The Literal Commandment

It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath." (Leviticus 23:32)

 

The literal commandment is that the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:28) should be a sabbath of complete rest.

 

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 pictures our utter rest and cessation from our own efforts to somehow earn salvation by word or by deed. We rest in the Messiah Yeshua as our perfect Redeemer.

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not doing prohibited labor on the Day of Atonement.

 

Traditional Observance

All of the activities (or labor) that were prohibited on the weekly Sabbath were also prohibited on the Day of Atonement.

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment and should not do prohibited labor on the Day of Atonement.

 

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