When it comes to circumventing God’s Sabbath, imagination knows no bounds. The variety of excuses is virtually endless. But it’s no use. Observing the seventh day of the week remains unchanged to this day, whether one likes it or not!
The diversity is virtually inexhaustible.
The “excuses” for observing the seventh day of the week, God’s Sabbath, are quite varied. Hardly anything is omitted, or individual verses are simply presented in isolation and then misinterpreted to declare the Sabbath null and void.
One of the verses used for this purpose can be found in Mark 2:27:
“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:“
Jesus said that man was not created for the Sabbath.
Therefore, humans are not at all obligated to observe the fourth commandment of God (Exodus 20:8-11). Furthermore, this is part of the Old Covenant and applied only to the people of Israel. “We” observe the first day of the week, Sunday. The day on which Jesus Christ rose from the dead.“
“The Sabbath was created for the sake of mankind.“. Is this actually a hint from Jesus Christ that the day is free to be observed or simply passed over? For humankind, according to the wording, but as a mere option? The 4th commandment of God (not the “commandment of Moses”! – Info) begins with verse 8 as follows:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.“
Sabbath only for the people of Israel?
“Yes, but that only applies to the people of Israel. Not to us Christians anymore!“
is a common response to that. Really? Jesus Christ emphasized:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Jesus Christ emphatically warned of this. Anyone who does not keep His commandments (10 Commandments – Info) or even wants to keep them has a real problem, because obviously that person has not recognized Jesus Christ, even though He is worshiped daily. For, and above all:
Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”” (Matthew 7:22-23)
That would be a truly shocking answer. “Tears and gnashing of teeth” would follow, because this answer is a rejection of salvation and also the announcement that it’s all over. Incidentally, it’s as if Jesus Christ had addressed today’s charismatics directly. There are already around 650 million of them worldwide, both Evangelicals and Catholics.
Is there an official abolition of the Sabbath?
“But Jesus never emphasized the Sabbath as God’s law again in the New Testament!“
Another popular excuse used by Sabbath refusers.
Indeed, Jesus Christ had reiterated a number of laws in the New Testament, but not the Sabbath directly. However, He knew that the end was near for the city of Jerusalem. In fact, in 70 AD, the Romans effectively razed the city and the Temple. Jesus Christ didn’t specify the date in Matthew 24, but He gave a subtle hint.
“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:” (Matthew 24:20)
The destruction of Jerusalem took place nearly 40 years after the famous Sermon on the Mount of Olives, long after Christ’s Ascension and Pentecost. So why should Christians be praying to avoid having to flee on the Sabbath? Furthermore, the observance of the Sabbath will be emphasized on the new earth (Isaiah 66:23).
This certainly doesn’t seem to suggest that Jesus Christ ever abolished the Sabbath or moved it to the first day of the week.
Is periodic refresher training necessary?
Does a law, once enacted, need to be periodically reformulated to maintain its validity? That would be like the state passing a law, enacting it, and then, after a certain period, the citizens no longer being bound by it because the regulation hasn’t been updated in the meantime. That would be quite absurd.
The repeal of a valid law, however, requires official abolition, also by the legislature. This repeal usually takes the form of another law, a “repealing law”! It is defined just as clearly as the law being repealed itself. However, such a repeal of the Sabbath cannot be found anywhere in the Gospel. And as an aside: God never changes and is, therefore, like Jesus Christ himself, the same then, now, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)!
A great deal of “non-willpower” is required.
To conclude from Mark 2:27 that the Sabbath is non-binding and applies only to Israel requires, to put it mildly, a great deal of bending and twisting. Jesus Christ clearly stated, “The Sabbath was made for humankind,” not exclusively for Israel! There is no indication whatsoever that the Sabbath, the fourth commandment of God, was ever abolished, even though the apostles fled to the upper chamber after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and there, among other things, “broke the bread.”
Even the “breaking of bread” has absolutely nothing to do with Holy Communion alone, but is a traditional custom that is still practiced today (Info).
Conclusion:
The Sabbath is not merely observed (brought into effect), but valid! To this day, unchanged, for all people! (Info)
Indeed, the first Christians almost universally observed the seventh day, God’s Sabbath. Only two regions deviated from this practice: Alexandria (Egypt) and Rome. The leader of the Roman church initially asserted his sole authority as bishop and did not support the Sabbath, preferring Sunday. Thus, people within the diocese of Rome observed Sunday, while in neighboring Milan, the Sabbath was still observed.
A headstrong community developed there, the bishop raised increasing claims to power, and things really came to a head from the 4th century onwards. Since then, the early Roman Catholic Church has waged a veritable war against the Sabbath (Info).
Further topics related to the Sabbath – here and here.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Luke 23:56
Bible verses from King James Version
