The Nazarene Way of Essenic Studies
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Sabbatarianism ~
Keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath

The Sabbath is a weekly holy day of rest and prayer as ordained by the third or fourth of the Ten Commandments. The Hebrew word "šabbāth" means "the [day] of rest (or ceasing)," as it entails a ceasing or resting from labor. The institution of the Old Testament Sabbath was a perpetual covenant for the people of Israel.


Sabbatarianism; The Primary Sabbath
Keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset)

The Sabbath is a weekly holy day of rest and prayer as ordained by the third or fourth of the Ten Commandments. The Hebrew word "šabbāth" means "the [day] of rest (or ceasing)," as it entails the ceasing or resting from labor in an effort to focus completely on spiritual study, meditation or prayer. The institution of the Old Testament Sabbath was a perpetual covenant for the people of God.

In this regard, the Sabbath was deemed so important to God, that he made it a covenant, separate and distinct from the covenant at Sinai (Exodus 31:16).

In the New Testament, Jesus declared that he was the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28), and that it was made for man's good (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath continued to be a time of communal gathering for Christians (Hebrews 10:25), as well as teaching and learning the will of God (Acts 15:21). Christians continued to observe the seventh day (Saturday) as holy for centuries after the crucifixion of Jesus.

For many sabbatarians, keeping the Seventh-day is about worshipping God. It is the ultimate positive worship given in His commandments,
and is in recognition of His authority. It is an honor and a blessing to give time to God and meet with Him on this appointed day.

There are 151 references to the Sabbath in the bible. Below are a few references from the New testament showing the emphasis placed on keeping the seventh day Sabbath as a time of reflection, study and prayer for the early Christians.

Matthew 12:8
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Mark 2:27
Then he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Mark 1:21
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

Mark 6:2
When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

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

Luke 4:31
Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.

Luke 6:5
Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Luke 6:6
On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching,

Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"

Luke 13:10
On the Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues.

Luke 23:56
Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Acts 13:14
From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.

Acts 13:42
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.

Acts 13:44
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

Acts 15:21
For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.

Acts 16:13
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

Acts 17:2
As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Acts 18:4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Hebrews 4:1
[ A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God ] Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you
be found to have fallen short of it.

Hebrews 4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath day for the people of God;


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