Chapter 12 | How to Keep the Sabbath

How To Keep The SABBATH

Chapter 12 | How to Keep the Sabbath

The Bible Sabbath is not about legalism. Those who seek such evidence in scripture will only find the Pharisee Sabbath leads to legalism and bondage. His Sabbath is freedom but He and Paul rebuked the Pharisee manipulation that is against His commandments (Mark 7:9). “Thou shalt not” is never bondage unless we view such as children who do not wish to be given any boundaries. As parents, we all know that those limits protect our children and are for their benefit. Why would we forget that when our Heavenly Father shows love to us in the same manner? First and foremost, we cannot forget to remember the Sabbath. We must keep it holy, sanctified and set apart from the other 6 days of the week. We will address when the Sabbath Day begins and affirm that it is Saturday and not Sunday in forthcoming chapters though you have probably already received enough historical and Biblical reference to support that.

Exodus 20:8 KJV Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

We have broken down the Sabbath into 12 precepts in which we have compiled a chart at the end of this chapter for quick reference.

1. NO WORK

Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy

maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

We are not to conduct nor participate in any work on the 7th-Day Sabbath as it is a day of rest for our souls. However, it is the only day of the week set apart and sanctified as the day of rest. Anyone resting the other 6 days is labeled lazy by the Bible. We do not get to choose when we keep His day. He is Lord of the Sabbath and think so is to usurp His authority as Lord of the Sabbath. No one can keep the Sabbath any other day. Again, this is not just Old Testament, the New Testament refers to us as an example of unbelief if we are not entering into His rest. The writer of Hebrews and the Apostles did and so should we.

Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

The exiled Temple Priests in Qumran were adamant about observing the Sabbath not in legalism like the Pharisees nor bondage but in the freedom of His true rest. There is no remedy in modern times that can replace it.

“Concerning the Sabbath to observe it according to its law. No man shall work on the sixth day from the moment when the sun’s orb is distant by its own fulness from the gate ; for this is what He said, Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy (Deut. v, 12).” “He shall say nothing about work or labour to be done on the morrow.” “No man shall profane the Sabbath for the sake of riches or gain on the Sabbath day.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143. [1]

Note we removed the commentary injection in Geza Vermes’ translation in parentheses that claimed “when the sun’s orb is distant by its own fulness from the gate” as to mean sunset. That is fraud and misrepresentation as this occurs twice daily – once at sunrise and once

at sunset. The sun is equidistant in both instances. Regarding the start of the Biblical day, this passage is not specifying which it means but we will cover other portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls that do along with abundant scripture one cannot truly debate. The Book of Jubilees weighs in in complete agreement with Torah as it always affirms many times with clarification and revelation we have lost over the years.

Jubilees 2:29 (Excerpt) Declare and say to the children of Israel the law of this day both that they should keep Sabbath thereon, and that they should not forsake it in the error of their hearts; (and) that it is not lawful to do any work thereon which is unseemly... Jubilees 50 (Excerpt) 8-9: Six days wilt thou labour, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yahuah your Elohim. In it ye shall do no manner of work, ye and your sons, and your men-servants and your maid-servants, and all your cattle and the sojourner also who is with you. 8 And the man that doeth any work on it shall die: 12: And every man who doeth any work thereon...

2. NO COOKING

Exodus 35:3 KJV Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

Some question what this means. However, it is clear not to kindle fire period but especially for cooking as that is how one would prepare food in that age. Today, we have gas and electric and you turn a knob or push a button. However, understand the point of this is for you to take no thought of yourself for the Sabbath. You prepare your food the day before. All your meals should already be ready so you do not have to even think about cooking or yourself really. There is a long list of foods that you can prepare the day before or even order the day before to have cold the next day. For us, we love things like sandwiches

that are already made, pasta already mixed, pizza, salad already mixed, etc. We, many times, will cook up some eggs scrambled or omelets the day before but sometimes, we just have boiled eggs or cereal. There are many options even pastries, muffins, and pandesal if you are in the Philippines (masarap!). You can always pick up rotisserie chicken which is still good cold the next day or in the Philippines lechon manok. A list of snacks that are already prepared is massive as well. It is really just a matter of planning and preparation. Once you get used to it, it is no burden at all. In fact, we now live from “one Sabbath to another” as Isaiah mentioned as we look forward all week to the Sabbath rest. For us we stay away from unclean foods more because the Creator told us they were not good to eat. Of course, no blood. Some Pharisees will tell you, you cannot use electricity because that is work. They are legalistic and in bondage because they do not understand the reason for the Sabbath. Can you use a fan or air conditioning for instance? Some of us live in tropical areas that certain times of the year especially are unbearable without at least a fan. Using that fan or even AC or heat for those in the Northern Regions certain times, in no way violates the tone of the Law. Yahuah does not wish for you to have a heat stroke nor freeze. He desires that you are comfortable for the Sabbath and more importantly that there are no distractions. Being too hot or too cold can be a distraction. Use your electric. However, we do not cook or prepare foods that day. We do not even warm them. Some are OK with microwaves. We do not use them as it is cooking. Follow your conviction as the Holy Spirit will guide you. The Dead Sea Scrolls written by the Temple Priests and Jubilees agree.

“No man shall eat on the Sabbath day except that which is already prepared. He shall eat nothing lying in the fields. He shall not drink except in the camp.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143. [1]

Jubilees 2:29 (Excerpt) ...and that they should not prepare thereon anything to be eaten or drunk. and (that it is not lawful) to draw water, or bring in or take out thereon through their gates any burden, which they had not prepared for themselves on the sixth day in their dwellings.

Jubilees 50 (Excerpt) 9: Ye shall do no work whatever on the Sabbath day save that ye have prepared for yourselves on the sixth day, so as to eat, and drink, and rest, and keep Sabbath from all work on that day, and to bless Yahuah your Elohim... 12: ...and whoever lighteth a fire... or slaughtereth a beast or a bird, or whoever catcheth an animal or a bird or a fish

3. NO BUYING / SELLING

We always make sure we have things like water deliveries, any errands, any monies owed anyone are paid and delivered on Friday. Again, this way, we do not need to put any thought into our own needs. Sure, we eat but as we covered, it’s prepared already so we just grab and eat. Again, this is not difficult but it becomes habit. For those beginning the Sabbath observance, don’t beat yourself up in minutiae. You will learn. The point is to begin and grow from there. You will improve your planning and it will become second nature. Even if you slip at that point, you ask forgiveness and see that you plan better next time. In the days of Nehemiah, Israel was really straying from this observance. They would become too busy to rest. Merchants were arriving Friday all night long in order to begin selling their wares and commodities first thing in the morning. Nehemiah was so serious about keeping the Sabbath because he knew his nation was in trouble. He closed the gates but not just in the early a.m. when Sabbath begins which we prove later, but he would close them the night before so the vendors could not even get into the city until Sunday. That is truly the only way to have stopped them and some still sold fish and goods from outside the wall.

Nehemiah 13:15 KJV In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

Once again, as they were the Sons of Zadok from the Temple and Moses wrote Jubilees, both agree with the Bible.

“He shall make no loan to his companion. He shall make no decision in matters of money and gain. He shall say nothing about work or labour to be done on the morrow. No man shall walk in the field to do business on the Sabbath.” “No man shall profane the Sabbath for the sake of riches or gain on the Sabbath day.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141 [1]

Jubilees 50:8 (Excerpt) ...that he will set out on a journey thereon in regard to any buying or selling:

4. NO WORK FOR OTHERS

Not only are we not to work but we are not to do anything that requires another to work even those in our households. We don’t go to restaurants. Yes, some will serve if you have a gathering but that is permissible on the Sabbath if they are volunteers. However, if they are paid workers, that is not permissible. We have also found that when we have even had workers on our house, etc., they have always been understanding of the rule not to work on Saturday. You set the observance and people will follow. Family will likely be your largest challenge.

Exodus 20:10 KJV But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“He shall send out no stranger on his business on the Sabbath day.” “No man shall profane the Sabbath for the sake of riches or gain on the Sabbath day.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Jubilees 50:7 (Excerpt) In it ye shall do no manner of work, ye and your sons, and your men-servants and your maid-servants, and all your cattle and the sojourner also who is with you.

Really, for these first 4 thus far, they all boil down to no work. If you do not like the negative of do not, then apply it is as rest. Rest yourself, allow others to rest and rest from cooking. You can sum them up in one word so it is not hard to understand – REST.

5. NO PERSONAL PLEASURE

Especially among Pharisees and Messianics who largely follow Pharisees, there is a doctrine that having spousal relations on the Sabbath brings a double blessing. Of course, there is not a single scripture that supports that. The tone of the Sabbath in reason already tells us this day is about His pleasure not ours. Do we gain pleasure from pleasing Him? Of course we do. However, that’s His pleasure and we are pleasuring in Him not ourselves. The Sabbath has always been interpreted this way as evidenced in Isaiah. He knew how to read and apply Torah.

Isaiah 58:13 KJV If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

The debate then begins to enter mindless ridicule as they will say it doesn’t mean the Weekly Sabbath. The problem is there is no other day of the week that is called Sabbath nor that is called His holy day. The notion is illiterate but they just don’t want to give up their “double blessing” which is Rabbi babble, not Bible. Let them go argue with themselves. Isaiah is clear and the Sons of Zadok who ran the Temple applied this the same way as we have their writings.

“No man shall lie with a woman in the city of the Sanctuary, to defile the city of the Sanctuary with their uncleanness.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Then, there is the Book of Jubilees which affirms the very same interpretation as the Prophet Isaiah, the Temple Priests and once again,

that was written by Moses who wrote Torah so he kinda knew what he meant just as he knew what happened at Sinai..

Jubilees 2:29 (Excerpt) “...that it is not lawful to do any work thereon which is unseemly, to do thereon their own pleasure,” Jubilees 50:7 (Excerpt) “...whoever desecrateth that day, whoever lieth with (his) wife or whoever saith he will do something on it,”

They wish to throw out The Book of Jubilees over this one so-called discrepancy in the Law. Talk about gnat straining and downright illogical. However, this thinking does not just come from Isaiah, the Sons of Zadok Temple Priests and Jubilees but this is a doctrine right out Torah in which they are overlooking. When Adam and Eve were taken into the Garden there was no sex in the Garden. Adam knew Eve and she conceived Cain well after the Garden exile that Jubilees dates to over 50 years later. The Garden has Yahuah’s Holy of Holies and you do not have spousal relations there. If so, you die in His presence. This is evidenced in the Mt. Sinai encounter and very obviously the same tone in keeping the Sabbath.

Exodus 19:14-15 KJV And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

Husbands, you have 6 other days of the week to take care of that. You can refrain one day per week. No one can overrule Jubilees as scripture over this point as it affirms scripture. In fact, if Jubilees said that you receive a “double blessing” for doing this on the Sabbath, that would be a problem as that would be against the Bible even Torah. It is time to let that go Messianics as you have lost the debate.

6. NO CARRYING

Notice how we are breaking this down into 12 precepts but essentially most of these stem from work of some kind. If you are carrying things, that is work. If you have a gathering on the Sabbath in which you need to setup chairs and tables, try to do so the day before. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath and that is ministry so no one can condemn that. However, remember the tone of the day and try to stay at rest even in service as best you can because this is typically a planning issue.

Jeremiah 17:21 KJV Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

The Qumran Scrolls from the Temple Priest take this a step further in interpretation. They even say that if you are rearing a child, don’t carry it on the Sabbath. That can be difficult and not an issue we would call a sticking point but that is their interpretation. Clearly, they are saying to train your child as well to keep Sabbath as that is really the true meaning of that. It fits the tone of Sabbath and we would encourage it. Again, these are not about condemnation and legalism but interpretations of how to rest one day per week. They are not debate points as that is for the foolish. We believe your family and even your child will be blessed to have such boundaries established. No doubt a newborn cannot understand this and you need to do what you need to do. It does not give an age and it is obvious you cannot leave a newborn in the crib all day without picking them up at least some. However, you can limit that and train them over the years. There are also other ways to adapt your setup to accommodate such as having them in a safe room gated and you can be next to them comforting them without picking them up at times.

“No man shall take anything out of the house or bring anything in. And if he is in a booth, let him neither take anything out nor bring anything in.” “He shall lift neither stone nor dust in his dwelling. No man minding a child shall carry it whilst going and coming on the Sabbath.” “No man shall assist a beast to give birth on the Sabbath day. And if it should fall into a cistern or pit, he shall not lift it out on the Sabbath.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Jubilees really explains the purpose of this. It is not about moving boxes or whatever. It is about not taking thought for yourself. Yahuah does not need anything on the Sabbath. He does not need your box and whatever is inside, is not for Him likely. He wants you and your attention. That is what this is about. Also, this is another planning issue in which we simply take care of moving things the day before or they wait a day mostly. Jubilees will also explain and we will cover at the end of the chapter what this warning of being put to death means.

Jubilees 2:29 (Excerpt) ...or bring in or take out thereon through their gates any burden, which they had not prepared for themselves on the sixth day in their dwellings. Jubilees 50:8 (Excerpt) ...and whoever taketh up any burden to carry it out of his tent or out of his house shall die.

7. NO MONEY MATTERS

Of course, we work to acquire money or alternatives in barter of sort. Exodus has always said not to focus on money matters. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls really explain this so we can all understand how it was interpreted by the Temple Priests who had the continuance in observance in their practices since Moses.

Exodus 20:10 KJV But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“He shall make no loan to his companion. He shall make no decision in matters of money and gain. He shall say nothing about work or labour to be done on the morrow. No man shall walk in the field to do business on the Sabbath.” “He shall send out no stranger on his business on the Sabbath day.” “No man shall profane the Sabbath for the sake of riches or gain on the

Sabbath day.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Jubilees really supports this as this is really working. Again, we are to have no distractions as best we can align as we rest for the day. If we are even thinking about money matters, we are not focused on Him.

8. NO EXTENDED TRAVEL

Moses said let no man leave his place on the Sabbath. How was this interpreted? Messiah addressed this as well in an End Times context when people will be forced to flee. He invokes the Sabbath from Moses as we will still be keeping it in the End Times. Acts is still set on the Sabbath observance from the Old Testament as it mentions “a Sabbath day’s journey.” When you calculate the distance, Luke meant the distance one is allowed to travel on the Sabbath just as Messiah is saying the same.

Exodus 16:29 KJV See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Matthew 24:20 KJV But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

Acts 1:12 KJV Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

What happens if you travel far? You will need to buy gas and end up breaking other Sabbath precepts. You would have to plan food the day before and also, you would likely need to pack the car. The point is to rest. Can one travel to minister or participate in such on the Sabbath? It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. Today, we have cars, motorcycles, etc. However, in the time of the Qumran community, the Temple Priests put a distance on this journey. Obviously, in the same amount of time,

we can travel faster and a farther distance. Just remember, the point is to keep Him at the center without distraction. You know whether that journey is a distraction and even necessary that day. Some even attend a gathering at church or other regularly on Saturday and that is generally doing good thus lawful. However, you know when you are over the line. Conditions have changed in modern times. Just limit your travel on the Sabbath. For those who take public transportation, that would be buying and selling and requiring someone else to work for you. This does include riding on a ship in Jubilees.

“He shall not walk more than one thousand cubits beyond his town.” “No man shall walk more than two thousand cubits after a beast to pasture it outside his town.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Jubilees 50:12 (Excerpt) ... or goeth a journey... or rideth on any beast... or travelleth by ship on the sea...

9. NO WORK FOR ANIMALS

The earth kept the Sabbath from the beginning as we demonstrated. There are even some animals who have been observed in the wild resting on Saturday very oddly. Your animals are your responsibility and they should keep the Sabbath with you. Messiah made it clear that the Bible practice has always included feeding and watering your animals as that is permissible work on the Sabbath. You can minimize that today though with automatic feeders and the like.

Exodus 23:12 KJV Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

“No man shall walk more than two thousand cubits after a beast to pasture it

outside his town. He shall not raise his hand to strike it with his fist. If it is stubborn he shall not take it out of his house.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

Jubilees 50:12 (Excerpt) ... or rideth on any beast... and whoever striketh or killeth anything

10. NO PLANNING

As we have discussed, planning is essentially work thus this is covered in Exodus as well but not in direct reference. The Dead Sea Scrolls manifest the Temple practice and Jubilees offers Moses’ clarity himself. If we are planning, we are not focused on Him.

“He shall say nothing about work or labour to be done on the morrow.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

“No man shall make plans with his mouth ... [on the day of Sabbath. He shall not talk] about any matter relating to work or wealth or ... on the day of Sabbath.” –4QHalakhah B, 40264a. DSS, p. 234 [1]

Jubilees 50:8 (Excerpt) ...or whoever saith he will do something on it...

11. NO VAIN / IDLE WORD

In order to remain focused on Jesus(Yahusha), we are to speak His words and not our own. We do not complain, murmur, curse, show anger or even attempt conversations about us, our accomplishments, etc. We speak holy words and blessings. With those in your household, this is the day you can teach them.

Isaiah 58:13 KJV If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my

holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

“No manshall speak any vain or idle word on the Sabbath day.” –The Damascus Document, p. 141-143 [1]

“He shall sp[eak no wo]rd apart from speaking holy words as prescribed and from pronouncing blessings of God.” –4QHalakhah B, 40264a. DSS, p. 234 [1]

12. MEDITATE & WORSHIP

For number 12, let’s address what we do on the Sabbath. Once again, for those worried about the “thou shalt nots,” reframe it as thou shalt rest. All of these are positive as this is about rest for your soul as Messiah taught. This is not a day of sleep and laziness. You can lounge and read and watch teaching videos, study, worship, pray and rest physically. However, this is not about a day of “slumming it” in focus. That would be about us. We affix our attention to Him, His Word and His ways.

Joshua 1:8 KJV This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:2 KJV But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1 Timothy 4 KJV 1-2: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

15: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

“[No man shall revise the scro]ll of a book reading its script on the day of [Sabbath] ... But they may read and study it.” –4QHalakhah B, 40264a. DSS, p. 234 [1]

The Sabbath is appointed by Yahuah as a sign for all His works of Creation. We celebrate His Creation on the same cycle in which He created – 7 days. We observe as He did on the 7th day of rest not the first which is a day of work on that same Creation clock.

Jubilees. 2:1 Write the complete history of the creation, how in six days Yahuah Elohim finished all His works and all that He created, and kept Sabbath on the seventh day and hallowed it for all ages, and appointed it as a sign for all His works.

This is our test as believers as Hebrews 4 defines those not entering this rest on the Sabbath as an example of unbelief. The Sabbath is a sign of covenant relationship with the Father and Son. It is not salvation. However, those in love and relationship with Him keep His commandments according to the New Testament. We see in Israel that a man would be put to death for not keeping the Sabbath. In Israel, this meant physical death when it was a nation. However, in clarification, they were a nation in covenant with national laws framed within such. The true intent is spiritual death according to Jubilees and Qumran.

Jubilees 2:27-28 And whoever profaneth it shall surely die, and whoever doeth thereon any work shall surely die eternally, that the children of Israel may observe this day throughout their generations, and not be rooted out of the land; for it is a holy day and a blessed day. And every one who observeth it and keepeth Sabbath thereon from all his work, will be holy and blessed throughout all days like unto us.