Such days bore an evil connotation, and work performed on them would have harmful effects. The 15th of the month, the time of the full moon in their lunar calendar, was shapattu, the “day of pacifying the heart” (of the god) by certain ceremonies.

On six days the Israelites should work, but on the seventh, they, as well as all slaves, foreigners, and beasts, must rest. Two reasons are given. The first is that God rested on the seventh day after creation, thereby making the day holy (Exod. 20:8–11). The second was a reminder of their redemption from slavery in Egypt (Deut. 5:12–15).

The word “sabbath” comes from the Hebrew shabbat, meaning “to cease” or “desist.” The primary meaning is that of cessation from all work. Some persons have traced the origin of the concept to the Babylonian calendar that contained certain days, corresponding to phases of the moon, in which kings and priests could not perform their official functions. Such days bore an evil connotation, and work performed on them would have harmful effects. The 15th of the month, the time of the full moon in their lunar calendar, was shapattu, the “day of pacifying the heart” (of the god) by certain ceremonies.

During the period between the Old and New Testaments, Jewish religious leaders added greatly to the details of Sabbath legislation. They sought to insure proper and careful observance by making certain that people did not even come close to violating it. This substituted human law for divine law (Matt. 15:9), made the law a burden rather than a rest and delight (Luke 11:46), and reduced the Sabbath to little more than an external observance (Matt. 12:8). Jesus, like the Old Testament prophets, kept the Sabbath Himself (Luke 4:16) and urged others to observe the day (Mark 2:28). But He condemned the pharisaical attitude that missed the deep spiritual truth behind Sabbath observance (Matt 12:14; Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1–11; John 5:1–18).

Sabbath rest is also a time for God’s people to think about and enjoy what God has accomplished