THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
When God, through the wise leadership of Moses, liberated Israel from the shackles of Egypt, He sought to restore them to their intended freedom. After guiding them miraculously across the dry seabed, He instructed them to diligently pursue the land of promise. Acknowledging the importance of teaching them proper pre-consecration and purification, He summoned them to gather at Mount Sinai. There, descending in a fiery presence, He imparted to them the sacred laws for their salvation. He proclaimed: "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: thou shalt have no other gods but Me: thou shalt not make unto thee an idol, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not worship them, nor serve them: for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God" (Ex. 20:2-5). This marks the onset of a law that nurtures usefulness and instructs those who had submitted themselves to servitude towards God in a hidden manner. The knowledge of God is the foundation of all virtue, and faith serves as the bedrock of righteousness. By revealing Himself through the proclamation "I am the Lord thy God," He instills a foresight of faith grounded in knowledge, while simultaneously prohibiting the idolatry of false gods, warning that such actions would lead to detrimental consequences for the transgressors. He states: "Thou shalt not take (utter) the name of the Lord thy God in vain," meaning one should not associate the sacred name with empty idols, for "the Lord will not cleanse him that takes His name in vain" (Ex. 20:7).
Thus He illustrated that anyone wishing to worship a false deity would incur a significant transgression and emphasized the consequences for such inclinations. As they were newly brought to faith with minds still seeking stability, He presented the second commandment as if inscribing it in their hearts: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy: six days thou shalt do and fulfil all thy works: but on the seventh day is the sabbath (rest) unto the Lord thy God: let no work be done therein" (Ex. 20:8-10). In explaining this statute, He highlighted the example they were to emulate: "For in six days the Lord made both heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day: therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it" (Ex. 20:11).
Some may wonder why the Sabbath law was given immediately after the warnings for transgressions. Its purpose was not solely to threaten the disobedient with harsh penalties or to impose fear for piety—instead, it served to illustrate the end that those wholly devoted to love for God would ultimately achieve. In this regard, He provides a prototype of future blessings through the law, which casts a shadow of what is to come, as it is written (Hebrews 10:1). The command to refrain from work on the Sabbath signifies not merely a cessation of labor but points toward the anticipated joy of the saints at the end of the ages, when those in Christ will experience life devoid of toil and fatigue, reflecting what the prophet foretold: "For they shall forget their former sorrow, and it shall not arise upon their heart" (Isa. 65:16), and "everlasting joy shall be upon their head; for praise shall be upon their head, and joy shall encompass them; sickness and sorrow and groaning shall be removed" (Isa. 35:10). In doing so, they will imitate the Creator who ceased His labors on the seventh day and be liberated from the burdens of earthly life, ascending to the joy that Christ will bestow at the end of time.
The lawgiver emphasizes, "Thou shalt not worship other gods," and pairs this with the Sabbath command, instructing them to "remember." Why is this imperative? Because the appointed time had indeed arrived for them not to worship other divinities; thus, He urged immediate compliance. The future and what is yet imagined should remain in their contemplation. Moreover, He mentions the promise concerning the end of ages after establishing foundational precepts, mentioning others such as "Honor thy father and thy mother," and "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:12). The purpose of this is to ensure they do not believe they are justified by deeds alone, but rather anticipate the abundant gifts of God, rooted in faith. Therefore, the anticipated grace is presented alongside the laws of righteous living that are meant to guide faith.
The Sabbath rest symbolizes the life of the saints, one of holiness and tranquility, during which they will be free from all sorrows and labor, immersed in heavenly blessings. The apostle Paul elaborates on this notion by urging us to evaluate the Sabbath observance: "Against whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest, but against those who disobeyed? And we see that they could not enter for the sake of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:18-19). While some believed that the Promised Land symbolized the rest following their exodus from Egypt, Paul argues that it instead prefigured what the saints receive through Christ, often referred to as the land of the living (Psalms 26:13). Paul challenges this notion decisively, inferring that "if therefore there remain a promise to enter it, and if those who were early preached the gospel to have not entered because of unbelief, then again a certain day is determined—'to day'—as spoken by David long after: 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when you were angered,' for if Jesus (Joshua) had granted them rest, He would not have spoken of another day" (Heb. 4:6-8).
Paul brilliantly dispels apparent contradictions, aware that a Jewish defender might assert: “What do you mean? Did not Joshua lead the people into the Promised Land and did they not find freedom within it?” Yes, he affirms, but it served merely as a foresight of true rest, a shadow of genuine repose. If the entirety of God’s grace relied solely on this, and if the promise made to them had been realized in their day, why would David, after such an extended time, speak of another opportunity for rest? By dissecting this with wisdom and insight, Paul reveals the spiritual significance underlying the historical events related to the Sabbath, explaining: "There remains therefore a Sabbath (rest) for the people of God: for he that entered into His rest also rested from all his works, as God also rested from His own" (Heb. 4:9-10).
This indicates clearly that the saints envisage rest as liberation from work—a state in which they will rejoice in the accomplishments of their lives, mirroring the Creator who enjoyed His completion on the seventh day. Wisdom personified proclaims in Proverbs: "I was with Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, and my delights were with the sons of men" (Proverbs 8:30-31). Thus, returning to the essence of the message—Sabbath rest denotes the lives of the saints liberated from toil. In that time, all good will be generously bestowed upon them by God without laborious effort, characterized by the absence of sin, the root of all evil, destroyed with the adversary who typically instigates it. As stated, "There shall not be a lion there, neither shall any of the evil beasts go up there: but there shall be a clean way there, and the way shall be called holy" (Isaiah 35:9, 8). The spirit of the saints will inherit all good things without toil.
Consequently, the gathering of wood on the Sabbath results in a sentence of death by stoning (Num. 15:36), as it reflects a transgression against the prototype. Those who entered into rest must refrain from deviating from the honored path of virtue, unlike those who strayed from their tents. Gathering wood is not sinful; it is the failure to recognize what the prototype signifies that leads to such condemnation. The man stoned for this perceived offense embodies folly, as the execution itself relays the nature of his actions. Hence, it becomes apparent that, following the culmination of the world, abominable sin will cease, and the necessity for self-gain through labor will also vanish. In the books of Moses, this principle is illustrated vividly. Just as God bestowed manna in the wilderness, which sustained the Israelites, He instructed them through Moses: "Eat it today, for it is a sabbath (rest) today unto the Lord; ye shall not find it in the field: six days ye shall gather it, but on the seventh day it shall rest, there shall be no rest in the time of it" (Ex. 16:25-26).
This showcases our duty to labor for the nourishment of eternal life until the culmination of the age, similar to how the Israelites collected manna during their wilderness journey. On the seventh day, symbolizing the world’s conclusion, the opportunity for gathering what benefits us will have elapsed, permitting us to enjoy the results of our prior endeavors, as the Psalmist notes: "Taste the fruit of your labors" (Psalm 127:2). The Lawgiver, aware that shadows do not suffice, commanded that no work be done on the Sabbath. However, some disregarded this sacred command, justifying their actions by gathering manna on the Sabbath. Their disobedience led to divine rebuke: "How long will you not obey my commandments and my law? See, the Lord hath given you this day for rest (the Sabbath): therefore He hath given you on the sixth day bread for two days: sit (stay) everyone in your houses, let none of you go out from his place on the seventh day" (Ex. 16:28-29).
This illustrates that while portraying a life unburdened by labor, we are expressly forbidden from undertaking any work on the Sabbath. Further emphasizing this, He commands that none should leave their homes. In this directive, He assures that those who succeed in safeguarding their spirits will attain the anticipated rest. By forbidding burdens and work on the Sabbath, He clarifies the rewards awaiting those who realize it. The time will come when no one will bear the oppressive weight of sin. Holiness will flourish as original sin is utterly vanquished, renewing souls in continuous virtue. No one will venture beyond the gates of Jerusalem; rather, the blessed company of saints will eternally dwell in heavenly Jerusalem, secured by Divine providence, never losing the bestowed gifts, as "the gifts and calling of God are immutable," as stated by Saint Paul (Rom. 11:29).
When referring to "do not go out every one from his place," He underscores the many dwellings prepared by God the Father (John 14:2). The holy tabernacle, with its ten courts, serves as a prototype. Each person will receive a dwelling in accordance with their merit and deeds. Once granted their abodes, they will abide in them forever, secure in the grace and divine benefits bestowed upon them. Isaiah reinforces this assurance, proclaiming: "Your eyes shall see Jerusalem, the rich city, tents that will not be shaken or moved forever" (Isaiah 33:20). His assertion that the tents in the opulent city will not be shaken signifies a perpetual residency therein. Furthermore, "Ye shall do no work therein, and sanctify the sabbath day" can be interpreted as an indication of both secular and sacred time dedicated to the Lord. Hence, refraining from labor on the Sabbath, in contrast, we should pull away from all that impels us to work and fatigue.