The term “high Sabbath” refers to certain sacred festival days in the Jewish calendar that were observed with Sabbath-like rest andrestrictions. Though not weekly Sabbaths, these high Sabbath days were still treated with the same solemnity and customs as the normal seventh-day Sabbath.
In the Old Testament, God instituted seven annual feasts for the Israelites to observe. These feasts were agricultural in nature, tied to the cycles of planting and harvest in the land of Israel. In Leviticus 23, the feasts are laid out in detail:
- Passover
- Unleavened Bread
- Firstfruits
- Pentecost
- Trumpets
- Day of Atonement
- Tabernacles
Each of these feasts took place over multiple days, usually a week, with the first and last days being “high” or “holy convocations” (Leviticus 23:2, 7, 21, 24, 27, 35-36). On these high Sabbath days no laborious work was to be done, just as on the weekly Sabbath.
The term “high Sabbath” is not found in the Old Testament, but came into use later to distinguish these sacred feast days from the regular weekly Sabbath. The Gospel writers used this terminology as well.
For example, in John 19:31 it says that the Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion was a “high day.” This was in fact the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which God designated a Sabbath-like rest in Leviticus 23:7 regardless of what day of the week it fell on.
Some key things to know about high Sabbath days:
- They were specified by God as part of Israel’s religious calendar.
- They marked the beginning and end of each feast.
- No work was to be done on these days, just like the weekly Sabbath.
- Cooking and food prep had to be done in advance since no labor was permitted.
- They could fall on any day of the week, not just Saturday.
- They were marked by sacred assemblies and sacrifices.
- The regular weekly Sabbath was still observed in addition to any high Sabbaths.
The high Sabbaths were not replacements for the weekly Sabbath, but rather “extra” Sabbaths to accompany the feasts God instituted. Except for Pentecost, all of the feasts included high Sabbaths on the first and last day.
So in summary, a high Sabbath was the first or last day of a major Jewish feast, on which no regular work was to be done and the day was to be honored as sacred, just as the regular weekly Sabbath.
Observing the high Sabbaths required faithfulness and obedience to God’s commands. The Sabbath restrictions meant the Israelites had to prepare ahead of time and set aside other work in order to honor God’s appointed feasts. Trusting God to provide for them even as they ceased labor on the high Sabbaths was an act of faith.
When Jesus celebrated Passover on the night before His crucifixion, the disciples would have been busy getting everything ready because of the coming high Sabbath for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They saw Jesus honor the Passover feast with the Last Supper, even knowing His death was imminent.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples continued celebrating the Jewish feasts and high Sabbaths, while also meeting with each other and spreading the Gospel on the day of the regular weekly Sabbath (Acts 20:7, 27:9). The high Sabbaths and feasts took on deeper meaning for them as they looked back on Christ’s death and resurrection.
For Christians today, the Jewish high Sabbaths provide insight into the culture and customs during Jesus’ earthly ministry. While their observance is not required for salvation, they point to important spiritual truths about resting in God, redemption through Christ, and anticipating eternity with Jesus.
The high Sabbaths were sacred days appointed by God for remembrance and worship. Along with the weekly Sabbath, they ordered the rhythm of religious life for ancient Israel. Honoring both the weekly and high Sabbaths demonstrated reverence for God’s holiness and trusted in His provision of rest.
Origins and Development of High Sabbaths
The concept of “high” or “holy” Sabbath days developed from the Old Testament scriptures and God’s commands regarding annual feast days for Israel. Though not weekly Sabbaths, these sacred feast days were to be observed with the same Sabbath restrictions.
In the Torah, God established seven feasts to be celebrated as part of Israel’s religious life and calendar. He gave specific instructions about observing each feast, designating the first and last day as days for “holy convocation” when the Israelites were forbidden to do any laborious work (Leviticus 23:7-8, 21, 25, 35-36).
For example, on the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and on the Day of Atonement, no work was to be done and the day was to be honored as a Sabbath of rest (Leviticus 23:7-8, 28, 39). The regular weekly Sabbath was still observed each seven days regardless of any feasts.
Over time, the terms “high Sabbath” or “high day” came into use to distinguish these feast days on which no regular work was done from the normal weekly Sabbath. The Gospel writers used this terminology for the sacred feast days they mentioned (John 19:31).
The origins of the term “high Sabbath” are uncertain, but some possibilities include:
- A translation of the Hebrew “shabbathon” used in Leviticus 23 for the feast days, meaning “day of solemn rest.”
- Emphasizing the elevated sacredness of those special feast days.
- Usage in Jewish oral and written tradition to refer to holy days of rest other than the weekly Sabbath.
However the designation began, the term “high Sabbath” became commonly used to refer to the holy days of rest and sacred assembly at the start or end of each of God’s appointed feasts for Israel. The yearly feasts marked important events in Israel’s history and agricultural seasons.
Celebrating the high Sabbaths required the Israelites to have strong faith in God. They had to prepare food ahead of time and take time away from occupational work in order to assemble, worship, and rest on those holy convocation days. Honoring the high Sabbaths showed reverence for God’s commands and trusted Him to provide for their needs.
Key Characteristics of High Sabbaths
The high Sabbaths in the Jewish religious calendar had certain defining characteristics that set them apart from weekly Sabbath observance:
- Annual feasts – Each high Sabbath marked the beginning or end of one of God’s seven feasts for Israel.
- Holy convocation – No regular work or occupational labor was to be done on the high Sabbaths.
- Sacred assembly – Israelites gathered together to worship and remember God’s works.
- Sacrifices – Burnt offerings and sin offerings were made on the high Sabbaths.
- Any day of week – The high Sabbaths were not connected to Saturday, but could fall on any day.
- In addition to weekly Sabbath – The normal seventh-day Sabbath was still observed along with any high Sabbaths.
- Spiritual significance – Each feast had meaning in terms of God’s provision, deliverance, holiness, and future redemption.
Whereas the weekly Sabbath always fell on the seventh day of the week and commemorated God’s rest on the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3), the high Sabbaths were based on dates on the Jewish religious calendar.
The high Sabbaths could fall on any day of the week, but always commemorated key events in Israel’s history like the exodus from Egypt or God’s provision of harvests. Even if a high Sabbath fell on a Saturday, the regular weekly Sabbath would still be observed every seven days as usual.
Though not weekly Sabbaths, the high Sabbaths were honored as holy days of rest and assembly before God. Following God’s instructions for observing the high Sabbaths required faith in His provision and remembering His works and holiness.
Jesus and the High Sabbaths
As a Jewish man, Jesus would have celebrated the high Sabbaths all throughout His life along with the weekly Sabbath days. The Gospels record Jesus observing some of these significant feast days that involved high Sabbaths:
- Passover – Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:17-30).
- Feast of Unleavened Bread – Jesus’ body was prepared for burial and rested in the tomb on this high Sabbath (Luke 23:50-56).
- Feast of Tabernacles – Jesus taught openly at the temple during this fall harvest feast (John 7:2, 14).
The Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples was actually a Passover meal that Jesus infused with new meaning by connecting the Passover bread and wine to His own soon-to-be-sacrificed body and blood (Luke 22:1, 7-23).
This Passover meal occurred the night before the high Sabbath that began the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Luke 23 notes that this approaching holy day affected the handling of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial (Luke 23:50-56).
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus on the day of His resurrection, and that day is referred to as “the first day of the week” (Luke 24:1, 13). This would have been the day after the regular weekly Sabbath.
So Jesus fully participated in observing both the weekly and high Sabbaths according to the Mosaic law. His observance of the high Sabbaths reinforced their significance in pointing ahead to the redemption He would accomplish for God’s people through His death and resurrection.
High Sabbaths After Christ’s Resurrection
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, His disciples and followers continued observing the Jewish high Sabbaths even as the early Christian church was forming and growing.
In the book of Acts, which records the early history of the church after Christ’s ascension, the high Sabbaths are mentioned in a few places:
- Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 12:3-4)
- The Feast of Weeks/Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 2:1; 20:16)
- The Day of Atonement fast (Acts 27:9)
The yearly feast cycle was still part of the culture and worship context for the early Jewish believers in Jesus as the Messiah. They continued to observe the high Sabbaths with the rest of the nation of Israel.
At the same time, the earliest Christians also started meeting together on the day after the weekly Sabbath to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and remember His sacrifice for them (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). This first day of the week would come to be known as the Lord’s Day.
As more Gentiles came to faith in Jesus, observance of the uniquely Jewish feast days, sacrifices, and high Sabbaths decreased in emphasis. Still, the high Sabbaths remain an insightful reflection of the historical and cultural context from which Christianity emerged.
Though not required observances for Christians today, the Passover and other feast high Sabbaths continue to instruct about God’s redemption, provision, and plan for His people throughout history.
Significance for Christians Today
While weekly Sabbath rest remains a Creation ordinance from God that reflects on God’s character, the Jewish high Sabbaths were tied specifically to the Old Covenant made between God and Israel.
Jesus Himself affirmed the importance of the weekly Sabbath for rest and doing good (Mark 2:27; Luke 13:10-17), even as He revealed its true purpose in pointing to Himself as Lord and not just a legal requirement (Matthew 12:1-14).
Christians are not obligated to observe the Old Testament feasts and high Sabbaths – Paul is clear in Colossians 2:16-17 that the Jewish holy days were a shadow of the reality found in Christ. Their function was to point ahead to the redemption accomplished through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So what value can Christians today still find in learning about and understanding the high Sabbaths?
- They reveal more about the Jewish culture and customs during Jesus’ earthly life and ministry.
- They illuminate the observances and traditions Jews continue to follow today.
- They highlight the redemptive thread woven through Scripture pointing toward Christ.
- They picture the hope of eternal rest and reunion with God in the future heavenly kingdom.
The high Sabbaths also remind Christians of important spiritual principles that remain relevant:
- God established a holy rhythm of work and rest.
- God intends His appointed times to be commemorated and celebrated.
- Obedience to God may require sacrifice and preparation on our part.
- God provides what is needed to honor and worship Him.
As modern readers, remembering and understanding the high Sabbaths enriches comprehension of key passages in the Gospels, Acts, and other biblical books. The high Sabbaths formed the skeleton around which Jewish religious observance was organized.
While no longer binding celebrations, the spiritual legacy of the high Sabbaths continues to reflect God’s holiness and redemptive purposes throughout history. They illuminate Old Testament foreshadowing, New Testament fulfillment, and the hope of future glory in eternity with Christ – in the ultimate, unending Sabbath rest with God.