The Sabbath was included in the Ten Commandments to remind Israel of God’s creation, their redemption from Egypt, and their need for rest in Him. It was a sign of the covenant between God and His people, setting them apart as holy.
Exodus 20:8–11 commands:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
The Sabbath pointed back to creation, where God rested after His work (Genesis 2:2–3). It was also tied to redemption, as Deuteronomy 5:15 states:
“And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there… therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
By ceasing from labor, Israel acknowledged God as their Creator and Redeemer and expressed trust in His provision. The Sabbath taught that life is not sustained by endless toil but by dependence on God.
Spiritually, the Sabbath foreshadows the ultimate rest found in Christ. Hebrews 4:9–10 says:
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
While Christians are not bound to observe the Old Testament Sabbath, the principle remains: we are called to rest in Christ, honor God with our time, and live in the rhythm of worship and trust that the Sabbath embodied.
