Sabbath

Love Your Neighbor

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I often hear a comment that goes something like this, “Jesus fulfilled the law.” I hear this comment almost exclusively from those who are building a case as to why Christians don’t need to “follow the Law” (the “Law” being God’s law as given in the “Old Testament”). Does the word “fulfill” really mean “done away with”?

Paul writes in Romans 13:8-10 (NASB):

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

This is a beautiful definition of the word ‘fulfill’. It means that if you love your neighbor, you won’t do any of those things listed because you love your neighbor. In other words, if you focus on the “positive commands” from God you’ll end up doing the “negative commands” without even paying them attention. If you love your neighbor, you won’t even be thinking about murdering them or stealing from them or any other negative thing towards them.

God’s law is full of positive commands. “Love your neighbor.” “Love God with all your heart.” Help your fellow man. If we focus on those, we needn’t worry about the others that tell us what love is not.

Instead of looking at the “Law of God” as a list of commands regarding things we shouldn’t do or need to avoid, look at those things that are “commanding” positive behavior. Then bring that positive behavior into your life.

This is what Paul was trying to get across. Jesus (Yeshua) also told us the same. The example of him healing on the Sabbath comes to mind. The leaders were all concerned about their list of things to ‘not’ do, they forgot that there are good things that can and should be done on the day. Like helping other people. It is then that the Sabbath becomes the joy that it was meant to be.

The word ‘fulfill’ was never meant to mean ‘done away with.’ Rather, it is used to make a point. When we listen to and do the positive commands, then we won’t be going against the negative commands at all – we’ll be living the life God meant us to live, to its fullest. When we follow the positive commands, we will fulfill our lives and be smack in the middle of God’s will.

The law of God was given out of love. If we don’t know how to love, it will tell you. When we do love, we are following it.

Shalom! -Yosef

What’s the Big Deal about the Sabbath?

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“God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.”  Genesis 2:3 (HCSB)

“Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever.  It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days Yehovah (the LORD) made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:16-17 (ESV)

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to Yehovah (the LORD) in all your dwelling places.” Leviticus 23:3 (ESV)

“Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as Yehovah (the LORD) your God has commanded you.” Deuteronomy 5:12 (HCSB)

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Yehovah (the LORD), to minister to him, to love the name of Yehovah (the LORD), and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—” Isaiah 56:6 (ESV)

And throughout the “new” testament we see Yeshua (Jesus) and the apostles observing the Sabbath in one way or the other.  It’s obviously important.

The Sabbath started as the ‘seventh day’, from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.  There isn’t much contention there.  But Christianity (most of it) now says that it is on Sunday.  Why?  Well, here is a bit of history.

The Roman Emperor Constantine decreed Sunday to be the day of rest (though only in cities) around 321 A.D.  He did so for various reasons, none of which had to do with him loving Yehovah (the LORD).  This is easily verified in the history books.  Granted some Christians had already been observing Sunday as the Sabbath to avoid being called Jewish, but this was not universal.  And it wasn’t until long after Constantine’s decree that Christianity gave the reason for the change as having to do with Yeshua’s (Jesus’) resurrection.

So much for the history lesson.  Now back to the Sabbath.

I didn’t begin to appreciate just how important the Sabbath was until I started observing it.  Now I see it as a wonderful time where I don’t work, and where I can take as much time as I want to be with our Father.  In Deuteronomy 5:15 God tells us, as a reason for celebrating the Sabbath, to remember that we were slaves and are now free.

In observing the Sabbath, I proclaim that I am no longer a slave to the world and its ways, and I can rest!  (What other creature on this planet can do that!)

Begin to honor Him and observe the Sabbath on the day He gave us.  You won’t regret it.

As a last note I will say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with worshiping God on Sunday.  Just don’t make that into the Sabbath!

– Yosef