Leviticus 23:1-3

1. The Sabbath 23:1-3

The Sabbath (Leviticus 23:3) was, of course, a weekly observance in contrast to the other feasts that occurred only once a year. Moses introduced the annual holidays in Leviticus 23:4. God had prescribed Sabbath observance earlier (Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:13-17; Exodus 35:2-3; Leviticus 19:3). Evidently Moses included it in this list because, like the feasts, it was a day set apart to God for holy purposes. The Sabbath was a "convocation" in that the people assembled in spirit to remember God’s work for them that resulted in their being able to rest. For this convocation the Israelites did not assemble around the tabernacle but observed the day in their own dwellings.

The Sabbath was the heart of the whole system of annual feasts in Israel. The other feasts all related to the central idea of rest that the Sabbath epitomized. They focused the Israelites’ attention on other Sabbath-like blessings that Yahweh provided for them. [Note: See Timothy K. Hui, "The Purpose of Israel’s Annual Feasts," Bibliotheca Sacra 147:586 (April-June 1990):143-54.]

"Jesus claimed that ’the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath’ (Mark 2:28); he could therefore abolish the sabbath, and he did in fact do so, for the New Covenant which he brought abrogated the Old Covenant, of which the sabbath was the sign. The Christian Sunday is not in any sense a continuation of the Jewish sabbath. The latter closed the week, but the Christian Sunday opens the week in the new era by commemorating the Resurrection of our Lord, and the appearances of the risen Christ, and by directing our attention to the future, when he will come again. And yet Sunday does symbolize the fulfillment of those promises which the sabbath foreshadowed. Like all the other promises of the Old Testament, these promises too are realized not in an institution, but in the person of Christ: it is he who fulfills the entire Law. Sunday is the ’Lord’s Day,’ the day of him who lightens our burdens (Matthew 11:28), through whom, with whom and in whom we enter into God’s own rest (Hebrews 4:1-11)." [Note: de Vaux, 2:483.]

"Christians are not merely to give one day in seven to God, but all seven. Since they have entered the rest of God, every day should be sanctified. But they have to set apart some time to be used in voluntary gratitude for worship and ministry and for the rest of body, soul, and spirit." [Note: Ross, p. 405.]

"God’s people witness to their participation in the covenant [Old or New] by ceasing their labors and joining the believing community in the celebration of the LORD’s Sabbath rest." [Note: Ibid., p. 403.]