Roman 14:5
"One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind."
First, the word "alike" is in italics in the KJV because it is not in the Greek. There is nothing wrong with esteeming every day, after all, YHWH made them all. If we choose to worship Him seven days a week, so be it and halleluyah! However, that does not change the fact that as we worship Him every day we must also rest from labor on one day, the Sabbath. It is a mistake to read the Sabbath into this verse. Nowhere is the Sabbath mentioned. Nor can we read any of YHWH's annual sabbaths or feast days into this verse. There were many other "days" that the Jews highly esteemed besides the Sabbath and feasts. For example, most Jews at that time fasted twice a week (
Luke 18:12 and Talmudic writings). The Jews also kept fast days throughout the year as mentioned in
Zechariah 8:19. Then there was the Feast of Purim (
Esther 9:28), and the Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah (
John 10:22). The Jewish converts would have probably continued esteeming those days whereas the Gentile converts would probably not, especially since they were not commanded by YHWH to be kept. However, all men knew the Sabbath was commanded and so there was no question about its observance as seen in such verses as
Acts 18:4 and
Acts 13:42-44;
14:1.
As Jesus is our Sabbath Rest...it does not matter a hill of beans.
Hebrews chapter 4 addresses the "true rest of the soul." The original account from which
Hebrews 4:1-11 is taken is found in
Numbers 14:22-24,
28-30, and
Deuteronomy 1:30-40. In both passages it was the "land" (of Canaan) that was being withheld because of unbelief. The children of Israel were on their wilderness journey to the "promised land," which was a type of the "rest" to come. Joshua brought them into that land or the typical "rest" (
Joshua 1:13-15;
21:44;
22:4), yet the Almighty again spoke through David concerning this greater rest. In
Psalm 95:11, David uses the phrase "my rest" instead of "the land" as in the original promise. Why? Because "the land" was only a type of the future rest to come when true believers enter into the true promised land, the "heavenly country" that the patriarchs of old saw from afar (
Hebrews 11:13-16).
We are currently on our wilderness journey as well. We are heading for the heavenly country promised us. Just as the Israelites continued keeping the Sabbath rest throughout their wilderness journey, so, too, must we continue to keep the Sabbath rest. In fact, the Israelites continued to keep the Sabbath even after entering the typical promised land of Canaan. We, too, will continue in the Sabbath rest as prophesied by Isaiah (66:22,23) even after the new heaven and new earth come.
If the common Christian view of
Hebrews 4:10 is correct, that the Sabbath is abolished because we have entered the true rest in Jesus, then, to be consistent, it must also be true that all work is abolished since we have ceased from our own works. In other words, if the physical rest is done away with, then the physical labor should also be done away with. However, since believers continue to do physical labors like farming, construction work, etc., they should also continue to rest from such labor as it is written. Additionally, the Sabbath rest is commanded for the sake of animals as well. Is it now permissible for farmers to work their animals seven days a week? Do animals somehow enter into the true rest as well?
Hebrews 4:11 talks about laboring to enter into that rest. It is not something we automatically receive upon accepting Yeshua as our Savior except by faith. That rest will become a reality upon our resurrection unto eternal life. That is why we see the saints of
Revelation 14:12,
13 laboring right up until death. It is only after death that the ultimate rest can literally begin. Note, also, that those saints "keep the commandments of God" (KJV), among which is the Sabbath.
We certainly can find rest for our souls in Messiah (
Matthew 11:28,
29), but he does not give our bodies rest, nor does he give animals rest. That kind of rest is only available through the Sabbath rest.
Jeremiah 6:16 reads, "Thus saith YHWH, 'Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk therein.' " The "old paths" and the "good way" that provides a "rest for the soul" includes the keeping of YHWH's Sabbaths. Notice the similar wording found in
Isaiah 58:12,
13. The rest we have in Yeshua is only a foretaste of the rest to come at his second coming when we will be dwelling in the presence of the Father and the Son in the glorious "heavenly country".
Deuteronomy 5:15 reads, "And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YHWH thy Elohim brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore YHWH thy Elohim commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day." Notice the keeping of the Sabbath rest followed the Israelite redemption from slavery and bondage. How much more should we keep the Sabbath with joy overflowing after our greater redemption from sin and death? Why? Because every time we keep the Sabbath holy we remember and proclaim who it is that provided this great deliverance for us (
Deuteronomy 5:15); we remember and proclaim who it is that sanctifies us (
Exodus 31:13); we remember and proclaim who it is that created us and all things (
Exodus 20:11); and we delight in both the Sabbath and YHWH Himself, and honor YHWH by doing His will and good pleasure (
Isaiah 58:13,
14). The Sabbath is truly holy, sanctified, blessed, delightful, and honorable.