Sabbath – Eternity

Coffee House Witnessing

Many of us live near coffee houses. Many coffee houses have a piano that can be used by its patrons. Anyone who can play the piano can go to the piano and play this song; the people in the shop will sing along with you. This is a wonderful witness. You may have to click on the play arrow.

Honoring The Lord’s Sabbath

To honor the Sabbath, as being of God’s handiwork.

We met together as believers in Christ to honor the Sabbath. It was five o’clock on the evening of a Friday. I began reading God’s Holy Word.

Genesis 1:5, “Evening came and then morning: the first day.”
Genesis 1:8, “Evening came and then morning: the second day.”
Genesis 1:13, “Evening came and then morning: the third day.”
Genesis 1:19, “Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.”
Genesis 1:23, “Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.”
Genesis 1:31, “Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.”
Genesis 2:1-3, “1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.”

At the beginning of this darkened Friday morning, just as it occurs each day, darkness began turning into dawn. Then, dawn turned into daylight; daylight turned into dusk; and, as we were reading God’s Holy Word, dusk began turning into darkness. In our presence, Sabbath began to grace us, and everybody else in our community. Sabbath would continue until sundown on Saturday. In our group we were experiencing a true “Shabbat Shalom,” which means in Hebrew, “sabbath of peace.”

During our time of honoring the Sabbath, we participated in a Passover meal, as described in Matthew 26:17-30. We continued with a discussion of Matthew 5:17, as our Lord said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” The Law was fulfilled in Christ: “It is finished” (John 19:30). In Galatians 3:24, we see the purpose of the Law: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”

During this time of of honoring the Sabbath, we discussed true worship. Our scripture text was taken from John’s Gospel, Chapter 4. We discussed the encounter of the Samaritan woman with Christ, verses 19-24., The topic was worship. The woman pointed out the differences of worship between Jews and Samaritans; she said that Jews worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem, but Samaritans worshiped elsewhere (John 4:20). So, the woman was saying, “what gives?” (mine). Our Lord gave a simple answer to the woman. The Samaritan woman had addressed times, days, and places of worship. Plain and simple, Christ said in verse 24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” In AD 70, the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed, so that would take care of the “time, day, and place situation.” Christ added that true worship is that of “spirit and truth.” It is a worship that includes, “all that we are,” for “all that God is.” Note that “God is Spirit,” and not “a spirit.” If God were, “a spirit,” He would be one of many spirits, of which God is not.

Remember the words,”God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” God made the seventh day. God made the seventh day holy. I choose to honor the seventh day. I try to keep every Friday free of mental conflict, and try to keep my mind on the “sure to arrive” weekly Sabbath. I cherish the time of the arrival of Friday’s sunset, as I know that a “God moment” is in the making. I consider the things of Elohim/Theos and His creation week (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1).

https://biblehub.com/lexicon/genesis/1-1.htm
https://biblehub.com/lexicon/matthew/1-23.htm
https://biblehub.com/greek/2316.htm
https://biblehub.com/lexicon/john/1-1.htm)

I worship God for all that He has done to give us the world that we are blessed to inhabit. I thank God for Christ, Who is “God with us,” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Maybe you will find your own way of honoring the Sabbath.

Shabbat

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Shabbat, Shabbos, Sabbath, the Seventh Day begins each Friday at Sundown, and continues through Saturday (the next day) at sundown. Let’s consider some of the aspects of Shabbat.

God In Creation

Genesis 1:1 Names of God Bible (NOG) The first name of God that is mentioned in the Bible is Elohim. (Mine)

1 In the beginning Elohim created heaven and earth.

The Seventh Day

Genesis 2:2-3 Names of God Bible (NOG) Elohim sets the seventh day apart as holy. (Mine)

2 By the seventh day Elohim had finished the work he had been doing. On the seventh day he stopped the work he had been doing. 3 Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy, because on that day he stopped all his work of creation.

Jacob/Israel

From the bloodline of Shem, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob was chosen by God to be known as Israel. (1732 B.C., Scofield Study Bible). From the fourth son of Jacob, who was named Judah, (Mother Leah, Genesis 29:35), the bloodline would lead to Mary, the mother of Yeshua/Jesus (Luke 3:33-34). Jew, Jewish, Judaism and Israelite, are terms that identify the bloodline that leads to the Messiah, Yeshua/Jesus. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Judaism.html) (Mine)

Genesis 35:10 Names of God Bible (NOG)

10 Elohim said to him, “Your name is Jacob. You will no longer be called Jacob, but your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.

Consider The Sabbath

Exodus 16:22-26 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The first time after Genesis 2:2-3 that the Sabbath Day is mentioned in Scripture, approximately 2513 years elapsed time. (Mine) (1491 B.C., Scofield Study Bible)

The Sabbath Observed

22 Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 then he said to them, “This is what the Lord meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

The Sign Of Sabbath

Exodus 31:12-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Sabbath is a sign between God and the Jews.(Mine) (1491 B.C., Scofield Study Bible)

12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

The Sabbath was a part of the Law. The Law was designed to make a Holy and Righteous people (the Jews) to bring a Holy and Righteous Messiah (Yeshua/Jesus) into the world. (Mine) (1491 B.C., Scofield Study Bible)

Exodus 31:16-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”
18 When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

God’s Chosen People

1451 B.C., Scofield Study Bible. The Jews are God’s chosen people. They were chosen to bring the Messiah into the world through the bloodline of Judah (Luke 3:33-34). (Mine)

Deuteronomy 7:6 Names of God Bible (NOG)

6 You are a holy people, who belong to Yahweh your Elohim. Yahweh your Elohim chose you to be his own special possession out of all the nations on earth.

Deuteronomy 7:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Notice “LORD” (all upper case letters), which is the proper name of the God of Israel. “God” is God of Genesis 1:1, “Who created the heavens and the earth.” (Mine)

6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

God created Shabbat, the Sabbath. Let us always show honor and respect for all of God’s creation. As the afternoon of Friday turns to sundown, “remember God!” Honor God! Worship God!

Worship God

John 4:24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Yochanan 4:24 Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

24 Hashem is Ruach (Spirit) and it is necessary for the ones worshiping Him to worship in Ruach and Emes. [Ezek 36:26-27; 37:14]

The Value Of Sabbath

Mark 2:27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Consider the following videos that relate to the Jewish observance of Shabbat, which begins at sundown on Friday and continues through sundown of the following day.

Lighting Shabbat Candles

Observing A Shabbat Meal

Consider the following Shabbat information that comes from the Jewish website, chabad.org

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/633659/jewish/What-Is-Shabbat.htm

What Is Shabbat?

Shabbat (also known as “Shabbos” or the “Sabbath”) is the centerpiece of Jewish life, and has been so since the infancy of our nation. According to the Talmud, Shabbat is equal to all the other commandments. Shabbat is so central to Jewish life Shabbat is the centerpiece of Jewish life that the term shomer Shabbat (Shabbat observer) is synonymous with “religious Jew” in common parlance.
Shabbat is a day of rest and celebration that begins on Friday at sunset and ends on the following evening after nightfall. Let’s have a look at the history, importance and observances of this day.

In the Beginning

We read in the Book of Genesis that G‑d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The sages say that on that day, G‑d created menuchah,rest, without which sustained creativity would be impossible.
After G‑d took the Children of Israel out of Egypt in the year 2448, He taught them about the Shabbat: working for six days and resting on the seventh. Shabbat is also one of the 10 Commandments that G‑d transmitted at Sinai several weeks after the exodus. Thus, Shabbat commemorates both the creation of the world and G‑d’s intervention in world affairs when he took His nation out of slavery.

Throughout the 40 years that our ancestors wandered in the desert, nourishing manna would rain down from heaven, except on Shabbat. But no one went hungry—extra rations would fall on Friday, so that everyone would have more than enough for the holy day.
The Torah is very brief about the observance of the day, telling us that no work is to be done and no fires are to be kindled. But rabbinic tradition coupled with careful study of the Torah’s texts yields a wealth of information, much of which is found in the Talmudic tractate aptly named Shabbat.

A Special Guest

Our sages tell us that the Shabbat is a “queen,” whose regal presence graces every Jewish home for the duration of the Shabbat day. For this reason, we scrub our bodies, dress our finest and make sure our homes are in tip-top shape on Friday afternoon. According to the Talmud, we actually receive a special additional soul every Shabbat.
The prophet Isaiah foretells great delight that comes as a reward “if you restrain your foot because of the Sabbath, from performing your affairs on My holy day, and you call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the L‑rd honored, and you honor it by not doing your wonted ways, by not pursuing your affairs and speaking words.”1
Shabbat is so special that even our choice of words, comportment, and the items that we touch must be consistent with this holy day. This includes the admonition not to handle items known as muktzeh, which have been set aside because they generally have no use within the Shabbat lifestyle.

Things We Do

Light Candles

Since we do not light fires on Shabbat, our sages declared that every Jewish home should have candles lit before the onset of the Shabbat, so that the evening be peaceful and festive. It is customarily the woman of the house who kindles these lights. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, encouraged girls as young as three years old to light as well. The candles must be lit at least 18 minutes before sunset and should be placed near where the Shabbat meals will take place. A special blessing is said after the lighting.

Wine and Dine

The Torah commands us to “remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” The sages understand this to mean that we must verbally declare the Sabbath a holy day, so on Friday night we say a special prayer over wine in a ritual known as kiddush (sanctification). (A truncated kiddush is recited again the following day).
After kiddush, Shabbat is celebrated with a sumptuous feast. Make sure to have three large meals on Shabbat: one on Friday night, one the next day, and one smaller one in the late afternoon.
The meals begin with two whole loaves of bread, which remind us of the double portion of manna that fell every Friday. Before we break bread, we wash our hands in a specially prescribed manner.
Typical European-Jewish Shabbat fare includes gefilte fish, chicken soup, kugels and other favorites, but the Shabbat meals really can feature whatever you feel is festive and delicious. During the daytime meal, we customarily eat something warm that has been sitting on a low flame (or other heat source) since the onset of Shabbat, such as the traditional stew of beans, barley, potatoes and meat known as cholent. Note: There are many laws about cooking on Shabbat, so make sure you prepare your cholent correctly.
The meal is a delight fo the soul as well
Aside from the physical enjoyment of the feast, the Shabbat meal often includes heartwarming stories, songs and Torah thoughts so that the meal is a delight for the soul as well.

Shabbat Prayers

On Friday night, before the evening services, we welcome in the Shabbat Queen with a special collection of Psalms and the beautiful melody of Lecha Dodi. The following morning’s service is expanded to include the reading of the weekly Torah portion and the additional Musaf service.
Morning services are typically followed by a communal reception where a light luncheon is served. This is a great time to get to know people in your community, schmooze and just enjoy the company of your fellow Jews. (Just to make things confusing, this reception is also known as a kiddush.)

Saying Farewell

Just like Shabbat was welcomed in with wine, we usher it out with another cup of wine in a special ceremony known as havdalah (separation). Havdalahalso includes blessings recited over fragrant spices, to revive our souls that are feeling the loss of the special gift of Shabbat, and fire, which commemorates the first fire Adam and Eve lit after the very first Shabbat.

Things We Don’t Do

The sages of the Talmud enumerate 39 forbidden creative acts that we do not do on Shabbat. The sages explain that each of these acts is a “father” that has many “offsprings” that are also forbidden due to their intrinsic similarity to the parent act.
The first group of 11 acts are related to process of making bread, from ploughing, sowing and reaping to kneading and baking. The second group is comprised of 13 steps needed to create garments, from shearing to tearing. Third come the 9 stages of scribal arts (using parchment), from trapping to writing and erasing.
The last group of acts is comprised of building and destroying, burning and extinguishing, finishing a product and transporting things in the public domain.
Since each of these 39 acts (or melachot in Hebrew) have many subcategories and interpretations, you really need to learn some of the ins and outs of Shabbat observance by reading some good books and observing Shabbat in action.
Some common activities that we may not do on Shabbat:
Driving
Turning on or off lights or operating electrical appliances (including phones)
Cooking
Carrying in the public domain (defined as public areas outside of an eruv enclosure)

Where To Start

No one can become a perfect Shabbat observer overnight, butTry it, you’ll like it here are some great first steps to create a peaceful, meaningful Shabbat atmosphere:
Light Shabbat candles on Friday night.
Attend a Shabbat meal at a friend’s house. If you feel ready, host your own. Even if you are not yet ready for a long sit-down feast, have kiddush, wash and break bread.
Turn off the phone and TV for the 25 hours of Shabbat. (It may sound impossible, but you may just find that you’ll look forward to unplugging one day a week.)
Attend Shabbat services on either Friday night or Shabbat morning.
Through increasing your Shabbat observance, you’ll create a space to connect with G‑d, family and friends. Try it, you’ll like it.

Comments related to this post.

Scriptures are from Biblegateway.com. Study notes are Hible Hub (biblehub.com), unless otherwise noted.

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Sabbath Worship – Exodus 31:16-17

When I Look Into Your Holiness

Exodus 31:16-17 King James Version (KJV)

16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

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Holy Are You Lord

I Sing Praises To Your Name

This Is The Time

Even So

To Him Who Sits On The Throne

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19, KJV)

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Creation And Sabbath…”In the beginning God created heaven and earth.” Apollo 8 Message

As a young airman, I was on duty the Christmas Eve night that the crew of Apollo 8 read the Genesis account of creation while it was orbiting the moon and looking downward to the Earth. At our duty station, we were looking at the eastern seaboard of the USA through our radar scopes and watching for inbound aircraft that may, or may not, be friendly to our nation. Russia, and the Soviet Union, were serious threats to the free world, of which America was the unannounced, but recognized leader. Americans were very proud to be Americans. President John Kennedy made it a priority to put a man on the moon, as he made it part of his speech to a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961. While the three astronauts took turns reading from the Bible no one was making charges of “separation of church and state.” And, regardless of what liberal politicians and activists may try to do, God will never be separated from His creation or His Sabbath.

In about eight hours in my time zone, the Lord’s Sabbath will begin at sundown and will last until Saturday evening at sundown. Jews, and others, will greet each other with the words, “Shabbat Shalom” which means “Sabbath peace” or “peaceful Sabbath.” Just as I was awestruck by watching Apollo 8 on the television sets in our radar room, I am even more awestruck each time that I am able to wake up while the sky is still dark and watch a repeat performance of “and evening and morning”.. were the first day, second day, third day, fourth day, fifth day, sixth day…. and then God rested; he blessed it and sanctified it.” God set the seventh day apart; He made it holy.

I am “blown away” each day that I am able to wake up during the early morning darkness and watch “darkness becoming dawn; and dawn becoming daylight; and daylight becoming dusk; and dusk becoming darkness;” and the whole thing starting all over again; then, I realize, “How Great Thou Art!”

The intelligent design of God’s creation is easily seen in the smallest elements of His creation. Consider the following information. Some terms are repeated for emphasis. Various internet studies are provided.

Genesis 1-2: Action words of God’s creative and intelligent design.

Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons

Key Concepts

Atoms are made of extremely tiny particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons and neutrons are in the center of the atom, making up the nucleus.
Electrons surround the nucleus.
Protons have a positive charge.
Electrons have a negative charge.
The charge on the proton and electron are exactly the same size but opposite.
Neutrons have no charge.
Since opposite charges attract, protons and electrons attract each other.

What is an atom? What are atoms made of?

Atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter. Atoms can join together to form molecules, which in turn form most of the objects around you.

Atoms and Molecules

The basic building blocks of the “normal” matter that we see in the Universe are atoms, and combinations of atoms that we call molecules. We first consider atoms and then molecules. However, we shall see that although “normal matter” is composed of atoms and molecules, most of the matter in the Universe is not in the form of atoms or molecules, but rather in the form of a plasma. We discuss plasmas in the next section.

Cells Are Made From a Few Types of Atoms

The cell (from Latin cella, meaning “small room”) is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known living organisms. Cells are the smallest unit of life that can replicate independently, and are often called the “building blocks of life”. The study of cells is called cell biology.

Singling out cells: The stuff of life

Your cells perform many important functions without which you wouldn’t be able to go about your business. While you breathe, your cells exchange the bad air for the good air. While you eat, cells produce the enzymes (proteins that speed up a chemical reaction) that digest the food and convert the nutrients into a useable form of energy. In short, your cells are like tiny motors that keep you running.

What is Plasma?

Plasma is often called the “Fourth State of Matter,” the other three being solid, liquid and gas. A plasma is a distinct state of matter containing a significant number of electrically charged particles, a number sufficient to affect its electrical properties and behavior. In addition to being important in many aspects of our daily lives, plasmas are estimated to constitute more than 99 percent of the visible universe.

Lightning In an ordinary gas each atom contains an equal number of positive and negative charges; the positive charges in the nucleus are surrounded by an equal number of negatively charged electrons, and each atom is electrically “neutral.” A gas becomes a plasma when the addition of heat or other energy causes a significant number of atoms to release some or all of their electrons. The remaining parts of those atoms are left with a positive charge, and the detached negative electrons are free to move about. Those atoms and the resulting electrically charged gas are said to be “ionized.” When enough atoms are ionized to significantly affect the electrical characteristics of the gas, it is a plasma.

What is plasma?

Plasma is the fourth state of matter. Many places teach that there are three states of matter; solid, liquid and gas, but there are actually four. The fourth is plasma. To put it very simply, a plasma is an ionized gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow both species, ions and electrons, to coexist. The funny thing about that is, that as far as we know, plasmas are the most common state of matter in the universe. They are even common here on earth. A plasma is a gas that has been energized to the point that some of the electrons break free from, but travel with, their nucleus.

What is DNA?

DNA is basically a long molecule that contains coded instructions for the cells. Everything the cells do is coded somehow in DNA – which cells should grow and when, which cells should die and when, which cells should make hair and what color it should be. Our DNA is inherited from our parents. We resemble our parents simply because our bodies were formed using DNA to guide the process – the DNA we inherited from them.

We may resemble our parents, but we are never exactly like them. This is because each child gets only some of the DNA each parent carries. About half our DNA comes from our mother, and half comes from our father. Which pieces we get is basically random, and each child gets a different subset of the parents’ DNA. Thus, siblings may have the same parents, but they usually do not have exactly the same DNA (except for identical twins).

No accident could have made possible the interactive working of the above identified items that were created by God, who is truly the Great Physicist. (Explosions don’t create “order;” they create “disorder.”)

In today’s world, we can’t make all of the airplanes land, busses stop, hospitals close, for a 24 hour period, (you get the idea) for a worldwide Sabbath rest… We can’t say that we will make Tuesday our Sabbath; it’s the Lord’s Sabbath. We can’t measure off the boundaries of the seventh day and hire an excavator to dig it up and move it to “the third day,” or “fourth day.” The seventh day is, has always been, and always will be, the Lord’s Sabbath. God made the Sabbath a sign between Him and the Jews (Gen 31:17), who were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and not the descendants of Ishmael. Gentiles of the world can benefit from the Lord’s Sabbath by recognizing its holiness, and giving honor and praise to God who created all things in the world.

The following information is provided for additional support of this post.

Apollo 8 Data

Crew: Frank Borman, Commander; William A. Anders, Lunar Module Pilot; James A. Lovell Jr., Command Module Pilot.

Mission Highlights: Apollo 8 launched from Cape Kennedy on Dec. 21, 1968. During a telecast on Christmas Eve, the crew read verses from the first chapter of Genesis and wished viewers, “Good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you – all of you on the good Earth.”

Orbit: Altitude: 118.82 miles; Orbits: 10 revolutions; Duration: six days, three hours, 42 seconds; Distance: 579,606.9 miles.

Landing: Dec. 27, 1968; 10:52 a.m. EST; Pacific Ocean; Recovery Ship: USS Yorktown

The Creation

Genesis 1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 5 And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
8 And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Creation of Man and Woman

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Let’s consider the six days of creation, and the seventh day which we know as “The Sabbath,” or better, “The Lord’s Sabbath.” Consider the discussion that is provided by “got.Questions.org.”

Question: “What does it mean that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath?”

Answer: The phrase “the Lord of the Sabbath” is found in Matthew 12:8,Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5. In all three instances Jesus is referring to Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath or, as Mark records it, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). In these verses, Jesus is proclaiming that He is the One who exercises authority even over the rules and regulations that govern the Sabbath day.

Exodus 16:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Sabbath Observed

It is important to know that the Sabbath was given as a special sign between God and the people of Israel, who are the descendants of Shem. Shem was one of the sons of Noah, through whom the Jews became “God’s Chosen People.” (Study the ancestry that is shown from Genesis 10:1 through Genesis 12:3.)

Exodus 31:16-17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever;

Deuteronomy 7:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Exodus 20:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”

Exodus 24:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.”

Jesus – The Lord Of The Sabbath – Our Sabbath Rest

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Matthew 12:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Lord of the Sabbath

8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Note: MacArthur Study Bible (everyone should own a MacArthur Study Bible)

12:8 the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Christ has the prerogative to rule over not only their man-made sabbatarian rules, but also over the Sabbath itself—which was designed for worshiping God. Again, this was an inescapable claim of deity—and as such it prompted the Pharisees’ violent outrage (v. 14).

Exodus 20:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy:

Deuteronomy 5:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Jesus Our Sabbath Rest

Key Verses (G. Campbell Morgan, 1863-1945)

Hebrews 3:1 Names of God Bible (NOG)

1 Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling. So look carefully at Yeshua, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith.

Hebrews 4:14 Names of God Bible (NOG)

14 We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Yeshua, the Son of God.

Hebrews 3-4 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Greater Than Moses

1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Warning Against Unbelief

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

http://www.compellingtruth.org/Jesus-sabbath.html

What does it mean that Jesus is our Sabbath rest?

Hebrews 4 speaks of Jesus as our Sabbath rest. Verses 9-10 in particular state, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” How is Jesus our Sabbath rest?

The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is understanding what the Sabbath means. The Hebrew word shabat was the word “rest” in the Old Testament first used in regard to God “resting” from creation on the seventh day. The Sabbath would later become part of the Law of Moses, referring to the Sabbath day, Saturday, upon which the Jewish people were to do no work.

In the New Testament, Jesus declared Himself “lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). He equated Himself with God the Father, becoming God in human form. In addition, Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

In Hebrews 3 and 4, the author developed the concept of Jesus as our Sabbath rest, revealing how a relationship with Christ frees humans from the works of the law and allows a person to rest in the work of Christ to forgive sin. Ultimately, those who believe in Jesus will spend eternity in a “Sabbath rest” with Him (Hebrews 4:9).

Today, many continue to live as if their salvation depends on how many good deeds they perform. Yet Christ is the only one who can provide sufficiently for the sins of people and offer eternal life. It is by His grace we receive salvation, through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reveal, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Jesus serves as our Sabbath rest in the sense that He provides freedom from living under the works of the law. Instead, His sacrifice has paid the price for our salvation. We accept salvation as His free gift, entering into His rest both now as well as in eternity in His presence.

Hebrews 4 ends with words of comfort for those who enter God’s Sabbath rest: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). As a result of Christ’s finished work, we can confidently come before God, receiving mercy and grace in our time of need.

Scofield Reference Notes On Book Of Hebrews

(C. I. Scofield, 1843-1921; everyone should own a Scofield Study Bible)

Book Introduction – Hebrews

WRITER: The authorship of Hebrews has been in controversy from the earliest times. The book is anonymous, but the reference in 2 Peter 3:15 seems conclusive that Paul was the writer. See also Hebrews 13:23. All agree that, whether by Paul or another, the point of view is Pauline. We undoubtedly have here the method of Paul’s synagogue addresses. No book of Scripture more fully authenticates itself as inspired.

DATE: From internal evidence it is clear that Hebrews was written before the destruction of the Temple, A.D. 70 (cf Hebrews 10:11).

THEME: The doctrinal passages reveal the purpose of the book. It was written with a twofold intent: To confirm Jewish Christians by showing that Judaism had come to an end through the fulfillment by Christ of the whole purpose of the law; and The hortatory passages show that the writer had in view the danger ever-present to Jewish professed believers of either lapsing back into Judaism, or of pausing short of true faith in Jesus Christ. It is clear from the Acts that even the strongest of the believers in Palestine were held to a strange mingling of Judaism and Christianity (e.g. Acts 21:18-24 and that snare would be especially apt to entangle professed Christians amongst the Jews of the dispersion.

The key-word is “better.” Hebrews is a series of contrasts between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ. Christ is “better” than angels, than Moses, than Joshua, than Aaron; and the New Covenant than the Mosaic Covenant. Church truth does not appear, the ground of gathering only being stated (Hebrews 13:13). The whole sphere of Christian profession is before the writer; hence exhortations necessary to warn and alarm a mere professor.

For Deeper Study – MacArthur Study Bible Notes (Everyone should own a MacArthur Study Bible)

Interpretive Challenges

A proper interpretation of this epistle requires the recognition that it addresses 3 distinct groups of Jews: 1) believers; 2) unbelievers who were intellectually convinced of the gospel; and 3) unbelievers who were attracted by the gospel and the person of Christ but who had reached no final conviction about Him. Failure to acknowledge these groups leads to interpretations inconsistent with the rest of Scripture.

The primary group addressed were Hebrew Christians who suffered rejection and persecution by fellow Jews (10:32-34), although none as yet had been martyred (12:4). The letter was written to give them encouragement and confidence in Christ, their Messiah and High-Priest. They were an immature group of believers who were tempted to hold on to the symbolic and spiritually powerless rituals and traditions of Judaism.

The second group addressed were Jewish unbelievers who were convinced of the basic truths of the gospel but who had not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their own Savior and Lord. They were intellectually persuaded but spiritually uncommitted. These unbelievers are addressed in such passages as 2:1-3;6:4-6; 10:26-29; and 12:15-17.

The third group addressed were Jewish unbelievers who were not convinced of the gospel’s truth but had had some exposure to it. Chapter 9 is largely devoted to them (see especially vv. 11,14, 15, 27, 28).

By far, the most serious interpretive challenge is found in 6:4-6. The phrase “once enlightened” is often taken to refer to Christians, and the accompanying warning taken to indicate the danger of losing their salvation if “they fall away” and “crucify again for themselves the Son of God.” But there is no mention of their being saved and they are not described with any terms that apply only to believers (such as holy, born again, righteous, or saints). This problem arises from inaccurately identifying the spiritual condition of the ones being addressed. In this case, they were unbelievers who had been exposed to God’s redemptive truth, and perhaps made a profession of faith, but had not exercised genuine saving faith. In 10:26, the reference once again is to apostate Christians, not to genuine believers who are often incorrectly thought to lose their salvation because of their sins.

Verse by verse study.

3:1–6 This section presents the superiority of Jesus over the highly revered Moses. The Lord had spoken with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11) and had given the law to him (Neh. 9:13, 14). The commandments and rituals of the law were the Jews’ supreme priorities, and to them Moses and the law were synonymous. Both the OT and the NT refer to the commands of God as the “law of Moses” (Josh. 8:31; 1 Kin. 2:3; Luke 2:22; Acts 13:39). Yet, as great as Moses was, Jesus was infinitely greater.

3:1 holy brethren. The phrase occurs only here and in 1 Thess. 5:27, where some manuscripts omit “holy.” The writer addresses believers who have a “heavenly calling” (cf. Phil. 3:14). They are elsewhere described as desiring a “heavenly country” (11:16) and as coming to “the heavenly Jerusalem” (12:22). They are “holy” in the sense that they are set apart unto God and identified with the heavenly realm—citizens of heaven more than citizens of earth. calling. The reference, as always in the NT epistles, is to the effective summons to salvation in Christ (cf. Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 7:21). consider. The writer asks for the readers’ complete attention and diligent observation of the superiority of Jesus Christ. Apostle and High Priest. An apostle is a “sent one” who has the rights, power, and authority of the one who sends him. Jesus was sent to earth by the Father (cf. John 3:17, 34; 5:36–38; 8:42). The topic of the High-Priesthood of Christ, which was begun in 2:17, 18 and is mentioned again here, will be taken up again in greater detail in 4:14—10:18. Meanwhile, the writer presents the supremacy of Christ to Moses (vv. 1–6), to Joshua (4:8), and to all other national heroes and OT preachers whom Jews held in high esteem. Jesus Himself spoke of His superiority to Moses in the same context in which He spoke of His being sent by the Father (John 5:36–38, 45–47; cf. Luke 16:29–31). Moses had been sent by God to deliver His people from historical Egypt and its bondage (Ex. 3:10). Jesus was sent by God to deliver His people from spiritual Egypt and its bondage (2:15). of our confession. Christ is the center of our confession of faith in the gospel, both in creed and public testimony. The term is used again in 4:14 and 10:23 (cf. 2 Cor. 9:13; 1 Tim. 6:12). In all 3 uses in Hebrews there is a sense of urgency. Surely, the readers would not give up Christ, whom they had professed, and reject what He had done for them, if they could understand the superiority of His person and work.

3:2 house. The term refers to a family of people rather than a building or dwelling (cf. v. 6; 1 Tim. 3:15). Those who were stewards of a household must above all be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). Both Moses (Num. 12:7) and Christ (2:17) faithfully fulfilled their individual, divine appointments to care for the people of God.

3:3, 4 He who built. Moses was only a part of God’s household of faith, whereas Jesus was the creator of that household (cf. 2 Sam. 7:13; Zech. 6:12, 13; Eph. 2:19–22; 1 Pet. 2:4, 5) and, therefore, is greater than Moses and equal to God.

3:5, 6 servant…Son. The term for “servant” implies a position of dignity and freedom, not slavery (cf. Ex. 14:31; Josh. 1:2). However, even as the highest-ranking servant, Moses could never hold the position of Son, which is Christ’s alone (cf. John 8:35).

3:5 spoken afterward. Moses was faithful primarily as a testimony to that which was to come in Christ (cf. 11:24–27; see note on John 5:46).

3:6 whose house we are. See notes on v. 2; Eph. 2:22; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:5; 4:17. if we hold fast. Cf. v. 14. This is not speaking of how to be saved or remain saved (cf. 1 Cor. 15:2). It means rather that perseverance in faithfulness is proof of real faith. The one who returns to the rituals of the Levitical system to contribute to his own salvation proves he was never truly part of God’s household (see note on 1 John 2:19), whereas the one who abides in Christ gives evidence of his genuine membership in that household (cf. Matt. 10:22; Luke 8:15; John 8:31; 15:4–6). The promise of God will fulfill this holding fast (1 Thess. 5:24;Jude 24, 25). See note on Matt. 24:13. hope. See the writer’s further description of this hope in 6:18, 19. This hope rests in Christ Himself, whose redemptive work has accomplished our salvation (Rom. 5:1, 2; see note on 1 Pet. 1:3).

3:7–11 The writer cites Ps. 95:7–11 as the words of its ultimate author, the Holy Spirit (cf. 4:7; 9:8; 10:15). This passage describes the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings after their delivery from Egypt. Despite God’s miraculous works and His gracious, providential faithfulness to them, the people still failed to commit themselves to Him in faith (cf. Ex. 17; Num. 14:22, 23;Ps. 78:40–53). The writer of Hebrews presents a 3-point exposition of the OT passage: 1) beware of unbelief (vv. 12–19); 2) be afraid of falling short (4:1–10); and 3) be diligent to enter (4:11–13). The themes of the exposition include urgency, obedience (including faith), perseverance, and rest.

3:7 Today. The reference is to the present moment while the words of God are fresh in the mind. There is a sense of urgency to immediately give heed to the voice of God. This urgency is emphasized by repeating the reference to “today” from Ps. 95:7 three more times (vv. 13, 15; 4:7) and is the theme of the writer’s exposition (cf. 2 Cor. 6:2).

3:11 My rest. The earthly rest which God promised to give was life in the land of Canaan which Israel would receive as their inheritance (Deut. 12:9, 10; Josh. 21:44; 1 Kin. 8:56). Because of rebellion against God, an entire generation of the children of Israel was prohibited from entering into that rest in the Promised Land (cf. Deut. 28:65; Lam. 1:3). The application of this picture is to an individual’s spiritual rest in the Lord, which has precedent in the OT (cf. Ps. 116:7; Is. 28:12). At salvation, every believer enters the true rest, the realm of spiritual promise, never again laboring to achieve through personal effort a righteousness that pleases God. God wanted both kinds of rest for that generation who was delivered from Egypt.

3:12 brethren. This admonition is addressed to those having the same potential characteristics as the generation which perished in the wilderness without ever seeing the Land of Promise. They were unbelieving Jewish brethren who were in the company of the “holy brethren” (v. 1). They were admonished to believe and be saved before it was too late. See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges. an evil heart. All men are born with such a heart (Jer. 17:9). In the case of these Hebrews, that evil manifested itself in disbelief of the gospel which moved them in the opposite way from God.

3:13 exhort one another daily. Both individual accountability and corporate responsibility are intended in this admonition. As long as the distressing days were upon them and they were tempted to return to the ineffective Levitical system, they were to encourage one another to identify completely with Jesus Christ.hardened. Repeated rejection of the gospel concerning Jesus results in a progressive hardening of the heart and will ultimately result in outright antagonism to the gospel. Cf. 6:4–6; 10:26–29;Acts 19:9. deceitfulness. Sin lies and deceives, using every trickery and stratagem possible (cf. Rom. 7:11; 2 Thess. 2:10;James 1:14–16). The Hebrews deceived themselves with the reasoning that their rejection of Jesus Christ was being faithful to the older system. Their willingness to hang on to the Levitical system was really a rejection of the living Word (4:12) of the “living God” (v. 12), who through Christ had opened up a “new and living way” (10:20). Choosing the path of unbelief always leads only to death (v. 17; 10:26–29; cf. 2:14, 15; Jude 5).

3:14 The exhortation is similar to that in v. 6. It repeats the theme of perseverance.

3:15–19 The quotation from Ps. 95:7, 8 is repeated (cf. v. 7). The first quotation was followed with exposition emphasizing “today” and the urgency that word conveys. This second quotation is followed with exposition emphasizing the word “rebellion” (vv. 15,16) and presenting the theme of obedience by means of its antithesis, disobedience. Four different terms are employed to drive the point of rebellion home: “rebelled” (v. 16), “sinned” (v. 17), “did not obey” (v. 18), and “unbelief” (v. 19). This initial third (see notes on vv. 7–11) of the writer’s exposition of Ps. 95:7–11is summed up by the obvious conclusion that the Israelites who died in the wilderness were victims of their own unbelief (v. 19)

4:1–10 The second section of the writer’s exposition of Ps. 95:7–11 goes beyond the description of unbelief and its dire consequences (3:12–19) to define the nature of the “rest” which the disobedient had forfeited. The first section had dealt primarily with Ps. 95:7, 8; the second section deals primarily with Ps. 95:11.

4:1 promise. This is the first use of this important word in Hebrews. The content of this promise is defined as “entering His rest.” His rest. See note on 3:11. This is the rest which God gives, therefore it is called “My rest” (Ps. 95:11) and “His rest.” For believers, God’s rest includes His peace, confidence of salvation, reliance on His strength, and assurance of a future heavenly home (cf. Matt. 11:29). come short. The entire phrase could be translated “lest you think you have come too late to enter into the rest of God” (cf. 12:15). With reverential fear all are to examine their own spiritual condition (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Cor. 13:5) and to actively press for commitment on the part of others (cf. Jude 23).

4:2 faith. Mere knowledge of God’s message is not sufficient. It must be appropriated by saving faith. Later in the epistle a much longer exposition will take up this topic of faith (10:19—12:29). The writer’s point of comparison is that, like the Jews who left Egypt (3:16–19), his generation had also received God’s message through the preaching of the gospel—they had been evangelized.

4:3 we…do enter. Those who exercise faith in the message of God will enter into their spiritual rest. This is the corollary of Ps. 95:11 which states the opposite side: that the unbeliever will not enter into the rest which God provides. finished from the foundation of the world. The spiritual rest which God gives is not something incomplete or unfinished. It is a rest which is based upon a finished work which God purposed in eternity past, just like the rest which God took after He finished creation (v. 4).

4:4, 5 By way of explanation for the statement in v. 3, the writer cites the illustration of the seventh day of creation and quotes Gen. 2:2. Then he repeats the last part of Ps. 95:11.

4:6, 7 The opportunity to enter God’s rest remains open (cf. “a promise remains” in v. 1). It is not yet too late. God had offered the rest to His people in Moses’ time and continued to offer it in David’s time. He is still patiently inviting His people to enter His rest (cf. Rom. 10:21). Quoting Ps. 95:7, 8 once again (see 3:7,15), the author urges an immediate, positive response. The themes of urgency and obedience are thus combined in a clear invitation to the readers.

4:8–10 God’s true rest did not come through Joshua or Moses, but through Jesus Christ, who is greater than either one. Joshua led the nation of Israel into the land of their promised rest (see note on 3:11; Josh. 21:43–45). However, that was merely the earthly rest which was but the shadow of what was involved in the heavenly rest. The very fact that, according to Ps. 95, God was still offering His rest in the time of David (long after Israel had been in the Land) meant that the rest being offered was spiritual—superior to that which Joshua obtained. Israel’s earthly rest was filled with the attacks of enemies and the daily cycle of work. The heavenly rest is characterized by the fullness of heavenly promise (Eph. 1:3) and the absence of any labor to obtain it.

4:9 rest. A different Gr. word for “rest” meaning “Sabbath rest” is introduced here, and this is its only appearance in the NT. The writer chose the word to draw the readers’ attention back to the “seventh day” mentioned in v. 4 and to set up the explanation in v. 10 (“ceased from his works as God did from His”).

4:11–13 The concluding third part of the exposition of Ps. 95:7–11 emphasizes the accountability which comes to those who have heard the Word of God. Scripture records the examples of those in the wilderness with Moses, those who entered Canaan with Joshua, and those who received the same opportunity in David’s day. It is the Word which must be believed and obeyed and the Word which will judge the disobedient (cf. 1 Cor. 10:5–13).

4:12 two-edged sword. While the Word of God is comforting and nourishing to those who believe, it is a tool of judgment and execution for those who have not committed themselves to Jesus Christ. Some of the Hebrews were merely going through the motions of belonging to Christ. Intellectually, they were at least partly persuaded, but inside they were not committed to Him. God’s Word would expose their shallow beliefs and even their false intentions (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Pet. 4:5). division of soul and spirit. These terms do not describe two separate entities (any more than “thoughts and intents” do) but are used as one might say “heart and soul” to express fullness (cf. Luke 10:27;Acts 4:32; see note on 1 Thess. 5:23). Elsewhere these two terms are used interchangeably to describe man’s immaterial self, his eternal inner person.

4:13 open to the eyes of Him. “Open” is a specialized term used just this one time in the NT. It originally meant to expose the neck either in preparation for sacrifice or for beheading. Perhaps the use of “sword” in the previous verse triggered the term. Each individual is judged not only by the Word of God (cf. John 12:48), but by God Himself. We are accountable to the living, written Word (cf. John 6:63, 68; Acts 7:38) and to the living God who is its author.

4:14—7:28 Next, the writer expounds on Ps. 110:4, quoted in 5:6. Not only is Christ as Apostle superior to Moses and to Joshua, but as High-Priest, He is superior to Aaron (4:14–5:10; cf. 3:1). In the midst of his exposition, the writer gives an exhortation related to the spiritual condition of his readers (5:11–6:20). At the conclusion of the exhortation, he then returns to the subject of Christ’s priesthood (7:1–28).

Friday – John 19

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On Friday, in this nineteenth Chapter of John, there are a number of significant happenings, per the outline of the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

vs 1 – Jesus flogged and mocked.
vs 5 – Pilate sentences Jesus to death
vs 16 – The crucifixion
vs 25 – Jesus’ provision for His mother
vs 28 – The finished work of Jesus
vs 31 – Jesus’ side pierced
vs 38 – Jesus’ burial

There are also other key events that took place on that John 19 Friday, as follows.

The day was an amazing Friday. It was the day after the Passover Meal that Jesus celebrated with His disciples. (Food for thought; it is difficult to imagine that Jesus did not include women in that group.)

This particular day of the week led up to sundown, which was “the beginning of the Sabbath,” which was also a “High Sabbath,” because that Sabbath occurred during Passover. The day which led to the beginning of the Sabbath was also known as the Preparation Day, or the Day of Preparation. Such a day of preparation for the Sabbath is similar to that of my younger years when people would use Saturday “to get ready for Church on Sunday.” The Preparation Day, which occurred on the sixth day of the week, was very important (Exodus 16:4-5) . The Sabbath was quickly approaching. The crucified body of Jesus had to be taken off the cross and placed in the tomb before Friday at Sundown, which was the onset of the Sabbath. Nicodemus (John 3), a born again believer of Jesus, was present to help Joseph of Arimathea with the burial of Jesus.

Consider the following verses, and comments from the MacArthur Study Bible.

14 “It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning.”

19:14 Preparation Day of the Passover. Since this refers to the day before the Passover when preparation for the Passover was done, John presents Jesus as being sent to execution about the time Passover lambs were being slaughtered. For the chronology of the week, see Introduction: Interpretive Challenges. about the sixth hour. John is here reckoning time by the Roman method of the day beginning at midnight. See note on Mark 15:25. “Behold your King!” That was Pilate’s mockery—that such a brutalized and helpless man was a fitting king for them. This mockery continued in the placard on the cross (vv. 19–22)

30 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

19:30 “It is finished!” The verb here carries the idea of fulfilling one’s task and, in religious contexts, has the idea of fulfilling one’s religious obligations (see 17:4). The entire work of redemption had been brought to completion. The single Gr. word here (translated “it is finished”) has been found in the papyri being placed on receipts for taxes meaning “paid in full” (see Col. 3:13, 14). He gave up His spirit. The sentence signaled that Jesus “handed over” His spirit as an act of His will. No one took His life from Him, for He voluntarily and willingly gave it up (see10:17, 18).

31 “Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away.”

19:31 Preparation Day. This refers to Friday, the day before or “the preparation” day for the Sabbath. See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges. should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. The normal Roman practice was to leave crucified men and women on the cross until they died (and this could take days) and then leave their rotting bodies hanging there to be devoured by vultures. The Mosaic law insisted that anyone being impaled (usually after execution) should not remain there overnight (Deut. 21:22, 23). Such a person was under God’s curse, and to leave him exposed would be to desecrate the land in their minds. their legs might be broken. In order to hasten death for certain reasons, soldiers would smash the legs of the victim with an iron mallet. Not only did this action induce shock and additional loss of blood, but it prevented the victim from pushing with his legs to keep breathing (see note on v. 18.), and thus the victim died due to asphyxiation.

38 “After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.”

19:41, 42 garden…new tomb. Only John relates that the tomb was near the place where Jesus was crucified. Since the Sabbath, when all work had to cease, was nearly upon them (6:00 p.m., sunset), the nearness of the tomb was helpful. John does not mention that Joseph of Arimathea rolled a stone across the tomb’s mouth or that Mary Madgdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid (Matt. 27:58–61). For the time of the Lord’s death and burial, see note on Matt. 27:45.

Luke 23:50-56 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Burial of Jesus

50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. 54 It was preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

23:53 a tomb…hewn out of the rock. Joseph, a wealthy man, undoubtedly had the tomb built for his own family. It had remained unused.
Christ’s burial there was a wonderful fulfillment of Is. 53:9.
23:54 the Preparation. I.e., Friday, the day before the Sabbath.
23:55 observed…how His body was laid. According to John 19:39, Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of spices and aloes (probably obtained while Joseph was negotiating with Pilate for Jesus’ body), and he and Joseph wrapped the body with linen and the spices. These women, from Galilee, were probably unfamiliar with Joseph and Nicodemus, who were Judeans. After all, both men were associated with the Jewish leaders who orchestrated the conspiracy against Jesus (v. 50; John 3:1). So the women were determined to prepare Jesus’ body for burial themselves. So they returned (i.e., went to their homes) to prepare their own spices and perfumes (v. 56). They had to have Jesus’ body placed in the tomb before sunset, when the Sabbath began, so they were not able to finish preparing the body. Mark 16:1 says they purchased more spices “when the Sabbath was past,” i.e., after sundown Saturday. Then they returned Sunday morning with the spices (24:1), expecting to finish the task that had been interrupted by the Sabbath.

Yes. Friday of John 19 was a very significant day. Read the chapter.

John 19, Holman Christian Standard Bible

Jesus Flogged and Mocked

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. 2 The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. 3 And they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were slapping His face.
4 Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging Him.”

Pilate Sentences Jesus to Death

5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him.”
7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer.10 So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”
11 “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”
12 From that moment Pilate made every effort to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”
13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

15 But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!”
Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”
“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.
16 So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

Therefore they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was:

JESUS THE NAZARENE
THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’”

22 Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’ Provision for His Mother

25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

The Finished Work of Jesus

28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Pierced

31 Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken. 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced.

Jesus’ Burial

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

Praise – Shabbat Shalom, Sabbath Peace, Peaceful Sabbath

Click onto any blue letter, number or symbol to view the video and text on the blog.

Genesis 1:31-2:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Evening Came, Then Morning

31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

The Seventh Day, Only The Seventh Day

1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

Shabbat Shalom (shah-BAHT shah-LOHM)

Hebrew: Literally, Sabbath peace or peaceful Sabbath.

From Judaism 101 – http://www.jewfaq.org/express.htm

Shabbat/Sabbath: The seventh day of the week (only the seventh day of the week), from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday, a sign between God and the Jews.

Leviticus 23:1-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Holy Days (God speaks to the Israelites about Israelite appointed times. He addresses the Sabbath and other Holy Days).

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: These are My appointed times, the times of the Lord that you will proclaim as sacred assemblies.

3 “Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be 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.

4 “These are the Lord’s appointed times, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. 5 The Passover to the Lord comes in the first month, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the month. 6 The Festival of Unleavened Bread to the Lord is on the fifteenth day of the same month. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any daily work. 8 You are to present a fire offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day there will be a sacred assembly; you must not do any daily work.”

Leviticus 27:34 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

This passage enforces the teaching that the Law was given to the Israelites, and to no other group, or groups, of people.

34 These are the commands the Lord gave Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 16:23-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

23 He told them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.’”

24 So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it didn’t smell or have any maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find any in the field. 26 For six days you may gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

Note: Holman Christian Standard Bible (Ex 16:23-26): Sabbath is an anglicized form of the Hebrew word, “shabbath,” associated with a verb meaning “cease, stop, rest” (vs 30, 5:5, 31:12-17).

Shabbat is a gift of God to the Jews (Ex 31:12-17)

Exodus 31:12-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Observing the Sabbath

12 The Lord said to Moses: 13 “Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am Yahweh who sets you apart. 14 Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. 15 Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

The Sabbath – A Sign Between God And The Israelites

17 It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

Shabbat was given by God to the Jews to Keep and Remember. (Ex 20:8)

Exodus 20:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Keep And Remember

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”

Jews are caretakers of Shabbat. Let non-Jews honor and respect all of that which God has entrusted to the Jews, to include the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy:

Deuteronomy 5:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Sabbath Praise – Jesus Our Sabbath Rest

Click onto any blue letter, number or symbol to view the video and text on the blog.

Exodus 20:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy:

Deuteronomy 5:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

12 Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Jesus Our Sabbath Rest

Key Verses (G. Campbell Morgan, 1863-1945)

Hebrews 3:1 Names of God Bible (NOG)

1 Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling. So look carefully at Yeshua, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith.

Hebrews 4:14 Names of God Bible (NOG)

14 We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Yeshua, the Son of God.

Hebrews 3-4 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Greater Than Moses

Warning Against Unbelief

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

“So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Jesus the Great High Priest

http://www.compellingtruth.org/Jesus-sabbath.html

What does it mean that Jesus is our Sabbath rest?

Scofield Reference Notes On Book Of Hebrews

(C. I. Scofield, 1843-1921; everyone should own a Scofield Study Bible)

Book Introduction – Hebrews

DATE: From internal evidence it is clear that Hebrews was written before the destruction of the Temple, A.D. 70 (cf Hebrews 10:11).

For Deeper Study – MacArthur Study Bible Notes (Everyone should own a MacArthur Study Bible)

Interpretive Challenges

Verse by verse study.

3:5 spoken afterward. Moses was faithful primarily as a testimony to that which was to come in Christ (cf. 11:24–27; see note on John 5:46).

3:14 The exhortation is similar to that in v. 6. It repeats the theme of perseverance.

4:4, 5 By way of explanation for the statement in v. 3, the writer cites the illustration of the seventh day of creation and quotes Gen. 2:2. Then he repeats the last part of Ps. 95:11.

The Sabbath – “Keep And Remember” – God’s Gift To The Jews

Click onto any blue letter, number of symbol to view the videos and typed text on the blog.

Consider the opening two videos on Shabbat/Sabbath. The first video is one that is more of instruction. The second video is more enriching of the soul.

It is probably the memory of most people that “the Sabbath” dealt with “not doing!” Much of that mindset was, “don’t go fishing on Sunday;” or, “don’t go shopping on Sunday;” or, “don’t go to the movies on Sunday.” Of course, there were many other “don’t do things” that were related to Sundays. Of course, many people are now learning, “Sunday is not the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is that twenty-four hour period of time that begins at sundown on Friday, and ends at sundown on Saturday. And, no matter how hard we might try to do it, we can not rent an excavator and dig up “the Sabbath,” and move it to any other day of the week and call that day, “our Sabbath.” It just won’t work! The Sabbath day is the seventh day of the week, beginning on Friday afternoon and ending on Saturday afternoon.

It is a shame that we did not know that honoring the Sabbath has a great “positive” to it. Consider the following information that relates to honoring the Sabbath. God created the Sabbath day, so we should honor it. Consider the following verses that relate to the Sabbath, and to the special relationship that exists between God and the Jews.

The “seventh day” is written in Genesis 2:2-3 in relation to the rest that God took after He created the world. The words “seventh day” do not appear in the same context until Exodus 16:24, which was when He gave the Sabbath to the Jews to “keep and remember, to keep holy.” The Sabbath was given by God to the Jews, in Exodus 31:16-17, as a sign between God and the Jews, and only between God and the Jews. The Law was given by God to the Jews in Exodus, Chapters 19 20; and only by God to the Jews. Only the descendants of Jacob (Israel), were present when the Law was given. The descendants of Ishmael, Midian, and Esau were not present, and were not recipients of the Law. The Law, to include the Sabbath, had its fulfillment in Yeshua. Still, non-Jews should honor that which God gave to the Jews. Moral laws were given by God to all of mankind; consider Adam and Eve hiding themselves from God after they had sinned (Genesis 2:8).

It is important to relate beliefs of scripture, “to scripture,” and not to “other than scripture.” The following idea should be helpful in determining an understanding of God’s Holy Word: “book, chapter, verse.” If a teaching can not be found in a “book, chapter, verse” context, such a teaching is not inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16)

Authority Of The Sabbath

Genesis 1:31-2:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) – God declared the seventh day of the week to be holy.

31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

Exodus 16:22-29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The following passage is the first time that the word “Sabbath” is mentioned since Genesis 2:3, which is a period of abut 2500 years. Notice in verse in verse 23 “a holy Sabbath to the LORD.” Notice in verse 29 “the Lord has given you the Sabbath,” which makes the Sabbath a gift to the Jews.

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, four quarts apiece, and all the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil, and set aside everything left over to be kept until morning.’”
24 So they set it aside until morning as Moses commanded, and it didn’t smell or have any maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the Lord. Today you won’t find any in the field. 26 For six days you may gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”
27 Yet on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they did not find any.28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commands and instructions? 29 Understand that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day He will give you two days’ worth of bread. Each of you stay where you are; no one is to leave his place on the seventh day.”

Exodus 31:12-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Observing the Sabbath

In the following passage of scripture, vs 16-17, notice that the Sabbath “is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites,” which is a sign between God and the Israelites. No other group of people has such a relationship with God through the Sabbath.

12 The Lord said to Moses: 13 “Tell the Israelites: You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you will know that I am Yahweh who sets you apart. 14 Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Whoever profanes it must be put to death. If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people. 15 Work may be done for six days, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest,dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. 16 The Israelites must observe the Sabbath, celebrating it throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

Consider the command that was given to the Israelites by God.

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (New American Standard Bible)

Deuteronomy 5:12 “Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the Lord your God has commanded you.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Jews, The Sabbath, And God’s Love For The Jews

Genesis 12:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Call of Abram

1 The Lord said to Abram:
Go out from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
I will curse those who treat you with contempt,
and all the peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.

God chose the Jews to be a holy and righteous people, to bring a Holy and Righteous Messiah into the world

Genesis 50:24 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God’s promise to Abraham ran through the blood line of Jacob (Israel), and not to any other of the descendants of Abraham or of Isaac. The promise of the land, the promise of the Sabbath, and the giving of the Law, were made only between God and Israel. For an understanding of the Law being given only to the Jews, “to keep,” please read Exodus, Chapters 19 and 20. It is important to know that well before the law was given to the Jews, conscience had been given to everyone (Genesis 3:3-8).

24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 7:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

6 For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be His own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.

John 4:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.

The words of God for all to pray for the Jews is ever before us.

Psalm 122:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you prosper;

The plan that God designed for Israel did not change when His chosen people were dispersed from their lands in 722 B.C. and 597-586 B.C. Consider a people, a land, and the work of God’s Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:24-29 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).

The Restoration of Israel

24 “For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. 28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and will not bring famine on you.

Keeping And Remembering The Sabbath.

Keep (Shamor); Remember (Zakhor).

Keep and Remember. Consider those two words and the way that Jews honor Shabbat, the Sabbath. Consider how you may also honor Shabbat, the Sabbath. The candle lighting begins on Friday evening, at eighteen minutes prior to sundown. Usually, a woman will light the candles. It was a woman who brought “the Light” into a world of darkness.

Shabbat Candles

Shedding light on the day of rest

By Richard Siegel, Rabbi Michael Strassfeld and Sharon Strassfeld

shabbat candles

As a ceremonial object or art, the candle is generally overlooked, yet it has great significance. Whether intended for practical purposes such as providing light, or for more evocative, quasi-magical ends, such as rekindling the winter sun, almost every festival and celebration incorporates the use of candles at some point.

Fire in Judaism

Fire is universally recognized as one of the basic elements of the world. It is mysterious, frightening, mesmerizing. Its attraction is almost irresistible. In the Kabbalah, the image of a multicolored flame emanating from a candle is taken as a metaphor for God’s relation to the world and man. The flame is a single entity, yet it appears to be undergoing constant change. The flame adheres to, relies on, and appears to emanate from the candle, yet is a distinct and separate entity. The white interior of the flame is constant, but its exterior is always in motion and changes color.

Woman lighting shabbat candles

Reducing fire to a few metaphors, however, robs it of its natural power and mystique. Fortunately the tradition, by incorporating the lighting of candles into the celebratory cycle in a number of different ways [e.g., Shabbat candles, Havdalah (at the end of Shabbat), Hanukkah candles, memorial candles], left open the possibilities for recognizing the many potentialities of fire. It is for us to rediscover those potentialities and allow them to “illumine our eyes.”

On Friday night, one is required to light candles in the house for the sake of shalom bayit (harmony in the home) and oneg Shabbat (Sabbath joy). The candles ought to be in the room where the Sabbath meal is to be eaten.

How to Light the Candles

It is normally woman who lights the candles, but men may light them when no woman is present. Candles may be lit, at the earliest, 1-1/4 hours before sunset, but the [customary] time is up to 18 minutes before sunset. [Click here for Shabbat candlelighting times] If the [traditional 18-minute] time limit cannot be met, candles may be lit during the 18 minutes immediately preceding sunset.

At least two candles should be lit. These represent “shamor” [“keep”] and “zakhor” [“remember”], the first words of the commandments [in the two Ten Commandments passages in the Torah] concerning Shabbat (Exodus 20:8; Deuteronomy 5:12). They also symbolize the unity underlying all apparent duality, such as man and woman, body and soul, speech and silence, creation and revelation.
It is permissible to light more than two candles. In fact, it is considered particularly meritorious to do so. This is implied in an interpretation of “And God blessed the seventh day” (Genesis 2:3). “With what did he bless it? Light.” Some people light an additional candle for each child in the family. Once you’ve lit a certain number, it is a custom never to decrease that number. Students away from home should light candles for themselves, as they are no longer within the household of their parents

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/87131/jewish/Shabbat-Candles-Instructions.htm

Candle LIghting

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/command.html

The Ten Commandments/The 613 Commandments

The Ten Commandments are the first ten of the 613 commandments given by God to the Jewish people. They form the foundation of Jewish ethics, behavior and responsibility. These commandments are mentioned in order twice in the Torah – once each in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Deuteronomy.

1) I am the Lord thy god, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
2) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5) Honor thy father and thy mother.
6) Thou shalt not murder.
7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8) Thou shalt not steal.
9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbor.
10) Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/613_mitzvot.html

The 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)

The following is a breakdown of the 613 mitzvot, or commandments, given by God to the Jewish people. There are a number of debates as to which commandments are included in the 613, this breakdown is according to Sefer Hamitzvot of the Rambam. This breakdown divides the commandments in 248 positive and 365 negative mitzvot.

248 Positive Mitzvot

P1: Believing in Gd
P2: Unity of Gd
P3: Loving Gd
P4: Fearing Gd
P5: Worshiping Gd
P6: Cleaving to Gd
P7: Taking an oath by Gd’s Name
P8: Walking in Gd’s ways
P9: Sanctifying Gd’s Name
P10: Reading the Shema twice daily
More …

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