Are We to Keep the Sabbath (Shabbat)

The Shabbat is the official day of rest established since the beginning of time.

Oh man, oh man, this is a very controversial topic as well, but not because of the Yah-Breathed Scriptures, no, but because of our traditions.

You see, when we started this journey, my family and I felt the conviction from the Holy Spirit that we should keep the Sabbath, but I can only speak of myself, I struggled with many things that hindered that decision right away.

We, as Image-Bearers of Yahweh, are made to be in community with all followers of Yahweh, hence Yeshua, to love one another, to celebrate together in festivals, to create traditions and so on. But we were commanded to create traditions that honor Yahweh and what He has done for us.

Because of this, we fight to keep the traditions we have hold dear in our hearts for generations to generations, traditions that has been engrave into the deepest part of our hearts, and many of these traditions give us identity and a sense of belonging, they identify us as a family, a community or a nation.

Sabbath is a tradition that many ties into the nation of Israel. This cannot be further from the truth as we going to discuss, but, let me clarify something before I continue. We have to make a distinction here. When we, the Vila Family, speak about Israel, we are not speaking of the governmental established structure, the literal nation of Israel, we are talking about the Israel that has been established by Yah. But this is another topic for another Life Log, I digress. Yeshua will return to reign, and He will return to the literal Zion as scriptures says in Revelation 14:1-5.

1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

And in Isaiah 2:2-4:

2 Now it will be that In the last days The mountain of the house of Yahweh Will be established as the head of the mountains, And will be lifted up above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. 3 And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, To the house of the God of Jacob, That He may instruct us from His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion the law will go forth And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.

Isaiah 2:2-4 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

There are many other scriptures pointing to this prophecy which still is to be fulfilled. In faith we know this to happen, because Yahweh always fulfill His promises. Look 2 Kings 19:29-31, Psalm 2:6, Psalm 53:6, Psalm 87:1-5, Psalm 99:2, Psalm 102:10-16, Isaiah 1:25-29, Isaiah 60:13-16, Isaiah 66:6-10, Zechariah 1:15-19,


The True Israel

This time Yahweh will establish the true Israel, the Israel that is going to be the blessing to other nations, as He promised to Abraham.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear what was being commanded, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” ” 21 And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “I am full of FEAR and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Hebrews 12:18-24 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

But again, this is a subject for another topic, which I will bring our understanding based on what Yahweh had revealed to us.

Let’s get back to Sabbath: When was Sabbath established?

The establishment of the Sabbath was not given first in the Laws given to Moshe; it was established from the beginning after the week of Creation.

2 And on the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it.

Genesis 2:2-3 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yahweh sanctified (set-apart) the 7th day as a day of rest. The thing is, that this is based in His establishment of the 7th day, not ours. We cannot pick and choose what the 7th day of rest is and which day, but the day He established, His 7th day, period.

And He also established how to keep track of this here:

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 So God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and also the stars. 17 And God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Genesis 1:14-19 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yahweh brought light into our universe in day one, but the signs for us to use as to measure times and seasons, He established in the 4th day. A way we can calculate when a day start, and when it ends. So, every 6th sunset, is the day of rest.


Yahweh always strengthen us true covenants and prophets

The thing with Yahweh is this, every time we get farther from Him, He need to remind us through a messenger or a prophet to remember His commandments. Oh, you hear that right, the commandments were not given in Mount Sinai, they were remembered again in Mount Sinai. Look as Yahweh reminded the Israel about this, there was laws already established before the ones given from Exodus 20 forward, the same laws the fathers before them followed.

4 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My law. 5 Now it will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that Yahweh has brought you out of the land of Egypt; 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of Yahweh, for He hears your grumblings against Yahweh; and what are we, that you grumble against us?”

Exodus 16:4-7 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Again, this was done to remind them that the Sabbath was an already established instruction since Genesis 2:2-3, along with many other instructions, let Exodus 16:4 “whether or not they will walk in My law (instruction)” pick your curiosity and understanding, the Law is Yahweh’s not Moses. I will expand on this in another post but keep this in mind while we are in this subject about the Sabbath.

Because of what I just mentioned, Yahweh needed to remind Israel about the significance of the Sabbath. Interestingly, the concept of the Sabbath was known even before it was formally instituted as a covenantal law—wink, wink! However, in the new covenant with Moses, this commandment was not only officially established but also elaborated upon in more detail.

8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of Yahweh your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female slave or your cattle or your sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8-11 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Simplification of the Scripture

You noticed how detailed is this commandment, it not only establishes it as a new instruction to be followed but also added to it to remember the purpose of the seventh day. Not so, what you get from your Sunday School ten commandment list, which has been so simplified, that it might look something like this.

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
  2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
  3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
  5. Honor your father and your mother.
  6. You shall not murder.
  7. You shall not commit adultery.
  8. You shall not steal.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. You shall not covet.

In the spirit to make easier to memorize, we have removed important details about the commandments. It is focused on the letter of the Law, not its Spirit. But at least is shows we should keep the Sabbath, the question is…

What do we envision Sabbath to be today?

What Christianity has taught us Sabbath is? Why we no longer observe Sabbath, but Sunday? Should not we to obey Yahweh’s instructions to the “yod” and “tittle”? Like Yeshua commanded His followers in the Sermon of the Mount.

18 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. 19 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 does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:18-20 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

I do not know, but it seems to me that heaven and earth has not pass away yet, sin has been conquered but unrighteousness has been running wild, more boldly these last years. And I promise you; it will get worst. Read Isaiah and Revelations together, Isaiah with clarify many things John revealed to us in the book of Apocalypse, (that’s the original Greek title by the way). That should give you a hint what Yeshua meant to say, which is to me very clear.

But why do we then violate the very first God- breath commandment?

For that we need to look where the downfall started. Did the Apostle ever give us hints that Yeshua replaced the Sabbath?

The plain answer would be, NO. The Apostles did not discard Sabbath (the Shabbat) observance as obsolete, especially not immediately after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The situation is more nuanced and developed over time as the early Christian movement evolved.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. Jewish Apostles and Early Believers Continued Observing SabbatH

  • The Apostles were all Jewish and continued to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday) after Jesus’ resurrection.
    • Acts 13:14, 42-44 – Paul and Barnabas go to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
    • Acts 17:2 – Paul had a custom of reasoning in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
  • The early Yeshua-followers were considered a sect within Judaism (often called “The Way”) and naturally continued observing the Sabbath.

2. Gentile Inclusion Shifted the Focus

  • As Gentiles (non-Jews) began joining the movement, the question arose whether they had to observe the Torah, including Sabbath laws.
  • In Acts 15, at the Council of Jerusalem, the Apostles decided not to impose the full Mosaic Law (including circumcision) on Gentile believers, but some assumed that this includes the Sabbath, but this cannot be farther from the truth because the Apostles referred to give grace and mercy to the Gentiles from Laws that not even them were able to keep. And Yaacov (known in our translations as James), the brother of Yeshua, finishes addressing the congregation in Acts 15:21: ” For from ancient generations, Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” How can one assume the Sabbath was removed, since this is one of the Laws they were able to keep and has been keeping from generations?
  • This doesn’t mean Torah was declared obsolete, more less that Gentiles do not have to keep it to the letter. But that Gentiles at least should start distancing themselves from normal practices in the Greek-Roman communities like:
    • Eating things sacrificed to idols, implying to not commit idolatry. Sacrifices to idols were offering to a false god in order to gain their favor. We are not to have any other god before (or in the presence of) Yahweh.

      Exodus 20:3-5 LSB “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,””
    • Not to eat meat with the blood or from things strangled. We are commanded not to eat meat with its blood.

      Leviticus 17:10-11 LSB
      ‘And any man from the house of Israel, or from the sojourners who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.’
    • From sexual immorality. These first three points are all related, since all these points were practices of idol worship. Priestesses in pagan culture were mostly harlots (prostitutes). Hence why Yahweh encourages not to have women in the leadership structure of the congregation (assembly/church), to avoid them being confused with pagan gods’ priestesses. But sexual immorality has a broad meaning in the Hebrew culture, and it was not limited to prostitution, for this you have to go back to the Hebrew Bible and read Leviticus 18 and 19, which goes in depth about sexual immoral practices, which then merge with the sacrifices to Molech (child sacrifices) in Leviticus 20.
    • This was as saying, these are your ABC’s, keep growing from there. How do I know this?
      • Paul encourage Gentiles to keep the Passover (1 Corinthians 5:6-2), which he connects leaven bread with boasting and sexual immorality.
      • John in his letters he warned the readers that not obeying Yahweh’s laws is sin (1 John 3:4-9), same as Peter, Yaacov (James) and all the disciples.
      • The point of the council of Jerusalem it was to apply Yahweh’s law with mercy, as Yahweh spoke through-out the prophets. Not to hang-on to the letter of the law, but to hold-on to the Spirit of the Law. Which is the same point of the whole letter to the Galatians, as Paul said, you are not under the Law, but above the Law. Why? If you are under the Law is because you broke it and the Law puts its full weight over you, but if you keep the Law, there’s no Law against that.
      • Later on, Paul also encourages each member of the body of Messiah to submit to one another, reinforcing all the commandments related to community.

3. Transition to Sunday Worship

  • Some Christians began gathering on Sunday (the first day of the week) to commemorate Yeshua’s resurrection.
    • Acts 20:7 – Disciples met on the first day of the week to break bread.
    • 1 Corinthians 16:2 – Paul instructs believers to set aside offerings on the first day of the week.
  • This Sunday gathering supplemented, rather than replaced, the Sabbath for some time. Over the centuries, particularly under Roman influence (e.g., Constantine in the 4th century), Sunday worship became dominant in Christianity.

4. Paul’s Teachings and Freedom of Observance

  • Paul taught that Sabbath observance was not a salvation issue and that believers had liberty in such matters:
    • Romans 14:5 – “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” — But what we miss is that this verse is just part of a bigger picture when you read it in its full context. Paul was addressing an issue that we yet have not grasp. We are growing, we do not have all the answers, which means we should not judge passing final judgement, since the final judgement is Yeshua’s commission in the last day. The day of Messiah. This is what Yeshua spoke to the crowd in the Sermon of the Mount.

      Matthew 7:1-5 LSB – “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

      Paul was not telling his audience to discard Sabbath, but instead, to be patience and to do not hinder what the Holy Spirit is working in new believers. If we believe Yeshua, we should trust He will complete the work He started, even when we don’t see it.
    • Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths…” This is definitely one of the most missed interpreted verses in the Bible, in my opinion. These verses specifically are not encouraging to disregard the Torah, interpreting Colossians 2:16–17 in isolation can lead to misunderstanding, especially regarding Paul’s attitude toward the Torah. When we read the full context, especially Colossians 2:1–9, it becomes clear that Paul is not simply giving Gentile believers license to disregard the Law (Torah), instead, is warning them against being judged by human traditions, philosophies, and ascetic practices that were infiltrating the congregation.

So, while the Apostles did not discard the Sabbath, they increasingly emphasized freedom from the rudiments of the Law for Gentiles, which eventually led to a shift in practice and identity for the growing Christian movement, departing from the foundation of Biblical understanding.

The question is, does the Apostles give a license to the Gentiles to ignore the Torah?

Not at all, you can find a full breakdown of the Jerusalem council and the conclusion we came out with through the guidance of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in this “Investigación Bíblica” post titled “Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

But here is a quick summary about it, the Rabbi argued that the Gentiles, in order to receive salvation, needed to circumcise. This is the whole premise that called for the Council of Jerusalem in the first place.

Peter addresses the congregation saying:

10 Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Acts 15:10 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Peter is calling the hypocrisy of the Pharisaic Rabbis who were expecting the Gentiles to abide to the full letter of Torah, plus all their included traditions of men, that not even the Jews were able to keep. Especially when all these traditions were completely foreign to the Gentiles.

As a response, James offers his insight and verdict saying:

19 Therefore I judge that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from sexual immorality and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations, Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

Acts 15:19-21 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

James makes a vital observation and emphasizes a crucial distinction. His intention is not to burden newcomers in the faith with the full observance of the Torah from the outset but to encourage them to begin with four fundamental principles:

  1. Abstaining from things contaminated by idols.
  2. From sexual immorality.
  3. From foods that has been strangle.
  4. Not to eat blood with the meat.

This basic instruction should’ve been enough as a start, since Moses were read in the synagogue every Sabbath, and James were assuming Gentiles already keeping Sabbath to listen to Torah. With this was expected that eventually, as was expected from the Jews, the Gentiles will grow in the understanding and observance of Torah.

Yaacov (James) did not to add to a list of things they already all agreed upon, but in the things that were more challenging for a new believer.

Yeshua commanded us to obey His instructions, above all, to show kindness, love and mercy to those around us.

6 For I delight in lovingkindness rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 But like Adam they have trespassed against the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

Hosea 6:6-7 LSB • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The primary purpose of the law was to offer mercy amidst a world filled with corruption. It is essential to interpret the Torah within the context of the era in which it was revealed. While its principles remain timeless, some of its specific regulations may seem unusual when compared to modern legal standards. However, when you compare the laws given to Moses with the legal norms of that period, you can truly appreciate the profound beauty of what Yahweh was achieving through the nation of Israel.

The problem Yeshua faced was that the religious leaders of His time were neglecting the true value of the Torah. They appeared to focus solely on the letter of the law, but had lost sight of its underlying purpose—faithfulness, justice, and mercy.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

Matthew 23:23-24 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Even when Yahweh was given His commandments to the newborn nation of Israel, He added the following phrase to the command:

an everlasting covenant

or any other similar expression. Which means, when the Bible says that Yahweh does not change, I think it means it.

12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely keep My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who makes you holy. 14 Therefore you shall keep the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to Yahweh; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 So the sons of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

Exodus 31:12-17 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)


One Law for Israel and the Gentiles

Further more, Yahweh gave instructions to Israel to remember that He has just one law, the law that flows from Zion, one law for the one new man, the spiritual nation of Israel where Israelis and Gentiles (the grafted ones) are one.

14 And if a sojourner sojourns with you, or one who may be among you throughout your generations, and he offers an offering by fire as a soothing aroma to Yahweh, just as you do so he shall do. 15 As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the sojourner who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the sojourner be before Yahweh. 16 There shall be one law and one judgment for you and for the sojourner who sojourns with you.’”

Numbers 15:14-16 Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The purpose of the covenants in the Tanakh was to establish designated moments in history when Yahweh set clear, intentional frameworks to accommodate our limited understanding of His divine purpose. In other words, when He made a covenant with humanity—specifically with Adam—He also offered explanations in accessible, everyday terms about His intentions and the true significance of His commandments. Each successive covenant introduces increasingly profound conditions, guiding us progressively closer to drawing near to Him—rather than merely adding new laws or instructions (Torah).

The Sermon of the Mount

We can observe this principle vividly in the teachings of Yeshua found in the Book of Matthew chapters 5 through 7, commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon served as the central framework for His entire earthly ministry.

As Yahweh brought clarity to His purpose to Israel, as well as the written law, in Mount Sinai, Yahweh, through the Messiah, brought clarity and fullness of the Law in another Mount, hence we remember it as The Sermon of the Mount.


For those interested in exploring this profound teaching more deeply, I recommend viewing the full Sermon on the Mount playlist offered by the Projecto Biblia. To maximize your understanding, it’s best to follow the playlist through their dedicated app, available on the App Store® o Play Store®.

Please note that it’s preferable to avoid using the Bible app’s reading plan aquí or the accompanying YouTube playlist, as they do not contain the complete commentary, articles, and podcasts that provide a comprehensive understanding.


Ultimately, the essence of this teaching can be summarized concisely through Yeshua’s own words, as shared below.

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 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.

Matthew 5:17-18 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yeshua taught his followers that they had misunderstood the true meaning of the Torah. The religious leaders of his time focused solely on the literal interpretation of the letter, neglecting the essential Spirit of Yahweh’s Word. He provided several examples to illustrate this, such as:

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be guilty before the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans.

Matthew 5:21-26 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

There’s a couple of things you should consider when you read this passage.

  • First, one should not jump to conclusions regarding the meaning of this passage. This passage does not condemn the Torah but rather conveys a deeper understanding, the Spirit of the Word. The Torah tradition was not criticized otherwise, Yeshua would have mentioned not bringing offerings to the altar. Offerings in those times were not solely monetary contributions but also, whether of food or animals. Yeshua had considered sacrifices to be aberrant, as many believers perceive them today, He would not have used them as an example. Nor would He have become a living sacrifice Himself for our sins.
  • If you missed the point, Yeshua made this law even more complex. He’s saying that murder isn’t just about the act itself, but also about the consequences of what might have begun as a simple thought in the past.
  • For the Jews, these laws weren’t merely rules to obey; they were seen as guidelines for righteous living. This perspective might explain why some people broke them almost immediately, even though they came directly from the mouth of Yahweh. Perhaps they rationalized, much like many of us do today, saying, “That can’t mean what it seems to mean—I have a better interpretation.” Sound familiar?

Men Traditions vs. Yahweh’s Instructions

In another teaching, Yeshua criticizes the human traditions that are elevated above divine instructions inspired by Yahweh. He emphasizes that such traditions—here exemplified by the Talmud—cannot be truly understood without human insight and interpretation.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

There is no commandment in the Torah that states, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” Leviticus 19:18 emphasizes the importance of loving one’s neighbor but does not endorse hatred toward enemies. On the contrary, it teaches us to love and not despise both our enemies and the sojourner who dwells among us.

Yahweh expressly instructed the Israelites with the following guidance in Deuteronomy 23:7-8.

7 “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not abhor an Egyptian, for you were a sojourner in his land. 8 The sons of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 23:7-8 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Of course, if you are familiar with the Hebrew Bible, you know that this commandment came as a profound surprise to the Israelites. Having endured years of oppression under Egypt, they might have expected hostility or disdain. Yet, Yahweh commanded them not to despise their oppressors, but to accept them as fellow Israelites—particularly those born among them in the third generation. Loving our enemies is not a novel teaching introduced by Yeshua; rather, it is a forgotten commandment, obscured over time by human traditions.

It is crucial to understand these points thoroughly, and even more important to learn not to jump to conclusions when reading the Bible. Often, our eagerness to receive a message from Yahweh that seems to approve our desires can lead us to misinterpret or misconstrue what we are reading. Therefore, we must always evaluate our traditions and doctrines carefully. While Yahweh does not dismiss our traditions outright, He is displeased when they cause us to violate His instructions. Ultimately, our focus should be on aligning our understanding and practices with His true Word, rather than allowing personal preferences or customs to distort His message.

Abram stands as a testament to these principles. Yahweh called him out of his pagan traditions, and it was because he believed in Yahweh that he was regarded as righteous. He trusted and followed Him. While Abram was not perfect, he consistently turned to Yahweh and placed his trust in Him—most of the time.

1 And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, And from your kin And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Notice the three things that Abram has to leave behind:

  • Land: Abram has to leave behind his cultural background and set of beliefs.
  • His kin (family): Also, he has to leave behind his entire family traditions and customs.
  • His father’s house: Probably this would be the hardest one of all of them, this requires of Abram to abandon the traditions given to him by His parents. Let’s let that sink in for a second.

You see, there’s a similar challenge given to us by Yeshua, when He said to His disciples:

37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10:37-39 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Yeshua was not instructing us to defile or dishonor our parents. Such an act would directly contradict the commandments given by Him as Elohim on Mount Sinai: “Honor your father and your mother,” the only commandment there that is accompanied by a promise. What these verses require of us is a profoundly challenging task. They call us to introspect and meditate deeply—to examine whether the traditions we’ve learned, even those passed down from our parents, align with Yahweh’s will.

Confronting your own traditions is an essential prerequisite to truly listening to and following Yeshua. It requires taking time to reflect deeply, perhaps even consulting with your pillow in quiet contemplation. When we declare our faith and acknowledge Yeshua as our Savior, what exactly are we affirming? Are we simply accepting Him as a Savior, or is there a deeper commitment involved?

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Romans 10:9 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

No, there are several points you also should consider from this verse:

  1. “If you confess with your mouth Yeshua as Lord (Adon)”: Here, you take a stance of loyalty to Yeshua, as the one who will drive your life. Not just as an observant bystander, but as the one who dictate your decisions moving forward.
  2. “and believe in your heart Yahweh raised Him from the dead”: You consciously decide to believe that Yahweh has dominion over death. Which its implication is tied up to the beginning of everything. Yahweh has dominion over darkness and chaos; His Spirit take control of the waters of confusion and with the power of His Word He brings light in the darkness, structure in confusion, and life where death was.

This is not an unconditional transaction. While Yahweh’s love is steadfast and unmerited, His covenant does entail certain obligations. From His perspective, He has fulfilled these through the sacrifice of the Lamb for our salvation. Our response, therefore, is to accept the conditions that accompany living beneath His kingdom.

Kingdoms are characterized by laws—it’s what distinguishes them as kingdoms. These laws are established by the ruler, not imposed by the subjects. Consequently, it is vital for us to examine our hearts and assess our willingness to embrace these divine principles.

Am I following Yeshua, or am I following a version of Yeshua that I had designed?

Neither the apostles nor Yeshua taught that the Torah should be removed from our lives. Contrary to the teachings passed down through tradition, both the apostles and Yeshua Himself encourage us to deepen our faith through the observance of the Torah, including honoring the Sabbath.

The Torah was never intended to serve as a means of salvation. Instead, it was given to guide us in approaching Yahweh rightly, according to His terms—not ours. We cannot come before Yahweh relying solely on the consequences of our sin. God has provided us with an infallible way to be free from sin: through Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah).

It is for this reason that John wrote:

3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 2:3-6 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

A complete understanding of Yahweh inspires within us a sincere desire to obey His commandments. We do not seek to know Yahweh merely by observing His laws; rather, we follow His commandments because He has chosen to reveal Himself to us. This revelation comes through the testimony of Yeshua—His guidance, His death and resurrection—and through the accounts of those who witnessed these events and faithfully recorded them for our benefit.

The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

This is a highly bold assertion. It is not merely a random interpretation by the Apostle John; rather, he is summarizing the words of the prophet Jeremiah, as recorded in Jeremiah 31:33-34, which states:

33 “But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Yahweh: “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 And they will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares Yahweh, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Jeremiah 31:33-34 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

In Conclusion: Are we to keep the Sabbath?

Yes, we are to keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath is the day He made holy. Is my humble opinion that we are to keep the Sabbath as the Scripture declares.

The Sabbath is a divine gift from Yahweh, established by Him for our benefit. It is a gift given to humanity; we were not created solely to serve the Sabbath. Yahweh, knowing our hearts, recognizes our desire to feel purposeful and useful. However, true fulfillment cannot be found solely through our works and crafts. While we long to belong and find our identity, it is important to remember that our worth is not defined by our trades or achievements.

What we work for is enough to satisfy our physical needs, but it does little to nourish our spiritual and deeper sense of identity. What Yahweh has established, and what Yeshua exemplified, offer true fulfillment. The Sabbath is the designated time to walk in communion with the Creator—our Creator of our lives, communities, and very identity. From the very beginning, Yahweh has defined who we are.

Sabbath is an intentional pause—a sacred time when we consciously cease our activities and trust that Yahweh is our provider. It is an opportunity to gather with our family, reflect on His blessings, and meditate on what He has accomplished for us. Together, we share a meal at the table, rejoicing in His provision, and find rest from the labors of the week. Most importantly, Sabbath is a time to remember and worship Yahweh, the Creator of all that sustains us, acknowledging His divine goodness and eternal sovereignty.

Through the lens of the Messiah, the Sabbath takes on a deeper significance—honoring the bread provided by Yahweh, symbolizing His body, which is broken, and the wine representing the fruit of the vine, signifying His blood.

It is a day when husbands reflect on the blessings they have received through their wives. Similarly, it is a day for wives to remember the gifts bestowed upon them by their husbands. It is also a special occasion for fathers and mothers to pray for and bless their children. Additionally, it is a time for families to gather together in prayer and gratitude, sharing a meal with Yahweh. This day is intentionally set apart for these purposes—a dedicated time to recognize and honor the blessings within the family.

Can I celebrate Sabbath any day other than the seventh day?

It is preferable to celebrate it on the designated day. Honestly, if we could choose any day to observe it, it would no longer be truly “holy” (set apart). The purpose is for us to learn to follow Yahweh according to His will, not our own.

3 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to Yahweh in all your places of habitation. 4 ‘These are the appointed times of Yahweh, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.

Leviticus 23:3-4 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

In the aftermath of the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D., detrimental influences began to take hold. The Romans, perceiving Jewish traditions with suspicion, compelled the Christian Church to distance itself from the traditional interpretation of the Torah, which had been upheld for millennia. As a consequence, new creeds emerged that were ultimately regarded as more authoritative than the Yahweh-Breath Scripture itself. This shift echoes the actions of the religious leaders of Israel, who elevated their oral traditions—later codified in the Talmud—above the Torah, often asserting, “You cannot understand Torah without the Talmud.” Yeshua vehemently opposed this distortion of divine truth and rejected such practices.

9 And He was also saying to them, “You are good at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

Mark 7:9 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Should I then not visit a Sunday community?

Honestly, I don’t see why you shouldn’t meet on Sundays as well. Just remember, you are not celebrating Sunday, but the 1st day of the week, in honor of Yeshua and Holy Spirit. Since it was the 1st day where Yeshua became our first fruit of salvation, and when the Holy Spirit was given to use during Shavuot. We are called to worship Yahweh every single day. However, keep in mind that your beliefs may constantly be challenged by those who view and assume you as part of the “Hebrew Roots Movement” or who may label you as a “Judaizer.” Be prepared to defend your faith with love, patience, and compassion.

I spent much of my life observing Sunday as my day of worship, simply following the tradition I was raised with. I never questioned it, believing that everything had been carefully established and grounded in sound doctrine.

I remained committed to my faith through a Sunday community, continuously following Yahweh, even though I was initially familiar with Him as God or Jehovah. Over time, Yahweh showed me mercy. It took nearly 20 years for the Holy Spirit to fully work within me, guiding me into all truth and understanding.

Have I got everything figured out?

Oh no, no, no – not even close. As I continue to learn and grow in my faith, I understand that Yahweh knows us intimately. That’s why He sent His only begotten Son to die for us—while we were still sinners, He loved us enough to give His life.

What should I do if I do not feel comfortable celebrating the Sabbath?

That’s a very important question. However, I encourage you to consider: why does receiving a direct instruction from Yahweh make you feel uneasy?

To address your question: if you do not feel prepared to take any steps toward embracing the Torah, it is best not to proceed prematurely. According to the guidance from Yahweh, we are instructed to find joy in His commandments. However, if you begin your obedience solely for outward religious appearances—merely “faking it until you make it”—this approach does not align with Yahweh’s expectations. Such insincere observance can ultimately lead to spiritual harm, turning your efforts into your undoing.

That’s the central message of the Book of Galatians. First and foremost, Torah is not your pathway to salvation—Yeshua is. You observe Torah out of love for Yeshua, who convicts and guides your heart. The Sabbath is a day of rest; if you feel stressed or burdened because you believe you’re doing something wrong, then you’re missing the true purpose of the Sabbath.

Keep growing continuously, and eventually, understanding will come. Remember, our walk with Yahweh is a journey—not a quick, instant meal.

In the meantime,

24 Yahweh bless you, and keep you; 25 Yahweh make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 Yahweh lift up His face on you, And give you peace.’

Numbers 6:24-26 • Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

In the name of Yeshua our Messiah, Amen.

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