While I try to keep a regular writing schedule on this blog, I found myself replying to statements made on Facebook that I thought would be great for the readers of this blog. So I decided to post those comments here. I have taken the names of the individuals off to hide their identity. However, I did not make any changes to what they said. Therefore, you will find misspelled words and other problems.
In this particular post, I addressed a statement concerning keeping the Sabbath day and the Jews being spiritually blind. I responded to this post mostly because of the Jewish comment. I felt it was inappropriate as well as not true. Every Jewish person is not spiritually blind.
Because this is long, I have divided the comments up into three posts. Writer #1 is not the same person as Writer #2. Whether you agree or disagree with me I would love to know what you think. Here is part 1.
Facebook Writer #1:
Since God is the God of the Sabbath then EVERY DAY is the Sabbath! Not just Sunday or Saturday for those who endure themselves to a “Spiritualy” blind group of people! (The Jews). Hebrews 4:1-12, Gal. 1:6-9, 3:10-13.
My Reply:
Let’s start off by saying that not all Jews are spiritually blind. Some do accept Yeshua as the Messiah. And it was their job to teach us about Yahweh, his commandments and Yeshua, but they didn’t. Next, no one is preaching another gospel by saying that the Sabbath should be kept, which starts on Friday night at sun down and ends Saturday night at sun down. It’s not actually all day Saturday.
God himself instituted the Sabbath day as a rest day, set apart and holy unto himself in the garden of Eden. (Gen 2) He later made it the fourth commandment when he gave it to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. It is the commandment right after all the stuff about God himself. (Deut. 5:12-14)
Also, Yeshua told the people to pray that when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place that it not happen on the Sabbath. So obviously he expects his people to keep the Sabbath. (Mat. 24:15-20)
Also, God commands Israel to keep Sabbath forever. (Ex. 13:12-18)
Jews are just under the law (Torah) without grace. We should follow the Torah in grace. Even Yeshua followed and preached the scriptures (Old Testament). He kept Sabbaths and the holy feasts. He tells us to do what the Pharisees say to do when they are reading the scriptures from Moses’ seat because they are not allowed to comment while they are seated in that seat. They can only read the scriptures. He tells them not to do what they do. (Mat. 23:1-3)
Yeshua said that if you love him you will keep his commandments. (John 14:15) If he is Yahweh Elohim (John 1:1), then what were his commandments? He gave them to Israel on Mount Sinai. 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
In all instances when Yeshua declares himself to be Lord of the Sabbath, it involved him picking grain from someone’s land in order to feed his disciples. The Pharisees said he had broken a law, but he hadn’t because he was not working in his own field. He did what Deut. 23:25 allowed him to do – pick grain from another’s man field with his hands if he was hungry.
Also, Yeshua said that Sabbath was made for man. Yeshua is also saying that he is Yahweh because the Sabbath belonged to Yahweh, which you can read throughout the Old Testament.
Concerning Sunday: it was a decree given by Roman Emperor Constantine on March 7, 321 AD that worshipping God should be on Sunday instead of Saturday. If you were caught worshipping on Saturday you could be killed. He said, “Let all judges and townspeople and occupations of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun (Sunday).” Most people worshipped the sun-god, Mithra and he tried to unify the religions, but those stubborn Jews wouldn’t budge. So now it seems like they are wrong when in actuality they are not.
I know people use Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor. 16:2 as proof that we should gather together on Sunday, the first day of the week, but that is not what the Greek says. It literally says, “one of the Sabbaths,” which dealt with the feast days. (Ex. 12:14-17) They were keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (Acts 20:6)
Hebrews 4 actually tells us to keep the Sabbath. Maybe it is clearer in the Complete Jewish Bible version – verses 9-11 says, “So there remains a Sabbat-keeping for God’s people. For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his. Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience.” Look at the Greek words being used in the KJV for “rest.” Most of them do not say Sabbath. Only one does and that is verse 9.
Paul is telling the Galatians not to believe another gospel preached by those who didn’t believe in Yeshua. They were trying to give them man made laws and pass it off as God’s laws. Paul is talking about legalism that has nothing to do with trusting and believing in Yeshua. It’s about rules and regulations. If you obey them then you will have life – without Yeshua. The law (Torah) brought a blessing and a curse. Yeshua took the curse for us, allowing us to receive the blessing if we trust and obey him for he said if you love me you will keep my commandments. Galatians was talking about receiving the Spirit to walk in the Torah, the blessing.
A final note. Revelation 14:12 tells us who God’s people are – “those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (KJV)
Wrapping Up
What do you believe about keeping the Sabbath? Do you think someone is under the law if they keep it? Do you participate in Sabbath keeping?
Continue the conversation with Following Spiritually Blinded Jews: Part 2 and Part 3.