Sabbath vs Sunday
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
This commandment arouses many ideologies, philosophies and beliefs on its present days’ application and significance. The scripture is used to answer the questions herein raised.
What does the commandment say is the Sabbath Day? But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates (Exodus 20: 10).
Are there other sources which prove which is the seventh day of the week? Saturday is the seventh and last day of the week (Dictionary).
On what day was creation finished? And God saw everything that he he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day (Genesis 1:31).
What example did God set for the Sabbath? And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3).
Did Jesus follow that example too? And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read (St. Luke 4:16).
What was the status of the Sabbath when it was created? And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made (Genesis 2:3).
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it (Exodus 20:11).
What distinction between people does the Sabbath serve? Moreover I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them…And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that ye may know that I am the Lord your God (Ezekiel 20: 12, 20).
Q. Whose Sabbath is it? Is it the Sabbath of Moses or the Sabbath for the Jews? But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, thy stranger that is within thy gates: (Exodus 20:10; Ezekiel 20: 12, 20).
Did God forbid strangers to observe the Sabbath? Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant: (Isaiah 56:6).
Did Christ observe the Sabbath? And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read (St. Luke 4:16).
How did Jesus describe his relation to the Sabbath and the purpose of Sabbath to mankind? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath (St. Mark 2:27-28).
What attitude according to prophecy in Isaiah would Jesus have towards the law? The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable (Isaiah 42:21).
What would Christ’s coming do to the commandments? Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil (St. Matthew 5:1).
What circumstances did Jesus say would end the commandments? 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 (St. Matthew 5: 18).
And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail (St. Luke 16:17).
What did Jesus say was the proof of man’s love to him? He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. And Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (St. John 14:21,23).
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous ( I John 5:3).
What prophecy did Jesus make about the future of the Sabbath? But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day (St. Matthew 24:20).
When the earth is made new, will the Sabbath still exist? And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord (Isaiah 66: 23).
What did his disciples do at Jesus death regarding the Sabbath? And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment (St. Luke 23:56).
What did they do the next day, and what day was it? Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them ( St. Luke 24:1).
Are there other references which prove that Sunday is the first day of the week? Sunday is the first day of the week (Dictionary).
Where does the name Sunday originate from? Sunday…so called because this day was anciently dedicated to the sun, or its worship (Dictionary).
Did other followers of Christ observe the Sabbath after his death and ascension? But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath (Acts 13: 42,44)
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18: 1, 4 & 11).
Does not the scripture say if there was such a change Jesus would have mentioned it? For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day (Hebrews 4:8).
How then did Sunday replace Saturday as the Sabbath of the Lord? The Church Council of Laodicea in the year 364 AD ordered that worship services to be held on Sundays and not Saturdays anymore, throughout the entire Roman Empire. This was a political rather than a religeous decision. All along from the time of Jesus until then, all Christians have observed the Sabbath on Saturdays, just like the Jews commonly do even today (Historical Sources).
Are there prophesies which prove that God knew of these important changes in worship? And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (Daniel 7:25).
Since there is no such a change to God’s commandments nor regarding the Sabbath, what status does the bible say about the Sabbath? There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Hebrews 4:9-10).
Which day is mentioned in this Hebrew chapter? For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works (Hebrews 4:4).
Is there a blessing in observing God’s commandments? Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).
What status do we have if we keep all the commandments but fail to keep one? For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).
Does anyone have the right to add or omit to God’s commandments? For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the thingss which are written in this book (Revelation 22: 18-19).
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (St. Matthew 5:19).
What role will God’s commandments have in judgment? Now let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14).
Search the Scriptures: Sabbath School Manual and Study Guide