Did you know that the biblical Sabbath is on Saturday? It begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. This special day is one of God’s Appointed Times mentioned in Leviticus 23:3: “There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to God.”
The Sabbath is a wonderful day of rest and worship, celebrated by people all around the world for thousands of years. During the Sabbath, people avoid work and focus on spending time with family and friends, resting, reading God’s Word, and enjoying the day.
In Exodus 20:8-11, Moses shared the Ten Commandments with the Israelites, including the command to keep the Sabbath holy. He said, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to Yah your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work.” The prophet Isaiah spoke about the blessings of keeping the Sabbath. In Isaiah 58:13-14, he said, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day... then you will find your joy in Yahweh.”
In the New Testament, Yeshua also spoke about the Sabbath. In Mark 2:27, He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Master even of the Sabbath.” He taught that the Sabbath is a gift from God meant for our benefit and rest. Paul, another important figure, also recognized the importance of the Sabbath. In Acts 17:2, it is mentioned that “Paul went into the synagogue, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” Paul kept the Sabbath and used it as an opportunity to teach and engage with others about the Scriptures. To learn more about the Sabbath, explore The Sabbath Activity Book! Suitable for kids ages 8-12, available in English and Spanish.
