This is the summary of The Sabbath- Part 2- Examining the Tanakh and The Sabbath- Part 3- The Apostolic Writings.  If you haven't done so already, you may also want to read the introduction to this series.

I've also compiled a list of answers to questions  I've received about this topic.

Included as an appendix to this article are references to most (if not all) verses in Scripture directly related to this topic.  Please contact me if you find a verse that is not referenced and think it should be.

Here's the complete list:

  1. The first use of שָׁבַת [shabbat] as a verb is in Genesis 2 as part of the account of Creation. (GEN 2:2)
  2. G-d sanctified the seventh day because He ceased creating. (GEN 2:3)
  3. The Israelites were given the Sabbath before the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. (EXO 16:22-30)
  4. The Sabbath day is a holy day. (EXO 16:22-23; EXO 35:2)
  5. Food preparation should be performed on the sixth day before the Sabbath. (EXO 16:23)
  6. The first use of Sabbath as a noun is in Exodus 16. (EXO 16:23)
  7. There was no provision of manna on the seventh day. (EXO 16:25)
  8. The Sabbath day was on the seventh day of the week. (EXO 16:26, 30)
  9. Everyone should remain "in his place" on the seventh day. (EXO 16:29)
  10. G-d provided a double portion on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath. (EXO 16:29)
  11. G-d commanded:
    1. Israel should keep the Sabbath day holy. (EXO 20:8; DEU 5:12)
    2. Israel should remember the Sabbath day. (EXO 20:8)
    3. Israel's children, servants, animals, or visitors should not work on the seventh day. (EXO 20:10; DEU 5:14)
  12. G-d blessed the seventh day. (EXO 20:11)
  13. G-d made the seventh day holy. (EXO 20:11)
  14. Israel is to honor a specific day because G-d made all of Creation in six days, ceased from his work of creating on the seventh day, and made that day holy. (EXO 20:11)
  15. The Sabbath is a sign between G-d and Israel throughout their generations. (EXO 31:13)
  16. The Sabbath is holy to the Israelites. (EXO 31:14)
  17. Everyone who profanes the Sabbath shall be put to death and cut off from among his people. (EXO 31:15)
  18. The Sabbath is the seventh day. (EXO 31:15; EXO 35:2)
  19. The Sabbath is a perpetual [eternal] covenant for Israel. (EXO 31:16)
  20. The Sabbath is a complete rest to the LORD. (EXO 35:2)
  21. Whoever does any work [melakhah] on it shall be put to death. (EXO 35:2)
  22. Fires should not be kindled in any Israelite dwellings on the Sabbath day. (EXO 35:3)
  23. Sabbath can refer to the weekly event or the annual day of Yom Kippur. (LEV 16:31)
  24. The Sabbaths are associated with G-d's sanctuary (LEV 19:30; LEV 26:2)
  25. The Sabbaths should be kept because G-d is the LORD our G-d. (LEV 19:30)
  26. The Sabbath is a day to the Lord in all your dwellings (LEV 23:3)
  27. The seventh-day Sabbath is the first among G-d's appointed times [moedim]. (LEV 23:3)
  28. You shall not do any work on the Sabbath. (LEV 23:3)
  29. The lamp and the bread [both pictures of Messiah] are to be set before G-d on the Sabbath day. (LEV 24:8)
  30. The Land of Israel has a Sabbath every seven years (the Shemittah year). (LEV 24:8)
  31. The Jubilee year, every fiftieth year, is a special Sabbath year where the Land is returned to its original owners, captives are released, and crops are not harvested. (LEV 25:8-13)
  32. The Sabbaths should be kept because G-d is the LORD. (LEV 26:2)
  33. The Land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. (LEV 26:34-35)
  34. The Land will have its Sabbaths while the Israelites are in captivity away from the land because they rejected G-d's ordinances and statutes. (LEV 26:43)
  35. Gathering wood on the Sabbath is a violation of the commandments regarding the Sabbath day and is punishable by death. (NUM 15:32-36)
  36. The Sabbath day sacrifices in the Tabernacle are noted to be unblemished lambs. (NUM 28:9-10)
  37. G-d commanded:
    1. Israel should observe the Sabbath day.  (DEU 5:12)
    2. Israel should keep the Sabbath day holy.  (DEU 5:12)
    3. Israel should labor for six days (DEU 5:13) but not do any work on the seventh day.  (DEU 5:14)
    4. Israel's children, servants, animals, or visitors should not work on the seventh.  day (DEU 5:14)
    5. The reason that Israel is to honor a specific day is that G-d brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm (DEU 5:15)
  38. Violations of the Sabbath include these activities that profane (NEH 13:17) the day:
    1. Treading the wine press.  (NEH 13:15)
    2. Bringing in sacks of grain.  (NEH 13:15)
    3. Loading burdens (sacks of grain) onto animals.  (NEH 13:15)
    4. Selling food (NEH 13:15)
  39. The Levites were to purify themselves and serve as gatekeepers to sanctify the Sabbath day (NEH 13:22)

    The following passages from Isaiah (chapters 56-58) regarding the "Sabbath" may refer to a specific Sabbath: Yom Kippur.  Therefore, I note these passages with the caveat that they may be referring to Yom Kippur, not the weekly Sabbath.
  40. Justice and G-d's righteousness and salvation are associated with the Sabbath.  (ISA 56:1-2)
  41. There is blessing given to him who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and keeps his hand from doing any evil.  (ISA 56:2)
  42. The foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should not think he is separate from G-d's people.  (ISA 56:3)
  43. To those who keep the sabbaths, choose what pleases G-d, and hold fast to G-d's covenant, they will receive:
    1. G-d's house (ISA 56:5)
    2. Within G-d's house: a memorial (ISA 56:5)
    3. A name better than that of sons and daughters, an everlasting name which will not be cut off.  (ISA 56:5)
  44. To those who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, and love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, and keep from profaning the Sabbath while holding fast to His covenant:
    1. They will be brought to G-d's holy mountain (ISA 56:7)
    2. G-d will make them joyful in His house of prayer.  (ISA 56:7)
    3. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on His altar.  (ISA 56:7)
  45. Blessings are to be found:
    1. If we:
      1. turn our feet from doing our own pleasure on G-d's holy Sabbath day (ISA 58:13)
      2. call it a delight (ISA 58:13)
      3. call it honorable (ISA 58:13)
      4. honor it (ISA 58:13)
      5. desisting from our own ways (Isaiah 58:13)
      6. desisting from seeking our own pleasure and speaking our own word (ISA 58:13)
    2. then:
      1. We will take delight in the LORD (ISA 58:14)
      2. G-d will make us ride on the heights of the earth (ISA 58:14)
      3. G-d will feed us with the heritage of Jacob our father (ISA 58:14)
    3. for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.  (ISA 58:14)

  46. In the world to come, the Sabbath will be observed and used to mark time (ISA 66:23-24)
  47. Do not carry any load on the Sabbath (JER 17:21)
  48. Do not bring a load out of your houses on the Sabbath (JER 17:22)
  49. Do not do any work on the Sabbath day (JER 17:22)
  50. Keep the Sabbath day holy (JER 17:22)
  51. There is blessing in keeping the Sabbath day (JER 17:24-26)
  52. There are consequences for violating the Sabbath day (JER 17:27)
  53. The Sabbath was given by G-d (EZK 20:12)
  54. The Sabbath was given so that Israel would know that it was G-d who sanctified them (EZK 20:12)
  55. Israel greatly profaned G-d's Sabbaths as a result of rebellion (EZK 20:13)
    1. G-d resolved to annihilate Israel as a consequence (EZK 20:13)
    2. G-d acted for the sake of His name that it would not be profaned in the sight of the nations (EZK 20:14)
  56. Israel's violation of the Sabbath stemmed from idolatry (EZK 20:16)
  57. G-d commands the children of the idolatrous generation:
    1. "Sanctify [His] Sabbaths" (EZK 20:20)
    2. The Sabbaths will be a sign between Israel and G-d (EZK 20:20)
    3. The Sabbaths will help Israel know that He is YHVH, their G-d (EZK 20:20)
  58. The children [of those who left Egypt] also rebelled against G-d by profaning His Sabbaths (EZK 20:21)
    1. G-d resolved to pour out His wrath (EZK 20:21)
    2. G-d withdrew His hand and acted for the sake of His name that it should not be profaned (EZK 20:22)
    3. Israel would be scattered among the nations because they had violated the Sabbaths (EZK 20:24)
  59. Profaning the Sabbath is repeatedly associated with:
    1. Rebellion against G-d (EZK 20:13, 21)
    2. Failing to walk in G-d's statutes (EZK 20:13, 16, 21, 24)
    3. Rejection of G-d's ordinances (EZK 20:13, 16, 21, 24)
  60. The Sabbath [and other appointed feasts] will be celebrated in the Kingdom.  (EZK 44:24)
  61. The prince will provide the burnt offerings for the Sabbath.  (EZK 45:17)
  62. The east-facing door to the Temple's inner court shall be shut except on the Sabbath day and the day of the new moon.  (EZK 46:1)
  63. The people of the land will worship at the doorway of the east gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and new moons.  (EZK 46:3)
  64. There are specific offerings to be made by the prince on the Sabbath day.  (EZK 46:4-5)
  65. The blessing of the Sabbath is stripped from Israel because of her idolatry.  (HOS 2:11)
  66. Those who seek a speedy end of the Sabbath to engage in commerce are equated with those who lie, cheat, and trample the needy.  (AMO 8:4-6)
  67. Sustaining life (e.g., by eating) is of greater priority than avoiding work on the Sabbath. (MAT 12:1-8; LUK 6:1-5; MRK 2:23-28)
  68. The Messiah Yeshua (the Son of Man) is Lord of the Sabbath. (MAT 12:8; MRK 2:28; LUK 6:5)
  69. Healing on the Sabbath is lawful. (MAT 12:10-12; MRK 3:2-5; LUK 6:6-10; LUK 13:10-17; LUK 14:3-4)
  70. It is lawful to do good by helping others on the Sabbath. (MAT 12:12; MRK 3:2-5)
  71. Messiah Yeshua taught in synagogues on the Sabbath. (MRK 1:21; MRK 6:2; LUK 4:16; LUK 4:31,33; LUK 13:10)
  72. The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. (MRK 2:27)
  73. The Sabbath is used as a reference point to describe the days of the week. (MRK 16:2; MRK 16:9; LUK 18:12; LUK 24:1; JHN 20:1; JHN 20:19; ACT 20:7; 1CO 16:2; EXO 31:13)
  74. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (LUK 6:9-10)
  75. Prohibiting healing on the Sabbath is hypocritical. (LUK 13:15)
  76. Taking care of animals on the Sabbath is permitted. (LUK 13:15)
  77. The healing of a woman held in bondage by Satan is appropriate on the Sabbath. (LUK 13:16)
  78. Messiah went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread. (LUK 14:1)
  79. Pulling a son or ox out of the well (as an example of doing good) is allowed on the Sabbath day. (LUK 14:5)
  80. The women who had come with Messiah out of the Galilee saw the tomb and how His body was laid before the Sabbath.  (LUK 23:55)
  81. The women prepared spices and perfumes for Messiah's body before the Sabbath.  (LUK 23:55)
  82. The women who had come with Messiah out of Galilee rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment. (LUK 23:56)
  83. Messiah healed on the Sabbath. (JHN 5:8-9)
  84. Judaism in the first century prohibited carrying a pallet on the Sabbath. (JHN 5:10)
  85. Certain Jews persecuted Messiah because He healed on the Sabbath and told a man to pick up his pallet on the Sabbath. (JHN 5:16)
  86. Messiah works on the Sabbath like His Father does on the Sabbath. (JHN 5:17)
  87. Messiah was breaking the Sabbath in the eyes of some Jews. (JHN 5:18)
  88. On the Sabbath, a man is circumcised, and the day is not violated. (JHN 7:22)
  89. Making an entire man well on the Sabbath does not violate the Sabbath. (JHN 7:23)
  90. Messiah healed a blind man on the Sabbath by making clay and putting it on his eyes. (JHN 9:14)
  91. Some Jews thought that Messiah Yeshua was not keeping the Sabbath.  (JHN 9:16)
  92. Some Jews thought Messiah was not from G-d because He did not keep the Sabbath according to their expectations and rules.  (JHN 9:16)
  93. The Jews did not want bodies left on "the cross" [singular with the definite article] and asked Pilate that the legs of the men might be broken.  (JHN 19:31)
  94. The day Messiah died was the day before a "high Sabbath" [i.e., the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20)].  (JHN 19:13)
  95. The Sabbath day had a proscribed distance to limit traveling on the day.  ACT 1:12)
  96. After the resurrection of Messiah, the disciples still kept within the boundaries proscribed for the Sabbath day's journey.  ACT 1:12)
  97. Paul and his companions went to synagogue on the Sabbath. (ACT 13:14)
  98. The words of the prophets are read every Sabbath. (ACT 13:27)
  99. The people [men of Israel and G-d fearers (ACT 13:16)] of Psidian Antioch begged Paul and Barnabas to speak again regarding the Messiah on the next Sabbath. (ACT 13:42)
  100. On the Sabbath following Paul & Barnabas' first visit, nearly the whole city of Psidian Antioch assembled to hear the word of the Lord. (ACT 13:44)
  101. Moses (the Law) is [present tense] read in the synagogues of believers every Sabbath.  (Acts 15:21)
  102. Paul, Luke, and their companions went to a riverside outside the gate of Philippi (ACT 16:11-12) on the Sabbath and began speaking to the women who had assembled. (ACT 16:13)
  103. Paul reasoned with the men of the synagogue at Thessalonica (ACT 17:1) for three Sabbaths. Some of the Jews, a large number of G-d fearing Greeks, and a number of the leading women were persuaded. (ACT 17:2-4)
  104. Paul reasoned in the synagogue at Corinth, trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks. (ACT 18:4)
  105. No one is to act as a judge when a believer keeps a Sabbath day. (COL 2:16)
  106. There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of G-d. (HEB 4:9)

Armed with all this information, I've answered several questions about the Sabbath.

Sabbath Series Index

 

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One Messianic Gentile