What is the Sabbath?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the Sabbath is God’s gift of sacred stillness—a weekly invitation to stop striving and start remembering. It’s a physical practice that reveals a deeper spiritual truth: your worth is not found in your work or production, but in the finished work of God.
When you cease from your regular labor, you are making a powerful statement of faith, trusting that the world won't fall apart without your effort for one day.
For the Christian, this day is not a legalistic burden but a joyous celebration of the finished work of Christ (Question 49), who provides the ultimate rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28). It is a time to intentionally refill your spiritual, emotional, and physical reserves.
2. The Simple Answer
The word "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew word shabbat, meaning "to cease, stop, or rest." It is the seventh day of the week, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
The Sabbath was given to Israel as part of the Mosaic Law for two primary reasons:
Creation Mandate: To reflect God’s rest after the six days of creation, setting a pattern for human life (Genesis 2:2-3).
Covenant Sign: To serve as a perpetual sign of the covenant between God and Israel, commemorating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15), where they had no rest.
In Christianity, the principle of the Sabbath is upheld, but the specific day of observation often shifts to Sunday, the Lord's Day, in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection.
3. The Deeper Dive: Law, Fulfillment, and Practice
The concept of the Sabbath is complex because it bridges the Old and New Covenants, involving the law, Jesus’ fulfillment, and current Christian practice.
1. The Fourth Commandment
The command to keep the Sabbath is unique in the Decalogue because it dictates how a day is to be spent, not just what to avoid:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…” — Exodus 20:8-10 (NIV)
This commandment established a societal rhythm that ensured everyone, including servants and animals, received regular, mandatory rest.
2. Jesus and the Sabbath
Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath; He affirmed its true purpose. When criticized for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus famously declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). Jesus corrected the legalistic approach of the religious leaders (Question 83), affirming that the Sabbath is meant to be a day of mercy, worship, and doing good, not a day restricted by rigid human rules.
3. The Christian Practice: The Lord's Day
Most Christians observe a Sabbath principle on the first day of the week, Sunday, often called the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10), because it is the day Jesus rose from the dead and the Holy Spirit was poured out (Pentecost).
Theological Shift: This shift emphasizes the completed work of Redemption over the completed work of Creation.
The Principle: The principle remains the same: dedicating one day to ceasing ordinary labor, gathering for corporate worship, and focusing on spiritual growth. This fulfills the spirit of the command for rest and worship.
God's Assurance
God assures you that He is not trying to impose heavy burdens on you. His command to rest is a demonstration of His loving desire for your wholeness and peace.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
You are assured that the ultimate Sabbath rest is found in Jesus Christ, who has secured your eternal peace.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not get hung up on the exact day (Saturday vs. Sunday); focus on the principle of the Sabbath. Intentional, regular rest and worship are necessary for a healthy soul. Commit to setting aside one full day each week to disconnect from labor, connect with God, and be restored, trusting that God will bless your obedience and your rest.
