"Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written,
'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'"  – John 6:31

God created every human being with an unrelenting need to eat.  For the many who are gripped by poverty, existence centers around the constant search for food.  For those with abundance, food is an essential recurring pleasure of daily life.

Should we be surprised then, that our Creator intertwines food among the vital themes of His instruction to us?  

Indeed, more often than not in Scripture, God makes food an integral part of holiness or consecration.  Daily, we find ourselves set apart daily from secular society by our observance of God’s Biblical dietary laws.  Annually, we continue under the sacrifice of Jesus Christ through our consumption of the consecrated bread and wine at the Passover meal. 

For the operation of His temple, God established food specifications fundamental to its regulations:  The prescribed eating of the peace offerings is only for those who are ceremonially clean.  The allotted partaking of the sin offerings is more limited; it is only for the priests on duty within the temple.  Extraordinarily stringent dietary restrictions constrain men or women set apart for particular consecration to God by means of the Nazirite vow.

Jesus Christ, our Most Holy Savior, represents Himself in terms of food:

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. ³³“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” ³⁴Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” ³⁵Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.  (John 6:32-35) 

“I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰“This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”  (John 6:48-51)

As Christians collectively – both as the Body of Christ, and as His firstfruits, we also are represented by bread.  However, the Bible reminds us that as imperfect human beings, we continue to be plagued with contamination from the leaven of sin.  We are unleavened only to the degree to which we completely submit ourselves to God. 

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27) 

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? ⁷Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. ⁸Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) 

In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.  (James 1:18) 

You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD.  (Leviticus 23:17)

Thus, we, too, are represented in terms of food.

Aware of these associations, we could only expect that God would include commands regarding food in His instructions for maintaining the holiness of His Sabbaths.  As we will discover, a number of Sabbath Scriptures pertain to obtaining, preparing and eating food.  The Biblical prevalence of this theme demonstrates a crucial fact:

The appropriate procurement and preparation of food is essential to the proper observance of God’s Holy Sabbaths.

Why exactly, might God choose food as a central theme of His Holy Sabbaths?  What greater principles is God teaching?  How do these teachings impact week-to-week Christian practice?

Given what we have already seen, we may rightly conclude that God has chosen food for a theme of His Sabbaths as an unavoidable reminder of the consecration which He intends for His holy time.  Food as a Sabbath theme can also serve as a representation of Jesus Christ, and of us as individual Christians. 

Let’s begin exploring these concepts more deeply with a quick survey of information which God provides regarding proper readiness for His various Sabbath observances.

Advance Provision for God’s Sabbaths

This survey of Biblical passages initially provides Scriptures which discuss the weekly Sabbath, next the annual Holy Day Sabbaths, then the 7^th year Sabbath.  Here once again, we find the theme of food emerging:

Advance provision for the weekly Sabbath:

First, we come to the marvel of the nourishing manna:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. ⁵“On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”  (Exodus 16:4-5)

What a fascinating series of miracles God performed to teach this spiritual imperative!  In addition to the miracle of the manna itself, God would miraculously provide a double portion to be prepared on the sixth day, ahead of the Sabbath!  The absorbing events continue:

Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. ⁸The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil.  (Numbers 11:7-8)

Despite these amazing miracles, stubborn men were slow to cooperate:

Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” ²⁰But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. ²¹They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.

²²Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, ²³then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” ²⁴So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it.  (Exodus 16:19-24)

Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.  (Exodus 16:26)

See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  (Exodus 16:29)

Again, God provided wonders.  Above and beyond the miraculous double portion provided on the sixth day, the normally perishable manna did not spoil when kept over for the Sabbath!

Much later, as part of one of the great reforms of Biblical history, Nehemiah takes the initiative in preparation to promote proper observance of the Sabbath:

It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.  (Nehemiah 13:19) 

In the above verse from Nehemiah, it is important that we note from the context established in Nehemiah 13:15, that the prohibited "loads" primarily constituted loads of foods for sale: "So I admonished them on the day they sold food."

From secular history, we learn that by the time of Christ, the sixth day had commonly come to be called “the preparation day” or “the day of preparation.”  Recognizing the sixth day as a “preparation” for the weekly Sabbath, Caesar Augustus (43 B.C. to 14 A.D.) decreed on behalf of the Jews:

“their sacred money be not touched, but be sent to Jerusalem, and that it be committed to the care of the receivers at Jerusalem; and that they be not obliged to go before any judge on the sabbath day, nor on the day of the preparation to it, after the ninth hour.”[1]

Advance Provision for an annual Holy Day Sabbath:

Here, we should preliminarily note that the Bible does allow for the preparation – but not the purchase – of food on the annual Holy Days, except on the Day of Atonements.  (For an explanation of the Scriptural allowance for the preparation of food on the annual Holy Days, please see the Web site article entitled “God’s Word On … The Sabbath and Holy Days.”)                                                                                                

Again, during a period of reform, we find attentiveness to provision of food, this time relating to an annual Sabbath:

Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. ³He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.  (Nehemiah 8:2-3)

Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  (Nehemiah 8:10)

Verse 2 of Nehemiah 8 above provides context to clarify for us that “this day” that “is holy to our Lord” in the above verse refers to the annual Feast of Trumpets.  (Compare Leviticus 23:24-25.)  Many of the unprepared Jews may not have the necessary ingredients already purchased and/or not had enough time remaining in the day to prepare delicacies appropriate to celebrating the gladness of the Feast.

The following New Testament verses do not speak directly of food preparation.  However, they do serve to illustrate that, like the sixth day of the week, the day immediately prior to an annual Holy Day Sabbath had also come to be called “the preparation day” or “the day of preparation” – which of course, would have included the purchase of foodstuffs:

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  (John 19:31)

This “high day” Sabbath to which John refers would have been the First Day of the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following the day of Passover.  (Compare John’s Gospel account with Leviticus 23:5-7.)  The Gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark also mention a preparation for this annual Sabbath, which immediately followed the death of Christ:

Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, ⁶³and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’  (Matthew 27:62-63)

It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.  (Luke 23:54)

When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,  (Mark 15:42)

Advance Provision for the 7^th year Sabbath:

In the case of the land, as was true of the manna, the additional provision for the 7^th year Sabbath is provided in advance by the miraculous generosity of God.  However, the farm family must participate by diligently harvesting and storing the sixth year’s bounty:

You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield,  (Exodus 23:10)

'Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop,  (Leviticus 25:3)

‘But if you say, “What are we going to eat on the seventh year if we do not sow or gather in our crops?” ²¹then I will so order My blessing for you in the sixth year that it will bring forth the crop for three years.  (Leviticus 25:20-21)

In loving tenderness, our beneficent Father actively concerns Himself with providing food in advance for our observance of His Sabbaths. 

Let’s proceed now in our exploration, with a survey of God’s instructions relating to food during His various Sabbath observances.

Provision During God’s Sabbaths

Given the context of foodstuffs, what exactly does God tell us is proper for the actual duration of His various Sabbath observances?  What practices are permissible?  What practices are prohibited?

Again, our survey of Biblical passages will first show Scriptures which discuss the weekly Sabbath, next the annual Holy Days, then the 7^th year Sabbath. 

Food During the Weekly Sabbath:

Once more, we return to the amazing account of the manna:

Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field."  (Exodus 16:25)

It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. ²⁸Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? ²⁹“See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.”  (Exodus 16:27-29)

Revisiting the reform of Nehemiah, we encounter a pivotal principle pertaining to Sabbath and Holy Day observance:

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain [KJV, JPS “victuals”] on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.  (Nehemiah 10:31)

Although non-Christians may be selling food or wares on the Sabbath or a Holy Day, adherent Christians will refrain from buying!  We will address this principle in more detail later, as we proceed in our study.

In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. ¹⁶Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. ¹⁷Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? ¹⁸“Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

¹⁹It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day. ²⁰Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. ²¹Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. ²²And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.  (Nehemiah 13:15-22)

Contrary to fleshly human opinion, according to Almighty God, to routinely buy or sell food on His Sabbaths is to be a contributor to God's punishment, an “evil thing,” “profaning the Sabbath day” and “adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 

There is no Biblical justification for the routine purchase of food on the Sabbath or Holy Days, either from a grocery store or from a restaurant.

Very interesting to note, is that the only explicit Scriptural proscriptions against commerce per se, relative to God's weekly Sabbath and Holy Days, are found in these passages.  Hence, any who argue that these Biblical passages are somehow no longer applicable, claiming that it is now acceptable to purchase prepared food (to "go out to eat") on God's Sabbaths and Holy Days, are effectively suggesting that any incidental or non-occupational commerce is now entirely permissible on God's Sabbaths, as long as it is not pursued for pleasure and does not involve heavy physical labor.

Amazingly, some misguided teachers promote aspects of this view.  Incredibly, while they acknowledge that a Christian "sole owner" should close his business on the Sabbath; at the same time, these men claim there is no preclusion against commerce on God's Sabbath, as long as the commerce does not consume the bulk of the day.  Annulling Scriptures given by God for our benefit, these teachers position themselves to be called least in the kingdom of heaven. (See Matthew 5:19 and 2 Timothy 3:16.)  In their error, they supplant this God-given principle for the Sabbath with weak human suggestion to the point that Christians are merely encouraged "not to allow so many liberties that the Sabbath becomes just another day."

On the other hand, to argue, as do others, that it is acceptable to purchase food in a restaurant, although not in a grocery store, is to construct a convenient human distinction where no Scriptural distinction exists.  (Compare also John 7:17.)

Food During an annual Holy Day (other than the Day of Atonements):

In the verses below, we find evidence of the Biblical allowance for the preparation – but not the purchase – of food on the annual Holy Days, except on the Day of Atonement, which is set aside for for fasting:

On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.  (Exodus 12:16)

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain [KJV, JPS “victuals”] on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.  (Nehemiah 10:31)

The following verses enrich our understanding of God’s intent for us to rejoice with festive eating and drinking on the annual Holy Days (with the notable exception of the Day of Atonements).

Then he said to them, 'Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'  (Nehemiah 8:10)

All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.  (Nehemiah 8:12)

“Send portions to him who has nothing prepared.”  In the above verses, we find brotherly compassion, one of the priceless elements that we shall see runs throughout God’s Sabbaths – including the weekly, the annual, and the 7th year Sabbaths.

Food During a Sabbath Year:

As the verses below illustrate, the observance of the Sabbath year has a tremendous association with the consumption of food, along with strict limitations upon the gathering and sale of food.  Again, particular emphasis is placed upon the provision of food for the needy:

But on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.  (Exodus 23:11)

But during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. ⁵‘Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year. ⁶‘All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. ⁷‘Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.  (Leviticus 25:4-7)

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain [KJV, JPS “victuals”] on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.  (Nehemiah 10:31)

When you are sowing the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in.  (Leviticus 25:22)

Through our survey, we have been privileged to glimpse many wonderful facets of the mind of God.  Yet there is still a question that will arise in the minds of some: Are God’s specific Sabbath instructions applicable to us as modern Christians living in a secular world?

Applicability to Modern Christians

Although our administration and practice has not always been consistent in this regard, historically in God's Church, we have operated professing that what God has given to us in the Hebrew Scriptures remains meaningful, has applicability, and is to govern our individual lives today – except as in such cases as the Levitical priesthood with its sacrificial system, where a temporal substitution was and will be in place. 

For any readers who have not yet confirmed that observance of the Sabbath and Holy Days is required for Christians, may we recommend the two Web site articles entitled “Is a Sabbath Commanded for Christians?” and “What Are God’s Rules for the Calendar?”

We, who already do understand the Scriptural requirement to observe God’s Sabbaths, generally accept that we do not have the civil authority to implement many aspects of God's laws.  How far then, does our responsibility extend?  Can we just pick and choose which aspects to implement, according to human preferences?  Or does God hold us accountable to implement His laws to the extent which we are able?

Many Scriptures could be cited in answer to this question.  For the sake of brevity, we will mention only a few which are sufficient to resolve the matter.

First, let’s go to the New Testament period.  Then, as now, Christians did not exercise civil control over the communities in which they lived and worked.  Over what, are Christians to exercise authority?

We are to exercise Godly authority over ourselves as individuals:

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  (Philippians 2:12)

… God, ⁶who will render to each person according to his deeds: ⁷to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; ⁸but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.  (Romans 2:5-8)

When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.  (Acts 5:27-29)

In addition to exercising Godly authority over ourselves individually, in the passages below, we find that Christian behavior also includes exercising Godly authority over one’s immediate dominion: 

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do… ⁴He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children [teknon] under control with all dignity ⁵(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),   (1 Timothy 3:1,4-5)

Paul’s statement indicates that an overseer must require Christian conduct of any offspring who reside in his household.  This oft-ignored fact is borne out by Paul’s use of the Greek teknon.  Quite unlike other Greek terms which signify young children, teknon denotes: “one’s immediate offspring, but without specific reference to sex or age.”[2]

Thus, whether a son or daughter living in the home may be age 4 or 40, that offspring is to be adherent to God’s laws!

This principle is precisely the same as we find the Old Testament commands pertaining to the Sabbath.  God addresses to the householder, the command for the Sabbath conduct of those who reside in the household:

but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.  (Deuteronomy 5:14)

Accordingly, God records of the great patriarchs Abraham and Joshua:

The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, ¹⁸since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? ¹⁹“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”  (Genesis 18:17-19)

“Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”  (Joshua 24:14-15)

Important Note:  Depending upon the laws and culture of a given region, a Christian husband with an unconverted wife may or may not have authority over her conduct, or over the conduct of any children which they share.  In many modern Western nations, a husband whose wife is a non-Christian will find himself limited to a position of needing to influence, to whatever extent he is realistically able, the conduct of his household.  If this is the circumstance, the devout husband will endeavor to persuade those of his household, in loving gentleness, both verbally and through his unwavering Christian example. 

God’s laws must reign within us, individually.  God’s laws must reign over our Christian households.  Is there more?  What about the Church, to which Paul refers as “the household of the faith”?  Surrounded by a non-Christian society, should the Church attempt to enforce obedience to God’s commands?

Absolutely.  Again it is Paul who explains exactly how we are to exercise this Godly authority.  Let’s dissect his instructions just a bit.

First, we observe the very real decadence of the external non-Christian community:

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; ¹⁰I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  (1 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Just as with us today, the Corinthians lived in worldly communities which did not adhere to God’s laws.  Like the Church today, the Corinthian Christians had no civil authority to enforce God’s law.

However, a sinful practice – one worthy of death according to God’s law – was occurring within the Church! 

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.   (1 Corinthians 5:1)

The penalty for this incest is specifically laid out in the Old Testament:

‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness…. ²⁹‘For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people.’  (Leviticus 18:8, 29)

‘If there is a man who lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.’ (Leviticus 20:11)

Here “cut off” is equivalent for “put to death.”  Without the civil authority to enforce the death penalty for this ongoing immorality, was the Church to simply tolerate this repugnant sin?

By no means!  Although in an adapted sense, the sinner is most certainly to be “cut off from among the people.”  Paul rebukes the congregation:

You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. ³For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, ⁵I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

¹¹But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. ¹²For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? ¹³But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.  (1 Corinthians 5:2-5, 11-13)

Plainly, the decadence of the world around us is no excuse for tolerating sin within the Body of Christ.  Within His Church, God’s laws are to be enforced.  Moreover, Paul’s criticisms vivify that the individual, the congregation, and the ministry all share in this responsibility.

Important Note: Although God had divinely administered the death penalty within the Apostolic Church (in the earlier cases of Ananias and Sapphira – see Acts 5:1-11), Paul makes no attempt to humanly enforce God’s law by means of any punishment(s) that would be contrary to the laws of the civil community.  Paul does enforce God’s law; however, the punishment is adapted to conform to the limitations imposed by civil law.  This is a vital principle for all Christians, as we are charged with the enforcement of God’s laws within our households and within the Church.  No Christian should attempt to carry out methods of enforcement which are contrary to civil law.

Our responsibility for enforcing God’s laws within the Church is further emphasized in Paul’s continuing exhortation:

Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? ²Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? ³Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? ⁴So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? ⁵I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, ⁶but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?  (1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

Emphatically, God’s law must reign supreme – in our individual lives, in our Christian households, and in the Church of God! 

Whatever dominion God gives us, we must administer according to His perfect precepts.

God’s servants Ezra and Nehemiah admirably modeled this principle for our benefit.  Let’s notice how Sabbath-keeping in particular, was administered under their leadership:

Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, ²⁹are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes; ³⁰and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. ³¹As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.  (Nehemiah 10:28-31)

God’s people understood that they had no authority to prevent the pagan peoples nearby from doing business on God’s Sabbath and Holy Days.  They did not grasp for that authority. 

At the same time, these repentant people of God acknowledged their accountability for their own conduct. 

While the ungodly peoples of the land around them would continue routinely selling food and wares on God’s Sabbaths, God’s people would “not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day.” 

In other words, these people covenanted with God to refrain from partaking of commerce which remained available to them on God's Sabbath and Holy Days.  Interestingly, they would observe the Sabbath year also: “we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.”

Further, in Judah, where Nehemiah was given the civil authority to govern, he manifests exceptional zeal for the enforcement of God’s Sabbath!

In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. ¹⁶Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. ¹⁷Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the sabbath day? ¹⁸“Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.”

¹⁹It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day. ²⁰Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. ²¹Then I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. ²²And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.  (Nehemiah 13:15-22)

What a wonderful illustration of exercising Godly authority over whatever dominion God gives to us! 

Nehemiah was not empowered to enforce Sabbath-keeping beyond his jurisdiction – Jerusalem and the surrounding Jewish communities.  However, he spared no effort to ensure that Sabbath-keeping was restored among the Jews (as we see in the passage above).

As was true of Nehemiah, God’s Church today does not have general jurisdiction over “the peoples of the land.”  The Church has no governance beyond the boundaries of her congregations.  Yet as did Ezra, Nehemiah and the apostle Paul, we absolutely do have the duty to insist that the people of God abstain from sin! 

As we have learned from the Bible, the Church does have jurisdiction within its congregations.

• The modern Church cannot close the gates of cities to preclude Sabbath-breaking. 

• The modern Church can – and she must – close the “gates” of her congregations to Sabbath-breaking!

Indeed, Jesus Christ admonishes us:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 5:17-20)

As the Word of God clearly demonstrates, you and I are accountable.  We are accountable as individuals, as householders, and as the Body of Christ to ensure observance of the Sabbaths within our God-granted dominions.

Pertinent Points

Having gained a significant Biblical background regarding God’s enduring connection of food to Sabbath-keeping, let’s contemplate some important elements of what God has established:

1.      Proper observance of God's Sabbaths and Holy Days requires advance thought and advance action. 

2.      Although the principle of Sabbath preparation applies broadly, a primary area of Sabbath preparation which God has chosen to emphasize in Scripture is food. 

God could have emphasized that we should tidy and clean our dwellings in readiness for His Holy Sabbaths.  He doesn't; yet this most of us willingly do. 

God could have emphasized that we should prepare our clothing in readiness for His Holy Sabbaths. He doesn't; yet this most of us willingly do. 

God could have somehow emphasized that we should prepare our normal employment ahead so as to not require our labors on His Sabbath.  There is no passage where such an illustration is given; yet this most of us willingly do. 

What God does emphasize in the Sabbath preparation commands is food. 

Yet perilously, it is the food preparation aspect of God's Sabbath commands – the very aspect upon which God places the preparation emphasis – from which many of us willingly presume to excuse ourselves. 

3.      A specific allowance is enacted for preparation of food on the Holy Days (except on the Day of Atonements); however, no such allowance exists for the weekly Sabbath. 

4.      Scripture uses the terms “Remain(ing) in … place,” and “go(ing) out” specifically in the context of procuring food.

See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  (Exodus 16:29) 

Fascinatingly, we in our modern age use the same term “go out” to refer to the procuring of prepared food in restaurants. 

From this command, the Jews have derived Sabbath limits on travel, etc. Yet in our present-day circumstances, attendance at that convocation may require a two or three hour trip each way. Why does God say to not go out of our place on a day in which He commands a holy convocation? 

The Hebrew words used for “place” in the above verse are not linguistically precise. So what are the Godly boundaries of that "place" from which we are not to “go out” of on God's Holy Sabbath?

Based upon the Scriptural context of this command, under normal circumstances on God’s Sabbath, we would be remiss to go out to procure the day’s food from the garden, from the barnyard, from the grocery store, or from a restaurant.

We would be similarly constrained from significant quantities of unnecessary Sabbath travel. 

However, could it perhaps also be that God does not want us venturing out into "the world" – to its establishments and its enticements – on His Holy Sabbath, but rather to remain within the "place" of those who are obedient to Him?

For decades in God's Church, we have noted that God's Sabbath is a test command. Scripture indeed confirms this to be the case. Without diminishing the experiential reality that God's Sabbath can be a test for us in many significant areas of life, in what specific context does God say in Scripture that He is testing His people by His Holy Sabbath command?

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. ⁵“On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”  (Exodus 16:4-5)

5.      Even on the Holy days, there is no allowance for purchase of foodstuffs. 

As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain [KJV, JPS "victuals"] on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.  (Nehemiah 10:31) 

Then he said to them, 'Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.'  (Nehemiah 8:10) 

Note that Nehemiah chapters 8 through 10 are one continuous passage.  Since the covenant was not in place until Nehemiah 10, it is clear from the context that people had been buying and selling on the Sabbath and Holy Days prior to Nehemiah 8 – thus the individual “who has nothing prepared” in Nehemiah 8 would have had merchandise – culinary delicacies considered pertinent to the Holy Day – available for his purchase on that day! 

However, instead of some having to purchase these delicacies, the people who had these items on hand were commanded to “send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord …” 

6.      Nehemiah 10:31 and 13:15-22 explicitly forbid both the purchase and the sale of foods of various kinds (including those which are ready to consume, like grapes, figs and wine) on the Sabbath and Holy Days. Nor does Nehemiah 10:31 allow for any distinction between that commerce which is precluded on a Holy Day versus that which is precluded on the weekly Sabbath.

According to the Bible, to buy on God's Sabbath is just as much a sin as to sell; the fact that the other party is not a Christian does not sanitize the transaction.  If anything, Scripturally, it is the reverse!

Our purchase of food on the Sabbath depends entirely upon another person's breaking of God's Sabbath! Yet God commands Christians:

An additional governing principle here is similar to the prohibition against eating food proffered by an unbeliever, knowing that it has been offered to idols. The fact that the other party is an unbeliever doesn't give us any allowance. To the contrary, according to Scripture, it is primary in our obligation to refuse, so as not to give the unbeliever a mixed message regarding the appropriateness of ungodly practice, nor to lay a stumbling block in his path.  (Compare 1 Corinthians 10:27-29.) 

Just so, Christians today contribute to the stumbling of others by purchasing food in restaurants on the Sabbath. 

With surprising frequency, we hear "eating out on the Sabbath" cited as proof that we who profess to keep God’s Sabbaths, in fact, do not.  From the outside, acquaintances see this as false, as hypocritical.  They see this as merely pretending to observe the Biblical Sabbaths.

7.      God's instructions pertinent to the land's Sabbath years are entirely consistent with, underscore, and further illustrate these same Godly principles: There is advance preparation, and there are stringent restrictions upon commercial activity pertinent to food items during holy Sabbath time.

As we have seen demonstrated in the Word of God, there is no justification for the routine purchase of food or wares on the Sabbath or Holy Days, either from a grocery store or from a restaurant.  To the contrary, according to Almighty God, to do so is to be a contributor to God's punishment, an “evil thing,” “profaning the Sabbath day” and “adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

One obvious and rare allowance is the true “ox in the ditch” where an entirely unforeseeable circumstance leaves one short of food.  It would seem that for most of us, this will involve emergencies, accidents, or a completely unexpected responsibility to provide for the needs of others.  Similar circumstances might sometimes arise during international travel. 

We must seek to foresee and prepare.  As the "old farmer" was reputed to have said, "If I had an ox that kept falling in the ditch, I'd either shoot the ox or fill the ditch!"   However, by Scriptural precedent, God allows for the unforeseeable and for circumstances for which preparation is impossible and no brethren are available who can provide.  (Please see the Web site article entitled “God’s Word On … The Ox in the Ditch.”)

Three Greater Principles

As is true with obedience to any of God's instructions to us, greater principles than those simply apparent on the surface of the command are at work in the equation.  Among those greater principles which apply to this situation, the following three are readily discernible:

Individual and Collective Preparation for God’s Kingdom

The Bible’s instructions equip us to recognize the profound symbolism of obtaining and preparing our physical food in anticipation of each weekly Sabbath.  When we obtain and prepare our food ahead of the Sabbath, we are participating in a spiritual duality, which is itself within a duality:

• Christ is that spiritual Bread of Life which we must diligently seek to obtain and prepare within ourselves in order to enter God's Kingdom. 

• We ourselves are spiritual bread from grain which must be gathered, ground, boiled and baked – fully prepared before God's Kingdom rest begins. 

The parable of the ten virgins vividly illustrates the urgent necessity for our advance preparatory efforts:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²“Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. ⁵“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. ⁶“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸“The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹“But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. ¹¹“Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ ¹²“But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' (Matthew 25:1-12)

This parable presents a sobering, heartrending reminder of the terrible and irrevocable consequences, if any of us fail to thoroughly prepare for God’s Kingdom. 

Strikingly in this context, is the duality evidenced by the author of Hebrews.  He alludes to the continuity of weekly Sabbath observance, relating it to our entry into the ultimate rest of the Kingdom of God.  Notice the use of the two distinctly different Greek words and yet the comparison:

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest [katapausis], any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  (Hebrews 4:1)

So there remains a Sabbath rest [sabbatismos – “a Sabbath-keeping”[3]] for the people of God. ¹⁰For the one who has entered His rest [katapausis] has himself also rested [katapauw] from his works, as God did from His.  (Hebrews 4:9-10)

Therefore let us be diligent [spoudazw] to enter that rest [katapausis], so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.  (Hebrews 4:11)

The Greek spoudazw signifies “to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence.”[4]  We are exhorted to be diligent to enter "that rest." 

We must exert ourselves zealously in advance preparatory labors, in order to be granted rest in the coming Kingdom!  Every week, God gives us a helpful and instructive physical opportunity to practice and to symbolize this vital spiritual process – as we obtain and prepare our food in anticipation of the Sabbath!

Can we separate one rest from the other?  Can we argue convincingly that only the weekly Sabbath or only God's Kingdom is being referred to in this Biblical passage?  Rather, the duality practically shouts at us – the necessary preparation for God's Kingdom and the proper observance of God's Sabbath are inextricably intertwined.  Again, we should remember the parable of the virgins.   How can we be granted Godly rest in either instance if we have not made proper advance preparations?

Thus, it is particularly by means of our proper preparation for and observance of God's Sabbaths that we grow in our understanding of the diligence and degree of preparation which God requires of us in order to enter His Kingdom rest. 

On each sixth day, once every seven days, as we make the extra effort to ensure that our meals are procured and prepared in advance of the Sabbath rest, we are once again reminded of the seriousness of our calling.  As part of the Bread of Life, we are privileged to participate in this weekly practicum of our own preparation for readiness to be served to the remainder of humanity during God's Kingdom rest.  On especially challenging or hectic preparation days, we are able to immediately identify with Peter's acknowledgment of the difficulty with which even the righteous are saved.[5]  By this ongoing practice of proper attentiveness to preparing for God's Sabbaths, we learn, as it becomes literally "brought home to us," that we cannot “neglect so great a salvation”[6] if we are to enjoy the privilege of partaking in the ultimate rest of God's soon-coming Kingdom. 

This principle is not only true of us as individuals, but collectively as a Body.  If, as a Body, we are neglecting to properly instruct our brethren in the diligent preparation for and observance of God's Sabbaths, how then can we expect God to grant us a fullness of understanding of precisely in what manner and by what means He would wish us as His Body to carry out our preparation day responsibility of the preaching of His gospel to the world?  How can we expect that Christ will open for us that “door which no man can shut”?[7]

A Richer Understanding of the Meaning of the Sabbath and Holy Days

In His Word, God explains that we gain vital spiritual understanding when we practice obedience to His precepts.  What motivating encouragement our Father offers us to yield: 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  (Proverbs 9:10)

For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright.  (Proverbs 3:32)

He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.  (Psalm 25:9)

The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.  (Psalm 25:14)

I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts.  (Psalm 119:100)

“If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.  (John 7:17)

“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, [which] God has given to those who obey Him.”  (Acts 5:32)

God is not a respecter of persons.  It matters not whether we are great or small in the eyes of others.  If we yield completely to God, we will experience the blessings of enhanced understanding of His awesome and limitless wisdom and knowledge.  God will honor His promise of added insight for any and all who will turn in conformity with what He commands. 

We gain increased understanding from properly observing God's Sabbath each week.  Additionally, increased diligence in observing the annual Holy Days according to God’s instructions has benefited several within His Church with a much richer awareness of those days.  Specifics of that enrichment include: additional facets pertaining to the conduct of Passover (Please see the Web site article entitled “The Christian Passover: The Real Lord’s Supper.”); a realization of the connections of the Jubilee to Pentecost; the recognition that the Feast of Trumpets is not be a day to mourn or weep  (Please enjoy the Web site sermon “Trumpets: The Call to Rejoicing.”); a sobering appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins of ignorance, pictured in the Day of Atonements; and a fuller grasp of the Biblical symbolism of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day.

A Deeper Comprehension of and Commitment to Brotherly Love

Obviously, in the carefulness of our obedience to the tenets of God's Sabbaths, we are practicing the First Great Commandment – to love God.  Remarkable however, is the documentable connection between these elements of proper Sabbath observance and the practice of the Second Great Commandment – that of brotherly love.

In the weekly Sabbath, we find brotherly love a focal point – the commands here clearly specify not only that we are to rest, but that we are not to have others working on our behalf. 

But the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.  (Exodus 20:10)

But the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.  (Deuteronomy 5:14)

Also, it is to be understood from the above verses that we are responsible to God to ensure that those under our umbrella, including travelers among us, are properly and generously provided for in order that they "may rest as well as you." 

It was this principle which the Pharisees were clearly violating when, on one of God's Sabbath days, Jesus’ disciples "became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat."  Christ upbraided the criticizing hypocrisy of those Pharisees, remonstrating:

"But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent." (Matthew 12:7) 

God wants compassion at the outset, rather than to receive trespass offerings after the fact for hardheartedness against one’s fellows!

As attested by Hirsch,[8]  "For the act of the disciples there was some excuse, for the Pharisees' neglect to provide the Sabbath meals, there was none." 

Effectively, by their violation of this Sabbath command, in that instance the Pharisees had created a compassionate need on the part of Christ's disciples for whom they should have provided Sabbath sustenance.  (For an enlightening discussion pertaining to this grain field incident, please see Appendix located at the end to this article.)

The means of obtaining food resorted to by Christ's disciples in this  situation – themselves having become needy –  also offers an intriguing parallel to the stipulations regarding the Land Sabbaths, as we will see shortly.

Coming to the annual Holy Days Sabbaths, we find the Biblical instructions for both Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles specifically enjoin us to ensure that the needy and the dependent among us are provided for in order that they may rejoice with us: 

And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.  (Deuteronomy 16:11)

“You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; ¹⁴and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns.”  (Deuteronomy 16:13-14)

Further, Ezra and Nehemiah direct the sending of portions to those who have nothing prepared on the Feast of Trumpets: 

Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8:10)

God's instructions regarding the Sabbath year also bring out this same principle of brotherly love by ordering the provision of food for the less fortunate among us.

But on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.  (Exodus 23:11)

Clearly, these Scriptures identify an obvious requirement within God's Church for instruction in brotherly love, and particularly as it pertains to the keeping of God's Sabbaths.  Never should any member or minister of the Church who is passing through an area where there are brethren, have to fend for himself on God's Sabbath!  We need to be educated that every family who is financially able should always have sufficient food on hand to provide for unexpected guests on God's Sabbaths – and that preparations should be carried out in such a way so as to entail a minimum amount of Sabbath effort to accommodate any such guests.  Travelers among us shouldn't have to hope or wonder whether anyone will consider their needs; essentially every family in the congregation should be inviting them, ensuring that they are provided for!

The same principle holds true for the Feast of Tabernacles.  First, of course, our search for Festival locations should take into consideration the need to be able to eat on the Sabbath and Holy Days without having to purchase food.  Hence, we must select Festival sites where the meeting venue and/or a significant percentage of the housing can provide kitchen or kitchenette facilities. 

However, it may still be the case that some will not be able to afford or to otherwise take advantage of such amenities.  Therefore, we will need to be educated to the responsibility borne by those with such facilities to ensure that no one in attendance at the Feast is left without provision on the Sabbath or a Holy Day!  The execution of this responsibility may be left to the individuals involved, or it could be facilitated by the Church in any of several ways. 

A Priceless Opportunity

The glue of brotherly love engendered by this sort of caring for one another presents the opportunity for a gift beyond price to the people of God.  Whether it is to provide sustenance for the Sabbath or a Holy Day, a ride to Church, clothes appropriate for services, temporary shelter, or simply caring and compassionate support; there is no greater human bond than that created by the loving sacrifice of one on behalf of another.

Moreover, and to be plainspoken, we are not being persecuted for refusing to “eat out” on the Sabbath.  We are not being threatened with loss of employment, financial reverses, or potential loss of physical life. 

What is the basis for our desire to go out to eat on God's Sabbaths anyway?  We don't hear many women lamenting over not being allowed to clean house or to do laundry on God's Sabbath.  Nor do we hear many men wishing they could do all the jobs from their wife's "honey-do" lists on God's Sabbaths.

Yet many in God's Church have chosen to buy food in restaurants on God's Holy Sabbaths. As most participants freely admit, the desire to do so is primarily, or at least in part, because it is both convenient and "pleasant."  In point of fact, we have drifted away from Scriptural understanding on this topic only because of a fleshly desire to indulge in this practice.  Defying the Word of God, the Sabbath-day purchase of food in restaurants has patently been the pursuit of sensual pleasure: 

            If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot

            From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,

            And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable,

            And honor it, desisting from your own ways,

            From seeking your own pleasure

            And speaking your own word,