College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Leviticus 23:1-3
C. SANCTIFICATION OF FEASTS 23:1-25:55
1. SABBATHS AND ANNUAL FEASTS 23:1-44
a. THE SABBATH 23:1-3
TEXT 23:1-3
1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.
3
Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of work: it is a sabbath unto Jehovah in all your dwellings.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 23:1-3
518.
In what way can we call the sabbath a feast?
519.
What is the meaning of the term convocation?
520.
Notice the difference in the text and the paraphrase in Leviticus 23:3. Do you agree with the implied thought?
521.
Do we have any form of sabbath today?
522.
Was the sabbath observed in the days of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob?
PARAPHRASE 23:1-3
The Lord said to Moses, Announce to the people of Israel that they are to celebrate several annual festivals of the Lordtimes when all Israel will assemble and worship Me. (These are in addition to your Sabbathsthe seventh day of every weekwhich are always days of solemn rest in every home, times for assembling to worship, and for resting from the normal business of the week.)
COMMENT 23:1-3
Leviticus 23:1-3 We like the words of C. H. MacKintosh: One of the most profound and comprehensive Chapter s in the inspired volume now lies before us, and claims our prayerful study. It contains the record of the seven great feasts or periodical solemnities into which Israel's year was divided. In other words, it furnishes us with a perfect view of God's dealings with Israel during the entire period of their most eventful history.
Looking at the feasts separately, we have the Sabbath, the Passover, the feast of unleavened bread, the first-fruits, Pentecost, the feast of trumpets, the day of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles. This would make eight altogether; but it is very obvious that the Sabbath occupies quite a unique and independent place.
Some years ago we prepared a short study on the subject of The Sabbath. We believe it would be appropriate to include it just here:
SPECIAL STUDY
THE JEWISH SABBATH
Question: When was the sabbath first made known to man? Answer: At Mt. Sinai. Read this reference very carefully: Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments: And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law by Moses, thy servant. Nehemiah 9:13-14
Someone will immediately recall that the seventh day is mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3. Note carefully, please, that it is not referred to in rest. At Sinai, Moses set aside the seventh day (under God's direction) for man's rest because in the creation of the earth the seventh day was God's day of rest. Consider carefully the total circumstances of Genesis 2:1-3. No command is given here to man. No example is found here of the seventh day observance by man. There is one other reference to examine in connection:
But the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah, thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:10-11.
It was not the sabbath day when God rested, but it was so called when Moses wrote this account in Exodus. The use of the word sabbath as found here is called a literary prolapse. To illustrate, we say that on February 22 we remember the birth of the first president, George Washington. In reality, on February 22, 1732, a baby named George Washington was born, but not at that time, President George Washington. If a historian were to describe the actual event of his birth as of 1732 he would not call him president; if the same historian were to look back on his birth from our day, he could very well call him President George Washington when speaking of his birth. Washington became president years after his birth. The seventh day became the sabbath years after God rested on that day.
In Genesis 3:20 we have an example of a literary prolapse. Note: And the man (Adam) called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. At the time that Adam called his wife Eve, she had not so much as one child, but from the time that Moses wrote this he could see very well how the name Eve found its fulfillment.
Question: Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that the sabbath was kept prior to Exodus?
Answer: None. No evidence has been presented that shows sabbath observance prior to Exodus 16:23.
Question: If the sabbath was made known at Mount Sinai, how is it that instructions for the use of manna for the sabbath were given before the giving of the law? (Cf. Exodus 16:23.)
Answer: This must have been a preparatory measure. The nation of Israel was being prepared for the sabbath observance by this means. Without preparation there could have been a terrible destruction of sabbath breakers inasmuch as the penalty for not keeping the sabbath was death. (Cf. Exodus 31:14.)
John the Baptist came preaching and practicing a baptism of repentance. John's baptism was in preparation of the baptism of our Lord (Acts 19:1-6). The baptism of Christ was so very important that preparation of the minds and hearts of the people was very necessary. When Jesus commanded His apostles to go into all the world and baptize, the apostles knew what baptism was and so did the people to whom the apostles spoke. John's baptism prepared them for the baptism of Jesus.
Just so in the wilderness, when the seventh day began to be observed by the nation of Israel in connection with the gathering of the manna, they were preparing for the giving of the law when it was going to be observed in a new fashion.
You will note some interesting features about the observance of the seventh day in Exodus 16:1-36 that are different than the later observance of the sabbath.
(1)
There was no punishment given for the violation of the day.
(2)
When it was violated there was no punishment of the violator.
(3)
No specific instructions for its observance other than the manna is given.
Can we say a law has been given when no punishment has been specified for violators? If not, then no law for sabbath observance was given before the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Question: If we were to observe the sabbath today as it was observed in the days of Moses or Jesus, what would be required of us? Answer:
(1)
No cooking to be done on the sabbath. Exodus 16:23.
(2)
No fires to be built. Exodus 35:3.
(3)
Two lambs to be offered. Numbers 28:9-11.
(4)
Not to pick up sticks. Numbers 15:32-36.
(5)
To be kept according to Jewish timesunset Friday to sunset Saturday.
(6)
Violators put to death. Exodus 31:14.
Question: Why do you not observe the sabbath today?
Answer: There are seven very adequate reasons. Here they are:
(1) The sabbath was given to the Jews only. Read these references:
Jehovah made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. Deuteronomy 5:3. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm, therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:15. (Cf. Exodus 20:1-2; Exodus 24:8.)
There is no example of any Gentile observing the sabbath day at any time, anywhere. If the covenant which contained the sabbath law was made with the Jews as a nation and we are not a part of that nation, what reason do we have for observing the sabbath day?
It might be well to explain just here the thought that Sunday is the Christian sabbath. The word sabbath means rest. Sunday, or the first day of the week, is not portrayed in the New Testament as a day of rest, but rather a day of worship. The sabbath has always been on the seventh day and could not therefore fall on the first day, even in the Christian dispensation.
(2) The sabbath has no commemorative value for any other than the Jew. Deuteronomy 15:5. We were never in Egypt as slaves. We were never led out.
(3) Note, please, that the reference to the creation is for the purpose of showing why the seventh day was chosen as a day of rest; i.e. God rested, so you rest. The sabbath was a sign between God and Israel.
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily, ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. Exodus 31:12-13 a, Exodus 31:17. (Cf. Ezekiel 20:12-20.)
Let us understand again why a reference is made to the creation. The purpose is to point out why God chose the seventh day for rest. God rested on the seventh day and was refreshed, you rest and be refreshed on the seventh day.
The sabbath was a sign or seal of the covenant God had with Israel. We have no such covenant and no such sign.
(4) It is impossible to observe the sabbath universally. In the far north or south it could not be observed. How would you observe the sabbath from sunrise to sunset in the northern part of Alaska? The same question could be asked concerning some of the extreme southern countries. Geographical conditions are such in some countries that sheep could not be raised; hence, no lambs would be available for sacrifice. This reason presupposes that the sabbath is to be observed according to the only instructions we have for keeping of the sabbath, the Jewish law. If there are other directions for sabbath observance, we have failed to read them in the New Testament. Where are the directions for the observance of the sabbath by Christians?
(5) The sabbath was a part of the old covenant and was abolished with that covenant. There are many references to which we should refer in a careful consideration of this important point. Here are some of them:
1.
The sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were a part of the old covenant. Exodus 24:1-8; Exodus 24:12; Deuteronomy 4:13-14; Deuteronomy 9:9; Deuteronomy 9:11; Deuteronomy 9:15; 2 Chronicles 6:11; Hebrews 9:4; 1 Kings 8:9.
For sake of clarity we will reproduce two verses which speak very plainly on this point:
Speaking of the house of the Lord, Solomon says: And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which He made with the children of Israel. 2 Chronicles 6:11. In I Kings we have these words: There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 1 Kings 8:9.
2.
The old covenant was abolished and done away in Christ:
(1)
Abolished Ephesians 2:14-15.
(2)
Done away 2 Corinthians 3:3-17.
3.
We are not under this law. Galatians 3:16-25; Galatians 5:18.
4.
The old covenant was cast out. Galatians 4:21; Galatians 5:1.
5.
We have been discharged from the law. Romans 7:1-7.
6.
The old covenant was blotted out and taken out of the way. Colossians 2:14.
7.
The old covenant was nigh unto vanishing away almost 1900 years ago. Hebrews 8:13.
The sabbath observance, as a part of the old covenant, was abolished with the old covenant. All of the old covenant was done away in Christ. There is no suggestion in the scriptures to the contrary. It might be pointed out here that the Ten Commandments are set aside from the rest of the law by those who wish to observe the sabbath, as the moral law of God in contrast to the ceremonial laws of the nation of Israel. This is purely an arbitrary distinction that has no warrant in fact or scripture. The following quotation explains this thought:
The term -Moral Law-' when applied to them is a misnomer, untrue to revelation. They neither include all morality nor exclude all immorality.. Only the last six deal with morals. The first four are ceremonial in their precept.
The -Ceremonial Law-' as denominated by the Seventh Day advocates has far more moral precepts than the Ten Commandments.
Every penalty for breaking the Ten Commandments is to be found only in the so-called Ceremonial Laws, which they say are done away with. A law is null and void without a penalty.
A. Word in The Church Revealed In The Scriptures
(6)
The church as a new and better covenant.
1.
Jesus became the surety of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22
2.
We have a new and faultless covenant. Hebrews 8:7-13.
3.
Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 12:18-24.
4.
The new covenant surpasseth the old covenant in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:3-17.
5.
We, who are under the new covenant, are free, whereas those that were under the old covenant were inbondage. Galatians 4:21; Galatians 5:1.
(7) The sabbath was not incorporated in the new covenant. Nine of the ten commandments are embodied in the new covenant.
The ten commandments of the old covenant. Exodus 20:3-17. All but the sabbath are found in the new covenant:
IOther gods. Leviticus 23:3
IIImages, Leviticus 23:4-5
IIIName in vain. Leviticus 23:7
IVSabbath. Leviticus 23:8
Not in New Testament
VFather and Mother. Leviticus 23:12
VIKill. Leviticus 23:13
Ephesians 6:1-2; Colossians 3:20
VIIAdultery. Leviticus 23:14
Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
VIIISteal. Leviticus 23:15
IXFalse witness. Leviticus 23:16
Colossians 3:9; Revelation 22:18
XCovet. Leviticus 23:17
Romans 13:9; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:3
Question: Why did Jesus keep the sabbath?
Answer: Jesus kept the sabbath because He was living under the old covenant of which it was a part. The old covenant lasted until the death of Christ when He nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way. Colossians 2:14. The new covenant was not brought into effect until the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Christ's death.
Someone will undoubtedly want to know under what covenant or will man was living during the forty days after the resurrection while He made His appearances on earth before He ascended. The simple answer is that no will is in effect until it is read. Until Peter made known the terms of the New Testament or will on the day of Pentecost, man was yet under the former or old covenant.
Question: Why did the Apostle Paul go into the synagogues on the sabbath?
Answer: Paul was preaching Christ to the ignorant and unbelieving Jews. Acts 9:20; Acts 13:5. They needed to know the conditions of the new covenant whereby they could receive redemption for their transgressions under the old covenant. Hebrews 9:15.
FACT QUESTIONS 21:1-3
524.
Name eight feasts. Why not include the sabbath?
525.
When was the sabbath first made known to man?
526.
Doesn-'t Genesis 2:1-3 teach us the sabbath was known at creation? Discuss.
527.
Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that the sabbath was kept prior to Exodus? Discuss.
528.
What about the instructions in Exodus 16:23?
529.
If we were to observe the sabbath today as in the days of Moses, how would we do it?
530.
Why not observe the sabbath today? List all seven answers and discuss.
531.
Discuss the moral and ceremonial laws.
532.
Why did Jesus keep the sabbath?