Upon research one finds that the Sabbath, Saturday, or seventh day of the week is referenced over fifty times in the New Testament alone. Follow the commands and requirements of the Sabbath from creation, to the ten commandments till New Testament times when the Apostles and Yeshua or Jesus kept the Sabbath also.
The Sabbath in Scripture
The Sabbath or seventh day is the commanded formal day for worship established by the Creator Himself according to the Bible. He rested from all his labors. Some ancient manuscripts indicate sabbath observance before man’s creation and its continued perpetual observance in heaven by YHVH and His heavenly host today.
The fourth Commandment states to “remember” the Sabbath which would indicate the tendency of humans to forget it. That admonition applies even to this day. We must remember to do it or keep it and not replicate it or substitute it. It must not be forgotten, it requires abstaining from work, and a sacred assembly is to be held to praise, worship, and honor YHVH.
The sabbath is also a memorial of YHVH’s act of rest which was not required physically for Him. It was established for humans as a day to cease laborious work tasks and to rest mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It established a connection between YHVH and mankind. A time to dwell on things above-- outside the human realm.
Why keep the seventh day and not the new first day of the week perpetrated and adopted by the Roman Empire/Catholicism?
ü The first day of the week or Sunday is referred to as the morrow or the next day after the Sabbath throughout the Bible. It is the day that begins the work week.
ü No place in the New or Old Testament authorizes a change for the day of observance or for gathered formal worship.
ü No church or human institution has the authority to override the day on which YHVH established it and commanded it.
ü Traditional and ancient Jewish worship has always been on Saturday and has not changed.
The Sabbath in Scripture
The word Sabbath is either written or referenced over fifty times in the New Testament alone. By reading the verses below, one can follow the commands and requirements of the Sabbath or the seventh day from the act of instituting it for man at creation till the giving of the written Ten Commandments. In New Testament times the seventh day or Sabbath was the day that all worshipers including the Apostles and Jesus (Yeshua) worshipped and kept.
Verses below are from the King James Version of the Bible, Cambridge University Press, circa 1900, with a few grammatical and/or punctuation corrections. Also, “the Lord” has been replaced by YHVH (https://ncay.org/sacred-name).
Genesis 2:2 (KJV) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which He had made.
Genesis 2:3 (KJV) And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 16:23 (KJV) And he said unto them, this is that which [YHVH] hath said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto [YHVH]: bake that which ye will bake today, and see that ye will see, and that which remained over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
Exodus 16:25 (KJV) And Moses said, eat that today; for today is a sabbath unto [YHVH]: today ye shall not find it in the field.
Exodus 16:26 (KJV) Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
Exodus 16:29 (KJV) See, for that [YHVH] hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
Exodus 20:8 (KJV) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:10 (KJV) But the seventh day is the sabbath of [YHVH] thy God: in it, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exodus 20:11 (KJV) For in six days [YHVH] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is and rested the seventh day: wherefore [YHVH] blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 31:14 (KJV) Ye shall keep the sabbath; therefore, for it is holy unto you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Exodus 31:15 (KJV) Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to [YHVH]: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Exodus 31:16 (KJV) Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Exodus 35:2 (KJV) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to [YHVH]: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Exodus 35:3 (KJV) Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.
Leviticus 23:3 (KJV) Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of [YHVH] in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 23:11 (KJV) And he shall wave the sheaf before [YHVH], to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.) Shavuot
Leviticus 23:15 (KJV) And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Shavuot.
Leviticus 23:16 (KJV) Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto [YHVH]. Shavuot
Deuteronomy 5:12 (KJV) Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as [YHVH] thy God hath commanded thee.
Deuteronomy 5:14 (KJV) But the seventh day is the sabbath of [YHVH] thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.
Deuteronomy 5:15 (KJV) And remember that thou were a servant in the land of Egypt and that [YHVH] thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm: therefore [YHVH] thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Nehemiah 13:15 (KJV) In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 13:16 (KJV) There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 13:17 (KJV) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 13:18 (KJV) Did not your father’s thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 13:19 (KJV) And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. 13:21 (KJV) Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 13:22 (KJV) And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
Psalm 92:1 (KJV) A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto [YHVH], and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Isaiah 56:2 (KJV) Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the sabbath from polluting it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Isaiah 56:6 (KJV) Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to [YHVH], to serve him, and to love the name of [YHVH], to be his servants, every one that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant.
Isaiah 58:13 (KJV) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of [YHVH], honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isaiah 66:23 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith [YHVH].
Jeremiah 17:21 (KJV) Thus saith [YHVH]; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 17:22 (KJV) Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
Jeremiah 17:24 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith [YHVH], to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein.
Jeremiah 17:27 (KJV) But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Ezekiel 46:1 (KJV) Thus saith [YHVH] GOD; The gate of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath, it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Ezekiel 46:4 (KJV) And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto [YHVH] in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
Ezekiel 46:12 (KJV) Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto [YHVH], one shall then open him the gate that faces toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth, and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.
Amos 8:5 (KJV) says, when will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
NEW TESTAMENT
Matthew 12:1 (KJV) At that time [Yeshua] went on the sabbath day through the corn, and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. 12:2 (KJV) But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
Matthew 12:5 (KJV) Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Matthew 12:8 (KJV) For the son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Matthew 12:10 (KJV) And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 12:11 (KJV) And he said unto them, what man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12:12 (KJV) How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Matthew 24:20 (KJV) But pray ye that your flight is not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Matthew 28:1 (KJV) At the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
Mark 1:21 (KJV) And they went into Capernaum, and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
Mark 2:23 (KJV) And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 2:24 (KJV) And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Mark 2:27 (KJV) And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 2:28 (KJV) Therefore the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Mark 3:2 (KJV) And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mark 3:4 (KJV) And he saith unto them, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Mark 6:2 (KJV) And when the sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
Mark 15:42 (KJV) And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Mark 16:1 (KJV) And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Luke 4:16 (KJV) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luke 4:31 (KJV) And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
Luke 6:1 (KJV) And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luke 6:2 (KJV) And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
Luke 6:5 (KJV) And he said unto them, That the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Luke 6:6 (KJV) And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
Luke 6:7 (KJV) And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Luke 6:9 (KJV) Then said [Yeshua] unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Luke 13:10 (KJV) And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
Luke 13:14 (KJV) And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that [Yeshua] had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, there are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
Luke 13:15 (KJV) [YHVH] then answered him, and said, thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loosen his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
Luke 13:16 (KJV) And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Luke 14:1 (KJV) And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
Luke 14:3 (KJV) And [Yeshua] answering spoke unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luke 14:5 (KJV) And answered them, saying, which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
Luke 23:54 (KJV) And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luke 23:56 (KJV) And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
John 5:9 (KJV) And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
John 5:10 (KJV) The Jews, therefore, said unto him that was cured, it is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
John 5:16 (KJV) And therefore did the Jews persecute [Yeshua], and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
John 5:18 (KJV) Therefore the Jews sought even more to kill him because he not only had broken the sabbath but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
John 7:22 (KJV) Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
John 7:23 (KJV) If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
John 9:14 (KJV) And it was the sabbath day when [Yeshua] made the clay and opened his eyes.
John 9:16 (KJV) Therefore said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day. Others said, how can a man who is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
John 19:31 (KJV) The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.
Acts 1:12 (KJV) Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
Acts 13:14 (KJV) 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 13:27 (KJV) For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
Acts 13:42 (KJV) And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Acts 13:44 (KJV) And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Acts 15:21 (KJV) For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Acts 16:13 (KJV) And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down and spoke unto the women which resorted thither.
Acts 17:2 (KJV) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 18:4 (KJV) And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Colossians 2:16 (KJV) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or respect of a holy day, or the new moon, or the sabbath days: