Does the inclusion of the Sabbath prove that the Ten Commandments were for Israel alone?

St. SteVen · Sep 27, 2024

- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

[

St. SteVen · Sep 27, 2024

The Sabbath (4th) commandment itself gives us more clues as to whom the Ten Commandments belong.

Notice that the commandment is presented as a whole community requirement.
Family, slaves, animals and "any foreigner residing in your towns" are all included.
No one should work. Everyone in the whole town should rest. There are six days for work.

Now note the reason given in Deuteronomy. (vs 15 bold below)

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NIV
"Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy,
as the Lord your God has commanded you.
13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work,
neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey
or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns,
so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.
15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God
brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Exodus 20:8-11 NIV
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.
On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter,
nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

[

Windmill Charge · Sep 28, 2024

What was God's purpose in his dealings with Israel?

We're they not to be an example of a Holy nation, serving a Holy God who other nations would come to serve and follow.

In which case the 10C are for all people's, tribes and nations.

St. SteVen · Sep 28, 2024

Windmill Charge said:
What was God's purpose in his dealings with Israel?

We're they not to be an example of a Holy nation, serving a Holy God who other nations would come to serve and follow.

In which case the 10C are for all people's, tribes and nations.

Can you support your views?
I gave scripture to support mine.

- The TCs (covenant) were given to Israel alone.
- The Sabbath is a sign between God and Israel alone.
- The Sabbath is to observed by Israel because God led them out of Egypt.
- The Sabbath is a whole community observance.

[

JohnDB · Sep 28, 2024

The word "Sabbath" means to cease. It is singular in the decalogue...FOR A REASON.

It is the ending of the covenant and the installation of a New Covenant....one not focused on race as that would make God a racist. But a Covenant with the WHOLE WORLD. that whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life.

Today we still believe in The Sabbath Day but not as a cease of work on Saturday but in the Resurrection on Sunday....which is the hope of every believer.

Johann · Sep 28, 2024

St. SteVen said:
- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

[

Well said and rightly dividing the Scriptures.

Romans 14:5-6 (NKJV):
"One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it."

Colossians 2:16-17 (NKJV):
"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."

Galatians 4:9-10 (NKJV):
"But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years."

These passages suggest that Paul emphasized Christian liberty regarding Sabbath observance, allowing for personal conviction rather than a legalistic requirement for a specific day of rest.
SABBATH

This is from the Hebrew word (BDB 992, KB 1409-1412) meaning "rest" or "cessation." It is connected to the seventh day of creation (see John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One) where God ceased His labor after finishing initial creation and rested (cf. Gen. 2:1-3). God did not rest because He was tired, but because

creation was complete and good (cf. Gen. 1:31)
to show that His new temple, earth, was complete and functioning
to give mankind a regular pattern for worship and rest
as a reminder to Israel of YHWH's deliverance from Egypt (cf. Deut. 5:15)
The usage as a day of worship starts with Gen. 2:2-3, where YHWH uses His rest as a pattern for animals (cf. Exod. 23:12) and mankind (humans need a regular schedule of work, rest, and worship).

The Sabbath begins like all the days of Genesis 1, at twilight; therefore, twilight on Friday to twilight on Saturday was the official time period. All the details of its observance are given in Exodus (especially chapters 16,20,31, and 35) and Leviticus (especially chapters 23-26).

The first specialized use of this day by Israel was in Exod. 16:25-26 in the gathering of manna. It then becomes part of "the Ten Words" (cf. Exod. 20:8-11; Deut. 5:12-15). This is one example where the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are slightly different from the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy 5. Deuteronomy is preparing Israel for the settled, agricultural life in Canaan.

The Pharisees had taken these regulations and, by their oral discussions, interpreted them (i.e., the Oral Traditions) to include many rules. Jesus often performed miracles, knowingly violating their picky rules so as to enter into a theological dialogue with them (i.e., Matthew 12). It was not the Sabbath that Jesus rejected or belittled, but their self-righteous legalism and lack of love (cf. Mark 2:27-28). Jesus rejected the Rabbinical Midrash related to the Sabbath and showed His equality with the Father by modifying the Sabbath's permanence. Jesus is Lord of Scripture (cf. Matt. 5:21-48) and the Sabbath (cf. Mark 2:27-28; see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., p. 702).

The early church worshiped on both the Sabbath and the first day of the week (i.e., Sunday, resurrection day, cf. John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Jesus appeared to His disciples three Sunday nights in a row). The Synagogue addressed the growing Christian movement by demanding members to reject Jesus as the Messiah (i.e., The Eighteen Benedictions). At this point (i.e., Jewish reform at Jamnia in A.D. 70) the Christians began to meet exclusively on Sunday.

For a good brief discussion about this issue, see F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 242 (this book has helped me so much; I recommend it to you!)

SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH

Sabbath -- Special Topic by Dr. Bob Utley, professor of hermeneutics (retired).

www.freebiblecommentary.org

J.

MA2444 · Sep 28, 2024

St. SteVen said:
- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

[

When we become born again...are we not grafted into the branch that is called Israel?

If that is so then how can the 10 commandments not be for us, including the sabbath?

St. SteVen · Sep 28, 2024

Johann said:
Well said and rightly dividing the Scriptures.

Thank you.

Johann said:
These passages suggest that Paul emphasized Christian liberty regarding Sabbath observance, allowing for personal conviction rather than a legalistic requirement for a specific day of rest.

Agree.
To be clear, I do not object to anyone observing a Sabbath if they feel so directed.
But don't tell that I am obligated. Grr...

Johann said:
The Pharisees had taken these regulations and, by their oral discussions, interpreted them (i.e., the Oral Traditions) to include many rules. Jesus often performed miracles, knowingly violating their picky rules so as to enter into a theological dialogue with them (i.e., Matthew 12). It was not the Sabbath that Jesus rejected or belittled, but their self-righteous legalism and lack of love (cf. Mark 2:27-28). Jesus rejected the Rabbinical Midrash related to the Sabbath and showed His equality with the Father by modifying the Sabbath's permanence. Jesus is Lord of Scripture (cf. Matt. 5:21-48) and the Sabbath (cf. Mark 2:27-28; see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., p. 702).

To be fair, the general nature of the Sabbath left many questions to be asked/answered.
Jesus addressed some of these. Like whether it is "work" to pull an animal out of a ditch on the Sabbath day?
And collecting food if you are homeless and hungry.

Johann said:
The early church worshiped on both the Sabbath and the first day of the week (i.e., Sunday, resurrection day, cf. John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2; Jesus appeared to His disciples three Sunday nights in a row). The Synagogue addressed the growing Christian movement by demanding members to reject Jesus as the Messiah (i.e., The Eighteen Benedictions). At this point (i.e., Jewish reform at Jamnia in A.D. 70) the Christians began to meet exclusively on Sunday.

Yes, believers in Jesus were being put out of the synagogues. (not welcome there)
And the addition of gentile believers made it necessary to find a day to gather the church.

I reject the idea that both Jesus' and Paul's "custom" was Sabbath observance.
They were both their to evangelize the lost.

[

Windmill Charge · Sep 28, 2024

St. SteVen said:
Can you support your views?
I gave scripture to support mine.

- The TCs (covenant) were given to Israel alone.
- The Sabbath is a sign between God and Israel alone.
- The Sabbath is to observed by Israel because God led them out of Egypt.
- The Sabbath is a whole community observance.

[

Exodus 28:10

St. SteVen said:
nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

If foreigners had to obey then the 10c are for the whole world.

St. SteVen · Sep 28, 2024

Windmill Charge said:
Exodus 28:10

??? LOL

Exodus 28:10 NIV
in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other.

Windmill Charge said:
If foreigners had to obey then the 10c are for the whole world.

Only applies to "foreigner residing in your towns."

[

Bruce-Leiter · Oct 11, 2024

St. SteVen said:
- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

[

It was given to both Israel and to Christians. According to Jesus' death in Colossians 2, the outward forms of the national laws have been done away, but their inner meanings continue on. For example, the main principles of the Sabbath are worship and rest from daily labor; they continue for Christians today, whereas which day and the many rules about the Sabbath were only for the nation of Israel, not the international church.

St. SteVen · Oct 12, 2024

Bruce-Leiter said:
It was given to both Israel and to Christians. According to Jesus' death in Colossians 2, the outward forms of the national laws have been done away, but their inner meanings continue on. For example, the main principles of the Sabbath are worship and rest from daily labor; they continue for Christians today, whereas which day and the many rules about the Sabbath were only for the nation of Israel, not the international church.

How can you qualify your claim that the Sabbath "was given to both Israel and to Christians." ???

Did you read the OP? (post #1)
How would you refute the evidence presented there?

Too many forum members reply to topic titles without even reading the opening post. (OP)

Refute the OP. (please)

[

Bruce-Leiter · Oct 12, 2024

St. SteVen said:
- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

[

Brother, I can't "refute" a series of Old Testament quotes. What is your conclusion from these passages? That's the idea that I can "refute."

St. SteVen · Oct 12, 2024

Bruce-Leiter said:
Brother, I can't "refute" a series of Old Testament quotes. What is your conclusion from these passages? That's the idea that I can "refute."

Seriously? (sigh)

St. SteVen said:
- To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Deuteronomy 5:3-4 NIV
It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
4 The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

The Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites alone through Moses.

Moses says: "It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today." - Deuteronomy 5:3 NIV

St. SteVen said:
- To whom was the Sabbath commandment given?

Exodus 31:13 NIV
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths.
This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come,
so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 NIV
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us,
so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:20 NIV
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us.
Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

--- MANNA and SABBATH ---

Exodus 16:21-23 NIV
Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.
22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[a] for each person—
and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.
23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded:
‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord.
So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil.
Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

The Sabbath was given as a sign between the Israelites and God. See Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12: Ezekiel 20:20

The first Sabbath was given to the Israelites as part of the Manna collection week. See Exodus 16:21-23
They were instructed in how to do this, since they had not done it prior to that time.

Exodus 16:27-30 NIV
Nevertheless, some of the people went out
on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.
28 Then the Lord said to Moses,
“How long will you[a] refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?
29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath;
that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days.
Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.”
30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

[

Wrangler · Oct 12, 2024

St. SteVen said:
To whom were the Ten Commandments given?

Per God, it to the Hebrews, who he brought out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 20:1-2
The Ten Commandments
20 Then God spoke all these words, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery

Bruce-Leiter · Oct 12, 2024

St. SteVen said:
Seriously? (sigh)

The Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites alone through Moses.

Moses says: "It was not with our ancestors[a] that the Lord made this covenant,
but with us, with all of us who are alive here today." - Deuteronomy 5:3 NIV

The Sabbath was given as a sign between the Israelites and God. See Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12: Ezekiel 20:20

The first Sabbath was given to the Israelites as part of the Manna collection week. See Exodus 16:21-23
They were instructed in how to do this, since they had not done it prior to that time.

Exodus 16:27-30 NIV
Nevertheless, some of the people went out
on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.
28 Then the Lord said to Moses,
“How long will you[a] refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?
29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath;
that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days.
Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.”
30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

[

Are you drawing the conclusion that we need to keep the Sabbath on Saturday the way they did, or what? I'm waiting for your punchline.

St. SteVen · Oct 12, 2024

Bruce-Leiter said:
Are you drawing the conclusion that we need to keep the Sabbath on Saturday the way they did, or what? I'm waiting for your punchline.

Since the Ten Commandments were NOT given to gentiles and the Sabbath is a sign between the Israelites and God...
Why on earth would I say that gentiles are required to keep the Sabbath?

Oh wait... You probably assume that Christians ARE supposed to keep the Sabbath, but on Sunday.
You wondered if I was trying to steer you to the correct day for Sabbath observance. - Nope. - LOL

Everyone needs to make their own decision on that. Personally, I'm not under the law. (Galatians 5:18)

Romans 14:5 NIV
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.
Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

[

Bruce-Leiter · Oct 14, 2024

St. SteVen said:
Since the Ten Commandments were NOT given to gentiles and the Sabbath is a sign between the Israelites and God...
Why on earth would I say that gentiles are required to keep the Sabbath?

Oh wait... You probably assume that Christians ARE supposed to keep the Sabbath, but on Sunday.
You wondered if I was trying to steer you to the correct day for Sabbath observance. - Nope. - LOL

Everyone needs to make their own decision on that. Personally, I'm not under the law. (Galatians 5:18)

Romans 14:5 NIV
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.
Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

[

Okay, now I undeersatnd

St. SteVen said:
Since the Ten Commandments were NOT given to gentiles and the Sabbath is a sign between the Israelites and God...
Why on earth would I say that gentiles are required to keep the Sabbath?

Oh wait... You probably assume that Christians ARE supposed to keep the Sabbath, but on Sunday.
You wondered if I was trying to steer you to the correct day for Sabbath observance. - Nope. - LOL

Everyone needs to make their own decision on that. Personally, I'm not under the law. (Galatians 5:18)

Romans 14:5 NIV
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.
Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

[

Oh, okay, now I understand. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

quietthinker · Oct 14, 2024