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A Bible Study of the Sabbath

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A Bible Study of the Sabbath A Bible Study of the Sabbath By Carl Lungstrum Version 2020-01 Copyright 2020 by Carl Lungstrum Permission is granted to reproduce for Bible Study purposes, both private and group studies Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................. 2 Lesson 1: Facts About the Sabbath (Part 1) ............................................ 3 Lesson 2: Facts About the Sabbath (Part 2) ............................................ 5 Lesson 3: The Sabbath Commandment is in the Law of Moses ............. 7 Lesson 4: The Christian’s Sabbath is a Promised Rest, Which is Not a Day of the Week .......................................... 10 Lesson 5: The Sabbath Observance Command is Taken Away ............. 12 Lesson 6: The Covenants Contrasted ...................................................... 15 Lesson 7: Jesus and the Sabbath ............................................................. 17 Lesson 8: The Apostles, Christianity, and the Sabbath ........................... 20 Lesson 9: Same Laws – Different Covenants ......................................... 22 Lesson 10: Sabbatarian Arguments Answered ....................................... 24 Lesson 11: Related Matters to Modern Sabbath Observance ................. 27 Series Conclusion..................................................................................... 30 Page 1 Introduction The Sabbath is a Bible subject which needs to be understood by Christians, as God teaches some great lessons through this subject in both the Old and New Testaments. We will learn lessons regarding Sabbath Observance from the Israelites who lived under the Law of Moses, and lessons God draws from His Sabbath theme for the Christian. Importantly we will learn what is the Christian’s Sabbath…an eternal rest with God in Heaven. Page 2 Facts about the Sabbath (Part 1) Lesson 1 Facts about the Sabbath (Part 1) 1. What does “Sabbath” Mean? The word Sabbath means “to cease, to desist” in the Greek1, or to “rest” in the Hebrew2. This is supported by contextual definitions, such as Exodus 23:12 “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest.” 2. What Day of the week is the Sabbath? The Sabbath came on the seventh day of the week. (Ex. 20:8-11). The concept of a “week” is solely God’s concept. A day is defined by a complete rotation of the earth. A month is defined by a complete revolution of the moon around the earth. A year is defined by a complete revolution of the earth around the sun. But a week is defined only by God. 3. The Sabbath was given by God. (Ex. 31:12-18) a. It was part of God’s covenant with Israel. i. A covenant is an agreement. “The root idea to bind two parties together…in essence a covenant is an agreement, but an agreement of a solemn and binding force.”3 ii. God had numerous covenants: Noah to build an ark (Gen. 6:18), Abram to be circumcised (Gen. 17:9-13), etc. iii. God’s covenant with Israel included the Sabbath. (Ex. 31:16) b. The Sabbath was blessed and hallowed for the Israelites, because God rested from creation on the seventh day, after creating the heavens and the earth on the first six days. (Exodus 20:11; cf. Gen. 2:2-3) c. The Sabbath, included in the Law for the Israelites, was given “because of transgressions, till the seed should come” (Exodus 16:4; Gal. 3:19) d. The Sabbath ordinance was written with the finger of God on tables of stone. (Ex. 31:12-18) 4. When did Sabbath Observance Begin? (Exodus 16) a. There is no mention of the “Sabbath” until about 1445 B.C. This is 2500 years after the Garden of Eden, over halfway through the time-span covered in the Bible, about 4,100 years. The first occurrence is found in Exodus 16:23. A few days following, it was included in the Ten Commandments given at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 20:8-11). b. There is no mention of Adam and Eve observing the Sabbath, or Noah, Abraham, or Jacob. c. Some think that the Sabbath was required from the beginning because of Genesis 2:2- 3. i. The focus at creation is not the duty of man, but it is on God’s work, and on God’s rest, and on God sanctifying that single day because of it. ii. The seventh day is not called the Sabbath here. iii. Genesis was written by Moses, 1400-1500 BC, as were the first five books of the Bible. This volume was recorded around 2500 years after the facts occurred. If this written statement commanded Sabbath Observance, it could not have been used until the time of Moses. Before the time of Moses there is no command given or any example of someone keeping the Sabbath. 1 Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words 2 “Sabbath,” International Bible Standard Encyclopedia, 1939 (I.S.B.E.) 3 I.S.B.E. Page 3 Facts about the Sabbath (Part 1) iv. God used the precedent of His “rest from creating” as the basis for Sabbath Observance, but He did not use it until Mt. Sinai. v. Some would tie Mark 2:27 to this. “The sabbath was made for man…” This will be studied among other Sabbatarian arguments later. But for now, note that this passage does not say when Sabbath Observance was first required. d. The Bible later refers to the Sabbath’s origination as being at Mt. Sinai, where the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. (Deut. 5:15; Neh. 9:13-14; Ezek. 20:10-12) This is consistent, because this is where the Sabbath ordinance was given, and recorded by God (Exodus 31:12-18). The prophets Moses, Nehemiah, Ezra, and Ezekiel all agree! Answer the following. 1. What does “Sabbath” mean? ________________________________ 2. Upon what day of the week did the Sabbath occur? __________________ 3. What does “Covenant” mean? ________________________________________ 4. What passage tells us God’s covenant with the Israelites included the Sabbath? _____________________________________ 5. Who commanded Sabbath Observance? ________________________ 6. How did the Sabbath relate to creation? __________________________________ 7. God added the Law, “because of __________________________, till the __________ should come” (Gal. 3:19) 8. Where and how was the sabbath written by God” _________________________________ 9. Approximately how many years went by in Biblical history before the word “Sabbath” is mentioned? ____________________ 10. Did God mention the Sabbath before the time of Moses? ____________ 11. Did Adam, Noah, Abraham, or Jacob mention the Sabbath? __________ 12. Did man observe the Sabbath in Gen. 2:2-3? ___________________________ Is man mentioned in this passage? ______________ 13. When did God first mention the Gen. 2:2-3 “day of rest,” in respect to man’s responsibility? _________________________________________________ 14. When Jesus said, “the sabbath was made for man,” did Jesus say when Sabbath Observance was first required? _______________ 15. Which prophets wrote of the Sabbath, saying the Israelites were commanded when they were brought out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai? _______________________________ Did any prophet ever refer to the Sabbath going back before this time? ___________ 16. When did the command for Sabbath Observance begin? _____________________ Page 4 Facts about the Sabbath (Part 2) Lesson 2 Facts about the Sabbath (Part 2) 1. What was required with Sabbath Observance? a. In Ex. 31:12-18 it should be noted that “knowing” and “remembering” God is the focus of the Sabbath. The primary focus is not rituals or prohibitions; it is God and His covenant with Israel. b. Burnt offerings. Num. 28:9-10 Keep it holy, sanctified, as it is a sign that the Lord sanctified you. Ex. 12:31:13; Deut. 5:12 c. Rest. Ex. 20:8-11; 35:1-3; Deut. 5:13 d. Remember the Lord brought you out of slavery. Deut. 5:14 e. No fire was to be kindled. Ex. 35:3 f. No baking or boiling allowed. Ex. 16:23 g. No burdens to be carried. Jer. 17:21-22 h. A penalty of death for violators. Ex. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36. 2. Who was Sabbath Observance for? a. The Ten Commandments, in including the Sabbath, were given to those whom God brought out of the Land of Egypt. These were the Israelites. (Ex. 20:2, 8; Deut. 5:12- 15) b. It sanctified Israel apart from other peoples. (Ex. 31:13) c. It was for the Israelites and their generations following. (Ex. 31:16) d. It provided the Israelites rest from their own labor. (Deut. 5:12-15) e. It reminded Israel they were delivered from bondage in Egypt. (Deut. 5:12-15) f. It reminded Israel they were delivered by God. (Deut. 5:12-15) g. The only people outside of the Israelites who were required to keep the Sabbath, were strangers who came within their gates. (Ex. 20:10) Notice the strangers (Gentiles) were not required to keep the Sabbath before or after their presence among the Israelites. h. Sabbath Observance was purposed for Israelites. 3. For How Long Would Sabbath Observance be in Force? a. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” (Ex. 31:16-17) This means it would be kept among the Israelites as long as their nation existed. i. Jesus predicted the end of Israel as a nation, calling the nation of Israel “desolate” as He walked on the earth. Matt. 23:37-38; Matt. 24:15. ii. Jews could no longer boast nationality, or blood relationship to Abraham or Jacob after the Gospel began. (1st Tim. 1:4) iii. 2nd Cor. 3:7-11 says the “ministration of death, WRITTEN AND ENGRAVEN IN STONES, was glorious…was to be Done Away…” and, “….IS DONE AWAY.” This could only have reference to the commands of God given at Mt. Sinai. (Ex. 31:18) They were “DONE AWAY IN CHRIST.” b.
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