For many religious communities, including Jews, the Sabbath remains an important part of their religious observance. During this time, people abstain from work and engage in acts of worship and devotion, such as prayer, reading scripture, and spending time with family.
However, for many Christians, the significance of the Sabbath has been lost over time and changed to Sunday or any day someone wants it to be could be Sabbath. But why in the 4th commandment only did God say to remember the Sabbath? Could it be He knew we would forget something important?
What is the Sabbath?
The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship that has been set aside by God as a sanctified memorial to His act of creation. A time to have a relationship with Him. According to the fourth commandment in the Ten Commandments,
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it”.
Exodus 20:8-11
The Sabbath day is the seventh day of the week, Saturday, and was established by God as a time to rest and worship Him. Despite the belief held by some Christians that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday, there is no scriptural evidence to support this claim. The Sabbath remains the seventh day of the week and is still considered holy by many people today.
Let’s read more why.
Should Christians Keep the Sabbath Today?
It’s a question that has sparked theological discussions for a long time.
Some Christians, like Seventh-day Adventists, Seventh-day Baptists, and Sabbatarian Pentecostalists, believe it’s important to keep the Sabbath, which typically means resting and worshiping on Saturdays. Others think it’s not obligatory anymore. Or that it changed to Sunday. Or that it doesn’t matter, you can worship any day.
It usually comes down to personal beliefs and what their church teaches. But what really matters is what the Bible says, and digging what instructions it gives us. Here are some Bible verses from the New Testament that mention keeping the Sabbath, the law, or God’s commandments:
- Matthew 5:17-19: In this passage, Jesus talks about not abolishing the law but fulfilling it (by keeping the law as a perfect example to us of what to do).
- Matthew 12:1-14: Jesus heals on the Sabbath, sparking discussions about the Sabbath’s observance. That we should do good on the Sabbath (thus He was instructing when you keep it what you can do, you can do good).
- Mark 2:27-28: Jesus declares that the Sabbath was made for man after religious leaders accuse Jesus and His followers of breaking the Sabbath because they broke their rule (they should keep it for their benefit and enjoy it, not follow man-made rules about it).
- Luke 4:16: It mentions Jesus going to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
- Acts 13:14-16: Paul and his companions attend the synagogue on the Sabbath.
- Hebrews 4:9: Talks about a Sabbath rest for God’s people.
- Matthew 24:20: Jesus when describing the signs of His coming, He say pray it doesn’t happen on the Sabbath (because we should be keeping the Sabbath still).
- Luke 14:5: Jesus advocates that when you keep Sabbath, it is ok to do good by pulling a fallen animal out of a pit (again it isn’t about keeping arbitrary man-made laws, but keeping Sabbath as God intended).
In the end, it comes back to why does God say remember the Sabbath? Why does Jesus say if you love me, keep my commandments? Because they should keep the Sabbath holy today still, following God’s instruction. The Sabbath is for our spiritual, mental, and physical benefit.
Was the Sabbath Abolished or Fulfilled by Jesus?
Now, let’s discuss whether Jesus abolished or fulfilled the Sabbath.
He didn’t abolish it, but He brought some fresh insights on how Jews were keeping it wrong. Jesus Himself keeping the law (and the Sabbath) perfectly, thus fulfilling all of the law, and the fourth commandment.
- Matthew 5:17-18: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.“
These verses show that while Jesus didn’t do away with the Sabbath, He emphasized its purpose and significance. That the law will never go away.
So, while Jesus didn’t toss the Sabbath out the window, He did add a fresh perspective. It’s all about understanding the heart behind it is rest, not a strict set of vast rules to follow created by the religious leaders at that time.
Is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, our New Sabbath?
Now, let’s explore the question of whether Sunday, often referred to as the Lord’s Day, is the “new Sabbath” for Christians.
Jesus states He is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). And the Bible notes how Jesus kept the Sabbath on the seventh day, as was the Jewish custom.
But did Jesus change the Sabbath, and which day is the seventh day? And the first part answer is rooted in the Bible, particularly the Fourth Commandment found in Exodus 20:8-11, which states:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it“
This commandment emphasizes the sanctity of the seventh day, defining which day. Also, God, and only God, made it holy.
- Isaiah 43:13: This verse underscores the unchangeable nature of God’s actions and His holiness. It emphasizes that when God decides or declares something to be holy, no one has the power to alter or undo it.
- Malachi 3:6: Here plainly states God does not change.
- Hebrews 13:8: And again plainly says Jesus does not change either.
- James 1:17: This goes further and explains everything from God is good, and God doesn’t change.
- Matthew 5:17-18: This verse again is Jesus stating the Law was not abolished. And not one letter of the law will pass from the law.
- Psalm 119:89: Is says God’s word, the Bible is eternal.
- Isaiah 40:8: And again the Word of God will last forever. Unchanged.
These verses affirm the unchanging nature of God and His enduring law, highlighting their stability and permanence throughout time.
Actually, there is nowhere in the New Testament, or from Jesus stating he changed the Sabbath day from the seventh day to Sunday the first day. Nowhere did God make Saturday no longer holy, and made Sunday holy instead.
Jews kept the weekly calendar and Sabbath diligently, and still do today. The apostles and early church all kept the Sabbath on Saturday, and taught new believers to do the say. Whereas many Christians keep the Lord’s Day on the first day of the week every Sunday. This is because both Jews and Christians recognize the weekly calendar of events recorded in history and in the Bible. Jesus Himself was crucified on “Good Friday”, rested for Sabbath in the grave, and rose on “Easter Sunday”.
While Sunday has become a significant day for Christian worship in many denominations, just because Jesus rose on Sunday doesn’t mean that changed the Sabbath, and which day is holy. This isn’t to say you can’t celebrate His resurrection, or worship any day of the week. But that one day was sanctified by God Himself, and He commanded us to remember to keep the seventh day holy.
It is almost like He knew we would forget. Check out this study guide to find out what happened to this lost day.
Lesson 7 Study Guide by Amazing Facts:
The Sabbath is the fourth commandment and stands as a memorial to Creation.
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Our Adventist Life is a dedicated online evangelist and mother of two, deeply rooted in her Seventh-day Adventist faith. With over 15 years of experience in creating and optimizing digital content, she brings a unique blend of professional expertise and spiritual insight to her work. Her passion lies in exploring Biblical truths and their practical applications in daily living, self-care, and family nurturing. Through her writing, she aims to inspire and guide her readers toward a more fulfilling Christian lifestyle, drawing from her own experiences as a parent and a follower of Christ. Her thoughtful and engaging content reflects her commitment to sharing the love and wisdom found in the Scriptures with a modern audience living in the end times.
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