The Rabbinical Sabbath Restrictions

tim April 28, 2021

The trend towards a strict Sabbath observance increased during the intertestamental period, and reached its peak in the Mishna of the third century A.D. These ancient rabbinical sabbath restrictions impacted virtually every aspect of life on the Sabbath, and while they were intended to protect the sanctity of the Sabbath, they more frequently made the day a burden on the people. Jesus Christ referred to this legalistic keeping of the Sabbath when He said that the Jews “worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Many of Christ’s miracles on the Sabbath, while benefitting those healed, infringed in some way on the rabbinical Sabbath restrictions.

Categories: Sabbath Timeline

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