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From: Rabbi Moshe Koniuchowsky
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Is Shabbat for Today? (Part 1 of 2)
Is the Shabbat for today?
Absolutely Positively Yes!
(Part 1 of 2)
Many Christians, when asked if they believe in keeping the Ten Commandments, answer with a resounding "Yes!". Many will even have (often excerpts) of the Ten Commandments hanging on their walls in prominent places in house. All too often however, those ten commandments that they believe so much in keeping will stand there as a witness against them all the days of their life. Here is the fourth Commandment:
Exod 20:9 (NKJV) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day [is] the Shabbat of the Yahweh your Elohim. [In] [it] you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who [is] within your gates. 11 For [in] six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that [is] in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Shabbat day and hallowed it.
All throughout history man has profaned the day Yahweh sanctified for rest. It was true even in the days when Isaiah was a prophet of Israel. Yahweh told him to stand in the gates of Jerusalem and instruct the rulers and people in Shabbat keeping, and rebuke them for their Shabbat desecration. (Isaiah 56:2-6, 58:13, 66:23)
150 years later the prophet Nehemiah asked the people:
Nehe 13:17 (NKJV) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing [is] this that you do, by which you profane the Shabbat day? 18 "Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Shabbat."
He then put forth measures for proper Shabbat keeping
Today is no exception. Keeping the Shabbat is indeed not a popular thing. We find large numbers of people reserving the seventh day Shabbat for worldly things rather than for holy things. Many start out to work on Shabbat morning. Many others spend the day doing their dirtiest cleaning chores, attending sports activities, buying, selling and just overall ignoring the Shabbat commandment. In the last 50 years, even keeping the Shabbat on the first day (Sunday) is ignored by those who believe in keeping it. Especially on days that it is inconvenient for them.
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
Yahshua and His Talmidim (Disciples) Observed and Kept the Shabbat
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Many say that Yahshua defended Himself and His disciples for breaking the Shabbat. Think about this for a moment...If Yahshua broke the Shabbat then He did not keep the 4th commandment! Certainly our perfect Messiah kept the Shabbat and kept it perfectly. The issue was in how the Shabbat was to be kept. The scribes and pharisees had added over one thousand laws to Shabbat observance such as not carrying your bed or healing on the Shabbat.
John 5:8 (NKJV) Yahshua said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed , and walked. And that day was the Shabbat. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Shabbat; it is not lawful for you to carry [your] bed ." 11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, `Take up your bed and walk.' " 12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, `Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Yahshua had withdrawn, a multitude being in [that] place. 14 Afterward Yahshua found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Yahshua who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Yahshua, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Shabbat. 17 But Yahshua answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
Yahshua did not break the Shabbat according to Yahweh's commandment and neither did the man who was healed. But the Jews of that day had added these ideas of not healing, not carrying your bed and over a thousand other commandments of men that were added to Yahweh's commandment for the Shabbat. Yahshua emphasized that working for His purpose is never breaking the Shabbat. The Levites "broke" the Shabbat by sacrificing animals. Also circumcising a child on the Shabbat would have been forbidden if you could never work for His purpose. Yahweh knows the heart. That is why Yahshua said this.
Yahshua's custom was to go the the synagogue every Shabbat.
Luke 4:16 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day, and stood up to read.
It was a normal thing in those days. The idea of not keeping the Shabbat did not exist among the Jews of that day. This is why Yahshua did not emphasize it as much as the other commandments. The leaders of the day emphasized the outward appearance of serving Yahweh, but neglected important matters such as justice, mercy and faith.
Matt 23:23 (NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Note that Yahshua did say that "These you ought to have done". All too often people think all that is required of us is justice, mercy and faith because Yahshua had to emphasize it so much. Certainly these are important. But do not neglect the other points.
Yahshua is the founder of our faith. His teachings and example is in full harmony with Yahweh's will for our lives and is our highest authority. Did Yahshua abolish or change the Shabbat as a day for rest and worship? Yahshua declared Himself as "Master of the Shabbat". No scripture said that He had or would change the Shabbat, even after His death. Yahshua kept the commandments and came to set us an example. (John 8:55, 1Peter 2:21-22). In fact, Yahshua expects His followers in these last days to be praying about the Shabbat and keeping it:
Matt 24:20 (NKJV) And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Shabbat. 21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
A common form of reasoning against Yahshua's example of keeping the Shabbat is that He only 'went along' with Shabbat observance so that the law would be fulfilled. The problem with this reasoning is that it could be applied as an excuse to do away with anything Yahshua ever said or did! What percentage of His words and deeds are we to discount? This reasoning has no basis in scripture, it is only an attempt to ignore the example that Yahshua has given and also the example that the Heavenly Father gave when He created all things. Another form of reasoning often used against Yahshua's example of Shabbat observance is that He only kept it because He was a Jew. But was the Shabbat made for all mankind or for Jews only? What did Yahshua teach?
Mark 2:27 (NKJV) And He said to them, "The Shabbat was made for man, and not man for the Shabbat.
While it is true that man was not made for the Shabbat, the Shabbat was made for man! Notice that Yahshua never said "The Shabbat was made for Jews, not Jews for the Shabbat," He plainly said the Shabbat was made for all mankind. When Yahweh rested on the 7th day as an example for us, a Jew did not even exist. Yahshua plainly knew the Scriptures when He said that the Shabbat was made for man:
Let's read the 56th chapter of Isaiah:
Isaiah 56:2 - Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Shabbat from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
It doesn't say "Blessed is the Jew that doeth this." In fact..
Isaiah 56:3 - Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to YAHWEH, speak, saying, YAHWEH hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 - For thus saith YAHWEH unto the eunuchs that keep my Shabbats, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 - Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 - Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YAHWEH, to serve him, and to love the name of YAHWEH, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Shabbat from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 - Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
This proves that the Shabbat was intended for anyone who has "Joined himself to Yahweh" for Yahweh says that "EVERYONE who keeps from defiling the Shabbat" will be accepted in His sight. To be certain, it is written that everyone will be observing His Shabbat day after the resurrection:
Isaiah 66:22 - For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith YAHWEH, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 - And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Shabbat to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YAHWEH.
"All flesh" will be observing a regular Shabbat, not just Israelites or Jews therefore the teaching that Yahshua only kept the Shabbat because He was/is Jewish is simply false and not founded on any scripture whatsoever.
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
The Disciples Kept The Shabbat
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Even the Apostle Paul, after being accused of teaching that the law had been abolished, said that He keeps the commandments:
Acts 24:14 (NKJV) "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Acts 25:8 (NKJV) while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all."
Now, unless Paul was lying here he had to have been keeping the Shabbat. In fact, he said that he didn't teach anything other than what the "Old Testament" writers taught:
Acts 26:22 (NKJV) "Therefore, having obtained help from Yahweh, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come--
23 "that the Messiah would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles."
Many people would like to add: "......and abolish the law, especially the Shabbat." But this is very simply not there. You would think that such a momentous event as doing away with the Shabbat would be heavily prophesied in the Old Testament. But there is not a word about it. Rather to the contrary! (More on this later)
Even in the New Testament time period we see that the Gentiles and the Jews were keeping the Shabbat together in the Synagogue:
Acts 18:4 - And he reasoned in the synagogue every Shabbat, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Truly, the Shabbat was not for Jews only. James knew what day the Gentiles would be gathered:
Acts 15:19 - Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to YAHWEH:
20 - But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 - For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Shabbat day.
It was well known by James and others there that the Gentiles would be keeping the Shabbat and therefore would be in the synagogue on the Shabbat day and there they would learn more about Yahweh's law.
James also stated the same thing in his writings:
James 2:2 - For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
3 - and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say
to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You
stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
The word that is translated "assembly" in this scripture (verse 2) is the Strong's greek word 4864 "Sunagoge", translated synagogue 55 times in the new testament. I do wonder how many people honestly believe this scripture:
Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in the Messiah Yahushua.
If you believe this then you cannot say that Yahweh holds one standard for one race of people and another standard for another race of people. This is not truth! Yahweh's law was never meant to be double sided.
Did Paul do one thing and preach another? Did he preach that the Shabbat had been abolished but yet keep the Shabbat himself? Did He really call the Galatians (some of whom were Jewish) "foolish" for observing the Shabbat day and then be a hypocrite by observing it himself?
I challenge anyone to show me one line of scripture that states that the keeping of the literal Shabbat is no longer a commandment of Yahweh. To say so is to say that the Ten Commandments is no longer for today. Some might cite Colossians 2. Read the study on Colossians 2 and see for yourself that indeed it PROVES that the keeping of the Shabbat is for today and has not been abolished.
The Sabbath is necessary in Spiritual development and growth Why is it that so many people become believers in Messiah for a time but soon fall away back into the same sinful condition they were in before or perhaps even worse? For many it is because they fail to read Yahweh's word. Absorbing His word into our minds can fulfill us like nothing else. Words are very powerful. Often our actions and mannerisms are a carbon copy of our current group of friends or those we work with. There is wisdom in the proverb:
Prov 12:26 (NKJV) The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Words are "spirit". The very word "spirit" also means breath or wind. When we are around unbelievers in our work life or have unbelievers as friends, there are subtle influences that their words can have on us. The same holds true for Yahweh's word. However, when we read Yahweh's word we know we can put down our guard because His word is spirit, truth and life.
John 6:63 (NKJV) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life.
This is where the keeping the sabbath is so essential to our spiritual growth. If we have one day out of the week that we can withdraw ourselves from the world and its influences and concentrate on keeping the day holy by worshipping, praying and studying Yahweh's word, it truly strengthens our faith and a keeps us growing spiritually. Soon, keeping the Sabbath is no longer just a day of rest but rather a way of life! Often, the keeping of the sabbath will keep us from falling away. The idea of breaking it becomes unthinkable because it is the way we live! Just as it would be unthinkable to not go to work during the week. Ask anyone who keeps the Sabbath the way Yahweh wants us to and they will testify that it is truly a blessing!! Most importantly, it is keeping the fourth commandment.
John 14:15 (NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
The Holy Spirit is quenched by breaking the Sabbath just as it is quenched by murder or any disobedience. The principle is not "Give us the Comforter and then we will keep the commandments," but you must first take that step in obedience for the Spirit to do works in you. The gentiles in acts were given the Holy Spirit because they took a first step in obedience. Namely baptism. Clearly those who use the Sabbath day as a day for pursuing worldly pleasure, work or profit are not only missing out on a true spiritual blessing that will keep our minds and bodies strong but are also quenching His Spirit which leads us into all truth. Yahweh gives His Spirit to those who obey Him!
Acts 5:32 (NKJV) "And we are His witnesses to these things, and [so] also [is] the Holy Spirit whom Yahweh has given to those who obey Him."
Truly, when we disobey the truth given to us, then Yahweh will not convict us on more truth. But when we accept and obey the truth shown us, he will guide us into more truth.
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
The Shabbat is A Sign That We Are His People and Will Be Kept (Preserved) in the Future Kingdom
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Exod 31:13 (NKJV) "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: `Surely My Shabbats you shall keep, for it [is] a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that [you] may know that I [am] Yahweh who sanctifies you.
The Shabbat is a sign between Yahweh and His people forever. And not just Israel, but for all who enjoin themselves unto the blessings and promises of Israel by accepting Yahshua the Messiah.
Isai 56:3 (NKJV) Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to Yahweh Speak, saying, "Yahweh has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree." 4 For thus says Yahweh: "To the eunuchs who keep My Shabbats, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off. 6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to Yahweh, to serve Him, And to love the name of Yahweh, to be His servants--Everyone who keeps from defiling the Shabbat, And holds fast My covenant--
We know that not just Israel was to keep the Shabbat, but EVERYONE.
The Shabbat will also be kept when Yahshua returns:
Isai 66:22 (NKJV) "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says Yahweh, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass [That] from one New Moon to another, And from one Shabbat to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says Yahweh.
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
Does it Matter On Which Day We Observe the Shabbat?
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Many have said that they believe that we should be keeping the Shabbat on the first day of the week (Sunday). Others say that we should keep every day as a Shabbat. What does the word of Yahweh have to say about these things? Lets examine the first statement concerning the first day of the week being the Shabbat. There are only eight passages in scripture that speak of the first day of the week. They are often used to "prove" a change of the Shabbat to Sunday so lets look at all eight to see whether any of them prescribes, allows or supports changing the Shabbat to the first day of the week.
Matt 28:1 (NKJV) Now after the Shabbat, as the first [day] of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The two Marys waited until the ending of the Shabbat--as the first day of the week began to dawn--before they went to Yahshua's sepulchre. Being Shabbat observers, it is reasonable that they would wait until the ending of the Shabbat and the beginning of the first day of the week before venturing out. This scripture says nothing of changing the Shabbat.
Mark 16:1 (NKJV) Now when the Shabbat was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary [the] [mother] of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first [day] of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
As Matthew 28:1 shows, the two women observed the Shabbat before venturing out on their mission to anoint the body of our Savior. They had the spices already purchased before the Shabbat. Now was a regular work day for them and not a new day of worship, as some claim.
Mark 16:9 (KJV) Now when [Yahshua] was risen early the first [day] of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Just because Yahshua appeared to Mary Magdalene on the first day of the week, it does not mean that He changed the Shabbat to Sunday. There is no statement here even hinting that.
Luke 24:1 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain [other] [women] with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Master Yahshua.
Clearly, Yahshua was already risen and gone before sunrise, which raises the question as to why there are Easter sunrise services? (A future article will be written on this subject) But again, nothing is said about resting or changing the Shabbat to Sunday.
John 20:1 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw [that] the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
John's account coincides with the others and still there is no mention of changing the Shabbat to a different day.
John 20:19 (NKJV) Then, the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Yahshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace [be] with you."
Some claim that this was a 'secret' meeting to change the Shabbat to Sunday. But the passage says Yahshua came and stood among them. He had died, was buried and had risen. The disciples, now locked in a room, were hiding from the Jews now that the Messiah had died. Suddenly, Yahshua stood in their midst. This would have been the perfect time to set them straight and now tell them that their had been a change in the Shabbat to the first day of the week. But their is no mention of anythign of this sort. A week later, when Thomas had doubts about Yahshua, the Saviour returned, but said nothing about worshipping on the first day of the week.
Acts 20:7 (NKJV) Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
This is probably the scripture most quoted by those who believe that the Shabbat day was changed. Following Shabbat services, they had gathered in the evening (Saturday night). Paul was an esteemed visitor. Undoubtedly everyone wanted to talk with him after the Shabbat. They probably had many questions to ask him. This was not a Sunday worship service, but an after dinner talk lasting until midnight. Again, there is no mention of a change in the Shabbat
1Cor 16:1 (NKJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
We find in Acts 11:28-30 and Romans 15:26 that the people in Jerusalem were having a great famine. The brethren were in dire need of food and help. Paul wants the brethren to prepare a collection of food and clothing on the first day of the week and keep it at home. He would come by and pick up the collections, bringing them to the needy in Jerusalem. This had nothing to do with bringing an offering to any meeting or worship service. It was a time consuming gathering of foodstuffs and clothing for the needy which the Corinthians were to do for transporting to Jerusalem. Now notice: Paul is not telling the people to "rest and worship---but to WORK by preparing the collections. The word day in the King James is in italics. This means that it is not in the ancient manuscripts. "Day" has been added because the translators assumed that Paul meant Sunday. Rather than reading "the first day of the week" we should be reading "the first of the week." It could have been Sunday, Monday or even Tuesday and still have been the first part of the week. For more on Paul's teachings, see the section on Is the Shabbat for today?
Thanks to www.eliyah.com for this article
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The Disciples Kept the 7th Day Shabbat
84 Times in the Book of Acts
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There are many scriptures that verify the Shabbat day being the 7th day of the week. In scripture, the first day of the week is called "The first day of the week". And in scripture, the 7th day of the week is called "The Shabbat". This fact alone should prove when the Shabbat truly is. However, let us examine the pattern of the disciples after Yahshua's resurrection in the book of acts to determine what day that they attended Shabbat Services and what day they expected others to observe. We will keep a count of how many times the Shabbat is observed.
We see one example in Acts 17:1...
Acts 17:1 (NKJV) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Shabbats reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 17:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying], "This Yahshua whom I preach to you is the Messiah." Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Here we see that Paul went to a Shabbat service where there were both Jews and Greeks. The scripture also mentions that this was a regular custom of Paul. Was this also the custom of Yahshua the Messiah?
Luke 4:16 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day, and stood up to read.
So here we can see that 22 years after Yahshua's death and resurrection the disciples were attending Shabbat services. In no place do we see Paul or any other disciple teaching them that they should come back the next day for a 'first day of the week' service. But they went to three Shabbat services where there were both Jews and Greeks present. So then the doctrine that says the Jews have their day (the 7th day) and the Gentiles have their day (the 1st day) is foreign to scripture Some would argue that Paul was at the synagogue only because that is where he would find people to witness to...not to observe the Shabbat. But the scripture does not say that. This is an assumption that those who refuse the simplicity of the scriptures want to make, not one that the scriptures support. Again, the Seventh Day is called "The Shabbat day" in this passage.
So lets see where we are at now..
Seventh day - 3 First day - 0
Another example is found in Acts 13...
Acts 13:13 (NKJV) Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Shabbat day and sat down. Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men [and] brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."
So here is another example where Paul and the other disciples came to the Synagogue in Perga to attend the Shabbat Service.
CONTINUED
(End Part 1 of 2)
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