Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

Feasts, Moons and Sabbaths

This study reviews the various sabbaths that God instituted. Given new moons are often mentioned in context with reference to sabbaths, the law for new moon offerings is also included. This study should clear up any confusion regarding Paul's words in Col. 2:16-17.

God established three (3) types of sabbaths:

1. weekly Sabbath was created prior to sin and therefore it was not "a shadow of things to come"
   
2. annual sabbaths (associated with annual feasts)
   
3. a land sabbath (once every seven years).

This study starts by reviewing the sabbaths associated with feasts defined in Leviticus chapter 23. The first two (2) verses announce that the entire chapter is concerning the feasts of the Lord:

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, [Concerning] the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim [to be] holy convocations, [even] these [are] my feasts. [Lev 23:1-2 KJV]

The weekly feast (the Sabbath) as specified in Leviticus 23:

• 3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. [Lev 23:3 KJV]
• The sabbath of the Lord: This is the equivalent of, “it is the Lord's sabbath,” and indicates proprietorship. If God should have spoken of the first day of the week as “my holy day,” or “the sabbath of the Lord,” none today would be uncertain as to what He meant. Instead, He uses these very expressions in regard to the seventh day. It is His day.
• The Sabbath is different from all the other feasts and holy convocations (see vs. 37, 38) in that it originated at creation (Gen. 2:1-3), whereas the annual feasts and “sabbaths” had their origin with the Jewish nation. The seventh-day Sabbath “was made for man” (Mark 2:27), and hence is of obligation for all men forever; the annual feasts were made for the Jews and ceased to be of obligation when type met Antitype at the death of Christ (Col. 2:16-17). The seventh-day Sabbath is incorporated in the law of God, the Ten Commandments, His constitution for this world. Because it was made before sin entered, it will remain after sin is no more (Isa. 66:22-23). On the other hand, the annual Jewish feasts were of only temporal, local, ceremonial application, fitted to conditions in Palestine, and could not be made of worldwide application.
  
• To make sure that the Sabbath should not be considered a Jewish institution, and hence cease with the Jewish nation, Christ emphatically declared, “The sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27). He added, “Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (v. 28). It belongs to Him; He is “Lord” of it. Let none tamper with it, for they have no right to do so. It is “my holy day,” says God (Isa. 58:13).
  

The annual “set feasts” (Num. 29:39) are six (6) in number: 

1. the Passover (Lev. 23:5, Num. 28:16); 
2. the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6; Num. 28:17); 
3. the “feast of harvest,” the “feast of weeks” (first fruits), or Pentecost (Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:16; Num. 28:26; Acts 2:1); 
4. the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1); 
5. the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27; Num. 29:7); 
6. the “feast of ingathering,” the “feast of tabernacles” (Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:34; Num. 29:12).

With these six (6) feasts are seven (7) days of “holy convocation” also known as annual sabbaths (Lev 23:24, 32, 38, 39 each equate sabbath with holy convocation); 

• 1, 2: the first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:7, 8; Num. 28:18, 25); 
• 3: the day of first fruits (Lev. 23:21; Num. 28:26); 
• 4: the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1); 
• 5: the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27; Num. 29:7); 
• 6, 7: the first and last days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:35, 36).

Work policy for each of the holy convocations (sabbaths):

Note: unequivocally “no work” on the seventh-day Sabbath and DOA; but no “servile” or laborious work on the others. This is yet another distinguishing aspect of the Sabbath.

Seventh-year Land Sabbath

4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. [Lev 25:4 KJV; see also Exo 23:11]

New Moon Offerings

The new moon marked the first day of the month in the Jewish calendar. This day was a day of celebration and of offering sacrifices.

11 'At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish; [Num 28:11 NKJV]

Weekly Sabbath Offerings

Additional offerings required on the Sabbath day:

9 'And on the Sabbath day two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering-- 10 '[this is] the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering. [Num 28:9-10 NKJV]

List of verses that reference “sabbaths”

With knowledge and understanding of the various offerings that were part of the OT ceremonial system (meat, drink, sin, peace, heave, etc; Lev 2:3, 23:13, 4:21, 3:1, Exo 29:28, etc.) along with familiarity with law of offerings (Numbers 28-29), it is obvious Paul in Col 2:16-17 is not referring to the weekly Sabbath. The weekly Sabbath was introduced prior to sin. Obviously it can’t be part of the ceremonial system. It wasn’t instituted to foreshadow the Cross as did the sacrificial, ceremonial system. The Sabbath was established as a memorial of Creation; and the Sabbath will still be in effect when sin is finished (Isa 66:23).

Y=Yes; N=No