The Sabbath Day
Yahshua said: “Sabbath was made for man…”(Mark 2:27)
Did He say ‘For the Jews’? No, He said it was for mankind.
"Well, every day is a rest now!"
Yahshua’s activities on the Sabbath
The word ‘man’ in this scripture is from the greek word, Anthropos, which means, human beings, or mankind.
This was not an Old Testament comment either, but a comment made by Yahshua Himself, when He was talking to the religious leaders of the day.
Yahweh has one, not two peoples in the earth. He is returning to a perfect bride, made up of Jew and Gentile. Israel was always open to Gentiles,
read how the ‘strangers’ have always been considered and included by Yahweh and cared for by Him, and adopted into His Israel, His bride to be.
Gentiles are called to be ‘partakers’ of the Olive tree and its root
(Romans 11)
Isaiah 56:2,6,7
“Blessed is the man…that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it.” “Also the sons of the stranger,
that join themselves to Yahweh…every one that
keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it,
and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…for mine house shall
be called an house of prayer for all people.”
Things haven’t changed, Yahweh does not change. His laws and commandments still stand, for all people who desire to be a part of His holy Kingdom.
Yahweh set up the Sabbath day as a ceasing from work and labour day long ago. He rested on and blessed the seventh day, and that blessing
has never been removed or changed onto any other day. Keeping His Commandment of honouring the Sabbath day will bring a unique blessing into
our lives.
The following link is for those desiring to read about when and how the Sabbath was inaugurated by Yahweh in His Covenant.
The inauguration of the
Sabbath Day.
This is another argument against keeping Saturday
Sabbath. (Why do Gentiles insist
on having it their own way? Jewish people flood into Israel every year from all points of the globe, and no-one ever disputes which day should
be kept as Sabbath!)
Every day being a Sabbath 
is a popular
Christian doctrine. It means that no special day needs to be kept, as Yahshua has procured a rest for the
people of Yahweh because they have ceased
from their own works and now do His (if only...)
This is a daily rest some people propagate as a reason not to observe any particular day. Of course we understand that this means that the finished
work of Calvary invalidates the self effort once needed to keep the Commandments. We now, in Yahshua, having sins forgiven and the holy Spirit
residing in us no longer depend on 'our own works' but on His grace and power to give us victory over sin, thus enabling us to keep His instructions
and Commandments.
In Hebrews 4:2 Paul talks of the rest
for the people of Elohim (God).
This word ‘rest’ means to ‘settle down,’ ‘to colonise’ ‘to repose down’. It is a play on words. He is using their
understanding of the restfulness of Sabbath to make a point, not to invalidate the Sabbath day!
Not to instruct others not to keep the day which
He obviously kept! (For his activities on the Sabbath see: Acts 13:14: Paul and Barnabas observed the Sabbath in the synagogue in Antioch. See also
Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4 )
The Greek here for rest (Strongs 2663) means the same as the Hebrew (Strongs 4520) meaning the repose of believing in Yahshua like a type of heaven.
Of course there is this kind of rest in Yahshua, as we have indeed ‘ceased from our own works’ Paul would be horrified if he thought he had misled
us on this point, to break the Commandments of Yahweh!
Yahshua kept the Sabbath. Yahshua showed what kinds of activities were acceptable on the Sabbath.
He always made a point of teaching
by example. On the Sabbath day He visited and taught
in the Synagogues where the Law was being read and expounded, healed people and
explained to them about doing good on the Sabbath day.
The only qualification or comment He made about the Sabbath was to show people not to be in bondage to the religious teachings of the day. Yahweh
made the Sabbath day for man, and in healing and teaching people on this day Yahshua qualified His comment. Nowhere do we hear of Yahshua
disannulling the day. He encouraged His followers through example to continue to honour the day, and after His death Miriam and the other
ladies honoured the day by ‘resting on the Sabbath’ before visiting the tomb. ("according to the commandment" the writer added to make a point.)
If Yahshua had desired to change the day or abolish it,
He did not get through to His dearest friends, did He? After His death His disciples continued to observe the Sabbath and teach others both
Jews and Gentiles to do the same. See
Acts 13:42,44 and Acts 18:4
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” “ And
the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of Yahweh”
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.”
In Matthew 24:20 Yahshua, warning the people about the coming destruction of Jerusalem said that they should pray that their flight would not be
on the Sabbath day. Would He have said this if He had wanted to abolish it? I think not.
Also, He instructed and showed by example what was lawful on the Sabbath. He said, ‘The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day’ (Mk 3:4) and
He also said that it was alright to do good, to loosen our donkey, visit friends and to heal on the Sabbath day. (Mk 2:27, 2:28, 3:4, 4:31, Luke
4:31, 6:1, 14:1, )
If He had abolished the Sabbath day would He have qualified what was allowed? Of course not.
In Luke 6:1 the writer (Luke) mentions that the Sabbath they walked through the corn fields was the second Sabbath after the Feast of Passover
(look at ‘second’ in Strongs 1209 explains this) Yahshua not only kept Sabbath, but the Feasts too. If He did not, then surely Luke would have
not mentioned it in this account.
Paul, who came later, observed the Sabbath.
He did not begin another group, worshipping on Sundays instead… He preached in the synagogues on the Sabbath day just as he probably always had.
(Acts 13:14)
He also advised others to go and listen to Moses being read and taught on the Sabbath day, even Gentiles! (Acts 13:27 and 15:21)The point is not
whether or not Gentiles should keep the Sabbath, the Commandments are Universal Laws set down in stone for mankind. If you or I ignore the
seventh day Sabbath we are in fact ignoring Yahweh (God). It is nothing to do with if we are Jews or Gentiles, the moment we turn to Yahshua we
begin to commit ourselves to Him and to His Commandments. Yahshua said, "I keep My Father's Commandments..." We as His followers have an obligation
to do the same. Salvation is for everyone, and Yahshua said "Strait is the gate and narrow the way to Life, and few there be that find it."
There is an enemy who has spread numerous lies and deceptions both inside and outside of church in order to prevent a clear understanding of this subject. May
we be humble enough to receive the true Torah of Elohim.
There is no scriptural evidence for changing the day from Saturday (seventh day) to Sunday (first day) whatsoever.
Read this link to see who changed the day and how.
Yahshua certainly
never changed it and neither did His disciples before or after the resurrection. Why is it that Gentile believers want to do so? You could answer
that for yourself.
It’s not easy to go against the grain of rebellion, not easy to forge a new way ahead, go against the ways of the crowd,
but I do know that you will be great in the Kingdom if
you keep the Commandments of Yahweh, (Matthew 5:19) and this includes keeping the Sabbath day.
As Elijah of old, you will not be the only one not ‘bowing the knee to baal’ there will be others who will desire to join you.
Email us
for help with how to keep this day. We have learned a great deal on our journey and will happily
share our findings and
understanding with you. We find it a great joy and of huge benefit to keep the correct day holy. After all, the scriptures say, ‘Yahweh
blessed the Sabbath day…” You will find a unique blessing in your life as you walk in obedience to His word.
And to finish, have a read of this! Sabbath?
A great work by a friend, Marc Doyon, and in his own words "
It is the result of an arduous and ongoing personal quest, countless consultations with Gentile and Messianic believers, Christian leaders
from most denominations, nonbelievers and people of all walks of life. All along the process, drafts were submitted to them for advice, corrections,
opinions, comments and suggestions. Their input, negative or positive, was very valuable to me since it forced me to look at their opinion from
every angle. However, I personally consider that the Word of God should be predominant since it constitutes our only sure guide in this life.
It is stable in an unstable world and constitutes a great source of help in times of hardship. Also, it is the reference by excellence to
"destroy arguments and every pretention raised up against the knowledge of God." 2 Cor 10.4-5 As Yeshua said: "If they don't listen to Moses and
the Prophets"
(the Bible), "neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Lc 16.31 So now I consider that work completed."
If you are interested in reading more from Marc, this is his website which we would recommend. The articles are in French.
www.setapart.thatsabouttime.com