◄ Leviticus 23:7 ►
On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work.
Study Bible
On the first day
The phrase "On the first day" refers to the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which follows immediately after Passover. In the Hebrew calendar, this is the 15th day of the month of Nisan. This timing is significant as it marks the commencement of a period of reflection and dedication to God. The "first day" sets the tone for the entire feast, emphasizing the importance of beginnings in the spiritual journey. It is a reminder of the new beginnings God offers His people, symbolizing liberation from bondage and the start of a new life in Him.

you are to hold a sacred assembly
The term "sacred assembly" comes from the Hebrew word "miqra," which means a convocation or gathering that is set apart for holy purposes. This assembly is not merely a social gathering but a divinely ordained meeting where the community comes together to worship and honor God. It underscores the communal aspect of worship in ancient Israel, where the collective body of believers is called to unite in reverence and obedience to God. This sacred assembly is a precursor to the Christian understanding of the church as a body of believers gathered in Christ's name.

you are not to do any regular work
The prohibition against "regular work" highlights the sanctity of the day. The Hebrew word for "work" here is "melakah," which refers to occupational or laborious tasks. This commandment is a call to rest and focus on spiritual matters, setting aside the mundane activities of daily life. It reflects the principle of Sabbath rest, where believers are invited to cease from their labors and enter into God's rest. This cessation from work is not merely physical but also spiritual, allowing individuals to realign their priorities and dedicate time to worship and reflection. It serves as a reminder that true rest and fulfillment are found in God alone, echoing the Christian belief in the ultimate rest provided through faith in Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God, including the instructions in Leviticus.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the laws and festivals were given.

3. The Sabbath
A day of rest and sacred assembly, which is a recurring theme in Leviticus 23.

4. Feasts of the Lord
The context of Leviticus 23, which outlines various appointed feasts and holy days for the Israelites.

5. Sacred Assembly
A gathering of the people for worship and rest, emphasizing community and devotion to God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Rest
God commands rest as a vital part of spiritual and physical well-being. Observing a day of rest allows us to refocus on God and rejuvenate our bodies and minds.

Sacred Assembly and Community Worship
Gathering together for worship strengthens the community of believers and fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose in honoring God.

Obedience to God's Commands
Following God's instructions, such as observing holy days, is an act of obedience that reflects our trust and reverence for Him.

Spiritual Significance of the Sabbath
The Sabbath points to a deeper spiritual rest found in Christ, reminding us of the eternal rest we have in Him.

Balancing Work and Worship
In a busy world, setting aside time for God and rest is crucial. It requires intentionality to balance work and worship in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of a "sacred assembly" in Leviticus 23:7 apply to modern Christian worship practices?

2. In what ways can observing a day of rest impact your relationship with God and others?

3. How does the principle of Sabbath rest in Leviticus 23:7 connect to the rest offered in Christ as described in Hebrews 4?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure you are setting aside time for rest and worship in your weekly routine?

5. How can understanding the original context of Leviticus 23:7 enhance your appreciation for the biblical festivals and their fulfillment in Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:8-11
The commandment to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, which parallels the instruction in Leviticus 23:7 about not doing regular work.

Hebrews 4:9-10
Discusses the concept of a Sabbath rest for the people of God, connecting the Old Testament practice to a spiritual rest in Christ.

Isaiah 58:13-14
Highlights the blessings of honoring the Sabbath and refraining from doing as one pleases on God's holy day.

Mark 2:27-28
Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, emphasizing the purpose and benefit of rest.

Colossians 2:16-17
Paul speaks about the festivals and Sabbaths as a shadow of things to come, with the substance belonging to Christ.
Sermons
The FestivalsR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the LordW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 23:2-44
God's FestivalsHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy DaysHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This ChapterD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great FeastsJ. C. Gray.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy FestivalsJ. A. Seiss, . D. D.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Influence of Sacred RecollectionsW. Clarkson Leviticus 23:4-8
The PassoverR.M. Edgar Leviticus 23:4-8
The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened BreadR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:4-8
The PassoverJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:4-14
People
Ephah, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Assembly, Convocation, Field-work, Holy, Laborious, Manner, Meeting, Regular, Sacred, Servile, Sort, Therein
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 23:1-8

     8270   holiness, set apart

Leviticus 23:4-8

     4438   eating
     7394   memorial

Leviticus 23:5-8

     4975   week
     7435   sacrifice, in OT

Leviticus 23:6-8

     5636   work, and rest

Leviticus 23:7-8

     5338   holiday

Library
The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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