The True Meaning Of Shabbat

 

The True Meaning Of Shabbat (Sabbath)

In Isaiah 58:13-14, HaShem ((הַשֵּׁם) is a Hebrew term that means "The Name”) gives us a powerful picture of what God desires for His people when it comes to the Shabbat (the 7^th day of the week). He’s calling us to go beyond merely following external rules and to embrace the Shabbat as something truly sacred. “If you turn away your foot from the Shabbat, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Shabbat a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words..." What HaShem is saying here is that He doesn’t just want us to stop working on the Shabbat. He’s inviting us to honor it with our hearts and our actions. He calls us to set aside our own desires, our own distractions, and to make the Shabbat a day that is set apart for Him—a day that we delight in.

But what does it mean to delight in the Shabbat? It means engaging with it on a much deeper level than just taking a break from work or avoiding a checklist of things we can’t do. It means resting in God’s presence, reflecting on His goodness, and honoring Him for who He is. It’s about stopping and letting go of everything that usually keeps us busy, and instead, focusing fully on our relationship with Him. This is the heart of the Shabbat that HaShem calls us to honor—a time to rest, to be still, and to celebrate His holiness.

Now, this doesn’t mean that the Shabbat is about rules or restrictions to make us miserable. No, it’s meant to be a gift—a day that helps restore our spirits, renew our minds, and reconnect us with the Creator. HaShem wants us to experience His peace, His joy, and His rest, and He has set apart this day for that very purpose. But as much as HaShem speaks of the Shabbat in this way in the Old Testament, Yeshua (Jesus) brings a whole new level of understanding to what the Shabbat is all about in the New Testament.

Yeshua’s teachings about the Shabbat are not in conflict with the Old Testament command to keep it holy; instead, He takes it further and reveals its deeper, more life-giving purpose. In Matthew 12:8, Yeshua declares, "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Shabbat." This statement is profound because, in one sentence, Yeshua is declaring His authority over the Shabbat. He’s not dismissing it or saying that it’s no longer important—quite the opposite. He’s affirming that He is the Lord of the Shabbat, and as the one who created it, He has the authority to interpret it rightly. Yeshua is revealing that the Shabbat points to Him. It’s not just a day to refrain from work—it’s a day to rest in Him, to delight in His presence, and to receive His peace and restoration.

But Yeshua goes further. In Mark 2:27-28, He says, "The Shabbat was made for man, not man for the Shabbat. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Shabbat." Here, Yeshua makes an important distinction. The Shabbat wasn’t created to be a burden or a set of rules to oppress people. It was created for our benefit—to give us rest, to help us recalibrate our lives, and to provide an opportunity to connect with God in a deeper way. It’s a gift, not a rule to follow rigidly. When Yeshua says that the Shabbat was made for man, He’s reminding us that its purpose is to serve us, to refresh us, and to lead us into a deeper relationship with God.

Yeshua was speaking to a people who had become trapped in legalism—the religious leaders had turned the Shabbat into a long list of "do's and don’ts," filled with burdens that no one could bear. In response, Yeshua wasn’t trying to throw the Shabbat out the window. He was bringing it back to its original design—He was restoring it to its rightful purpose. He wanted people to understand that the Shabbat wasn’t about legalistic restrictions. It was about finding rest, peace, and wholeness in God.

In Luke 13:15-16, Yeshua heals a woman on the Shabbat who had been bound by an illness for eighteen years. When the religious leaders rebuke Him for “working” on the Shabbat, He responds, "Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Shabbat day?" Yeshua’s point is clear: the Shabbat is meant for life. It’s meant for healing, restoration, and freedom. It’s not a day to withhold mercy or kindness. It’s a day to do good, to set people free, and to show the heart of God.

In these moments, Yeshua is teaching us something profound about the nature of the Shabbat. It’s a day to experience God’s mercy and goodness. It’s a day for healing, both physically and spiritually. It’s not just about refraining from work—it’s about doing good, bringing restoration, and lifting burdens off others. This is not a contradiction to the Old Testament command to rest. In fact, it’s a fulfillment of it—Yeshua shows that the Shabbat is for healing, for mercy, for freedom, and for restoration. He is the Lord of the Shabbat, and He is demonstrating that He came to give life and to bring healing on this day.

Now, we come to Matthew 11:28-30, where Yeshua gives an invitation that speaks directly to the heart of the Shabbat: "Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Here, Yeshua is extending the ultimate invitation of rest. The Shabbat is meant to be a picture of this rest, this peace, this freedom that can only be found in Him. The Shabbat is a day to cease from striving and to rest in the finished work of God. It’s a day to stop working for our salvation and to recognize that it’s already been given to us by Yeshua. When Yeshua says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest,” He’s offering the deepest kind of rest—rest from the burden of sin, rest from striving to earn God’s favor, rest from the weight of life’s struggles.

In all of these teachings, Yeshua is showing us that the Shabbat isn’t just a day of rest from physical labor—it’s a day to find spiritual rest in Him. It’s a time to focus on Him, to rest in His grace, and to experience the peace that only He can give. The Shabbat is a gift that points us to Him, and it’s through Him that we find true rest. Yeshua reveals that the Shabbat is for freedom, for mercy, for healing, and for drawing close to God. He isn’t abolishing the Shabbat—He’s fulfilling it. He’s showing us how to truly honor the Shabbat, not by following a list of legalistic rules, but by resting in Him and doing good.

So, when we look at Isaiah 58:13-14 and see HaShem’s call to “call the Shabbat a delight” and to honor Him on this day, we realize that the Shabbat is so much more than just a day of rest from work. It’s a day to delight in God, to honor Him, and to experience His mercy and goodness. It’s a day to step into the freedom that Yeshua offers, a day to find rest in Him, and a day to bring healing, mercy, and life to others. It’s a day of joy, a day to ride upon the high places of the earth, and a day to partake in the heritage of Jacob—the promises and blessings of God.

Through Yeshua, the Shabbat becomes more than just a law to follow—it becomes a gift to receive. It’s a time to rest from our own efforts, to rest from the burdens of life, and to enjoy the peace that only God can provide. The Shabbat is a day to remember that we don’t have to earn God’s favor; we already have it through Yeshua. And in that rest, we find our true delight.

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Shabbat is a day to stop and let go of everything else. It’s not about what you can’t do, but about what you should do. It’s a day to honor God, not because He needs us to, but because we need it. We need a day to rest and remember that He is the Creator, that He provides for us, and that we can trust Him.

The first thing to do is prepare. As the sun begins to set on Friday–around 5:30 – 6:00 p.m., take time to prepare your heart and your home. Let go of the worries and stresses of the week. Spend a few moments in prayer and gratitude, acknowledging God’s provision and grace. Light the candles as a symbol of welcoming His presence into your home. Take a deep breath and know that Shabbat has begun.

Now, when Shabbat arrives, it’s a time to rest—not just from your physical labor but from all the busyness of life. Stop checking your phone. Stop working. Set aside your plans for the day and focus on what matters—God and the people around you. Resting is not laziness; it’s trust. Trust that God is in control and that your work doesn’t hold the world together—He does.

Shabbat is a time for delight. It’s not just about abstaining from “your own pleasure,” but about finding joy in the things that bring you closer to God. Spend time in worship, read the Scriptures, pray, and spend time with your family. Enjoy good food and conversation. Take a walk and notice the beauty of God’s creation. Let the day be filled with joy and peace, remembering that this is a gift from God.

Above all, Shabbat is about honoring God. We honor Him by resting in Him, trusting in His provision, and remembering His goodness. It’s a day to step out of the busyness and into His peace.

Shabbat isn’t just a day on the calendar—it’s an invitation from God to slow down, to rest, and to remember that He is enough. When we honor Him in this way, we’re given a taste of His rest, His peace, and His joy.

image by AI