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Sermon Date: 18 May 2018

Text: Exodus 20:8-11

Opening Discussion: Has your interpretation of the Sabbath commandment changed over time?

Observation What does God’s word say?

Read the passage listed above. As you observe what God’s word says, answer the following questions about the text:

• What are the key words and phrases of the text? Is anything repeated?

o Sabbath – Comes from the Hebrew word, Shabbat, which means “cessation”

o Notice the symmetrical repetition – the first sentence reflects the last sentence while the second sentence reflects the next-to-last sentence

• What does this text reveal about human nature?
•  What does this text reveal about the character and purposes of God?

Meaning What does God’s word mean?

The motive for the Sabbath commandment is given in Exodus 20:11 and it points to Creation.

Read: Genesis 2:1-3 The Sabbath commandment is further explained later in Exodus, in what is called The Book of the Covenant, and again in Deuteronomy. Read: Exodus 23:10-12; Deuteronomy 5:12-15

• What did the Sabbath commandment mean for the people of Israel?
• Why was God requiring this of them? Read: Exodus 31:12-17
• What does this passage reveal to us about the Sabbath that makes it special in the Covenant at Sinai? Covenant signs are a common theme in the covenants that God makes with His people. Read: Genesis 9:12-13; 17:11
• What are the covenant signs in God’s covenants with Noah and Abraham?
• What is the purpose of a covenant sign? By the time of Jesus, Jewish leaders had greatly increased Sabbath legislation—human law had been added to divine law—putting the focus on the legal aspects of the laws rather than on the objectives of the laws. Then Jesus came along and turned things upside down, pointing people toward the original intent of the Law. Jesus performed seven miracles on the Sabbath. Let’s look at two of them. Read: Mark 3:1-6; John 5:2-17
• What is Jesus teaching us here?

Application How must I change? Is there a truth to be believed?

• Read: Mark 2:27; Matthew 5:17-20 Is there an attitude to be fostered?
• Read: Hebrews 4:1-13 Is there a behavior to be changed?
• When is the allowed timing for your Sabbath rest? • What is the purpose/focus of your Sabbath rest? Closing

Prayer: Pray that God will help you implement these principles into your life.