Topical Bible: The Sabbath: No Manner of Work to be Done On

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Sabbath, a day of rest and worship, is a central tenet in Judeo-Christian tradition, rooted in the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments. The command to abstain from work on the Sabbath is a recurring theme in the Scriptures, emphasizing its importance as a day set apart for rest and spiritual reflection.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of the Sabbath originates in the creation account, where God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. Genesis 2:2-3 states, "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 command to observe the Sabbath is explicitly stated in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:8-10 instructs, "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 which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates."

Prohibition of Work

The prohibition of work on the Sabbath is a defining characteristic of its observance. This command is reiterated in various passages throughout the Old Testament. In Exodus 31:15 , it is stated, "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death."

The prohibition extends to all forms of labor, emphasizing the need for complete cessation of work. Leviticus 23:3 reinforces this, "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD wherever you live."

Sabbath Observance in Israelite Society

In ancient Israel, the Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and His people. It served as a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Deuteronomy 5:15 highlights this dual significance: "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. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."

The observance of the Sabbath was a communal practice, involving not only individuals but also families, servants, and even animals. This collective rest underscored the holistic nature of the Sabbath as a time for physical, spiritual, and communal renewal.

Prophetic Emphasis and New Testament Perspective

The prophets often called the people of Israel back to proper Sabbath observance, linking it to social justice and faithfulness to God. Isaiah 58:13-14 exhorts, "If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed the Sabbath's significance while challenging legalistic interpretations. He emphasized the Sabbath's purpose for human benefit, as seen in Mark 2:27 : "Then Jesus declared, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'"

The early Christian community grappled with the application of the Sabbath in light of Christ's resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. This led to the practice of gathering on Sunday, the Lord's Day, while still recognizing the Sabbath's enduring spiritual principles.

Conclusion

The Sabbath remains a profound symbol of rest, worship, and covenantal relationship with God. Its command to abstain from work serves as a reminder of God's creative power, His deliverance, and the holistic rest He desires for His people.

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

When Christ Ate the Passover.
... shall be a holy convocation to you; no manner of work ... of you." The prohibition of
all regular work, except the ... day of unleavened bread was a Sabbath, and it ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/when christ ate the passover.htm

Christ's Authority Over the Sabbath as Its Lord He Recalled it ...
... Creator's Sabbath, and restoring to the Sabbath the works ... Since, in like manner,
the prophet Elisha on ... No critical authority, however, now known warrants such ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xii christs authority over the.htm

The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
... THE TRUE MANNER OF KEEPING HOLY THE LORD'S DAY. ... be exercises that God will bless
and allow on the Sabbath day ... And seeing that no action ought to be done that day ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/the true manner of keeping.htm

Thou Shalt Sanctify the Holy Day. [Remember the Sabbath Day to ...
... cease working], or heiligen Abend geben [sanctify the Sabbath]. ... Not in this manner,
that [with folded hands] we sit behind the stove and do no rough [external ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt sanctify the holy.htm

Whether the Third Precept of the Decalogue, Concerning the ...
... work on that day [*Vulg.: 'You shall do no work on that ... In like manner a bodily work
that is directed to the ... have healed the whole man on the Sabbath day?" And ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the third precept of.htm

True Sabbath Observance
... years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day ... but it makes it a mirror in which
the manner of our ... Where He is the physician, there is no period of gradual ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/true sabbath observance.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... But at Philippi, where as yet there was no disciples, Paul is said to go on their
Sabbath day to ... the sun, that it was the Christians' usual manner to pass ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

The Pharisees' Sabbath and Christ's
... Christ's power to heal by a word, the manner of healing ... even they could accuse Him
of breaking any Sabbath law by ... Surely that broke no subtle rabbinical precept ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the pharisees sabbath and christs.htm

Sabbath Observance
... There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware,
and ... Of course, 'from that time they came no more on the Sabbath,' as was ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sabbath observance.htm

Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down ...
... R.6). The next two chapters in the tractate on the Sabbath discuss the manner in
which food may be kept warm for the Sabbath, since no fire might ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xvii the ordinances and.htm