How Does The Bible Say To Keep The Sabbath Holy

The Bible says to keep the Sabbath holy by abstaining from work, cooking, cleaning, or shopping. (Exodus 20:8-11)

This is God’s holy day and we also must not engage in our pleasures! (Isaiah 58:13-14)

We can also do good deeds for those around us and in need from our community! (Matthew 12:12)

We can gather at Church to worship God together with other fellow believers! (Leviticus 23:3)

We can enjoy and admire nature, and contemplate the mercy of God! We can praise the Lord for His goodness towards us! (Psalm 92)

Table of Contents

Rest from Work on the Sabbath day

The Bible is clear about work on the Sabbath day.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

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:

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.
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV

God told us to work six days per week. But on the seventh day, we should stop working, and give off to those from our house as well.

We have plenty of time to do our work on the other days of the week! There is plenty of time to prepare for the Sabbath!

Dedication to God on the Sabbath

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 58:13-14 KJV

Refrain from activities driven by personal pleasure or profit, focusing instead on spiritual enrichment.

The Sabbath is not a day for our pleasures! Instead, we should honour God by reading His Word, praying, and meditating on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins!

Worship and Gathering on the Sabbath

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.
Leviticus 23:3 KJV

This verse refers to the Sabbath as a holy convocation, indicating it is a time for collective worship.

In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples participated in synagogue worship on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16).

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luke 4:16 KJV

Acts of Kindness and Mercy on the Sabbath

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Matthew 12:12 KJV

Matthew 12:12: Jesus clarified that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, such as helping others.

The Sabbath is a time for acts of compassion and service. We have plenty of people in need in our community that we can help on this day.

Reflection on Creation and Redemption on the Sabbath day

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.

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.
Genesis 2:2-3 KJV

We can reflect on the creation of this Earth. God made all the beautiful things from Earth for our joy and happiness.

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 5:15 KJV

We can also reflect on the redemption of God. He delivered us from sin, from the bondage of sin and of Satan.

He will finish the work He started in us as it is written! (Philippians 1:6)

Conclusion

The Bible teaches us how to keep the Sabbath holy. From refraining from our work, cooking, cleaning, shopping and other worldly pleasures we can keep the Sabbath holy.

Gathering at Church is encouraged with other fellow believers to worship together the Lord.

Reading and studying His Word is a great way to get closer to Him on the Sabbath day.

Acts of kindness and mercy should not be missed on this holy day.

We can also take time to walk in nature and admire the creation of God, to take time to reflect on the Creation and the plan of redemption.

Praise God for His kindness and mercy and for the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son who died on the cross for our sins!

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary