Sabbath - Messianic Hebraic Perspective
As awesome as Shabbat is within a traditional Hebraic perspective … and with its wonderful associations to the Mo’adim … the Torah … the Sacrificial System … and the Mishkan, it must be understood that these are but shadows/promises of the perfected Shabbat when viewed in the glory of Yeshua HaMashiach. Shabbat is so much deeper and even more important when perceived through Messianic Hebraic eyes.
Recounting the core Hebraic perspectives relative to Shabbat …
A memorial of creation;
A memorial of redemption;
A memorial of the eternal covenant and promises to Israel;
A memorial to Holiness/Sanctification
We will take a look through the Holy Scriptures at Mashiach Yeshua’s relationship with respects to these perspectives and get a Messianic Hebraic understanding of Shabbat!
In the initial context discussed we see Shabbat as a remembrance of the original creation. But Shabbat, when viewed outside the context of Yeshua Mashiach, is incomplete … it is left soiled because of us people. Without Yeshua … humanity is unfortunately left with a remembrance of creation wherein our parents Adam and Eve were initially undefiled by sin but lost their innocence while seeking G_D-like autonomy; seeking to control their own destiny resulting in deprecation of the order established by The LORD … resulting in the decay of the first creation which in Hebraic thought is “olam hazeh” … or this temporary temporal world … the world dominated by decaying flesh.
When viewed outside the context of Yeshua there is simply no hope for re-birth; only the memory of a crippled creation spiraling towards chaos. Fortunately for Messianic believers the remembrance of creation is only a shadow of the everlasting re-creation to come. When Shabbat, and hence creation, are viewed in the context of Yeshua HaMashiach what can be seen? The answer joyfully … is Chayei (Life) anew.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G_D, and the Word was G_D. The same was in the beginning with G_D. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. (John: 1:1-4)
For G_D so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For G_D sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of G_D. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in G_D. (John: 3:16-21)
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. (John: 5:26-31)
Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
Holy Scriptures reveal clearly how Yeshua is HaDabar (The Word … The Torah) of The LORD and how all things were created in and through The Word. It is revealed how Yeshua was The Word manifested on Earth and how Yeshua was LORD of the Shabbat and in him is life. Therefore Shabbat, the remembrance of the original creation, represents through Yeshua not only the original creation but also our potential re-birth and reconciliation with The LORD. Yeshua is the way back to the Garden of Eden when mankind dwelt with The LORD … Yeshua is the means by which order is restored … Yeshua is the means through which life manifests over chaos/nothingness!
Is not the very premise of a Messianic believer’s faith the truth that, in and through Yeshua, believers are re-born to life; created a-new? Of course this is the very foundation of the faith! Eternal life is the foundation of believers’ hopes and the very heart of our existence. The LORD is the G_D of the living therefore Shabbat is the eternal commemoration of creation and life in The LORD through Yeshua … forever!
For believers of Yeshua … these truths are not debatable. For believers the nature of Yeshua is a given. We know however that the TANAKH (Hebrew Testament of Promise) clearly reveals how only The LORD is the source of life … G_D alone. How then is the revelation of the B’rit Chadasha … the revelation of Yeshua supported within the Tanakh? It is an important question for if the testaments are incompatible … unsupportable … then we have a problem … agreed?
Referring once again to some key Messianic prophecies from within the Tanakh itself we find some very interesting revelations concerning Mashiach’s nature that Israel is implicitly commanded to understand:
To know that Mashiach will be from ancient days … everlasting and eternal (Micah 4:14-5:2)
To know that Mashiach will be like unto the eternal but as a “Son of Man” coming in the clouds of Heaven (Dan. 7:13-14)
To know that Mashiach will be “Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom” - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty G_D, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace … Mashiach will be the exact image and likeness of G_D … a perfect unity (Isa. 9:5-6)
To know that Mashiach will be ImmanuEl … G_D with us (Isa. 7:13-14)
Fortunately and not surprisingly we can see within the testament of promise … the Tanakh … that The LORD has revealed to us the nature of his Mashiach. Clearly the Tanakh declares that Mashiach is like unto The LORD and as such is indeed self-sustaining … he is indeed life itself. Clearly within the Tanakh the credentials of Mashiach are revealed and declared!
Through the revelation of the B’rit Chadasha (the Testament of fulfillment) we undoubtedly cannot deny the role of Mashiach in the record of creation … in the record of life. Furthermore it is clear that Mashiach is also the force of sustaining life in the re-creation to come. As such Shabbat remains an eternal memorial to The LORD’s creation … but in richness and fullness through Mashiach Yeshua!
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The next key perspective associated with Shabbat as presented is “redemption” which is what took place when The LORD brought forth his people out of Egypt. Now in this context it was seen where Shabbat signified the liberty of the Hebrews as free people; freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. Clearly when Jacob and all the seventy souls had left the land of promise there was an abrogation of rights. Under the forced labor of Egypt the migration to Egypt became a prison and undoubtedly Israel was in need of a redeemer … who of course was The LORD … using Moshe (a Messianic archetype/motif) as his mechanism of deliverance.
Let us start first with a very brief and high level explanation of “redeeming” in a Hebraic perspective. In the Hebraic perspective, redemption is essentially the right of a “Goel” (redeemer) to purchase or take back ownership rights that have been temporarily abrogated or lost. A simple example would be in the case of property or a field that was sold or leased long term to someone outside of the family. In such instances a Goel (a blood relative) would be legally eligible to exercise the right of redemption to bring the property back into the hands of the family line.
As can be seen redemption is characterized by the following key aspects:
An abrogated or lost inheritance/right;
A rightful Goel-Redeemer;
Payment of a debt
Again let us review Holy Scriptures to see how these perspectives are aligned with Yeshua HaMashiach.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served The LORD with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the LORD, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the LORD, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (Gospel of Luke 2:36-39)
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of The LORD. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:21-23)
That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Mashiach Yeshua, who of The LORD is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the LORD. (1Corinthians 1:29-31)
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of The LORD; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible G_D, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians: 1:9-17)
As the B’rit Chadasha declares … it is Yeshua who is The LORD’s Goel … Redeemer. Through Yeshua’s self-sacrifice, believers through faith and the grace of The LORD are once again made free. Israel is now freed from the slavery of sin and bondage of symbolic Egypt which is the temporal or decaying physical world (olam hazeh).
Is there any question why the message delivered by Yeshua in Hebrew is the “BESURAS HAGEULAH” or “Good News Of Redemption”?
And we know that Yeshua is the rightful Goel … he is The Son … the heir to The LORD and has all the rights of inheritance for he has the rights to all of creation … all things are his. We must also keep in mind that in true Hebraic fashion the right of the Goel to exercise redemption came with a price tag … Mashiach’s life. Therefore when we consider our observation of Shabbat let us approach this Holy Day understanding just how enormous and precious the price that was paid to redeem us!
But … we once again must revisit the issue of aligning the B’rit Chadasha with the Tanakh to yet again make sure that the testaments are compatible. Within the Tanakh we see these Messianic prophecies:
Bring good tidings unto the humble (Isa. 61:1; Nah. 2:1)
Bind up the broken-hearted (Isa. 61:1)
Comfort those that mourn (Isa. 61:1)
Open the of the eyes to them that are blind (Isa. 61:1; Isa. 35:5)
Open the ears of the deaf (Isa. 35:5)
Free the tongue of the dumb (Isa. 35:5)
Heal the lame (Isa. 35:5)
Free the captives/possessed/unclean/infirmed/dead (Isa. 61:1)
Strengthen the weak and fearful (Isa. 35:3)
Proclaim Jubilee (freedom) (Isa. 61:1; Isa. 35:3)
Disavow the curse of Israel's covenant with death (Isa. 28:16)
Once again we see within the Tanakh specific revelations with respects to Mashiach’s glorious mission as Goel. There are no doubts that these prophetic passages are Messianic and point to the redemptive work of Mashiach in accordance to The LORD’s will and plan for humanity. Consequently we can be assured that the Torah is upheld through and through … beginning to end.
Let us also consider the fact that these Messianic revelations were given “after” the redemption of Israel from Egypt! As such the prophecies point towards the time when Israel would once more be under subjugation … where Israel would be in need of redemption and restoration.
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The third primary perspective that we see aligned with the Sacred Shabbat is the relationship to the sign … the Everlasting Covenant and testaments between Israel and The LORD.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the LORD G_D of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Gospel of Luke 1:67-75)
And as they were eating, Yeshua took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Gospel of Matthew 26:26-28)
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the LORD your G_D raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which The LORD made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first The LORD, having raised up his Son Yeshua, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts: 3:22-26)
For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (Hebrews: 10:14-17)
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Mashiach, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without The LORD in the world: But now in Mashiach Yeshua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Mashiach. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians: 2:11-14)
Once again we can only marvel at the revelation and fulfillment contained within the B’rit Chadasha renewed covenant. It is clear that the mission, works and goals of The LORD through Mashiach Yeshua are done so under the auspices of the covenantal relationship between Israel and The LORD. This is an extremely important Hebraic perspective since this perspective directly cements the relationship between The LORD and the fathers … between The LORD and Israel. Between Yeshua and the eternal memorial that is Shabbat. Just as Shabbat is the eternal sign between the everlasting covenant between The LORD and Israel … so to Yeshua is this eternal sign.
Let us also bring to mind that the covenants with the fathers and Israel were oathed in sacrifice … codified in blood! How much more so than is the surety and finality of the testament delivered by Yeshua which was guaranteed with his own precious blood?
As was the model in the previous two instances let us once again look back to the Tanakh and see if we can find pointers regarding Mashiach and the everlasting covenant.
Disavow the curse of Israel’s covenant with death (Isa. 28:16)
Serve as the foundation stone for the renewed covenant (Isa. 28:16; Mal. 3:1; Jer. 31:30-33; Psa. 118:22)
Guarantee the seed of Israel forever (Jer. 31:36; Isa. 49:5-6)
Circumcise the remnant and put Torah upon their hearts (Jer. 31:30-33; Isa. 42:3)
Deliver salvation to Israel (Psa. 14:7; Isa. 49:5-6)
Bless all the families of the Earth (Isa. 49:6; Gen. 22:18; Gen 28:14)
Deliver salvation to the ends of the Earth (Isa. 49:6)
And some passages from the Tanakh simply must be provided in detail and not referenced due to their importance:
Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; forasmuch as they broke my covenant, although I was a lord over them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their G_D, and they shall be my people; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying: 'Know the LORD'; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more. Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, that the waves thereof roar, the LORD of hosts is his name: If these ordinances depart from before me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. (Jeremiah 31:30-35)
Ho, every one that thirsts, come ye for water, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your gain for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander to the peoples. Behold, thou shall call a nation that thou knows not, and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee; because of the LORD thy G_D, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah: 55:1-5)
Without doubt, as we can see even just in these selected prophecies regarding Mashiach’s covenantal fulfillment, the delivery of the promises to Israel in Mashiach were guaranteed by The LORD. The Tanakh clearly points to G_D faithfully upholding all of his promises and we readily can see the delivery of these promises through Yeshua within the B’rit Chadasha record.
As the reader may be aware there are numerous covenants that The LORD makes within Holy Scriptures … among those pertinent herein are the covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob as well as those at Sinai and Horeb. Additionally there is a notable covenant made to David wherein King Mashiach is promised. In the Hebraic understanding it must be noted that all of these “agreements/promises” made by The LORD comprise “The Everlasting Covenant”! In essence there is one Covenant under which all of the various promises are testaments thereof. The testaments represent progressive addendums and sections as part of the “Contract” between G_D and Israel. This is an important point to be made because in a Hebraic perspective the “testament” of Yeshua does not mandate an abrogation of the Everlasting Covenant. The B’rit Chadasha Testament is essentially the final “addendum”, albeit a HUGE addendum to The Everlasting Covenant.
Developing this core concept a bit further let us recall that we saw previously in Jeremiah 31:30-35 that The LORD clearly states that Israel will remain forever as a seed and kingdom as long as there is the sun and the moon … or essentially until the time when all things are created a new! As such what The LORD is undoubtedly declaring, within the contextual revelation of the New Testament to come, is that Israel … and all the covenantal promises made to Israel remain intact.
Additionally it should be noted that any ordinances, statutes, commands, etc. (are representative of G_D’s complete “law”) and these same passages in Jeremiah declare that the law itself is not being abrogated due to the ushering in of the “New Testament”!
So what is the Hebraic reconciling of this “New Testament” really all about? We get the answer directly from Sha’ul (the Apostle Paul) …
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, the branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou stands by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if The LORD spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of The LORD: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shall be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for The LORD is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away unG_Dliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:13-27)
So what do we see from Sha’ul in this inspired writing … in conjunction with the other selected New Testament writings?
What we see is that the New Testament is consistent with the promises made to Israel … but … the New Testament also provides some key additions. First of all the New Testament essentially erases Israel’s permanent guilt under the law for transgressing the Eternal Covenant … in essence Israel’s covenant with death (their sin and transgression) cannot be used by the accuser (hasatan) to disavow the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Through mercy and grace the righteous guilty verdict of not being able to be in compliance 100% to the law is waived in the face of “grace” and the righteous sin atonement/propitiation of Yeshua.
Secondly we clearly see established the introduction of the Gentiles into the fold that is Israel. Under the New Testament the Gentiles, former aliens to the covenant, can now be grafted into Israel through Yeshua HaMashiach.
Thirdly and most importantly we see however where it is Yeshua HaMashiach that is essentially fulfilling the human conditions of the Eternal Covenant … on behalf of all humanity. Essentially it is the perfect man … Yeshua … serving as the sole representative for Israel/man-kind in satisfying the terms of the Everlasting Covenant. In Yeshua … the man … humanity can be counted as being covenantal before The LORD!
As believers in Yeshua HaMashiach … either Jew or Gentile, we should be careful in our understanding of the nature of the Testament of Yeshua. Yeshua’s Testament reaffirms the Everlasting Covenant … it does not abrogate it. Yeshua’s Testament formally (codified in his blood) expands the terms and conditions of the Everlasting Covenant to those who are outside the immediate family of Jacob while ushering in the perfect revelation of The LORD’s righteousness through grace and mercy in and through Yeshua himself … bless his Holy NAME! But let us remember that Yeshua did not receive a pass … or grace as do those that believe on him! Yeshua earned the righteous judgment of “innocent” because he did obey and perfectly apply Torah while manifesting The LORD’s character in the fullest during his glorious life and ministry. Yeshua truly was perfectly covenantal!
As a consequence of Yeshua’s Testament, believers should continue to view the Sacred Shabbat as a “covenantal sign” between G_D and Israel forever. Even more so in light of this brief overview just conducted … for no longer is the Shabbat a memorial to the covenantal promises codified through the blood of animals, but Shabbat is a memorial to the covenantal promises codified in the most precious blood of Yeshua … the eternal Son Of Man … the exact image and likeness of The LORD … the exact image and likeness that we pursue and that Shabbat permanently memorializes!
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The last primary aspect of Shabbat that we need to view in a Messianic perspective deals with the Holiness of The LORD and the sanctification of Israel.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with G_D. And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name YESHUA. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the LORD G_D shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also THAT HOLY THING which shall be born of thee shall be called the SON of G_D. (Luke 1:30-35)
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Yeshua of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of G_D. And Yeshua rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, what a word is this! For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. (Luke 4:33-37)
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of G_D; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yeshua Mashiach himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the LORD: In whom ye also are built together for a habitation of G_D through the Spirit. (Ephesians: 2:18-22)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G_D, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy