Are the festival days Sabbaths?

Greetings,

Recently, I read a post on Facebook that the only festival day that is a Sabbath is Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur. I tried correcting them by posting the verses that they were sabbaths. Then someone else said, they were holy convocations but not Sabbaths. I then posted screen shots showing they WERE sabbaths.

So, in this week's article, we're going to look at each festival day & determine if it's a sabbath or not a sabbath. Grab your favorite bible & open it to Lev. 23, we're going to start in verse 5.

The first of annual festivals is Passover.

Lev. 23:5-On the 14th day of the month at evening is the Lord's Passover. No mention of it being a Sabbath or doing regular work. Preparing a Passover meal is a LOT of work. The same in Ex. 12 & Deut. 16.

Lev. 23:6-8-On the 15th day of the first month of the same month is the feast of Unleavened bread to the Lord. For 7 days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first & last day shall be holy convocations & do no manner of work therein. Work is Hebrews concordance #4399, m'la'kah, meaning Workmanship or occupation. So, don't work your regular job & moms get a break from cleaning the home that day. Not a paid occupation but still a full time job. The same is said in Ex. 12.

Lev. 23:9-14-This the Wave Sheaf day. No mention of this being a Sabbath. We are to give an offering before we start eating any type of grain that day. In 2025, the Wave Sheaf Day & the last day of Unleavened Bread fell on the same day, so it was a sabbath that year.

Lev. 23:15-21-This is Shavuot. In verse 21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. Again, work is #4399, no regular job & moms get a break from cleaning.

Lev. 23:24-25-This is the Feast of Trumpets/Day of Shouting, This is a day of rest & do no manner of work. Again, work is #4399. But this is a day to make sure you go out & look for the new moon as the new moon starts the beginning of the scriptural month. If you see that new moon, blow the shofar.

Lev. 23:27-32-This is Day Of Atonement/Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. This is a day of a holy convocation and absolutely no work. In verse 30, it says whatever person that does any work on this day, God will destroy from among his people. In verse 32, it is the Sabbath of Sabbaths. Work in these verses are also #4399, no occupation work & definitely work around the home. It is a day of complete rest. A day of fasting, prayer & drawing close to God.

Lev. 23:34-42-This is the Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot, the most joyous festival of the year. Verse 35-The first day shall be a holy convocation & you shall do no manner of work. (#4399) Verse 36-Holy convocation & no matter of work. Verse 39-Says the 8th day is a Solemn rest. Rest in this verse is Hebrew #7677-Shabbathown-Special holiday, rest, sabbath.

The 8th day of the feast or the Last Great Day isn't a day to be packing up your temporary dwelling or packing up your car to head home. That can all wait until after sunset & maybe even the next day. God is more important than hitting the road to head home.

As you can see, with the exception of Passover & Wave Sheaf and days between the first & last day of Unleavened Bread & the days between the first day of the Feast & the Last Great day, these are sabbaths. We should be looking forward to these days, the weekly Sabbath & the annual Sabbaths shouldn't be days to dread as days that you can't do regular work or your job. My husband & I looked forward to double sabbaths. These are sabbaths where the weekly sabbath & annual sabbath fell back to back. A full 48 hours of R & R.

I hope this clears up any confusion about the annual festivals & whethey they are sabbaths or not.

Until next week,

Lori