Mark 2:23-28
Is the Sabbath still mandated for observance by our Father Yahweh?
The Sabbath is taken from the Hebrew sha-vath’ which means to rest, to cease, to desist. The sabbatical arrangement prescribed in the Mosaic Law embraced a weekly mandated Sabbath day, and a number of additional specified days throughout the year, the seventh year and the fiftieth year. Of the weekly Sabbath of the Jews, the seventh day fell on their calendar week from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. Numerous professed Christians have traditionally kept Sunday as their day of rest and of worship, while others have adhered to the day set aside on the Jewish calendar.
As faithful Christians of Father’s truth, are you under obligation to keep the weekly Sabbath day given as an obligation to the Israelites? Exodus 31:16, 17 “The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” You’ll take note that the Sabbath observance was a sign between Father Yahweh and earthly Israel. This observance applied to the flesh and blood Israelites and no other people that would come under Father’s guidance pre-Millennium. It applied only to the flesh and blood Israelites that made up the Jewish religion to Father before they fell from favor. As the Jews rejected the appointed savior sent by Father, Father in turn rejected them as his chosen people.
The Hebrew word rendered “perpetual” or “forever” is “oh-lam’” which translates to mean a period of time, that from the view of the present is indefinite or hidden from sight and changing events that can effect its duration. It could mean “forever,” but this is not always the case. Adam and Eve were intended to live for forever, but changing events altered that plan. To further the point that “forever” or “perpetual” can be altered, at Numbers 25:13 the same Hebrew word is applied to the Jewish priesthood which later ended as pointed out in the Word at Hebrews 7:12.
Numbers 25:13 “It will be a covenant of perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.” Hebrews 7:12 “For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.”
If there is a change in the Law that ends Father’s decree on any given commandment, how does this change take place? Romans 10:4 ” For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
Father’s Perfecter of righteousness was given the rightful position as our future King to end the Laws that Father deemed obsolete. Just as Christ Jesus ended required tithing. Christ Jesus is the end of the Law this side of the Millennium, so that all of those trapped in secondary sin who exercise faith might have righteousness in Father’s eyes. Sabbath keeping was a part of that Law. Father permitted Christ to bring that Law to an end.
By having a righteous standing before Father Yahweh as children born into sin, and accepting the ransom sacrifice by placing faith in Christ Jesus, you have passed over and away from keeping a weekly Sabbath. Galatians 4:9-11 ” But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.“
To follow the old Sabbath is to be enslaved to a bankrupt elementary / fundamental compulsion that no longer is valid in Father’s scheme of things. It is called “Being locked into traditionalism.” You saw its effects with the Jews and other religious sects that opposed Jesus while on earth with their traditional die hard beliefs. Jesus was believed to be trampling on traditional values by performing miracles on the Sabbath. He was killed because of traditional thinking. Jews and Satan’s prodding to eliminate a rival sent to break up his evil workings in creation.
Ephesians 2:13-16 ” But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.” Both groups. Christ brought the believing Israelites and the Gentile group of believers into the grace of Father as one spiritual group of faithful followers to Father, known as Spiritual Israelites.
Colossians 2:13-16 “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him. Therefore don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day.” Laws governing food, drink, festival, a new moon, and the Sabbath day are all null and void. Those that dictate such Laws are still to be adhered to are not of Father’s fold.
