be the recipients of YHWH's special blessings: MY Sabbaths you shall keep, it's a sign between ME & you throughout your generations so you'll know that I'm YHWH who sets you apart. The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It's a sign between ME & the children of Israel forever. - Exodus 31:13, 16-17
I gave them MY statutes & showed them MY ordinances, by whose observance man shall live. I gave them MY Sabbaths, as a sign between ME & them, that they might know that I, YHWH sanctify them. - Ezekiel 20:11-12
Many understand Sabbath is a mark of YHWH. Another word for 'mark' is 'sign' or 'seal;' more on the next blog about the mark/sign of YHWH & the possible Sabbath connection. YAHUSHUA said that 'signs & wonders would follow those who believe.' - Mark 16:17
It's assumed that the 'Sabbaths' referred are merely the plural weekly Sabbath, but it's extended to the entire range of worship of the holy days. It's a sign of the true 'Body of MESSIAH'. The Sabbath is mandatory to the faith. No Believer can serve YHWH & fail to honor HIS Sabbaths. Establishing another day of worship other than the 7th day not only breaches this Command, it becomes a symbol of idolatry being outside of HIS will. It's an act of rebellion & equivalent to witchcraft. This Command's one of four, which are integral to the 1st great Commandment. Without its observance, people misunderstand the resurrection week, thinking HE died on Friday afternoon & rose Sunday morning; they don't observe HIS Passover, but institute the pagan day of Easter 'Ishtar' in its place & so on. YAHUSHUA said that the FATHER's the primary point & end object of the faith. YHWH & YAHUSHUA are central to the receipt of eternal life. The Commandments aren't an end in itself but a primary indicator of the elect & the fact of their obedience to YHWH.
Even though it's a sign, it's not the only sign; other signs would be the baptism & the receipt of the HOLY SPIRIT is the inner seal. The outward signs are the Sabbath & Passover: You'll know them by their fruits. - Matthew 7:16
One of the main reasons Israel was placed in captivity was because of Sabbath-breaking: They despised MY judgments & didn't walk in MY statutes, but polluted MY Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. But MY eye spared them from destruction, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. But I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Don't walk in the statutes of your fathers, observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I'm YHWH your EL; walk in MY statutes, keep MY judgments & do them & hallow MY Sabbaths & they shall be a sign between ME & you, that you may know that I'm YHWH your EL.' - Ezekiel 20:16-20
When exactly is the Sabbath?
Its length is determined by the sun, it's from sundown Friday until Saturday evening at sunset. The day actually starts at sunset; Genesis 1: There was evening & there was morning, the first day & so on. Also read Leviticus 23:32
How do I prepare for the Sabbath?
This is found in HIS manna distribution (Exodus 16:22-23) on the 6th day you must gather enough to last the 7th! Friday is designated as the Preparation Day. This gives us the chance to prepare in advance so there'll be no undue labor on Sabbath (Luke 23:54). All heavy cooking should be done on this day, so that kitchen labor can be minimal on Sabbath. Livestock can be tended to, but not worked. All work should cease & if possible, attend service. YAHUSHUA observed the Sabbath (the pagan Roman 'sun day' already existed, but HE, the apostles & early assembly, were all Sabbath keepers - they'd never observe the heathen 'sun-worship day.')
He who says he abides in HIM ought himself also to walk just as HE walked. - 1John 2:6
By not doing as YAHUSHUA did, it's telling Israel that the MESSIAH hasn't come yet, therefore keeping the veil over their eyes & sending them to hell while using the FATHER's name in vain!
They went into Capernaum & immediately on the Sabbath, HE entered the synagogue & taught. - Mark 1:21
On the Sabbath, HE began to teach in the synagogue & many who heard HIM were astonished. - Mark 6:2
Did Yahushua & His disciples break the Sabbath?
HE went through the grain fields on the Sabbath, as they went, HIS disciples began to pluck the heads of grain & the Pharisees said to Him, 'Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?' And HE said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man & not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the SON of MAN is also LORD of the Sabbath.' - Mark 2:23-27
YAHUSHUA had set what was & wasn't lawful on the Sabbath. Picking & eating a few grains of wheat while passing through a field wasn't breaking the Sabbath by HIS terms. 'But if you had known what this means, "I desire mercy & not sacrifice," you'd not have condemned the guiltless.' - Matthew 12:7
YAHUSHUA had quoted this twice in application to Sabbath & established this principle for guidance, that it's good to do whatever's of mercy or to the comfort or welfare of ourselves or others on Sabbath. It's lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. - Matthew 12:12; Mark 3:4
They hadn't broken YHWH's Law but they did transgress a man-made law that was added by carnal-minded religious leaders. It was an interpretation of what they thought the Law to be. The frequency with which YAHUSHUA was accused of Sabbath-breaking proves that HIS way of observing Sabbath was very different from theirs & the way in which HE vindicated HIMSELF proves that HE regarded Sabbath as a divine institution of perpetual obligation. HE could've said that the Sabbath was going away, that HE'd erase it from the decalogue, making it the 9 Commandments. It may be said that as the whole of the Mosaic Law was in force until the resurrection of MESSIAH, or until the day of Pentecost, the Sabbath observance was as a matter of course then obligatory & that HE so regarded it. To answer this, it's obvious to say that HE didn't hesitate to abrogate those of the Laws of Moses which were in conflict with the SPIRIT of the Gospel. This HE did with laws relating to polygamy/divorce. Under the old dispensation, it was lawful for a man to have more than one wife & also to put away a wife for no reason. HE declared that neither should be allowed under the Gospel. The fact that HE dealt with the Sabbath just as HE did with the 5th, 6th, & 7th precepts of the decalogue, which the Pharisees had misinterpreted, shows HE regarded the 4th Command as being in the same category. HIS example is a safe guide as to how Sabbath's to be observed.
Believers continued to observe the Sabbath after YAHUSHUA's sacrifice: As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews & devout converts to Judaism followed Paul & Barnabas, who spoke to them & urged them to continue in the grace of YHWH. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of YHWH. - Acts 13:42-44
The 7th day never stopped being YHWH's Day. It's always been observed by true Believers who base their faith on the Word & always will. See after YAHUSHUA returns: 'For as the new heavens & the new Earth which I'll make shall remain before ME, so shall your descendants & your name remain. From new moon to new moon & from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before ME,' says YHWH. - Isaiah 66:22-23
Don't wanna observe it in this life, why would you want to for eternity, only HIS chosen would!
How did christians get caught up in 'Sun'-day worship? The 'little horn' of Daniel 7 & 'the Beast' of Revelation is the Roman papacy, who 'change times & laws.' The enemy had succeeded through his boy, the pope, to change the time we worship, from Sabbath to Sunday & as a consequence, most are keeping the 'commandments of men.' Didn't YAHUSHUA also warn us: But in vain they do worship ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men? - Matthew 15:9
Most who profess MESSIAH don't follow HIS example & don't realize that the rejection of Sabbath didn't start until 300 years after YAHUSHUA. The enemy, in his efforts to usurp YHWH's throne, changed times & by doing so, he claimed authority of the CREATOR & millions pay homage to the 'father of lies' by worshipping at his command on Sunday! The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a further disregard of Heaven's authority. The devil, working through unconsecrated leaders of christianity, tampered with the 4th Command (as with others), the day which YHWH sanctified & in its place, exalted the festival observed by heathen as 'the venerable day of the sun.' This wasn't attempted openly at 1st. In the 1st centuries, Sabbath was kept by all Believers. They were jealous for the honor of YWHW & believing that HIS Law is immutable, they guarded its sacredness. With great subtlety, the enemy brought the attention to Sunday, by making it a festival in honor of MESSIAH's resurrection. Religious services were held on it; yet it's regarded as a day of recreation while Sabbath's still observed by true Believers.
To prepare for his work, the enemy led the Jews (before MESSIAH), to load Sabbath with the most rigorous exactions, making it a burden. Taking advantage of this false light, he cast contempt on it as a Jewish institution. Christians would later observe Sunday as a joyous festival, he led them by showing hatred of the Hebraic, by making Sabbath a fast, a day of sadness/gloom. In 325, Constantine issued a decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the Roman Empire. The day of the sun was reverenced by his pagan subjects & was honored by christians; it was the emperor's plan to unite the conflicting interests of Believers & heathens. He was urged by the power-hungry bishops of the 'Church' that if the same day was observed by both groups, it'd promote the acceptance of christianity by pagans & advance the power of the 'Church.' While Believers were led to regard Sunday as being sacred, some still held the true Sabbath & observed it in obedience to YHWH. The devil hadn't completed his work, he wanted to gather the christian world under his banner & to exercise his power through his pope who claimed to be MESSIAH's representative. Through half-converted pagans & world-loving churchmen, he accomplished his purpose. Vast councils were held in which 'Church' dignitaries convened. In nearly every council, Sabbath was pressed down a little lower, while Sunday was exalted, thus the pagan festival became honored as a divine institution, while the FATHER's Sabbath was pronounced a relic of Judaism. The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself 'above all that is called YHWH', or that's worshipped. (2Thessalonians 2:4). In this Commandment, YHWH's revealed as CREATOR & distinguished from all false gods. It was as a memorial of the work of creation & was sanctified as a day of rest. It's designed to keep HIM on our minds as the source of being & the object of reverence & worship. The enemy strives to turn men from YHWH & from rendering obedience to HIS Law; he directs his efforts especially against this Command which points to YHWH as CREATOR. Protestants now urge that the resurrection of MESSIAH made Sunday the christian Sabbath. But there's no Scripture to back it. No such honor was given to the day by YHWH. Sunday observance as a christian institution had its origin in that 'mystery of lawlessness' (2Thessalonians 2:7) which begun in Paul's day. What reason can be given for a change which Scripture doesn't sanction? Does the Catholic Church acknowledge that there's no command in the Bible for the Sunday sanctification?
You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation & you won't find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. - Faith of Our Fathers; page 111
No man/institution has the right to mess with what's sacred. Nowhere in Scripture will you find authority to change the day that YHWH established at creation as the day of worship.
The dragon was wroth with the woman & went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of YHWH & have the testimony of YAHUSHUA haMashiach. - Revelation 12:17
Here's the patience of the saints: those who keep the Commandments of YHWH & the faith of YAHUSHUA. - Revelation 14:12
Blessed are those who do HIS Commandments so they may have right to the Tree of Life & enter in through the gates into the city. - Revelation 22:14
Why is this Command so ignored, attacked & explained away? Could it be because the challenges to Sabbath are views from the god of this world? After all, the enemy wants us to accept his views because he hates YHWH's Law, he's known as the 'lawless one.' He does all he can to influence us to ignore, avoid & reason our way around it. As the 'god of this age' the whole world falls prey to his influence. His objective is to thwart us form us from developing a loving, personal relationship with YHWH, which is the Sabbath's purpose. He wants to prevent us from reaching our destiny in HIS family! YHWH wants that speacial time with us & Sabbath is the only day on which HE commands a weekly assembly. Six day work shall be done, but the 7th is a Sabbath of solumn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it's the Sabbath of YHWH in all your dwellings. - Leviticus 23:3
He tells us how much special time we need to set aside for our relationship with HIM & when to take it. We have to decide whether we trust HIS judgment & are willing to obey HIM.
This is how I explain this time to others. Just imagine… your dad is at work all week, you're around him everyday, but you know that Friday night & all day Saturday is your special time together, this is one-on-one time exclusively. So after work, Dad comes home expecting a big hug & looking forward to putting everything aside to be with you. He's in his favorite chair, an hour passes, a few hours pass, it's midnight & he still hasn't heard from you. He gets up early, but you've left out. He waits all day for you & you don't show up until late again Saturday night. You get up early Sunday & look for Dad around the house, but he's off running errands, etc. You call him & ask where he's at, he says he waited all day yesterday to spend his special time with you, but you never showed or even thought of him & says he put everything on hold to be with you & you didn't even acknowledge his existence. How do you think Dad would feel, especially if that happened every week?
The carnal man can't/doesn't keep the Sabbath. The unregenerate makes his Sunday into a sin-day & spends it lazily, gluttonous or in Pharisaical work-holiness & slavish servitude. A wonder must be performed in man, he must be truly born again, grace must be shown to him. He must be spiritual to perform the blessed demand of this Commandment 'in spirit & in Truth.' Then the Spirit will come & loosened the bands of sin & the ties of iniquity. Then sin will melt away & the choice will be made to fear/serve YHWH. Then, among other things, YHWH's day will become precious. Then it'll become our aim to learn to keep Sabbath as the Word teaches us. YHWH's children aren't Sunday Christians!
Every instance where the 1st day of the week is mentioned in the NT, it's clearly seen to be a work day. Anyway, people who claim Sunday don't even observe that day holy, they just go to 'church' that day. Then there are some who deceive themselves & say any day can be Sabbath & some are even nuttier & twist Romans 14 by saying everyday is their Sabbath, (they'd not leave home & die of starvation if they treated everyday as the Sabbath) the devil used that verse to justify Sunday worship back in 325AD; regardless, there's only one Sabbath (Friday nite- Saturday nite) that honors the FATHER.
Let no man judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of MESSIAH. - Colossians 2:16-17
Sabbath is a shadow of YAHUSHUA's 2nd coming. People twist this verse into saying they aren't to observe these anymore. It's amazing, Paul tells the early assembly not to let the world judge you for your obedience & nowadays, it's the 'church' judging those who are obedient!
Many feel it's foolish to set aside this day to worship. Yet it isn't man who set that day aside, but YHWH & HE'll judge us on how well we keep it. Not in the 'letter of the Law,' though one can't keep the SPIRIT unless applying the letter, but 'in spirit & Truth.' YHWH helps us to obey from the heart because we love HIM & want to do what's pleasing in HIS sight. YHWH requires obedience to HIS Commandments as a condition for receiving HIS SPIRIT. When we keep Sabbath, we show HIM by our action that we're worthy to receive it. If we keep the Sabbath properly & work to improve our relationship with HIM, this time will be most valuable!
This is the love of YHWH; that we keep HIS Commandments & HIS Commandments [including the 4th one] are not grievous. - 1John 5:3
Being the Sabbath's important enough to YHWH to make transgression of it a capital crime back in the day, it should be important enough to HIS people to hallow it. Men are still bound to worship YHWH & the Sabbath is one way to show you're a true worshipper. We're as much bound to keep the Sabbath holy as did the patriarchs or Israelites. The 2 essential elements of the command are that the Sabbath should be a day of rest, of cessation from worldly avocations/amusements, & that it should be devoted to the worship of YHWH. Sabbath gives the understanding of HIS resurrection & others would know that HE didn't die on Friday or rise on Sunday morning. Think of this…. the last thing YAHUSHUA did before HE arose from the dead, was observe Sabbath! He beat the devil on Sabbath, no wonder why he hates that day so much!
Some went out on the 7th day to gather, but found nothing. YHWH said to Moses, 'How long do you refuse to keep MY Commandments & MY Laws? See! YHWH's given you the Sabbaths; therefore HE gives you on the 6th day bread for 2 days.' - Exodus 16:27-29
'But Saturday is a busy day at my job, I make the most money on that day, blah, blah!' You don't trust the FATHER? HE'll increase your other days with obedience. Today, decide who you serve! YHWH won't be mocked! Put your faith in HIM & HIM only! Sabbath is a sign showing that you are HIS, be a true Believer & take a little persecution & walk by faith for righteousness sake!
Friday night to Saturday night honors FATHER YHWH, Sunday honors the 'father of lies,' so I leave you with this one question…………. Who's your daddy?
Jason Desmond
Ambassador of HIS Kingdom