It might seem like something expected from a specific kind of Christian who overemphasizes or distorts Matthew 5 with its attention on inward attitudes or intentions behind acts of sin: the idea that it is evil to as much as think about work on the Sabbath. But I have instead seen this idea largely promoted by adherents of Rabbinic Judaism, which, like evangelicalism and other irrationalistic and heretical "versions" of Christianity, contains extensive and severe deviations from reason and Old Testament doctrines.
Contrary to some mere social constructs of tradition, not even the Old Testament forbids all physical activity on the Sabbath, only unnecessary labor, particularly of a physical or professional kind (Exodus 34:21) [1]. People are not ethically required, among other things, to starve, forgo urgent medical treatment, sit in place all day, or, as some religious Jews also arbitrarily think, to not use electronics. But the issue at hand is if there is a mental requirement to not even think about work during the Sabbath in addition to keeping oneself from certain acts of work.
Even the most elaborate verses addressing the moral duty to rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15) do not say that it is wicked to remember or anticipate work, including the previous day's labor or tasks that will need attention right after the Sabbath. Nor do these verses say to not think about the concept of work on the day of rest, whether as something governed by logic as all things are or as the concept relates to Judeo-Christian philosophy, as with the Sabbath obligation itself. In fact, not thinking about work whatsoever could backfire in a far worse way than contemplating or recalling work, though such thoughts would be evil in themselves if they were immoral and not because someone might be tempted to commit an outward behavior that does objectively violate the Sabbath.
How else could someone keep the objective logical distinction between (unnecessary) labor and rest in mind unless one is indirectly thinking about work and abstinence from it? And without focusing on this distinction to some extent, one would only be resting in a haphazard, perilous manner. One could accidentally perform some illicit action on the Sabbath simply because one forgot to even think about the concept of work or about particular types of labor one does or needs to do, either on a regular basis or in that particular month! This is vastly different from careless or intentional Sabbath violation, of course. Yet, not even thinking about work could ironically lead to improperly working on the Sabbath.
I again emphasize that not thinking about work (such as just remembering something to do the next day) is not part of the command to have a day of rest for every six days of work (not even by logical extension). Also, not thinking about work at any level on the Sabbath could easily result in exactly the very thing the legalist hopes to avert. Now, if, after thinking about some pressing activity that needs to be done the day after, someone began engaging in some sort of gratuitous professional or physical labor to get ahead of the next day's tasks, this would absolutely violate the Sabbath obligation. Remembering work that must be handled the following day, especially work necessary for health and survival, is not sinful at all.
If it was evil to think about "work" on one's required day of rest, at least when the thought is within one's power to cast from one's mind (truly involuntary thoughts can never be evil!), it would be evil to allow oneself to think about any labor forbidden for that day. But this is neither the content of the Biblical obligation nor a logical ramification of it. Focusing on the difference between work and rest can actually deepen one's appreciation for Sabbath rest and the special opportunity it poses for everything from relaxed introspection to unhindered prayer. Weekly, intentional celebration of rest can be all the more liberating because one does not forget about the philosophical nature of work and the specific work that is part of one's own life.
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