THE FORGOTTEN COMMANDMENT

Restoring the Biblical Sabbath

TRUTH CARRIERS EDUCATION SYSTEM
Torah Foundations Series - Adult Core

ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK

Introduction: The Sabbath is the most attacked, most ignored, and most misunderstood commandment in modern Christianity. Yet it is the ONLY commandment that begins with "REMEMBER"—as if Yahuah knew we would forget it. This workbook exposes the historical change from Saturday to Sunday, examines what Scripture actually says, and provides practical steps for restoring biblical Sabbath observance in your life.

What You Will Learn:

Key Scripture Themes:

Sacred Names Used: Yahuah (not LORD), Yahusha (not Jesus), Elohim (God)

Target Audience: Adults and families seeking biblical truth about the Sabbath

Study Time: 10-12 hours (10 comprehensive lessons + bonus practical lesson)

Opening Prayer: "Yahuah, reveal Your truth about the Sabbath. Give us eyes to see what Scripture actually says, not what tradition teaches. Help us distinguish between Your commands and man's additions. Give us courage to obey even when the whole world disagrees. In Yahusha's name, amen."

Sabbath History Timeline

The Sabbath Through History: From Creation to Today

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Sabbath at Creation - Before Sin, Before Jews
  2. Sabbath Before Sinai - The Manna Miracle
  3. The Fourth Commandment - Remember and Keep Holy
  4. Sabbath as Covenant Sign - A Lasting Forever
  5. Sabbath in the Prophets - Delight and Future
  6. Yahusha and the Sabbath - His Custom and Authority
  7. Apostolic Sabbath Keeping - Paul's Pattern
  8. The Change to Sunday - Constantine and Church Councils
  9. Which Day Is the Seventh? - Unbroken Weekly Cycle
  10. Answering Objections - Scripture vs. Tradition
  11. BONUS: How to Keep the Sabbath - Practical Application

KEY HEBREW TERMS

Term Hebrew Meaning
Shabbat שַׁבָּת To cease, rest, stop
Kadosh קָדוֹשׁ Set apart, holy, sanctified
Oneg עֹנֶג Delight (Isaiah 58:13)
Mikra Kodesh מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ Holy convocation/assembly
Pikuach Nefesh פִּקּוּחַ נֶפֶשׁ Saving life takes precedence

LESSON 1: SABBATH AT CREATION

Scripture Reading

Genesis 2:1-3
"Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day Elohim had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then Elohim blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

Three Divine Actions

Notice what Elohim did on the seventh day:

  1. RESTED - Hebrew: shabat (שָׁבַת) - to cease, desist, stop
  2. BLESSED - Hebrew: barak (בָּרַךְ) - to bless, kneel, praise
  3. MADE IT HOLY - Hebrew: qadash (קָדַשׁ) - to set apart, sanctify, consecrate

Critical Timeline Questions:

When was the Sabbath established? At CREATION (Genesis 2)

When did sin enter? Genesis 3 (AFTER the Sabbath)

When did Jews begin to exist? Abraham (Genesis 12) - approximately 2,000 years AFTER creation

Conclusion: The Sabbath was established:

The Only Day Blessed and Sanctified

Elohim did NOT bless or sanctify Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Sunday. ONLY the seventh day received this unique honor.

Mark 2:27 (Yahusha's Own Words):

"The Sabbath was made for man (Greek: anthropos = mankind, humanity), not man for the Sabbath."

Greek word analysis: Anthropos (ἄνθρωπος) = human being, mankind (NOT Ioudaios = Jew). Yahusha explicitly said the Sabbath was made for ALL HUMANITY, not just Jews.

Part of Creation Order, Not Ceremonial Law

The Sabbath is NOT part of:

The Sabbath IS part of:

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. On the seventh day, Elohim from all His work.
2. Elohim blessed and made the seventh day .
3. The Sabbath was established at , not at Sinai.
4. The Sabbath was made for , not just for Jews.
5. This happened sin entered the world.

True or False

Discussion Questions

1. If the Sabbath was created before sin, is it part of the curse or the blessing?

2. If there were no Jews at creation, who was the Sabbath made for? How does this affect the argument that "the Sabbath is only for Jews"?

3. Why do you think Elohim blessed and sanctified ONLY the seventh day? What makes it uniquely special?

LESSON 2: SABBATH BEFORE SINAI

The Manna Miracle (Exodus 16)

Context: Israel has left Egypt but has NOT yet arrived at Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments have NOT been given yet.

Exodus 16:4-5
"Then Yahuah said to Moses, 'I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day... On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.'"

The Pattern Yahuah Established

Day Manna Provided Command
Day 1 One omer per person Gather daily portion
Day 2 One omer per person Gather daily portion
Day 3 One omer per person Gather daily portion
Day 4 One omer per person Gather daily portion
Day 5 One omer per person Gather daily portion
Day 6 (Preparation) TWO omers per person Gather DOUBLE - prepare for Sabbath
Day 7 (Sabbath) NO MANNA REST - stay in your place
Exodus 16:23
"He said to them, 'This is what Yahuah commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to Yahuah. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"

The Test and Rebuke

Some Israelites went out on the seventh day to gather manna anyway. They found NOTHING.

Exodus 16:28-30 - Yahuah's Rebuke:
"Then Yahuah said to Moses, 'How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? See! For Yahuah has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.' So the people rested on the seventh day."

Critical point: This rebuke happened BEFORE Sinai. Yahuah called the Sabbath one of "My commandments and My laws" BEFORE the Ten Commandments were formally given on tablets of stone.

The Fourth Commandment Says "REMEMBER"

Exodus 20:8
"REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Hebrew: Zakar (זָכַר) = to remember, recall, call to mind

You cannot "remember" something that never existed. The command is "REMEMBER," not "Here's something brand new I'm creating." This proves the Sabbath already existed; Sinai formalized it in the covenant.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. On the sixth day, gather a portion of manna.
2. On the seventh day, no fell from heaven.
3. Exodus 16 happened Mount Sinai.
4. The fourth commandment says "" the Sabbath, not "create."
5. The sixth day is called the day.

True or False

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Yahuah taught the Sabbath through a MIRACLE (manna) before giving it as a written command?

2. How does Exodus 16:28 ("How long will you refuse to keep My commandments?") prove the Sabbath was already a law before Sinai?

LESSON 3: THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

Scripture Reading - Full Text

Exodus 20:8-11
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to Yahuah your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days Yahuah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yahuah blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

Who Must Rest? Five Categories

  1. You - The head of household
  2. Your son and daughter - All children
  3. Your male and female servants - Employees, workers
  4. Your animals - Even livestock must rest
  5. Any foreigner in your towns - Gentiles included!

The Penalty for Breaking Sabbath

Exodus 31:14-15: "Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to Yahuah. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death."

Why so serious? Because the Sabbath is the covenant SIGN (see Lesson 4). Breaking it = rejecting the covenant relationship.

Two Reasons Given

Exodus 20:11 - CREATION: "For in six days Yahuah made the heavens and the earth... but he rested on the seventh day."

Deuteronomy 5:15 - REDEMPTION: "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that Yahuah your Elohim brought you out... Therefore Yahuah your Elohim has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."

The Sabbath commemorates BOTH creation AND redemption from slavery.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. " the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."
2. The seventh day is a sabbath to your Elohim.
3. categories of people/beings must rest (count them).
4. The reason given in Exodus is the days of creation.
5. Deuteronomy adds the reason of from Egypt.

True or False

Discussion Question

Why do you think the Sabbath command is the LONGEST of the Ten Commandments? What does this suggest about its importance?

LESSON 4: SABBATH AS COVENANT SIGN

Exodus 31:12-17
"You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am Yahuah, who makes you holy... The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days Yahuah made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."

Key Hebrew Word: OT (אוֹת)

Strong's H226: Ot (אוֹת)

Definition: Sign, mark, token, pledge

Examples in Scripture:

What Makes a Covenant Sign?

A covenant sign is a visible, observable marker that identifies:

Analogy: A wedding ring is a sign of marriage covenant. Removing it publicly signals rejection of the marriage. Similarly, breaking the Sabbath publicly signals rejection of the covenant with Yahuah.

Ezekiel 20:12, 20
"Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I Yahuah made them holy... Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am Yahuah your Elohim."

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The Sabbath is a between Yahuah and His people.
2. It is described as a covenant.
3. The Hebrew word for "sign" is .
4. Ezekiel says the Sabbath shows that Yahuah makes us .

True or False

Discussion Question

If the Sabbath is the covenant SIGN, what message does changing it to Sunday send about our relationship with Yahuah?

LESSON 5: SABBATH IN THE PROPHETS

Isaiah 58:13-14 - How to Honor the Sabbath

"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Yahuah, honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in Yahuah."

Five Actions to Honor the Sabbath

  1. Turn away from doing YOUR pleasure
  2. Call the Sabbath a DELIGHT (Hebrew: oneg עֹנֶג)
  3. Call it HONORABLE
  4. Don't do YOUR own ways
  5. Don't speak YOUR own words (business talk, complaints)

The Sabbath in the New Heaven and New Earth

Isaiah 66:22-23
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahuah... from one sabbath to another, shall ALL FLESH come to worship before me."

Critical point: The Sabbath continues FOREVER into the new creation! If it was "abolished at the cross," why does Isaiah prophesy ALL FLESH keeping it in eternity?

Sabbath Violations Bring Judgment

Jeremiah 17:21-27: No bearing burdens on Sabbath; obedience = Jerusalem prospers; disobedience = Jerusalem burns (fulfilled in 586 BC Babylonian destruction)

Nehemiah 13:15-22: Nehemiah shut the gates of Jerusalem at sunset Friday; merchants turned away; no commerce on Sabbath

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. Isaiah says to call the Sabbath a .
2. In the new heavens and earth, all will worship on Sabbath.
3. Jeremiah warned against bearing on the Sabbath.
4. Nehemiah shut the of Jerusalem at sunset on preparation day.

True or False

Discussion Question

If ALL FLESH will keep the Sabbath in the new earth (Isaiah 66:23), should we practice it now as preparation for eternity?

LESSON 6: YAHUSHA AND THE SABBATH

His Custom

Luke 4:16
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom."

Greek: kata to eiōthos (κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς) = according to His custom, His habit, His regular practice

"Lord of the Sabbath"

Mark 2:27-28
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

What this means: As Creator, Yahusha has AUTHORITY over the Sabbath. He defines its proper observance. He never ABOLISHED it—He RESTORED it to its original intent.

What Yahusha Did on Sabbath

What Yahusha OPPOSED

Pharisaic ADDITIONS to the Torah (not the Torah itself):

Critical Logic: Yahusha's Sinlessness

1 John 3:4: "Sin is transgression of the law"

Hebrews 4:15: Yahusha "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin"

1 Peter 2:22: "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"

Conclusion: If Yahusha had broken the Torah's Sabbath command, He would have been a SINNER and a blemished sacrifice, unable to save us. His sinlessness PROVES He kept the Sabbath correctly—He only broke TRADITIONS, not TORAH.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. Luke 4:16 says going to synagogue on Sabbath was Yahusha's .
2. Yahusha declared Himself " of the Sabbath."
3. He said the Sabbath was made for , not man for the Sabbath.
4. Yahusha broke Pharisaic , not Torah.

True or False

Discussion Question

If Yahusha is "Lord of the Sabbath," why would He destroy or abolish His own day? What does His Sabbath-keeping custom teach us?