Commentary on Leviticus 23:1–3 The Sabbath Festival on the Seventh Day

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Commentary on Leviticus 23:1–3
The Appointed Times
of the Self-Existing and Eternal One – Part 1
The Sabbath Festival on the Seventh Day

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All Scriptures quoted in this article are from the New King James Version (NKJV), unless otherwise noted (https://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/).

Leviticus 23:1–2 (A literal translation)

1 And the Self-Existing and Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘’The appointed times of the Self-Existing and Eternal One, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My appointed times.””

3 “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Self-Existing and Eternal One in all your dwellings.”

Leviticus 23 is an exceptional passage in the Bible. It records the festivals of God. These festivals are called the appointed feasts of the Self-Existing and Eternal One. They are the times predetermined by the Triune God to meet with His people, to have fellowship with them, and to grant them His blessings. Apart from the Sabbath festival on the seventh day, all the other festivals symbolize various aspects of the grace of salvation that God has bestowed upon mankind. They would be carried out by God the Word in human form, under the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sabbath festival on the seventh day was instituted by God before sin entered the world, as part of the work of creation. It is the rest of perfect creation — meaning that nothing more needed to be created after God had completed His creative work. All that God created, bringing all things into being from nothing, was complete and finished. From the moment the sixth day ended, there would never again be anything newly created by God, but only the endless and boundless development of what He had already created.

The meaning of the Sabbath festival on the seventh day is:

  • To commemorate the complete and very good completion of the work of creation.

  • To establish rest in the perfect relationship between the Creator and His creation.

  • To set forth a pattern for the ideal rhythm of life for mankind.

The Sabbath day on the seventh day is rest in a sinless state, not rest from sin or after toil. It is the rest of the fullness of good activities, not the rest of redemption.

The seven Sabbath days within the remaining festivals are the rest of redemption. They were established after mankind sinned and brought sin into the world. They symbolize the aspects of rest experienced by those who believe and receive the salvation of the God.

  • The Sabbath day on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread foreshadows the rest of those who believe in and receive the atoning death of the Christ being forever freed from slavery to sin.

“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6–7)

  • The Sabbath day on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread foreshadows the rest of those who believe in and receive the atoning death of the Christ, as they enter into rest from the toils of the flesh when they depart from this life.

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”” (Revelation 14:13)

  • The Sabbath day of the Feast of Pentecost foreshadows the rest of those who believe in and receive the atoning death of the Christ being freed from the burden of condemnation under the judgment of the Law.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

  • The Sabbath day of the Feast of Trumpets foreshadows the rest of the Church from serving the Lord on earth, when the Christ takes them out of the world before the End Time. It also symbolizes the rest of God’s people during the Great Tribulation, when the Christ returns at the end of the End Time.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52)

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)

  • The Sabbath day of the Day of Atonement foreshadows the rest from sin for the people of Israel and for all nations on earth, when at last they believe in the Christ (Romans 8:1).

  • The Sabbath day on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows the rest of God’s people of all ages in the Millennial Kingdom, from the corruption of the sinful world, when the heavens and the earth have been restored by the Christ, made new as in the beginning of creation.

  • The Sabbath day on the eighth day, after the Feast of Tabernacles, foreshadows the eternal rest of God’s people in the Eternal Kingdom, free from all pain and toil. This is the Sabbath spoken of in Hebrews 4:9–11:

“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9–11)

The view that the weekly Sabbath day on the seventh day foreshadows the eternal rest mentioned in Hebrews 4:9–11 is a serious theological error. In short, the Sabbath festival on the seventh day does not foreshadow anything that the Christ would accomplish for mankind. It is the seal of God’s work of creation—declaring that everything God created was good and complete; that God established fellowship between Himself and the supreme creature made in His image and likeness, that is, mankind.

Now, let us begin to study the meaning of each verse in Leviticus 23 and its application to the life of God’s people in the New Testament era. In this study, we will reflect only on the first three verses. May the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, lead us into all the truth of God’s Word.

Leviticus 23:1–2 (A literal translation)

1 And the Self-Existing and Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘’The appointed times of the the Self-Existing and Eternal One, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My appointed times.””

According to the Bible, on the 1st day of Nisan in the second year, after God had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt by Moses, they completed the construction of the Tabernacle at the foot of Mount Sinai in accordance with His command (Exodus 40:17). The glory of the Self-Existing and Eternal One filled the Tabernacle. From within the Tabernacle, the Self-Existing and Eternal One called Moses and began to teach him what he was to convey to the children of Israel. From that time until the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the Tabernacle became the place where God spoke all His commands and will to the people of Israel through Moses.

An interesting point is that the Bible uses the term “Tabernacle,” literally meaning “tent, dwelling place,” to refer to the place where God dwelled among the children of Israel. But when He called Moses to enter and receive His instructions, the place was called the “Tent of Meeting,” meaning “tent, place of appointment.”

This shows us a God who is both personal and orderly. He is not merely a majestic Being enthroned in heaven. He dwells with His people through His presence in the Tabernacle. Because He dwells with them, He desires to converse, guide, and reveal His will to His people. And when He speaks to them, He calls His Tabernacle the Tent of Meeting—a designated place for encounter.

Today, the body of each believer is the Temple of God, and their body is also the Tent of Meeting, the place where God appoints to meet with them and teach them. The practice of the Israelites offering sacrifices to God twice daily foreshadows the New Testament believers presenting themselves twice daily to God, offering their bodies as living and holy sacrifices to God, according to the instruction of the Holy Spirit in Romans 12:1.

As for believers speaking with the Lord and hearing His guidance, this can happen at any time. The Holy Spirit has taught God’s people: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is conversing with the Lord and listening to His instruction. To pray without ceasing means that the spirit is always directed toward God, which allows one to be aware that everything one does is for the glory of God. Through this, one is also able to love others with the love of God.

The Hebrew noun “מוֹעֵד” (môʿēḏ – H4150) /mo-ade’/ in the original biblical language means “appointed place,” “appointed time,” or “appointed meeting.” In the context of Scripture, it can be understood as the time that God has appointed to meet with His people.

These appointed times are repeatedly called “of the Self-Existing and Eternal One,” meaning that no one has the authority to change or nullify them. The titles “God” (in the plural form of Hebrew) and “the Self-Existing and Eternal One” are both names referring collectively to the Triune God. Therefore, the festivals ordained by God in the Old Testament are the times when the Triune God appoints to meet His people, during which they cease from all labor to gather and worship Him.

The Self-Existing and Eternal One affirmed to Moses: “The appointed feasts of the Self-Existing and Eternal One, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My appointed feasts.”

The first purpose is to define the special times that God intends to meet His people in a deliberate and purposeful way. Next, it is to provide a detailed pattern for the life of worshiping God, helping the children of Israel to know how to worship Him according to His regulations. Worshiping God in accordance with the instruction of His Word is what the Lord Jesus called worshiping “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).

The command to “proclaim” implies announcing to everyone so that all may know and follow.

Except for the weekly Sabbath on the seventh day, the remaining appointed feasts are vivid historical lessons of the people of Israel but also contain prophetic meaning about the Messiah, the Savior, whom God will give to all humanity. Each festival is connected to the salvation that God will give to mankind and foreshadows what the Savior will accomplish for humanity when He enters the world and establishes a new covenant between God and mankind.

“Holy convocations” means gatherings set apart for God—His people assembled according to His command, focused on Him, worshiping Him, and obeying all His will. Each Sabbath day and each festival is a time for God’s people to assemble in holiness and present themselves before God.

Leviticus 23:3 (A literal translation)

3 “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Self-Existing and Eternal One in all your dwellings.”

Before speaking about the appointed feasts of the year, the Self-Existing and Eternal One first spoke about the appointed weekly feast. This is the day when God’s people must cease from work and dedicate time to assemble and worship God. However, many who claim to be God’s people neglect this assembly. The Holy Spirit speaks of them in Hebrews 10:25 and urges God’s people not to follow their example.

This helps us understand that God’s people must keep the seventh-day Sabbath according to God’s Word—not neglecting it nor substituting it with Sunday based on human teachings in religious organizations.

The phrase “Sabbath of solemn rest” is a biblical idiom meaning “a day of rest, relaxation, and refraining from work.” This idiom appears only three times in Scripture:

  • Leviticus 16:31, referring to the Sabbath of the Day of Atonement.

  • Leviticus 23:3, referring to the weekly Sabbath on the seventh day.

  • Leviticus 23:32, referring again to the Sabbath of the Day of Atonement.

The seventh-day Sabbath was ordained by God as His appointed time with mankind from the very beginning of creation, before sin entered the world. Therefore, it is a day when humanity is granted complete rest, relaxation, and fellowship with God. This is also the meaning of “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27).

The Sabbath of the Day of Atonement foreshadows God’s people, who, having been redeemed from sin, enter into rest from sin and enjoy once again the rest that God originally intended for them from the beginning.

The seventh-day Sabbath, existing from the very beginning of creation, was set apart by God as a holy day, unrelated to mankind’s salvation, because at that time sin had not entered the world. It is the day God gave humanity to rest in the physical world after six days of labor in governing the earth and all living things. It is also the day God appointed to meet with humanity and commune with them. It is the only day blessed and sanctified by God.

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made complete.” (Genesis 2:2–3)

Sanctified means to make holy or to keep holy and set apart for God.

We can clearly see that, even before the existence of the people of Israel and before the Law of Moses, God had established the Sabbath as part of the created order. He blessed and sanctified this day. Thus, the seventh-day Sabbath is a weekly holy rest for all humanity, not exclusively for Israel, ordained by God from the beginning of creation. It is God’s provision for the rest and restoration of mankind. It is also a weekly appointment for humanity to worship God and receive His blessing.

Before God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, He had already instructed them to keep the Sabbath holy: “Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Self-Existing and Eternal One“ (Exodus 16:23 – A literal translation).

The fourth commandment begins with the instruction: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). This means that even before the Sabbath observance was incorporated into the Ten Commandments, humanity, including Israel, was already aware of the Sabbath. However, during the 400 years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites did not experience rest on the holy Sabbath each week, and they may have forgotten this grace that God had given to mankind.

The command to keep the Sabbath was included in God’s Ten Commandments and serves as the binding responsibility of humanity toward God and toward one another.

The first three commandments are the responsibilities of humanity toward God. The remaining six commandments are the responsibilities of humanity toward one another. However, the fourth commandment encompasses responsibilities both toward God and toward others.

Toward God, humanity must sanctify—that is, set apart—the seventh day as a day of rest from work and of worshiping Him. Toward others, people must rest themselves to worship God while also allowing everyone under their authority or dwelling with them, and even their livestock, to rest from labor. It is not a symbolic law nor merely a law of ceremonial worship.

Therefore, the seventh-day Sabbath is not a new concept introduced in the Ten Commandments but a solemn reaffirmation of a holy ordinance that has existed since the beginning of creation. This demonstrates God’s consistency and the eternal significance of the rest day He established.

God not only commands rest from labor on the Sabbath, but He also invites humanity to meet with Him on the day He has appointed. The essence of the Sabbath is rest in the presence of God, not merely cessation from work.

Thus, the reasoning that “any day can be a Sabbath, as long as it is set apart for God, without labor, and used for assembly and worship” is not consistent with Scripture. Because to do otherwise would be to turn the Sabbath into a human-appointed day.

When God established the Sabbath, He did not say, “Choose any day of the week to rest.” He clearly declared:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Self-Existing and Eternal One, your God. You shall do no work: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your livestock, and the stranger who is within your gates.” (Exodus 20:8–10 – A literal translation)

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Self-Existing and Eternal One in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3 – A literal translation)

The key point: the “seventh day” was chosen and sanctified by the Self-Existing and Eternal One, not by human decision. Changing this day essentially assumes that human choice has the same value as—or can replace—God’s appointment.

If we choose the day ourselves, then it becomes our appointment. We invite God to attend according to our schedule.

But the Sabbath is the appointment of the Self-Existing and Eternal One. He is the One who invites, and He has set the time. We are the invited guests, and our responsibility is to be present at the appointed time and place.

Saying “any day will do” is like telling a master, “I will come to meet you on whichever day is convenient for me; it does not have to be the day you scheduled.” This clearly shows a lack of respect for the one who established the appointment.

If each person chooses a different Sabbath day according to their own preference, it is no longer a clear and unified sign. Obedience lies in following God’s determination, not in acting according to our convenience.

The fact that God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, recorded in Genesis 2:2–3, is a foundational act with profound theological, spiritual, and practical significance for all humanity. It is not merely a historical event but a permanent establishment from the very beginning of creation.

Meaning for God: The seventh-day Sabbath is the mark of the good completion of creation and a declaration of God’s sovereignty over all creation.

The mark of perfect creation: God “rested” on the seventh day not because He was weary (Isaiah 40:28), but to seal and proclaim the completion of His creative work. Everything He made was “very good.” His cessation from work is a sign of fullness and satisfaction.

A spiritual pattern for humanity’s rhythm of life: God established a holy rhythm for the universe: work and rest. He was the first to observe the Sabbath, becoming the example for all creatures made in His image and likeness.

Meaning for humanity: The seventh-day Sabbath is a grace and an invitation from God.

A gift for humanity: The Lord Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27). Before it was a commandment, the Sabbath was a gift of God’s grace to humanity, giving them the opportunity to rest each week and receive spiritual blessings from Him.

Rest of the body: Ceasing from labor so that the body may be restored.

Rest of the spirit: Letting go of worry and competition, and seeking comfort in the Creator.

Rest of the soul: Recognizing that the value and meaning of life do not come from our labor, but from God’s grace.

Freedom from all forms of slavery: In a world that constantly demands “more work, more gain,” the Sabbath declares that we are not slaves to labor. We are free to rest, trusting that God will provide.

Sanctification of time: By “making holy” the seventh-day Sabbath, God transforms ordinary time into a “sacred space” within time. He makes the Sabbath the “place” where He meets His people. Just as He set apart a physical space (the Tabernacle) to meet His people, He also sets apart a period of time for special encounters with them.

God’s blessing and sanctification of the seventh day is:

  • A pattern for a healthy rhythm of work and rest for humanity.

  • A promise of His provision, protection, and presence among His people.

  • A declaration that humanity has value because they are created in the image and likeness of God, not because of their productivity.

When God blessed the Sabbath, He imparted to it a unique power and function that no other day possesses:

  • He made it a source of blessing for those who keep it. Just as He blessed humanity and animals to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22, 28), His blessing of the Sabbath transforms it into a channel through which blessings flow to those who sanctify it. What are these blessings? They are rest, restoration of body, mind, and soul, experienced in peace and God’s special presence. This operates supernaturally on those who observe the Sabbath, bringing new life and energy to them.

  • He endowed it with abundance. The Hebrew word for “bless” is associated with overflowing and fullness. God gave the Sabbath a unique quality—a “fullness” of rest and holiness that no other day possesses. This is not the negative rest of weariness, but the positive rest of completeness, fulfillment, and satisfaction in God.

  • He placed His holiness within it. To “sanctify” means to set apart for a holy purpose. Combined with “bless,” this means God not only set it apart but also endowed it with divine power to fulfill that purpose. He made it a “holy space within time,” a reality containing His presence, where humanity can enter and experience a special closeness with the Creator.

In summary, God’s blessing of the Sabbath means that He has supernaturally provided and stored within that day all the blessings necessary for life, rest, and communion with Him. He has endowed it with the power to pour out blessings, life, peace, satisfaction, restoration, and His holy presence to anyone who enters the Sabbath in faith and obedience.

It is not merely a day labeled “good.” It is a day “charged with life-giving power” by the Creator Himself.

The weekly seventh-day Sabbath holds a unique position. It is not a ceremonial “shadow,” but a moral command and a blessing from creation. It was established for the physical, mental, and social benefit of all humanity and even the animals.

Viewing it as an eternal moral principle—a day set apart for rest, worship, and restoration according to the rhythm established by the Creator—is essential for every child of God.

The Sabbath is not a burden of the law but a privilege and an invitation from the Creator to enter into a restful fellowship with Him and experience His provision. It is a mark of His love and care for humanity.

Thus, the act of “sanctifying” the Sabbath is an expression of faith in God’s Word and a joyful reception of the blessings He has provided for humanity through the Sabbath.

An act of faith: When a person ceases their work on the Sabbath, it is a practical act of trust. They declare through action:

“I believe God’s Word more than my labor.” They trust in the blessings of the six days of work and in God’s provision, not in unceasing labor throughout the week.

“I believe God has poured out blessings on this day for me, and I enter it by faith to receive them.” This is the rest of faith—trusting that the Creator knows our needs and has provided perfectly.

Joyful reception: Observing the Sabbath with a spirit of “joy” (as described in Isaiah 58:13) transforms it from a duty into a privilege. It is like a child happily opening a gift that their father has prepared. The Sabbath-keeper who approaches it with gratitude joyfully opens the gift of rest and God’s presence. They do not say, “I must rest,” but rather, “I may rest; I receive the restoration and blessings God has prepared for me.”

A close relationship, not just a law: The Sabbath is an appointment of love between the Creator and humanity. God blessed and sanctified the seventh day for humanity. It is a weekly gift from God, and humans, in faith and joy, receive it with gratitude toward Him.

Sanctifying the Sabbath is the human response of faith and joy to God’s grace and loving provision. It is trusting and entering into the rest He has prepared, allowing Him to renew body, mind, and soul. This is the spirit that the Lord Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, desires us to have.

The closing part of Leviticus 23:3 is a crucial command: “It is the Sabbath of the Self-Existing and Eternal One throughout your dwellings.” God’s people must observe the Sabbath on the seventh day wherever they reside on earth.

In the Bible, a new day begins at sunset of the current day and ends at the next day’s sunset. However, because the earth is spherical, sunset times vary by latitude. At the poles (90° south and 90° north), the sun rises and sets only once a year, resulting in six months of day and six months of night. To observe the Sabbath consistently worldwide, God’s people may begin the Sabbath from 6:00 PM on Friday until 6:00 PM on Saturday. These times correspond approximately to sunrise and sunset twice a year, at the vernal equinox (around March 20–21) and the autumnal equinox (around September 22–23).

In reality, God’s Ten Commandments are not a shadow of anything nor a ritual of worship; they are the moral foundation He established for humanity. As long as the current heavens and earth exist, not a single dot or stroke of God’s Ten Commandments will pass away (Matthew 5:18), even during the Millennial Kingdom.

In the new heavens and new earth, commandments such as: Do not make idols, do not worship or serve idols; honor your father and mother; do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not covet what belongs to others—will no longer be necessary. All negative tendencies that give rise to sin will no longer exist in the consciousness of those whose physical bodies have been resurrected or transformed like the resurrected body of Christ. Within them will be a spirit wholly like and united with the Spirit of Christ. Even the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments will no longer be mentioned, as they will have become the natural consciousness of humanity and the angels.

We conclude this lesson here.

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truths of God’s Word (John 16:13). May the Word of God sanctify us (John 17:17). May the Faithful *God of Peace Himself sanctify our spirit, soul, and body entirely, without blame (1 Thessalonians 5:23), at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Beloved Savior. Amen!

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
10/18/2025

Note:

About Using “*God”, “the God” and “holy spirit”

Wherever the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible use a definite article with a noun to denote GOD, we translate it into English as *God or “the God” to refer to God the Father. We understand that “God,” without a definite article, was used as a collective noun for all and any of the three Persons of the Godhead. And “God,” with a definite article, was used to refer to God the Father.

In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the term “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) without the definite article “the” (το) is used to denote the power of God, which is given by God the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit” (το πνευματι το αγιω) is God, and “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) is the power that comes from God.