Does the Bible teach the seventh-day Sabbath as a moral law meant for all people? Is Sunday the new Sabbath for Christianity? There are numerous doctrines concerning Sabbath keeping that are held by Christianity today. These views differ on how one understands the Law of the Old Testament and it's fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbath, which means to rest, sever, desist, come to an end or intermission. It is very fascinating to know that this word is never translated seventh or seventh day. In the Old Testament an individual not keeping the Sabbath was put to death (Exodus 12-18; 35:2). A man was stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36). Israel was commanded not to kindle a fire on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:3). Every seventh year was to be a sabbatical year when Israel did not plant any crops; it was the Sabbath of the land (Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-55). Israel was to observe the year of jubilee. No crops were to be planted on the forty-ninth or fiftieth year in the land of Israel. The Israelites were restricted from traveling more than 3,000 to 3,600 feet on the Sabbath this is what a Sabbath day’s journey means (Acts 1:12).
When Jesus came he plucked grain on the Sabbath, thus breaking the Sabbath traditions according to the Jews of His day (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-10). Jesus healed on the Sabbath, again making the Jews upset, who accused Him of being a Sabbath breaker (Luke 13:10-17; John 5:1-18). Jesus ate with a chief Pharisee on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1).
"For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." (Matthew 12:8)
Not once did Jesus (The Lord of the Sabbath) indicate or tell anyone to observe a certain day for a Sabbath. If Jesus intended for us to keep the Sabbath in the New Testament, why did He not mention it along with the other requirements to the rich young ruler? (Matthew 19:16-22).
Let it be known I do not believe that God switched the sabbath or the seventh day to the first day of the week or Sunday. However I do believe that the first century believers met on the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection and Pentecost. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Mark 16:9). The disciples met together on this day (John 20:19-26). Paul’s followers met on the first day of the week to hear him preach (Acts 20:7). The Corinthian church collected and set aside offerings on this day (I Cor. 16:1-2). According to the "Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia" and "Zondervan’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible", the Day of Pentecost was on the first day of the week (Acts 2:1-4).
Let's look at a few of the so-called proof texts of Sabbatarianism
Exodus 20:8-11;
(8). Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(9). Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10). 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:
(11). 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.
According to Sabbatarianism because the sabbath-day keeping is in the ten commandments it is a moral law for all people. Therefore because the Christian church worships on Sunday they are in violation of the law of God. But what they failed to realize is that this was not Israels sabbath commandment. Go with me to Exodus the 16th chapter and verse 29.
"See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." (Ex.16:29)
According to Biblical chronology the text in the 16th chapter is about four weeks or one month before God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. So what is Exodus 20:8-11 all about?
Exodus 20:8-11;
(8). Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
We are to remember that there is a day coming that has to be kept Holy and the only way to keep the coming day (7th day of creation) Holy is to keep this day (6th or mans day) Holy.
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9)
(9). Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10). 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:
This is not Israels sabbath but the sabbath of the Lord thy God the Seventh Day of creation.
(11). 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.
So as you can see the weekly Sabbath of Israel was only given to them and was a type of the Seventh Day of creation that is to come The Lords Sabbath. According to the Bible we are not bound to a weekly Sabbath. The Church of God has found its rest (Sabbath) in Christ through the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 28:9-12; Acts 2:1-4, 38). We are keeping this Day Holy so that when the Seventh Day comes we can keep it Holy just like God said.
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