THE SABBATH IN COLOSSIANS 2:16 IS A WEEKLY SABBATH

A : Hello. I want to discuss something that Sister White wrote in the Review and Herald magazine. She quoted Exodus 31:12-13 about the Sabbath that God's people must keep. But I've noticed many people misinterpret what this passage means. Can I walk you through what I've discovered? 

A: Halo. Saya ingin membahas sesuatu yang ditulis oleh Sister White di majalah *Review and Herald*. Beliau mengutip Keluaran 31:12-13 mengenai hari Sabat yang harus dipelihara oleh umat Allah. Namun, saya perhatikan banyak orang salah menafsirkan makna bagian ini. Bolehkah saya menjelaskan kepada Anda apa yang telah saya temukan?

B : Sure, I'm interested. What's the confusion about? 

B: Tentu, saya tertarik. Apa yang membingungkan?

A : Many claim that the Sabbath days mentioned in Exodus 31:13 are annual Sabbaths, not weekly ones. But when I compare this to the biblical text, that doesn't hold up. 

A: Banyak orang menyatakan bahwa hari-hari Sabat yang disebutkan dalam Keluaran 31:13 adalah Sabat tahunan, bukan Sabat mingguan. Namun, jika saya membandingkannya dengan teks Alkitab, pandangan tersebut tidak dapat dipertanggungjawabkan.

1. Banyak orang mengartikan Sabat Exodus 31:13 sebagai APA? 

2. Jawaban no.1 tidak bisa APA jika saya APA? 

B : How can you tell the difference? What makes you think it's weekly instead of annual? 

B: Bagaimana Anda bisa membedakan keduanya? Apa yang membuat Anda beranggapan bahwa itu bersifat mingguan, bukan tahunan?

A : Good question. Look at the language. Exodus 31:13 uses the Hebrew word  [1:00] Shabbath, the same word in Exodus 28, which clearly refers to the weekly Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. Both passages use the exact same term. >> 

A: Pertanyaan yang bagus. Perhatikan bahasanya. Keluaran 31:13 menggunakan kata bahasa Ibrani *Shabbath*—kata yang sama seperti dalam Keluaran 28—yang secara jelas merujuk pada Sabat mingguan, yaitu hari ketujuh dalam sepekan. Kedua bagian tersebut menggunakan istilah yang persis sama. >>

3. Kata Sabat di Exo 31:13 menggunakan bahasa Apa yaitu Apa? 

4. Dan jawaban no.3 sama dengan kata di ayat apa? 

B : So, the same Hebrew word appears in both places?

A : Exactly. And here's the thing. If Exodus 31:13 meant annual Sabbaths, that would mean God worked for an entire year before resting. But we know from Genesis that God worked 6 days and rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath has always been weekly. 

B : That makes sense. But what about New Testament references? Don't some people point to those? >> 

B : Yes. The Sabbath referenced in Colossians 2:16 clearly points to the weekly Sabbath, much like the one described in the fourth of the 10 commandments found in Exodus 20:8.  

Importantly, this verse does not address the eating and drinking customs linked to annual, monthly, or weekly festivals that some claim were nailed to the cross. Such an interpretation would suggest that Christ's crucifixion abolished the weekly Sabbath, which is not the case. Instead, the weekly Sabbath is a vital time God ordained for us to reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice. While some assert that the Sabbath mentioned here refers to an annual Sabbath, this viewpoint lacks logic as annual Sabbaths are components of the annual feasts, often termed annual festivals. The appointed times highlighted in this verse cover annual observances, including annual Sabbaths, monthly observances such as the new moon, and of course, the weekly Sabbath. Therefore, eliminating the weekly Sabbath would dismiss them all. Conversely, observing the weekly Sabbath also honors the new moon and the annual festivals, including the annual Sabbaths. This interconnectedness underscores the importance of maintaining these sacred observances today. >> That's a sobering thought. So, it really matters whether we understand this correctly. >> Absolutely. Our eternal destiny depends on whether we follow God's law or not. Adam and Eve broke his law and were cast out of Eden. Only those who don't transgress God's law will enter heaven. >> That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying this. >>