Stoned for working on the Sabbath
Some have made the point that since Sabbath breakers were stoned to death in the Old Testament, therefore the Sabbath must not be in force today since stoning is not in force. But take note that not only Sabbath breakers were stoned to death but adulterers as well (Leviticus 20:10). Those who broke the third Commandment were also put to death (Leviticus 24:16). Surely no one feels that adultery and blasphemy are any less wrong today just because God prescribed death for such sins in the Old Testament.
The fact is that being put to death applied to more than just the Sabbath Commandment. It was in fact the penalty for any of the Ten Commandments broken willfully. However, please note that it did not apply when they were broken in ignorance, meaning not willfully, so death was easily avoided by not being willfully disobedient.
Under the theocracy of Israel, God ruled the people directly. He commanded punishment immediately for certain flagrant acts of disobedience. Today the same sins are equally abhorrent to God such as breaking HIS Sabbath, but punishment is delayed until the Day of Judgment because of Christ who now says, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” John 8:7
One of the verses in contention found below says the person who profanes the Sabbath will be put to death and it also says that person will be CUT OFF from among his people. So why is there an apparent contradiction? Does this verse mean being separated (cut off) from his people or does it mean being put to death?
Exodus 31:14 “You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.”
The verse does in fact mean being put to death as “cut off” was a phrase that meant to be put to death in Biblical days. Note that John Gills Commentary also confirms this.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Dr. John Gill (1690-1771)
“that soul shall be cut off from among his people; that is, shall die by the hand of the civil magistrate, it being but another phrase for being put to death;”
Please read Numbers 15:28-36 by hovering your mouse over the scripture. Did you note that being CUT OFF (put to death) applied to all the Commandments that were not broken in ignorance? (Verses 28-31) Straight after these verses we find an example and it just happened to be the Sabbath. (Verses 32-36) It could have been any Commandment and it would have still been the same result.
Compare the Good News Bible below with the King James above for verses 30-31 in regards to being “CUT OFF” for even further confirmation that this does in fact mean being put to death for willfully breaking any Commandment.
Numbers 15:30-31 GNB “But any who sin deliberately, whether they are natives or foreigners, are guilty of treating the LORD with contempt, and they shall be put to death, 31 because they have rejected what the LORD said and have deliberately broken one of his commands. They are responsible for their own death.”
Since being put to death used to apply to any willful sin, and scripture uses the example of being stoned for working on the Sabbath, then this also reveals how important keeping His Sabbath is to Him. See the full story on who moved the Sabbath to Sunday which also reveals that this is one of Satan's best deceptions.