Objection

“reading Hebrews 4, “today” is the day of rest, our Sabbath. In other words, the Jewish sabbath was a type of the rest that we are supposed to have in God EVERY day. “Furthermore, the root of the Hebrew word Shabbat means “rest” which is also the root meaning of the Greek word used in Heb 4 – i.e. both Sabbath and “rest” as used in Heb 4 mean the same thing yet according to Heb 4, every day is our day of rest, i.e. our Sabbath.”

Answer

First of all, ‘Today’ is not to be taken as proof of a new designation for the Sabbath; rather, it is to be seen within the context of ‘decision’. In other words, it’s about making a choice to obey the voice of God on the ‘day’ that it is heard. For example, if you hear the voice of God ‘Today‘–telling you that you need to keep His commandments, then you should take action at that very moment to obey His voice and keep them. Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t do that, which is why they couldn’t enter into God’s rest. In fact, one of the issues that God had against them was that they didn’t honor His Sabbaths (See Ezekiel 20:5-16, and Psalm 95 for more context).

But we have an opportunity ‘Today’ to choose to live our lives in obedience to His commandments. And if we want to enter into His rest we will not harden our hearts as in the rebellion; instead, we will seek to “do His commandments” (Revelation 22:14).

Note: I don’t intend to shout. The NKJV has it in caps for emphasis.

“while it is said: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION.” (Hebrews 3:15 NKJV)

“Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “TODAY,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” (Hebrews 4:6-7 NKJV)

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14 NKJV)

Secondly, your saying that the Sabbath is Jewish is not correct. As pointed out in part 4 of my article, Yeshua said, “the Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:28). That’s ‘anthropos’; and it essentially means ‘mankind’, that is, all people, or as Isaiah 66:23 puts it, ‘all flesh’. In other words, the Sabbath is meant for all people to embrace.

Thirdly, your idea that every day is the Sabbath does not agree with the testimony of the Scriptures. For if you read part 4 of this series you will see that Yeshua also said,

“pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matthew 24:20 NKJV)

Keep in mind that this prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70–long after Yeshua was crucified and had risen from the dead. So how then could Yeshua say, “pray that your flight may not be…on the Sabbath” if every day is the Sabbath? That wouldn’t make any sense at all. But what does make sense is that because Yeshua said “pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath”, that means the Sabbath was not changed or abolished as a result of the cross.

Furthermore, if every day is the Sabbath, then why would Luke (the author of Acts) have used the expressions, ‘next Sabbath’, which appears twice in Acts, and ‘next day’, which appears 19 times in Acts? If every day were the Sabbath there would be no expression of ‘next day’ while there is an expression of ‘next Sabbath’. And let’s also keep in mind that the expression ‘first day’ appears twice in Acts. Hence there is an obvious separation between the Sabbath day and the rest of the days of the week; and you are therefore reading meaning into Hebrews 4 that isn’t there by saying that it suggests that every day is the Sabbath.

Finally, even history outside of the Bible informs us that early Christians observed the Sabbath day.

Here are a few examples…

2nd Century:

Early Christians
“The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the purpose.” “Dialogues on the Lord’s Day,” p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of England divine).

Early Christians
“…The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus.” “Geschichte des Sonntags,” pp.13, 14

2nd Century Christians
“The Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath,” Gieseler’s “Church History,” Vol.1, ch. 2, par. 30, 93.

Early Christians
“The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews;…therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council.” “The Whole Works” of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX,p. 416 (R. Heber’s Edition, Vol XII, p. 416).

Of course, the New testament also provides us with proof that both the Apostles and the Gentiles observed the Sabbath command (see Acts 1:12; 13:14, 27, 42, 44; 15:21; 16:13; 18:4).

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