The Literal Commandment

For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work. (Leviticus 23:36)

 

The literal commandment is that we should do no laborious work on the eighth day of the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles (Sukkot).

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment to do no prohibited labor provides a picture of resting and ceasing from our labors while G-d performs His work of salvation: His initial work of physical salvation for the Jews from Egypt (Exodus 14:13) and His final work of spiritual salvation for all who are His in the work of Messiah (Hebrews 4:10).

The specific "work" of G-d tied to the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is two-fold:

First: G-d will dwell/tabernacle among us (Exodus 29:45, Ezekiel 43:7, Matthew 1:23)

Second: the thousand-year reign of Messiah (Revelation 20:4)

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not doing prohibited labor on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles).

 

Traditional Observance

The traditional observance of this commandment involves abstaining from the forms of work which are traditionally prohibited on the weekly Sabbath. There is no indication that naps or other forms of sleep or rest are required.

The "eighth day of the feast of tabernacles" is observed as Shemini Atzeret (the eighth [day] of assembly). On this day Israel completes their period of dwelling in "booths" (sukkot) in observance of other commandments related to this festival.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment and should not do prohibited labor on the last day of the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles (Sukkot).

 

This commandment is the negative aspect of positive commandment #106: rest on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

 

<><