SUBJECT:      The Sabbath

QUESTION:  Is the Sabbath a day of worship or just a day of rest?

ANSWER:

The Sabbath……Worship vs. Rest Argument

Following will be scriptures that show that worship is part of this day we call the Sabbath and not just rest.

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Now look at what the commentary says about this verse:

Hebrews 10:19-39 

            IV. We have the means prescribed for preventing our apostasy, and promoting our fidelity and perseverance, v. 24, 25, etc. He mentions several; as,

 

            1. That we should consider one another, to provoke to love and to good works. Christians ought to have a tender consideration and concern for one another; they should affectionately consider what their several wants, weaknesses, and temptations are; and they should do this, not to reproach one another, to provoke one another not to anger, but to love and good works, calling upon themselves and one another to love God and Christ more, to love duty and holiness more, to love their brethren in Christ more, and to do all the good offices of Christian affection both to the bodies and the souls of each other. A good example given to others is the best and most effectual provocation to love and good works.

 

            2. Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, v. 25. It is the will of Christ that his disciples should assemble together, sometimes more privately for conference and prayer, and in public for hearing and joining in all the ordinances of gospel worship. There were in the apostles' times, and should be in every age, Christian assemblies for the worship of God, and for mutual edification. And it seems even in those times there were some who forsook these assemblies, and so began to apostatize from religion itself. The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a good means of steadiness and perseverance; hereby their hearts and hands are mutually strengthened.

 

            3. To exhort one another, to exhort ourselves and each other, to warn ourselves and one another of the sin and danger of backsliding, to put ourselves and our fellow-christians in mind of our duty, of our failures and corruptions, to watch over one another, and be jealous of ourselves and one another with a godly jealousy. This, managed with a true gospel spirit, would be the best and most cordial friendship.

 

            4. That we should observe the approaching of times of trial, and be thereby quickened to greater diligence: So much the more, as you see the day approaching. Christians ought to observe the signs of the times, such as God has foretold. There was a day approaching, a terrible day to the Jewish nation, when their city should be destroyed, and the body of the people rejected of God for rejecting Christ. This would be a day of dispersion and temptation to the chosen remnant. Now the apostle puts them upon observing what signs there were of the approach of such a terrible day, and upon being the more constant in meeting together and exhorting one another, that they might be the better prepared for such a day. There is a trying day coming on us all, the day of our death, and we should observe all the signs of its approaching, and improve them to greater watchfulness and diligence in duty. ~from Matthew Henry's Commentary

Scriptures About Worshiping Christ

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Question:  Wouldn’t this include the Sabbath?  Better yet, wouldn’t it mean more on the Sabbath?  Absolutely it would.

John 12:20

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

Christ is worshipped at the Feast.

Acts 8:26-27

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Acts 18:12-13

12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Acts 24:11

Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Revelation 14:7

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Note:  These verses about “worship” are pretty clear.  We are to worship God and Christ and if so then clearly we do that on the Sabbath.  Can not imagine someone saying that we should worship God and Christ everyday BUT the Sabbath or that we should “rest” from worshipping on the Sabbath because it is just too much work.  If we are to worship God and Christ everyday, how much more important is that worship on the day set aside by that God from the normal work and toils of the world.

Now Some Verses About The Sabbath

Mark 2:27-28

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

See, if Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and we are to be worshipping Him the again I ask…How much more should we be worshipping Him ON THE SABBATH??

Luke 6:9-10

9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Note:  Clearly, Jesus did good on the Sabbath.  He did not just rest.  We are to be like Christ?  I, as a minister, anoint people for sickness on the Sabbath.

Luke 13:10

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Note:  Christ was teaching on the Sabbath…not resting.  Ministers of Jesus Christ also teach on the Sabbath.  To do that, the flock must be present.

Luke 23:55-56

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Note:  Resting is also a part of the Sabbath.

Acts 13:14-16

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Acts 13:26-27

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Note:  This verse is very strong about God’s people attending Sabbath services.

Acts 13:40-44

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Note:  So much for those that say that there is no example for us to attend Sabbath services.

Remember this verse:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Note:  These things we read in the Bible are not idle chatter.  They are examples for us to follow.  There are no scriptures that say that we should stay home during the Sabbath day and just rest.

Acts 17:2-3

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Note:  See the phrase, “reasoned with them”?  Who are the them?  They are those who assembled together Sabbath after Sabbath to hear the Word of God.

Acts 16:13

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Note:  Another example of getting together on the Sabbath day.

Acts 15:21-22

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Note:  All these verses on the Sabbath should be sufficient to prove the point.

NOTE:  The Word “rest”

The word “rest” is used 44 times in the King James New Testament.  None of them are used in the way your acquaintance purports.   It is used as in the following verse:

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Note:  Christ is the “rest” and Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath.  We are with Him at services.  He was at services while He lived on earth.  He is our example.

This should all be enough to counter this idea of worship vs. Rest.

 
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