THE SABBATHS, FEASTS, AND COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD

 

Allow the Bible to interpret itself

 

TEACHING FROM OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES AND SABBATH WORSHIP - BOOK OF ACTS

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Acts 8.26-28

 

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Acts 13.42-44

 

Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures

demonstrating and explaining that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” Acts 17.2-3

 

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.  Acts 17.10-12

 

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Acts 18.4-8 Justus would have access to scrolls? They could also hire someone to copy scrolls. Paul always carried scrolls.

 

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Acts 18.11

 

And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 18.27-28

 

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19.8-10

 

How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20.20-21

 

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15.19-21 no circumcision required (God has circumcised hearts, Ezek 11.19-21) but other commandments of Moses obeyed: No drinking blood (Deut 12:23), fornication (Num 22-25), eating food offered to idols (Deut 12:1-7) are all commandments of God we are to obey.

 

SABBATH A SIGN

“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Exodus 31.13

 

SABBATH WORSHIP

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. Acts 13.14 They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath.

 

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Acts 13.42 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Acts 13.44

 

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. Acts 18.4

 

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15.21

 

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Acts 20.7 They came together to eat. Then Paul preached. It does not say they were coming together to observe a Sabbath. If they obeyed the Sabbath the previous day they would have gone home after service and meditated the rest of the Sabbath. Then, on the first day, gathered together socially.

 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:  On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 1 Corinthians 16.1-2 Paul is talking about an offering he is going to receive from them and have sent to Jerusalem. He is telling them to lay some money aside on the first day of the week after Sabbath.

 

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2.1 Specific day not mentioned.

 

PAUL OBSERVED FEASTS AND TAUGHT ABOUT THEM

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 20.16 Paul celebrating a feast of the Lord.

 

Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Acts 21.26

Observing the Feast.

 

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5.7-8). These verses indicate that Paul and the early Christians were studying the Old Testament and observing the Passover Feast.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Heb 10.26-29

 

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5.1-3

 

If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14.15

 

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14.21

 

FUTURE CELEBRATION OF THE FEASTS OF THE LORD
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-19). At the end of the age all nations shall celebrate the feasts of the Lord. If not they will not be blessed.

 

When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Luke 22.14-16 Jesus celebrated the Passover and said He would eat it again when fulfilled in the Kingdom.

“You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice. Deut 16.13-15

 

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Leviticus 23.1-2