There is something else in this chapter that is of profound interest and is important to see. It has to do with the Sabbath Day. It is something that many people pass over. The Sabbath Day was given to man right after creation, and it was observed universally. When we come to the Mosaic system, we find that God made it one of the Ten Commandments for the children of Israel. At this time God makes it quite clear that the Sabbath is only for the children of Israel.And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you [
Exod. 31:12-13].
The Sabbath was given specifically to Israel. I do not believe it was ever given to the church. When someone asks me, "When was the Sabbath Day changed?" I always reply that it never was changed. It was done away with, as far as the church is concerned. We are not under the Sabbath Day which is Saturday. We do not observe Saturday -- Jesus was dead that day and we are not serving a dead Christ. On the first day of the week Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The church from the very beginning met on the first day of the week. That is when the church was born; the day of Pentecost was on the day after the Sabbath. The Sabbath was first given to the entire human race but man turned away from God, and God gave the Sabbath exclusively to Israel.
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people [
Exod. 31:14].
I would like to ask the people who claim to keep the Sabbath if they keep it all the time. And are those of their number who do not keep the Sabbath all the time put to death as the law requires?
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death [
Exod. 31:15].
If a man was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath Day, he was stoned to death in Israel.
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed [
Exod 31:16-17].
Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee.