Forbidden Secrets | What You Didn’t Know About Working On Saturday | Prepare To Be Amazed

Forbidden Secrets | What You Didn’t Know About Working On Saturday | Prepare To Be Amazed

In the Bible, the general rule was that the Israelites were not allowed to engage in regular work on the Shabbat. This was a strict commandment with very few exceptions. The primary purpose of the Sabbath was rest and worship, as exemplified in the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). However, there are a few instances that provide context to the nature of “work” on the Sabbath:

1. Priests Working in the Temple:

The priests in the Temple carried out their duties even on the Sabbath. This included activities that were considered work, like offering sacrifices, which was part of their religious service.



Numbers 28:9-10 – “On the Sabbath day, two lambs a year old without defect, and two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering, along with its drink offering: This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.”

2. Jesus Healing on the Sabbath:

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the legalistic interpretation of Sabbath work. He heals on the Sabbath and argues that doing good and fulfilling God’s purpose is lawful.

Mark 2:27 – “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'”

3. Necessity and Mercy:

Jesus also teaches that acts of necessity and mercy are permissible on the Sabbath, like pulling an ox from a ditch.

Luke 14:5 – “Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?'”



While the last two instances do not come from the Old Testament period of the Israelites but from the New Testament, they reflect an understanding of the Sabbath law that includes compassion and necessity. The Old Testament itself does not provide explicit examples of permissible work on the Sabbath outside of the priestly duties. The rules were quite strict, and the emphasis was always on rest and holiness.

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Submitted By: Berakah Rebekah 

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