Why does Exodus 35:2 require the death penalty for working on the Sabbath?

Answer

In the Mosaic law, Israelites who violated the commandment against working on the Sabbath were subject to the death penalty. This consequence not only emphasized the utmost importance of observing a sacred day of rest as a symbol of Israel’s covenant relationship with God but also conveyed a symbolic truth about God’s eternal rest.

In Exodus 35:2, as Israel prepared to construct the tabernacle, Moses assembled all the people and declared, “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.” This passage reiterated the Sabbath observance that the Lord had instructed Israel through Moses in Exodus 31:12–18 and previously in Exodus 20:8–11 and Exodus 16:21–26.

Observing the Sabbath served as a significant symbol of the covenant between God and His people. Neglecting this crucial covenant symbol was deemed such a severe violation of the relationship that it carried a penalty of death. Up to that point, Israel had a history of either forgetting or disobeying God’s commandments. Given the people’s eagerness to commence the tabernacle construction, it was crucial that worship not be neglected even for commendable work. Therefore, the death penalty underscored the gravity of upholding faithfulness to the solemn agreement between the people and God.

While keeping the Sabbath was a distinctive sign for the Israelites, it also holds symbolic importance for all those in a covenant relationship with the Lord. Followers of the New Testament are under a new covenant and are no longer obligated to observe the Sabbath as a legalistic day with specific work restrictions; however, the principle of prioritizing time for worship and honoring God remains relevant. By giving prominence to God, we affirm to ourselves and others that He reigns over our work, our time, and our lives.

To fulTo truly understand the spiritual significance of the Sabbath, it is necessary to see its connection to the rest of God. The creation account records that God, after creating the heavens and the earth in six days, rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). This rest of God teaches us that the Creator graciously set an example for how we, His creatures, are to spend and enjoy a regular day of rest from our labors. However, there is a deeper meaning to this phrase. God’s rest points to a spiritual rest for us—the joy of heaven forever with God—that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Him (Hebrews 4:1-10). If we do not rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, we remain spiritually dead.

Under the Old Covenant, the Jewish people labored to make themselves acceptable to God but, of course, were unable to keep all of God’s laws. The sacrifices required by the law had to be repeated again and again to allow sinners to approach a Holy God. The elaborate but inadequate system was designed to point to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would offer “once for all time one sacrifice for sins.” After Jesus completed His mission at Calvary, He sat down and “rested” at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:1-14). Because of Christ’s completed work on the cross, believers no longer have to labor to be right with God but can enter into His rest (Hebrews 9:11-14). Jesus is our Sabbath Rest, and in Him we cease from our toils and find complete rest from our self-effort. We rest in Christ, not just one day a week, but always. The consequence of continuing our work when we should be resting in Christ is death—foreshadowed by the death penalty for Israelites working on the Sabbath.

For Isra

For Israelites, observing the Sabbath was a demonstration of obedience to God’s covenant. Individuals who failed to honor the Sabbath by refraining from work were essentially demonstrating that they were not participants in the covenant. Conversely, those who diligently observed the Sabbath publicly displayed their unwavering loyalty to the Lord of the Sabbath. The weekly Sabbath also serves as a symbolic representation of God’s sacred and everlasting rest. The severe consequence of death for working on the Sabbath symbolized the destiny of non-believers who reject entering God’s rest by accepting the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.