Hebrews 4:9-11, “9 There remaineth therefore a rest (sabbatismos) to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
Sabbatismos always existed. And, earth was given a slice of it which can be found in the seventh-day where God declared it to be holy, blessed it, and sanctified it. For a more detailed study on sabbatismos read the post titled: “Where Did Evil and Chaos Start? Series. Heaven, His Place of Rest – Part 1.” It only begets the question about the remaining commandments in God’s moral law as to their existence. See reference materials for Sabbatismos at the end of this post.
Many believe that the Ten Commandments did not exist until Mt. Sinai, but there is evidence that they existed long before Mt. Sinai. We know that the law existed before Moses and Mount Sinai because the Bible refers to sin many times before Moses (i.e., Genesis 4:7; 13:13; 18:20; 39:9; 42:22; 50:17; etc.). In coming to the truth on this subject, we must review the following:
1 John 3:4 defines sin simply, “Sin is transgression of the law”. If sin is defined as
transgressing, or breaking law, then law has to exist prior to the sin. Paul wrote clearly
that “where there is no law there is no transgression”
Romans 4:15 says, you can’t transgress the law without there being a law to transgress!
Genesis 2:17 states that the end result of sin is death.
1 John 3:4 defines sin simply, “Sin is transgression of the law”. If sin is defined as
transgressing, or breaking law, then law has to exist prior to the sin. Paul wrote clearly
that “where there is no law there is no transgression” The Word of God also says in
James 2:8-12 that ‘… if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the
law as transgressors’. This means if a person takes the word of man (pastor, priest, evangelist,
etc.) over the law of God then it is accounted to that person as sin…transgressor of the
law. This is why we are told to search the scriptures to see if what we are being told is
supported by the word of God. So, we are not to be a ‘respector of man’s words’ over God’s
word. Think of the serpent, Satan. Think of his words to Eve, Think of Eve’s response to those
words. How is this applicable to our day? If there is a person or an organization who teaches
that they can change God’s law and an individual accepts or is in alignment with that
teaching…then that individual has become a partaker in their sin.
Matthew 5:27-28, 1 John 3:15, and Matthew 5:21-23 speaks to the internal disposition
of the heart and mind. These verses speak to corrupted a heart and mind of deceitful
desires that are contrary to God’s law. The disposition spoken of here is the way of our
‘old self’ (Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV). Here are a couple examples that Jesus gave, the
lust of a woman is equated with adultery, and hate and anger of another as murder. It
hasn’t changed from the beginning, Eve’s had a ‘desired to be wise… be as gods’ she
coveted something that was not hers to have – so she took from the tree and ate and
gave to Adam who was with her.
Now with this in mind, let’s study the scripture further regarding this subject. We will be reading about individuals who are described as sinning prior to Mount Sinai to determine in the Ten Commandments were already in existence. Keep in mind, many of these people were alive hundreds of years before the Exodus
Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:5-6, we see the sin of coveting going all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve saw and desired (coveted) the wisdom that did not belong to her and the idea of ‘being as gods’. Her coveting, provoked by the serpent, resulted in sin. Adam ate of it as well, and then both of them blamed another their actions (verses 10-13) with only a sheepish admission of what they had done.
Cain – Genesis 4, was guilty of murdering his brother Abel. In verses 15, God forbade others from murdering him. . In verse 9, Cain lied directly to God regarding the whereabouts of his brother Abel.
People living at the time of the Flood – Genesis 6;11, 9:5-6, one of the reasons God flooded the earth was because it was “filled with violence”. After the Flood, people knew that God was against murder and demanded a penalty for it.
Joseph – Genesis 39:7-23, forsook the advancement of his masters wife, who was lusting after Joseph wanting him to have relations with her; and Joseph called it wickedness and sin. Joseph understood this wickedness was adultery and is would be sin, therefore a transgressing of the law. Scripture tells us that “sin is transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).
Joseph – Genesis 44:9, when Joseph framed his brothers for stealing his silver cup, they understood the gravity of the charge and how serious an offense stealing was.
Jacob – Genesis 35:1-4, he had his household to put away the foreign gods and earrings that were in their ears and he buried or hid them under a tree. Jacob understood that idols were sinful and only the true God was to be worshipped. He understood the commands are referred to as the First and Second Commandments.
Jacob also lied and deceived others in his younger days, which brought many negative consequences on himself and others. The deceiver experienced being cheated by his father-in-law Laban, and later he was deceived by his own sons. Jacob’s sons sold Joseph into slavery and tricked their father into believing he had been killed by a wild animal (Genesis 37:31-33).
Jacob – Genesis 30:33, was address Laban about the theft of his wages. In Genesis 31, is the story of Jacob’s departure from Laban. Laban pursues Jacob and states that his idols have been stolen. Laban looks for them, but Rachel hid them and sat upon them unbeknownst to Jacob. Laban did not find them. In verse 36, Jacob is wanting to know is his sin since no stolen idol was found.
Jacob and Esau – (Genesis 28:6-7 NKJV), The Fifth Commandment instructs us to “honor your father and your mother”. Jacob and Esau did not honor their parents. Jacob lied to his father, and stole the blessing of birthright from Esau. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for something to eat. Afterwards, scripture records that Jacob obeyed his father and mother by going to Padan Aram.
Job – Job 1:5, was concerned that his children might have been taking God’s name in vain, and Job knew that was wrong for he called that act sin. Most scholars believe the patriarch Job lived before Moses, perhaps during the patriarchal period (around the time of Abraham and Isaac). The Third Commandment deals with misusing God’s name. Job also knew that deceit was a sin against God (Job 31:5-6). Job also understood that coveting was sin: “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door . . . that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment” (Job 31:9, 11).
At Creation (Genesis 2:2-3), Cain and Abel’s sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-4), and the Israelites prior to reaching Sinai – The Fourth Commandment tells us to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). But embedded in the command is the truth that the Sabbath existed long before this commandment was given to Moses. You can only “remember” something that already existed. To “remember the Sabbath” is to recall something that was established earlier.
Creation: The Sabbath day actually goes all the way back to the early chapters of the book of Genesis! “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:3).
Cain and Abel: The story of Cain and Abel clearly implies the sabbath. Genesis 4:3-4a tells us, on this particular day, Cain was not tilling the ground, as he normally did, nor was Abel tending his sheep. On this day, they met with the Lord and brought Him an offering. And what day was that? The phrase “in process of time” is, literally, “at the end of the days” (“process” = Hebrew qets = “end”; “time” = Hebrew yamim = “days”). The day on which they brought their offerings was the day “at the end of the days,” and this clearly can be nothing but the seventh day, the day which God had blessed and hallowed. The end (seventh day) of the days (the proceeding six). There is other commentary that suggest “in process of time” also translated “at the end of days” is a reference to the Sabbath. We can at least line it up with the rest of the fence post and see if it fits.
Side Note: Cain “slew” his brother Abel, therefore committing a sin, and God told him in Genesis 4:7 that “sin lieth at the door.” This was murder, which the Sixth Commandment addresses.
Israelites Prior to Sinai – Exodus 16:23-28, Interestingly, the Israelites were reminded to remember the Sabbath even before they came to Mount Sinai and received the 10 Commandments. This was when God gave them manna to eat. So, even before they arrived at Mount Sinai, God expected the people to rest and remember the Sabbath day.
Abraham – Genesis 20:3, God warned Abimelech, king of Gerar, not to commit adultery with Sarah (Abraham’s wife). Abraham lied and told the king that Sarah was his sister which was only half truth, for she was not only his half-sister, she was also his wife.
Also, God said of Abraham that he obeyed His voice, kept His charge, His commandments, His statutes, and His laws (Genesis 26:5). This is significant because Abraham was born hundreds of years before Moses received the law on Mount Sinai! In order for Abraham to obey God’s commandments, statutes and laws, he had to know what they were. This means that Abraham was taught the laws directly from God or from others (or possibly both).
It is clear with the study of these scriptures, and there are more than what has been listed, that God was not giving Moses a brand-new law on Mount Sinai. He was merely giving a codified, or formal, version of His law so that it could be used to govern the emerging nation of Israel.
As we can see, this takes us all the way back to Eden. What about before the creation of our world, did God have a law? If so, what was it?
Lucifer – In Heaven
When Lucifer asserted his desire to be more than God, a great revolution took place in the universe. Many angels joined with Lucifer and became his rebel army. This evil one — Satan — didn’t lose any of his beguiling ways when he became the fallen prince. He took his charm, his subtleties and his clever plots to use on us. When he made his decision to battle God to the death, he took his band of rebel angels with him as his combat soldiers. The battlefield is known as Earth. The fall of man came next onto the scene.
John 8:44 tells us when Jesus was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees he said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 10:10-12 tells us as a thief he comes to steal, kill, and destroy. For more complete description of our adversary review the post titled: “Our Adversary”. These verses clearly state that the devil (formerly called Lucifer) lusted, is a murderer, liar, thief, covets God’s position desiring to set himself above God and thinking himself to be a god (Isaiah 14:12-15), angels can be referred to as ‘sons of God’ (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7)* – so he dishonor his Father, disrupted the peace and rest (sabbatismos) of heaven, etc. We can identify that Lucifer (Satan, devil) violated the commandments; so, the conclusion is that this is God’s moral law for all of His creations.
* Almost every reference in the Bible to “sons of God” refers to men who live in harmony with the will of God, see examples: Genesis 6:1-3; Luke 6:35, 38:8; Ex. 4:22-23; 2 Sam 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13, 20:10, 28:6; Matthew 5:9.
Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. How God never changes scripture. God’s moral law stands as not only as his form of government, but also defines who he is. For the ten commandments hang on two principles: the love of God and the love of others (Deuteronomy 6:4-7,Matthew 22:37-40,Mark 12:30-31,Luke 10:27, Matthew 25:34-40).
As we well know, the Serpent worked his deceit in the Garden of Eden. Satan the devil, contradicted God and told Adam and Eve a blatant lie: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). A liar he is, in fact he is the ‘father of lies’. He convinced them that they had an immortal soul and that God could not end their lives—which was untrue. He also enticed them to believe they could possess the wisdom of God and be as gods. Man fell and all have inherited their fallen nature – a propensity to sin. We are told we cannot inherit their guilt of sin Ezekiel 18:20, Apologetic Press article), for we are accountable for our own decisions and actions. This does not mean we don’t suffer from another’s sin, such as a drunk driver who takes the life of another; or a parent that fails to provide food and shelter because of some type of addiction, etc.
Today
The commandments are still important for all peoples today. God gave His laws for our good (Deuteronomy 10:13). They are based on God’s eternal character of love and help show us how to love God and our fellow man (Romans 13:9-10). “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
God’s moral law is his government and reflection of his character…love. The ten commandments was codified at Sinai. He spoke them and then wrote them on tablets of stone with his very own finger. When Jesus spoke of the law, he summed it up in two principles love God (first four commandments) and love your neighbor (last six commandments); the law hangs on these two principles. If fact we are told to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-38).
The first four commandments tell us who God is, and the remaining six tells us how to life in light of who God is.
Scripture for further study:
James 17:1; Ezekiel 28:13, 14-15, 16, 17, 17-19; 1 John 3:8; Eph. 2:2; 4:27; Rev. 12:7-9,20:7-8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; John 8:32, 15:7; James 1:13-15; Romans 8:7, James 4:7; Matthew 12:31-32
Reference Materials for Sabbatismos:
Lexicon: Strong’s G4520, sabbatismos, Blue Letter Bible.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4520/kjv/tr/0-1/
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: sabbatismos. 1) a keeping sabbath, 2) the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians. Part of Speech: noun masculine. Relation: from a derivative of G4521.
‘Battles of Faith, The Covering Cherub’. Aired on: Three Angels Broadcasting Network. Program transcript, participants: Ivor and Atonte Myers.
Katapausis and Sabbatismos in Hebrews 4, by: Edward H Gallos. Andrews University 2011. Abstract of Thesis: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/54/ . Thesis in entirety: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=dissertations
A look at two words in the original Greek of Hebrews 4:9 confirms the “rest” to be yet future. Two sources on the Greek language that are considered authoritative “standards” are Danker’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (BDAG) and the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDOT). The English word “rest” in verse 9 is from a unique Greek word, sabbatismos, which TDOT classifies as “a purely heavenly blessing towards which the pilgrim people of God moves” (Lohse, 7:34-35). Verse 9 says that rest “remains,” which is translated from a word that means “to be reserved for future appearance or enactment” (BDAG Third Edition, p. 115).
‘The Ten Commandments’ website. https://www.the-ten-commandments.org/hebrews_4-9.html
‘What Does Hebrews 4 Really Say?”. Ministry – International Journal for Pastors Magazine 1978. https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1978/06/what-does-hebrews-4-really-say
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