The Sabbath Was Made for Man

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Mark 2:27-28 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: (28) Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Misunderstood and underappreciated are the words that come to mind after reading Mark 2:27-28 while reflecting upon the beauty of the Sabbath Day. Do people really understand the blessing of the seventh day Sabbath? We labor Monday through Friday for 8 hours a day or more and then sit in traffic. Work, work travel and the work week routine takes a toll on our bodies but the Lord gave us something so we would be refreshed; the Sabbath.

Exodus 23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Exodus 20:8-11 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.

When we understand that the purpose of the Sabbath is to rest and be refreshed, then we understand how the other laws that pertain to the Sabbath help us in obtaining that respite. The Sabbath Day affords us the opportunity to rest from working, cooking, buying and selling. If the laws statutes and commandments were not in place, many people would work without ceasing and not take advantage of the rest that comes through keeping the commandments in Christ.

Exodus 35:3 Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

This commandment shows that we are to rest from cooking on the Sabbath. Prepare your food before the Sabbath and take a break on the Sabbath Day.

Nehemiah 10:31 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…

As commanded, we also take a break from buying and selling on the Sabbath Day so we can relax and take joy in the day. The Sabbath is also a day to ease our minds and focus on the Lord by gathering together and learning the scriptures. Christ taught in the synagogues on the Sabbath Day. We are to continue in learning about Christ every day and certainly on the Sabbath day as it is a commandment through the Heavenly Father even in these last days.

Leviticus 23:2-3 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.

Luke 4:14-16 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. (15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. (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.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Isaiah 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

The Sabbath is the 7th day of the week. It begins Friday at dark to Saturday at dark. It was created for man so we can rest, relax and be refreshed. Don’t be like our forefathers that rejected the commandments and refused to keep the Sabbath. Learn the scriptures and partake of the delightful day that the Heavenly Father has created for his children!

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