The biblical Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. During this time, the House of Israel is to stop their work, rest, and honor God. Unlike the Spring and Fall Feasts that happen once a year, the Sabbath is a weekly Appointed Time with our Creator. Leviticus 23 lists God's Appointed Times (Feasts), beginning with the Sabbath: “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work therein; it is the Sabbath of Yahweh in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3)
The Sabbath is a wonderful day of rest and worship, celebrated by people all around the world for thousands of years. On this day, people avoid work and focus on fellowship; spending time with family and friends, resting, reading God’s Word, and enjoying this set-apart time. The prophet Isaiah spoke about the blessings of keeping the Sabbath. "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.” (Isaiah 58:13-14)
The Sabbath in the New Testament
In the New Testament, Yeshua also spoke about the Sabbath. In Mark 2:27-28, 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 also recognized the importance of the Sabbath. In Acts 17:2, it says, “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 a time to teach and share the scriptures.
The Sabbath in the Early Church
Right after Yeshua rose from the dead, His disciples kept the Sabbath just like they always had. They rested from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, gathered together to worship God. The apostles, like Paul, attended Sabbath gatherings to teach about Yeshua (Acts 13:14, 42-44). The Sabbath helped them remember God's creation and His promise of rest.
So why do many people today worship on Sunday instead of Saturday? This change did not come from the Bible. In the early 300s AD, the Roman ruler Constantine made a civil law setting Sunday as the official day of rest for the empire. Over time, many accepted this practice, but it does not match what God commanded. The Bible never shows Him changing this weekly Appointed Time. What day do you honor the Sabbath?
To learn more about the Sabbath, explore our Sabbath Journey series of workbooks below.
