TEXT:  Exodus 20:8-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.      The Sabbath was part of Mosaic law.

          1.       The Seventh day.

          2.       shabbath (shab-bawth');  intermission,  to cease.

                   Accepted meaning in context - rest( Heb. 4:9 ).

B.      Is this practice binding today?

I.      Origin of Sabbath.

A.      Sanctified after the "resting"( Gen. 2: 3 ).

B.      When was it set aside as day of rest?

          1.       No command or example until after deliverance from Egypt.

          2.       To commemorate deliverance( Deut. 5:13-15 ).

          3.       Made known at Sinai( Neh. 9:13-14 ).

          4.       God chose the same day on which he had rested( Gen. 2:3;  Ex. 20:11 ).

                   a.       The reason for the memorial was the deliverance.

                   b.       The reason for choosing the particular day was that God rested on it.

II.     FOR WHOM WAS THE SABBATH INTENDED?

A.      Ex. 31:12-18.A SIGN AND A COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL.

B.      CONTRAST:

          1.       Patriarchy: No command, example, penalty.

          2.       Judaism: Command, example, penalty.

III.    THE SABBATH HAS ENDED.

A.      Can a perpetual Sabbath end?

          1.       Perpetual incense ended( Ex. 30: 8 ).

          2.       Circumcision ended( Gen. 17:13;  Gal. 5:6 ).

          3.       All of time to which applied or intended ( Jonah 2:6 ).

          4.       "Throughout your generations" - as long as Israel was God's chosen.

                   ( Lev. 16:34;  24:46;  25:13;  Deut. 15:16-17 )

B.      PROPHECY FULFILLED.

          1.       Amos 8:1-10;  Cf. Matt. 27: 45.

          2.       Hos. 2:11-13; Cf. .

IV.   THE DECALOGUE HAS ENDED( 2 Cor. 3:7, 11 ).

A.      Ten commandments were the covenant. 

          ( 1 Kgs. 8:9, 21 Cf. Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:6-9 ).

B.      THE LAW WHICH COMMANDED THE SABBATH NAILED TO THE CROSS    ( Col. 2:13-17 )

Conclusion:  WE ARE NOT BOUND TO THE SABBATH.