Three Reasons why the Sabbath Day doesn’t have to be Saturday
1. The Saturday Sabbath is only for Jews
The Sabbath is a Jewish religious tradition established in the Old Testament as a sign of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. It involves specific laws and customs (Friday to Saturday sundown) integral to Jewish faith and identity.
Jewish Sabbath Unchanged
The day of the Sabbath remains Saturday, not Sunday. NO mention in the New Testament designates Sunday as the “new Sabbath.” Therefore, the practice is limited among those who adhere to Old Testament tradition.
Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah
As “new creations” in Christ, Sunday (or Saturday) becomes a symbolic day for Christians to worship Him. But the Jews worship on Sabbath because they adhere to the old law. They do not acknowledge Jesus is the Messiah.
Colossians 2:16-17
“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink or for not celebrating certain holy days, new moon ceremonies, or Sabbaths. These rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”
2. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath
Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5 declare that “Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.” It means that He is the one who has authority even over the “mostly ridiculous” man-made rules and traditions that govern the Sabbath day.
Jesus fulfilled the law
Those who are in Christ are liberated from the Law of Moses because Jesus has fulfilled the insufficiencies of these laws, recognizing that people cannot fully adhere to them.
However, “Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law. It meant He fulfilled all the requirements of the Old Testament Law, including traditions necessitated by the Sabatth Law.
He did not abolish the law, His death was the ultimate sacrifice to fulfill or satisfy God’s wrath over our sins (propitiation).
Matthew 5:17
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”
3. Jesus’ disciples no longer observed the Sabbath
Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath
The apostles and disciples of Jesus gathered for worship on the first day of the week, a Sunday. Hence, Sunday became the “new Sabbath” to celebrate His resurrection.
Other traditions, temple sacrifice, kosher laws, and certain Jewish feasts were no longer observed because these practices no longer necessitated favor from God because Jesus had fulfilled the law.
In other words, going to heaven was no longer about “doing works” but by “faith alone” in Christ.
Ten Commandments
Nine of the Ten Commandments are reaffirmed in the New Testament under the Law of Christ, but the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath is not included.
Day of Atonement as Sabbath
The term “Sabbath” is used in Leviticus 16:31 to describe the Day of Atonement, demonstrating that the time can be applied to days other than the seventh day.
None of Paul’s letters does he state that Sabbath observance is mandatory.
Jesus was resurrected on Sunday
Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week: Tradition tells us that Sunday is the first day of the week, not Monday. Similarly, it is a symbolic day for us to worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath.
Romans 14:5-8
“… some think one day is more holy than another, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him…”
