The Sabbath
Genesis 2:2-3: “[2] And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. [3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
The Sabbath day is a Holy Day, which is based after the Most High's week of creating the heavens and the Earth and all that is in them. Day seven of this creation week, was sanctified and made separate from the other six days. Contrary to popular belief, Sunday is the first day of the week and is not the seventh. When looking at the modern day calendar (known as the Gregorian calendar named after Pope Gregory XIII), you will find that the seventh day of the week is Saturday (note that the day known today as Saturday's position in the week has never been changed since the creation). Because a new day according to the word of God begins at evening (sundown - Genesis 1:5), the weekly Sabbath would be celebrated from Friday evening until Saturday evening. The Sabbath is a commandment that is to be kept throughout our generations.
Exodus 20:8-11: “[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD 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: [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Leviticus 23:1-3: “[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. [3] Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
Since the Sabbath is a day that is to be kept holy, there are restrictions as to what we are permitted and not permitted to do. No working, cooking, neither the buying or selling of merchandise is to be done on the Sabbaths. As the scriptures state, it is a day of rest and worship of the Most High. Examine the following scriptures:
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Exodus 35:2-3: “[2] Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. [3] Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.”
To “kindle fire” means, "to burn" with the intent of cooking, roasting or parching.
Exodus 16:23-30: “[23] And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. [24] And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. [25] And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. [26] Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. [27] And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. [28] And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? [29] See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. [30] So the people rested on the seventh day.”
The above scriptures teach us about the day of preparation (Thursday). Since there is to be no cooking, buying or selling on the sabbaths, we are instructed to prepare and cook double the food prior to the sabbath day and utilize the leftovers for our consumption on the Sabbath day. All manner of working, shopping and cooking are to be done before the sun goes down on Friday.
Nehemiah 10:31: “[31] And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.”
Again buying on the Sabbath is not lawful and considered sin.
Nehemiah 13:15-19: “[15] In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. [16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto he children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. [17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? [18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. [19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.”
The Prophet Nehemiah had to admonish the nobles and leaders of Israel for allowing working, buying and selling to be done on the Sabbath day. He knew that such behavior is evil and the rebuke of the Lord would soon follow for not keeping the Most High's Sabbath Holy. To prevent this, Nehemiah shut the gates of Jerusalem to restrict any merchants from entering in and tempting the people to break the Sabbath. This was also done to restrict the rebellious Israelites from leaving the city to go out and profane the Sabbath.
Ezekiel 22:26: “[26] Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
Modern religion has taught many to continually profane the the true Sabbath day. Teaching that the Sabbath day is on Sunday, or the Sabbath and other laws and convocations do not need to be kept is a sinful error. Listen to the scriptures and stay in the fear of the Lord! (Revelations 1:3).
St John 4:23: “[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”