Sabbath

(Zodhiates, p. 660). For Paul to have meant that the Sabbath and festivals were fulfilled and became obsolete in
Messiah Yahshua, it would have been necessary for him to say they “were shadows” and to have used entirely
different wording.
Paul’s choice of wording makes it clear that the Sabbath and festivals “are shadows” of things still to come
and not “were shadows” of things fulfilled and made obsolete in Messiah Yahshua.
Physical acts teach spiritual lessons
Some assume that certain physical acts relating to worship---because they are representations or symbols of
greater spiritual truths---have been “fulfilled in Messiah” in the New Testament and are therefore obsolete and
unnecessary. These people include the Sabbath and other biblical festivals in this category based on Paul’s
comment that they “are shadows of coming things.”
But this reasoning is flawed. Just because something is a shadow, a representation or a symbol doesn’t mean
its importance is diminished. The Old and New Testament alike are filled with symbols and symbolic actions
commanded by Yahweh to teach us important spiritual lessons.
Baptism is a symbolic act representing a greater spiritual truth, the burial of the old self and living a new life
(Romans 6:3,4), yet we are commanded to be baptized (Acts 2:38). The bread and wine of the Passover service
symbols of the vital spiritual relationship we have with Messiah Yahshua, yet we are clearly commanded to
partake of them (1 Corinthians 10:16).
Laying on of hands (Hebrews 6:2), anointing with oil (James 5:14), foot-washing (John 13:14), partaking of
unleavened bread (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) and other physical actions are commanded to be observed in the New
Testament, not because they are greater than the things they symbolize, but to strengthen and enhance our
spiritual understanding as we do them. After all, we are physical human beings who are in search of spiritual
understanding. Yahweh gave us spiritual acts and symbols to help us better understand spiritual lessons.
These examples show that symbols and symbolic actions aren’t strictly limited to physical worship in the Old
Testament, but are clearly commanded in the New Testament as important elements of our worship. They are
vital reminders of important spiritual truths, as Paul recognized (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The same is true of
the Sabbath. Messiah Yahshua, through His actions and teachings on the Sabbath rest is a type---a foretaste--of
the great coming Messianic age of peace, rest, freedom and healing.
In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul isn’t discussing the permanence or transience of the Sabbath at all. As a matter of
fact, Paul nowhere quotes the Old Testament in Colossians. He uses the Greek word for “law.” nomos, dozens
of times in his other epistles, but not once in Colossians. Why? The Old Testament and Yahweh’s law simply
were not the issue.
Far from negating Sabbath observance, Paul’s instructions to the Colossians, written about A.D. 62, actually
affirm that gentile Christians were indeed observing the Sabbath
more than 30 years after Messiah’s death and that the Sabbath is an important reminder of vital spiritual truths
for us today.
Why is the Sabbath Commandment
Not repeated in the New Testament?
Some people believe that, since the Sabbath commandment isn’t explicitly repeated in the New Testament, it
is no longer binding.
The Sabbath commandment did not have to be repeated in the New Testament simply because the people to
whom Messiah Yahshua and the apostles preached would never have imagined that it needed to be repeated.
The scriptures that later would be called the Old Testament were their Bible, their guide for living (Romans
15:4). Paul described them as being “given by inspiration of Yahweh and…profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The holy Scriptures clearly commanded them to keep the Sabbath,
and the common people accepted that as Yahweh’s inspired instruction.
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