What Happens If You Ignore the Sabbath?

Today is Saturday, the Sabbath day. If you ignore the Sabbath, it means you don't truly follow the Ten Commandments. Many claim to keep the Ten Commandments but skip the Sabbath—they're only following nine.[1]

People often misuse Colossians 2:16 to argue against keeping the Sabbath: "Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath." They say, "See, you don't have to keep the Sabbath." But when read in context, Paul is telling the Colossians don't let anyone judge you for keeping these things.[2]

The Context of Colossians: A Letter from Paul and Timothy

Colossians is a letter from Paul and Timothy to the saints at Colossae: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus Messiah Yahushua by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father" (Colossians 1:1-2).

Paul never visited Colossae—Epaphras preached the gospel there (Colossians 1:7). Paul and Timothy thank YHWH for their faith in Messiah Yeshua and love for the saints (Colossians 1:3-4). They pray for the Colossians to be filled with knowledge of His will, bearing fruit, and strengthened with power (Colossians 1:9-12).

YHWH delivered them from darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).

Yeshua: The Image of the Invisible God

Yeshua is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation... For by Him all things were created... He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church... the firstborn from the dead... in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1:15-19).

When Moses and the Israelites saw God face-to-face (Exodus 24), they saw Yeshua—the Word made flesh, fully God (YHWH Himself). The fullness of God dwells in Him, reconciling all things by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).

Paul writes to Gentiles who were alienated but now reconciled "if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast" (Colossians 1:21-23). No "once saved, always saved"—continuance is key.

Proclaiming Maturity in Messiah

Paul rejoices in sufferings for the church, making known the mystery: "Christ in you, the hope of glory"—for Gentiles as well as Israelites (Colossians 1:24-27). He proclaims Christ to present everyone mature, Christ-like (Colossians 1:28-29).

In chapter 2, Paul struggles for them and those in Laodicea: hearts encouraged, knit in love, reaching the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ (Colossians 2:1-2). He warns against deluding arguments (Colossians 2:4, 8).

"As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him... See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition... not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:6-9).

Born Again: The Circumcision of the Heart

"In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2:11). This echoes Deuteronomy 30:6: "And YHWH your Elohim will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

Buried with Him in baptism, raised through faith—made alive together with Him (Colossians 2:12-13). The old man dies; the new is born.

The Full Context of Colossians 2:16

Paul affirms their faith and walk. The instruction in 2:16 protects them from judgments by outsiders because they are keeping food laws, festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths rightly—not under pagan shadows, but in Messiah.

Ignoring the Sabbath rejects YHWH's eternal command: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).[1] It's a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13), and profaning it brought death in ancient Israel (Exodus 31:14; Numbers 15:32-36).[2]

Walk in Yeshua: keep His commandments, including the Sabbath. Bear fruit, mature, and continue steadfast.