keep the sabbath day holy
If there is one topic that is getting more and more controversial these days among Christians, it is the topic on Sabbath. Though there are so many issues behind this commandment, I want to touch only on the following: What day is Sabbath; What should we do and not do on Sabbath; and Does keeping the Sabbath still hold true in the new covenant that we are in?
Before I go any further, I want you to keep your heart and mind open to this teaching; otherwise I suggest that you don’t even read it or listen to it. If you will just argue with me on this one, I will point you back to Scriptures. If you plan to use Scriptures against the very Scriptures I will use, then I suggest that you bring it before God because I am not the judge here. I am simply sharing with you what Yahweh is revealing to me through my own seeking of the truth.
I also want to let you know that if you are not a Sabbath-keeper, I know exactly where you are coming from. I have been there and I know the discomfort and resistance a new teaching can bring upon us.
Before I go any further, I want you to keep your heart and mind open to this teaching; otherwise I suggest that you don’t even read it or listen to it. If you will just argue with me on this one, I will point you back to Scriptures. If you plan to use Scriptures against the very Scriptures I will use, then I suggest that you bring it before God because I am not the judge here. I am simply sharing with you what Yahweh is revealing to me through my own seeking of the truth.
I also want to let you know that if you are not a Sabbath-keeper, I know exactly where you are coming from. I have been there and I know the discomfort and resistance a new teaching can bring upon us.
Let me begin with our first topic which is: WHAT DAY IS THE SABBATH?
And God completed on the seventh day His work that He did, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work that He did. And God blessed the seventh day and He hallowed it, for thereon He abstained from all His work that God created to do. (Genesis 2:2-3)
This is the first recorded Sabbath in the Bible. It says that God “abstained” from work on the “seventh day”, which is “Saturday”.
The next question now is: “If Sabbath is Saturday, then how come most churches say that it is Sunday”?
This is the first recorded Sabbath in the Bible. It says that God “abstained” from work on the “seventh day”, which is “Saturday”.
The next question now is: “If Sabbath is Saturday, then how come most churches say that it is Sunday”?
It was in the first century when the Catholic Church changed it from Saturday to Sunday in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 364) (Peter Geiermann, C.S.S.R., The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, 3rd edition, 1957).
More than this explanation is a deeper reason that is more spiritual than physical in nature. Ephesians 6:12 says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
Satan, our adversary, has failed in his attempt to stop the Son of God from fulfilling His plan, which is why he turned his attention to the Church. At first he tried to destroy the Church by having Christians killed. However, martyrdom just strengthened the faith of many, resulting to the growth of the Church. Satan re-strategized and tried damaging the Church from within, by giving the Papacy its power, seat, and position.
Satan knows fully well how important Sabbath is for God. He also knows that this is the easiest to attack among the Ten Commandments. And since the Sabbath is a day that should be set apart for God, and since Satan wants to be worshipped, he had to change God’s day into his day. The enemy’s goal is to have his own day of worship, which is the reason why he used the Papacy as his instrument to change God’s “seventh day” Sabbath, into a Sunday in honor of a pagan Sun worship, which is where the word Sunday came from. So are you still wondering why the devil wants us to keep celebrating Sabbath on a Sunday instead of Saturday? Think about it and do your own research too.
More than this explanation is a deeper reason that is more spiritual than physical in nature. Ephesians 6:12 says that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
Satan, our adversary, has failed in his attempt to stop the Son of God from fulfilling His plan, which is why he turned his attention to the Church. At first he tried to destroy the Church by having Christians killed. However, martyrdom just strengthened the faith of many, resulting to the growth of the Church. Satan re-strategized and tried damaging the Church from within, by giving the Papacy its power, seat, and position.
Satan knows fully well how important Sabbath is for God. He also knows that this is the easiest to attack among the Ten Commandments. And since the Sabbath is a day that should be set apart for God, and since Satan wants to be worshipped, he had to change God’s day into his day. The enemy’s goal is to have his own day of worship, which is the reason why he used the Papacy as his instrument to change God’s “seventh day” Sabbath, into a Sunday in honor of a pagan Sun worship, which is where the word Sunday came from. So are you still wondering why the devil wants us to keep celebrating Sabbath on a Sunday instead of Saturday? Think about it and do your own research too.
Now let’s proceed to the next question: What should we do and not do on Sabbath?
Let’s go back to the fourth commandment to see what Sabbath really means.
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 do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the 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).
There are over 1500 rules for Sabbath in the Talmud (A central text of Rabbinic Judaism). I personally believe that these rules outside of the written Word of God are not necessarily requirements from God. What I want to focus on is what is written in Scriptures.
If you will notice, the fourth commandment starts with the word, “REMEMBER”, which obviously shows that God knew that this can be easily forgotten. He further said in this command to keep this day holy because it is His day. The first three commandments out of the ten are all about God – honoring Him and worshiping Him. The fourth commandment, which is the Sabbath, concludes the first three. It seals the kind of relationship God wants us to build with Him. It explains that we are to set aside a special day for Him – to cease from everything else we normally do and just spend it with and for Him – and He required the seventh day for this, as stated in the Scripture above. God set aside this special day for rest and recharge.
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 do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the 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).
There are over 1500 rules for Sabbath in the Talmud (A central text of Rabbinic Judaism). I personally believe that these rules outside of the written Word of God are not necessarily requirements from God. What I want to focus on is what is written in Scriptures.
If you will notice, the fourth commandment starts with the word, “REMEMBER”, which obviously shows that God knew that this can be easily forgotten. He further said in this command to keep this day holy because it is His day. The first three commandments out of the ten are all about God – honoring Him and worshiping Him. The fourth commandment, which is the Sabbath, concludes the first three. It seals the kind of relationship God wants us to build with Him. It explains that we are to set aside a special day for Him – to cease from everything else we normally do and just spend it with and for Him – and He required the seventh day for this, as stated in the Scripture above. God set aside this special day for rest and recharge.
The whole concept of Sabbath is for this day to be set-apart than the other days, to give special time for the Lord. Don’t forget those two key words: set-apart; and special time for the Lord. This means that on this day, you are not supposed to do all the regular activities you do on other days such as: (1) working or earning an income (unless you are a doctor and was called for an emergency, or you are a pastor preaching to a congregation); (2) secular activities that do not honor God; (3) household chores; and (4) shopping and/or transactions that could have been done during the week.
I have to admit that getting into the habit of practicing the Sabbath takes time. What is important is your desire and seriousness to obey God and honor Him. The rest will start lining up when you choose to obey.
I have to admit that getting into the habit of practicing the Sabbath takes time. What is important is your desire and seriousness to obey God and honor Him. The rest will start lining up when you choose to obey.
Now that I have answered my first two questions, I am down to the third and last one: Does keeping the Sabbath still hold true in the new covenant that we are in?
This is the most controversial issue about the Sabbath. Many Christians say that there is no Scripture in the New Testament that shows that we are still supposed to keep the Sabbath.
What grieves me the most is the way they hold Paul’s teachings greater than Jesus’ teachings. If Paul can just return to this world, he will slam all those who have been putting words in his mouth.
Jesus Himself did not change the Sabbath that His Father established. I mean, why will Jesus, who is the epitome of obedience, break His own Father’s rule? Throughout His ministry He showed the true meaning and purpose of the Sabbath. At the time of His death, His disciples and closest followers clearly observed the Sabbath and waited until it was past Sabbath to prepare His body for burial (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 23:56). The Day of Pentecost, which was fifty days from Jesus’ resurrection, is one of God’s seven annual Sabbaths or feasts observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath (Leviticus 23). It was on that day when the New Testament Church was founded by the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).
There is no account in the Holy Bible that shows any change of God’s Sabbaths after Jesus’ death. In fact, the opposite holds true. What we see is a continuation of Jesus’ disciples and followers observing Sabbath just as He had done.
What about Jesus Himself saying that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8)?
What grieves me the most is the way they hold Paul’s teachings greater than Jesus’ teachings. If Paul can just return to this world, he will slam all those who have been putting words in his mouth.
Jesus Himself did not change the Sabbath that His Father established. I mean, why will Jesus, who is the epitome of obedience, break His own Father’s rule? Throughout His ministry He showed the true meaning and purpose of the Sabbath. At the time of His death, His disciples and closest followers clearly observed the Sabbath and waited until it was past Sabbath to prepare His body for burial (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 23:56). The Day of Pentecost, which was fifty days from Jesus’ resurrection, is one of God’s seven annual Sabbaths or feasts observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath (Leviticus 23). It was on that day when the New Testament Church was founded by the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).
There is no account in the Holy Bible that shows any change of God’s Sabbaths after Jesus’ death. In fact, the opposite holds true. What we see is a continuation of Jesus’ disciples and followers observing Sabbath just as He had done.
What about Jesus Himself saying that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8)?
The answer is simple. Jesus was there with His Father when they created the world. They instituted the Sabbath. He is the Author of the Ten Commandments. When He said, I AM THE LORD OF THE SABBATH, He was simply telling the Pharisees that He was the One who created the law and He is the One who is going to teach how to follow the law. This coincides with another statement Jesus made: I CAME NOT TO ABOLISH THE LAW BUT TO FULFILL IT (Matthew 5:17). The Pharisees created their own complex and confusing system of Sabbath laws based on their own understanding. In effect, they have made themselves “lords of the Sabbath”, which was the reason Jesus said: I AM THE LORD OF THE SABBATH (not you).
So if Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath, why will Paul abolish it (what most Christians claim he did)?
There are three basic Scriptures that Christians use to disprove the Sabbath’s relevance to the New Testament. These passages from Paul’s teachings are: Romans 14:5-6; Colossians 2:16-17; and Galatians 4:9-10.
Understanding these Scriptures in its proper context requires some knowledge of what is actually being discussed in relation to the larger social and historical context that influenced Paul to say what he said.
Let’s look at Romans 14:5-6
So if Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath, why will Paul abolish it (what most Christians claim he did)?
There are three basic Scriptures that Christians use to disprove the Sabbath’s relevance to the New Testament. These passages from Paul’s teachings are: Romans 14:5-6; Colossians 2:16-17; and Galatians 4:9-10.
Understanding these Scriptures in its proper context requires some knowledge of what is actually being discussed in relation to the larger social and historical context that influenced Paul to say what he said.
Let’s look at Romans 14:5-6
One person considers some days more holy than others, while someone else regards them as being all alike. What is important is for each to be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes a day as special does so to honor the Lord. Also he who eats anything, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; likewise the abstainer abstains to honor the Lord, and he too gives thanks to God.
To begin with, the word “Sabbath” is not found in the entire chapter. This entire chapter talks about “doubtful things” and is not about the Ten Commandments. It shows the many misunderstandings that existed between the Jewish and Gentile Christians in relation to certain customs which were sacredly observed by some but disregarded by others. The main issue of dispute here was “meats and days”. The converted Jews abstained from certain meats while the converted Gentiles understood that they were not put under the same ceremonial points. Brotherly love and tolerance were Paul’s concerns for both the Jews and Gentiles here.
The next controversial Scripture is Colossians 2:16-17.
To begin with, the word “Sabbath” is not found in the entire chapter. This entire chapter talks about “doubtful things” and is not about the Ten Commandments. It shows the many misunderstandings that existed between the Jewish and Gentile Christians in relation to certain customs which were sacredly observed by some but disregarded by others. The main issue of dispute here was “meats and days”. The converted Jews abstained from certain meats while the converted Gentiles understood that they were not put under the same ceremonial points. Brotherly love and tolerance were Paul’s concerns for both the Jews and Gentiles here.
The next controversial Scripture is Colossians 2:16-17.
So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh-Hodesh or Shabbat. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah.
The first three verses of this chapter shows that Paul has not even met this group of believers in person, but wishes to comfort them for the troubles they are experiencing, which is being overran by worldly influences.
In verses 4 to 10, Paul began to expose the problems the Colossians were facing. They have been taught about Jesus, their walks were established in Him, yet worldly factions were infecting their assembly.
Thus, in verses 16 to 17, Paul was telling the Colossians to let no man judge them for their faithfulness towards God and His commands about Holy Days. Paul wisely pointed out that these convocations were a “shadow of things to come”. The Hebrew word for shadow is “mikraw” which means rehearsal. In short, Paul was saying that the Colossians should not let anyone judge them falsely on this matter.
The last Scripture that Christians use to disprove Sabbath is Galatians 4:9-10.
The first three verses of this chapter shows that Paul has not even met this group of believers in person, but wishes to comfort them for the troubles they are experiencing, which is being overran by worldly influences.
In verses 4 to 10, Paul began to expose the problems the Colossians were facing. They have been taught about Jesus, their walks were established in Him, yet worldly factions were infecting their assembly.
Thus, in verses 16 to 17, Paul was telling the Colossians to let no man judge them for their faithfulness towards God and His commands about Holy Days. Paul wisely pointed out that these convocations were a “shadow of things to come”. The Hebrew word for shadow is “mikraw” which means rehearsal. In short, Paul was saying that the Colossians should not let anyone judge them falsely on this matter.
The last Scripture that Christians use to disprove Sabbath is Galatians 4:9-10.
But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more? You observe special days, months, seasons and years!
Galatia was located in pagan Asia Minor, far outside the land of Israel, which makes it illogical to assume that Paul was referring to the sabbatical and jubilee years.
To understand what Paul meant, we must take a closer look at both the historic and immediate contexts of these verses.
In Galatians 4:8 Paul said, “When you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods”. This was followed by ... But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more? You observe special days, months, seasons and years!
It does not take an intelligent mind to see that Paul was referring to “turning back” again to their old life – a life of serving other gods ... pagan gods who have their special days, months, seasons, and years.
Do you think Paul will contradict himself ... the same Paul who quoted the following passages?
“The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good”. (Romans 7:12)
“For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified”. (Romans 2:13)
“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man”. (Romans 7:22)
“Do we then make void [Greek katargeo, meaning 'destroy' or 'abolish'] the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish [Greek histemi, meaning 'erect' or 'make to stand'] the law”. (Romans 3:31)
In Acts 24, Paul defended himself before the Roman governor Felix against charges of dissension and sedition brought by Jewish religious leaders. He replied to the accusations against him, saying ...
“I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” (verse 14).
All these passages clearly indicate that Paul, who was every inch a Jew, and a strict follower of Jesus, did not abolish the Sabbath or the laws.
Now that I have addressed all the three issues that I mentioned in the beginning of this article, it’s time to put this topic to rest, at least for now.
Do not forget to do your own research and let the Holy Spirit lead you deeper into the truth.
Galatia was located in pagan Asia Minor, far outside the land of Israel, which makes it illogical to assume that Paul was referring to the sabbatical and jubilee years.
To understand what Paul meant, we must take a closer look at both the historic and immediate contexts of these verses.
- The Galatians couldn't "turn again" to days they had never observed.
- The Galatian churches consist mostly of members from a Gentile, rather than Jewish background. Proof to this was when Paul made it clear that they were physically uncircumcised (Galatians 5:2; Galatians 6:12-13).
In Galatians 4:8 Paul said, “When you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods”. This was followed by ... But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more? You observe special days, months, seasons and years!
It does not take an intelligent mind to see that Paul was referring to “turning back” again to their old life – a life of serving other gods ... pagan gods who have their special days, months, seasons, and years.
Do you think Paul will contradict himself ... the same Paul who quoted the following passages?
“The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good”. (Romans 7:12)
“For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified”. (Romans 2:13)
“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man”. (Romans 7:22)
“Do we then make void [Greek katargeo, meaning 'destroy' or 'abolish'] the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish [Greek histemi, meaning 'erect' or 'make to stand'] the law”. (Romans 3:31)
In Acts 24, Paul defended himself before the Roman governor Felix against charges of dissension and sedition brought by Jewish religious leaders. He replied to the accusations against him, saying ...
“I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” (verse 14).
All these passages clearly indicate that Paul, who was every inch a Jew, and a strict follower of Jesus, did not abolish the Sabbath or the laws.
Now that I have addressed all the three issues that I mentioned in the beginning of this article, it’s time to put this topic to rest, at least for now.
Do not forget to do your own research and let the Holy Spirit lead you deeper into the truth.
Lisa Maki is the founder/editor of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women. She and her husband Jason are part of the growing movement of Christians who are discovering their Hebrew roots, and who are studying the Torah and its parallelisms to the New Testament. Lisa is likewise a Professional Writer with over 15 years of experience in the field. Jason and Lisa are part of El Shaddai Ministries, a First Century Believers Church headed by Pastor Mark Biltz.
