What Does the Bible say About Eating on the Sabbath

The Bible says about eating on the Sabbath the following:

To cook and shop before the Sabbath
To not gather wood for the fire on the Sabbath
You can warm your meals on the Sabbath

Here’s a comprehensive look at how Scripture addresses eating and food preparation on the Sabbath, synthesized from biblical texts.

Table of Contents

1. The Command to Rest and Refrain from Work

The Fourth Commandment emphasizes abstaining from labor on the Sabbath:

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:
Exodus 20:8-10 KJV

This prohibition includes activities like cooking, which are considered forms of work.

For example, Exodus 35:3 explicitly forbids kindling a fire on the Sabbath, a key step in ancient cooking methods.

Important to know – the above verse refers to kindling the fire in the sense of needing to gather wood for the fire. This is considered work.

However, nowadays if someone lives in a house with no gas, but has some wood for heat and warming up a meal, it would not be a sin to do so.

Jewish tradition later expanded this into 39 categories of forbidden work (*melachah*), including baking, boiling, and other cooking-related tasks.

However, Jesus did not intend for us to be this meticulous. We are to do no work on the Sabbath, whether cooking, whatever that may be.

2. Preparation Before the Sabbath

To honor the Sabbath, meals are to be prepared in advance:

Preparation before the Sabbath is essential, including planning meals, gathering ingredients, and cooking ahead.

This practice aligns with Exodus 16:23-26, where the Israelites were instructed to gather double portions of manna on the sixth day to avoid cooking on the Sabbath.

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.

And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

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.

Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
Exodus 16:23-26 KJV

3. Heating and Reheating Food

While cooking is prohibited, reheating pre-cooked food is permitted.

Jesus indirectly addressed this principle when He defended His disciples for plucking grain on the Sabbath, stating:

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27)

4. Jesus’ Teachings on Compassion Over Legalism

Jesus frequently challenged rigid Jewish Sabbath interpretations.

When criticized for healing or allowing His disciples to eat grain on the Sabbath, He emphasized mercy and human need:

How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:12)

He healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath, rebuking leaders who prioritized rules over compassion (Luke 13:10-17).

This underscores that Sabbath observance should not hinder acts of kindness or meeting basic needs, including eating.

Practical Guidelines for Modern Observance

1. Prepare Meals in Advance: Avoid cooking or shopping on the Sabbath by planning meals ahead .

2. Focus on Rest and Worship: Use the day for spiritual renewal, family time, and acts of service .

3. Exercise Flexibility: While traditional rules exist, prioritize the Sabbath’s purpose—rest and connection with God.

Conclusion

The Bible teaches that the Sabbath is a gift for rest, worship, and rejuvenation. While food preparation is to be done beforehand, the emphasis remains on honoring God’s design for rest and embracing compassion over legalism.

As Jesus affirmed, the Sabbath exists to serve humanity’s holistic well-being, inviting us into a rhythm of grace and gratitude.

My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary