The Seventh Day Sabbath Part 7: No Buying, No Selling

We know there is no working or cooking on the sabbath. But what about buying and selling? Or can I at least window shop? All this and more we will uncover and get an understanding of so we may do what is pleasing not The Most High God and not ourselves.

Exodus 35:2 KJVS

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Now, when we hear work, we tend to limit our perception to physical labor. And some may even extend that to mental labor. However, work can also be inclusive of business and therefore, paralleled with buying and selling.

Strong's Number

H4399

Original Word

מלאכה

Transliterated Word

melâ'kâh

Phonetic Spelling

mel-aw-kaw'

Parts of Speech

Noun Feminine

Strong's Definition

From the same as H4397; properly {deputyship} that {is} ministry; generally employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor): - {business} + {cattle} + {industrious} {occupation} (+ {-pied}) + {officer} thing ({made}) {use} (manner of) work ({[-man]} -manship).

As we can see, work is inclsuive of employment, occupation and business. Things that usually involve selling or buying. As with any business it can usually boil down to the fact that you are either providing a service or a product. But neither of which is free of cost or free of labor. Therefore, no work also means no buying and no selling. How do we know our forefathers and foremothers understood this principle and application of the word “work” to extend to both business, buying and selling?

Nehemiah 10:28-31 KJVS

And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; [29] They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; [30] And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: [31] And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

Here we see how our people were going astray as a nation, falling into sin. Yet, they made a collective effort to sincerely fight to repent and get right. We understand that they started to review what was taught in God’s law, that Moses taught the people. Receiving the knowledge and understanding of a few things they were lacking in. One of those things we read about is how the people of the land brought in wares and victuals. Now, what is a ware and a victual?

Strong's Number

H4728

Original Word

מקּחה

Transliterated Word

maqqâchâh

Phonetic Spelling

mak-kaw-khaw'

Parts of Speech

Noun Feminine

Strong's Definition

From H3947; something {received} that {is} merchandise (purchased): - ware.

A ware is something received as in purchased or to purchase; hence merchandise. But we are also met with another word, “victuals”. Let us get an understanding of this as well so we can get a wholistic view of what God is showing us.

Strong's Number

H7668

Original Word

שׁבר

Transliterated Word

sheber

Phonetic Spelling

sheh'-ber

Parts of Speech

Noun Masculine

Strong's Definition

The same as H7667; grain (as if broken into kernels): - {corn} victuals.

Victuals are representative of grains; rice, lentils, corn, barley, you name it. Which would be a representation of food type of items. Letting us know that work; hence business, would be inclusive of grocery type things. With this knowledge we can receive the understanding even better as it pertains unto the type of business and work one would not do on the sabbath.  So if one came on the sabbath day trying to sell you anything, from food, to clothes, to pottery, you would not buy it from them on the sabbath day. But not only on the seventh day sabbath, they understood that this would extend to the other holy days as well, outside of the seventh day sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:15-21 KJVS

In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. [16] There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. [17] Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? [18] Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. [19] And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. [20] So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. [21] Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

If it wasn’t as clear before hand, now it should be. Nehemiah witnessed his people breaking the sabbath (again) even after they had the pep talk some time ago. Now he has to do some police work. Be a detective and find the source of the problem. These people coming into the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day to sell their merchandise. Getting our people caught up in buying and all manner of work and business going on. Which would then put us in a state of defilement as we are profaning the sabbath. He made sure when the sun started going down we needed to close the gate to cease business and then open it up after the sabbath. Even showing them that they don’t even need to be posted outside the walls or gates lest you tempt the people or cause them to forget.

Likewise we too can learn from this so we know and understand not to buy or sell on the sabbath day and to shutdown any transactions we thought to do and remove any stumbling blocks from us and our loved ones. You don’t even want to concern yourself with window shopping on the sabbath. You are “lodging around the wall” just trying to see. Forgetting you have six days to just see and make a decision, you can find it in you to go at least one without doing so. Don’t try to teeter the line of sin and righteousness. Telling yourself first and then trying to convince others, “well it’s not a sin.” But it can still be iniquity. Playing with fire. Or even give the appearance of sin to someone else. But you feel better because it’s online. Even worse if it is in person. Could you imagine? You are doing a flyer mission at the mall, and you see a congregant, or another individual that is supposed to be a believer of the faith and walking in the laws, walking through the mall window shopping… Picture it in your mind… From what we read does that even sound or look right? No, definitely not what God would say is good based on what we now know. And doing it online is no better. Only given the illusion of at least I am not physically in the store. But you are in the digital version of it. And it can be a stumbling block for others who see you.

Acts 20:6-7 KJVS

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. [7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

If you are sincerely trying to handle business the first day of the week is good to handle business. This verse is one of those used to explain that as they “broke bread” (taken figuratively) the first day of the week. To plan the details of the business they need to handle and discuss business trip arrangements. However, it can also be interpreted that on the first day of the week they came together in general to eat and chill in more of a fellowship manner. This also seemed to be a normal or usual occurrence. Need it be out of business or fellowship.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 KJVS

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. [2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Again, we see the first day of the week being elucidated. But here for a different reason. The first day of the week seemed to be the day they gathered and collected the money for alms. Making a concerning effort to establish a day and set order. Denoting that prior there was disorder on when it was being done, more than likely effecting the sabbath day. However, one can also interpret this as there was no order as to when it was done leading to it often not being done until he arrived.

From these last two verses (Acts and Corinthians) it is safest to assume one would not handle business of the ministry (finances, details of trips, alms) on the sabbath. We will handle the in’s and out’s of all of those things another day. Well, what day? The day after the sabbath. Some may avoid doing these things all together while others may choose to divide it in wisdom, that this part we will speak on now the other part we will speak on after the sabbath. Which is the way I would do it. Being mindful of key details and information. Letting it be known those details will be discussed in the meeting after the sabbath, which if interested you may be a part of. And hopefully these words help guide you to righteously do the same.