Exodus 12:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the one who established the Sabbath law had instructed them to ‘do good on the Sabbath, but do no evil,’ they still would not have abstained from malice. Thus, a broad command is given that one should refrain from taking action. Yet, they persisted in wrongdoing regardless. The Lawgiver Himself, in instituting the Sabbath law, clearly intended for them to refrain from evil acts on that day, aligning with His divine intent. It is commanded, ‘do nothing but what each one has.’ Meanwhile, all activities proceeded in the temple, conducted with great care and diligence (Lev. 24). In this way, the Lord was unveiling both the truth and its foreshadowing. So, did Christ nullify such a significant blessing? Not at all; rather, He amplified it.

It is proclaimed that “the first and seventh day shall be called holy.” This signifies a sacred time that existed at the dawn of creation, a period when our forefather Adam resided in paradise, unblemished by transgression, adhering to the divine command given to him. The closing era is also deemed holy due to Christ, who redeems those who approach Him in faith and restores them to the original condition of humanity. Thus, the entire mystery of our Savior was foreshadowed for us. As Christ rightly stated to the Jews, “For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe Me also, because he wrote of Me” (John 5:46).

Moses recognized the spiritual aspect of circumcision but chose to emphasize the physical practice; he perceived the pure and truth-filled unleavened bread, as referenced in Ex. 12:15-28 and 1 Cor. 5:8. He witnessed the Lord's suffering yet concealed the truth of His passion beneath the symbolism of unleavened bread, representing it through the sacrifice of a lamb or calf. The faithful Levites upheld this commandment, maintaining its significance through their belief.

The principles of the law are complex and carry a dual significance, concealed from those with unrefined understanding yet revealed to those possessing insight. The law asserts that the seventh day is to be regarded as sacred; no work should be performed during it, save for acts that flow from every person's spirit. Here, work is equated with servitude. Thus, on the Sabbath, refrain from any tasks that are burdensome or that chain you as slaves, preventing your freedom before God and weighing you down with the weight of sin. The Sabbath is intended as a time of rest and forgiveness, and its sanctity should not be diminished by sinful actions. However, all activities which are beneficial to the soul are to be carried out, as the law specifies. Acts such as prayer, meditation, silence, spiritual growth, charity, purity, self-control, truthfulness, and everything associated with these virtues are essential. Such endeavors uplift the inner man, while liberating the outer man from trials and tribulations.

A celebration dedicated to the true God involves not just the stopping of all toil but also the abandonment of all wrongdoing: you shall not engage in any labor during this time. A feast encompasses not only resting from physical tasks but also engaging in spiritual endeavors: whatever is done for any soul, let it also be done for you. Therefore, if you abstain from work, you must also refrain from malice; during the days of the celebration, let your conduct reflect goodness, avoiding gossip and drunkenness, sexual immorality and greed, as well as strife and jealousy (Rom. 13:13). Turn away from the activities of the body, and instead focus on spiritual actions. What might these entail? The Apostle elucidates this, stating: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’ (Galatians 5:22).

The term literally translates to 'a sacred gathering.' In Numbers (10:2-10), it is noted that the community was called together by the sound of trumpets. During these holy assemblies, it is likely that hymns were sung, and offerings were presented in accordance with established practices (refer to Leviticus 23:1-2). The first and last days of the feast were designated as Sabbaths, but uniquely, it was permissible to prepare food on these days, in contrast to the usual prohibition on the Sabbath (see Exodus 35:3). Work was allowed on all the other days of the festival, even though sacrifices were made daily throughout Passover.