Topical Bible: The Sabbath: Called: The Sabbath of the Lord

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The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, is a central theme in the Judeo-Christian tradition, rooted in the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments. It is referred to as "The Sabbath of the Lord" in several passages, emphasizing its divine origin and sanctity.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the Sabbath originates in the creation account in Genesis. After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day, setting a precedent for the Sabbath. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished."

The Sabbath is further codified in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20:8-11 commands, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."

Theological Significance

The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and His people, as seen in Exodus 31:16-17 : "The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it as a lasting covenant for the generations to come. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

The Sabbath serves as a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, as noted in Deuteronomy 5:15 : "Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."

Observance and Practice

The observance of the Sabbath involves rest from labor and a focus on worship and spiritual renewal. It is a day set apart for reflection on God's goodness and provision. The prohibition of work on the Sabbath underscores the importance of rest and reliance on God, as seen in the commandment to cease from labor.

In the New Testament, Jesus affirms the significance of the Sabbath while challenging legalistic interpretations. In Mark 2:27-28 , Jesus declares, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This highlights the Sabbath's purpose as a gift for humanity's benefit, rather than a burdensome obligation.

Cultural and Historical Context

Throughout history, the observance of the Sabbath has been a distinctive mark of Jewish identity and faithfulness to God's commandments. In the early Christian church, the practice of gathering on the first day of the week, Sunday, emerged to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, while some groups continued to observe the traditional Sabbath.

The Sabbath remains a topic of theological discussion and practice among various Christian denominations, with differing views on its observance and significance in the New Covenant. Nonetheless, the principle of rest and worship continues to be a vital aspect of Christian life and devotion.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 23:3
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; you shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
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Deuteronomy 5:14
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates; that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.
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Library

Christ's Authority Over the Sabbath as Its Lord He Recalled it ...
... works; and what it enjoined"even divine works, which might be done for the benefit
of any soul, [3884] He was called "Lord of the Sabbath," [3885] because He ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xii christs authority over the.htm

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... covenant of God (Proverbs 2:17), because instituted by God in the beginning (Matthew
19:6, 8), the Sabbath is everywhere called "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

The Christian Sabbath --Peter's Confession of Faith.
... "The Son of Man," said Jesus, "is Lord even of ... the Synagogue to see if He would heal
on the Sabbath. He knew their thoughts, and called the man, saying, "Rise ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvi the christian sabbathpeters.htm

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ...
... probably the first - possibly, the second - Sabbath after the ... disciples, indicate
a later period, our Lord did not ... His return from the so-called Unknown Feast ...
/.../chapter xxxv the two sabbath-controversies.htm

On the Fourth Command in the Decalogue
... it to be changed, that is, into the day which is called "the Lord's day;" because ...
that the new people should enter on a new method of keeping the Sabbath. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxvii on the fourth.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... the Lord's Supper, because it was instituted of the Lord, for the remembrance of
his death; so the Christian Sabbath is called the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10 ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven.
... Our Lord's habit of ... to demoniacal agency.] 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her,
and ... with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxvii sabbath healing mustard seed.htm

True Sabbath Observance
... And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and ... come and be healed, and not on
the Sabbath day ... The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/true sabbath observance.htm

The Sabbath
... a large assertion of the mastery of Christ that He is Lord "even of the Sabbath."
But those ... young and a torpor to the old, what should be called a delight ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 2 23-28 the sabbath.htm

The Uses of the Sabbath.
... And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to ... and be healed, and not on the
day of the sabbath.". But the Lord answered him and said, "Ye hypocrites, doth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the uses of the sabbath.htm