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THE SABBATH - SHOULD CHRISTIANS KEEP IT?

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Questions answered in this study:

1. What is the Sabbath?

1. A weekly day of rest established by God on the seventh day of the Creation week.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested (Strong’s 7673 Shabath- to cease, desist, rest) from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:3)

2. Later God gave the sabbath to the Israelites after delivering them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 16:29), establishing it

as the 4th commandment of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8).

2. When is the Sabbath?

Genesis 2:2-3 - 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

The Sabbath begins on the seventh day of the week (Saturday in most cultures). Many modern languages reserve this knowledge in the name for the seventh day:

3. Why Should Christians Keep the Sabbath?

1. God commanded his people to keep the Sabbath (7th day, Saturday) holy and as a day of rest. (Exodus 20:8-11, 23:12,

Leviticus 19:30, 26:2, Deuteronomy 5:12-15)

2. Most Christians today believe Sabbath keeping is no longer required, but it is still required because:

a. Before God gave the 10 commandments (Law), He created the world in six days and rested on the 7th

day. Therefore, he blessed the 7th day and made it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). This has never changed.

i. This Sabbath is still being observed 5000+ years since creation by groups all over the world

b. God promised foreigners who keep the Sabbath would be blessed and not excluded from God’s people and

will be given joy. (Isaiah 56:2-8)

i. Many believe that the law is only applicable to the Israelites, but when the law was given to the them God said it was also to apply to the aliens (non-Israelites) living among them (Exodus 12:49, 23:12, Leviticus 16:29, 17:12, *18:26, 19:34, Numbers 9:14, *15:14-16). In fact, Jesus even mentioned Gentiles of Old Testament generations (i.e. men of Nineveh, the Queen of the South) who repented and would rise at the judgement and condemn the generation of Jews of his time who did not repent (Matthew 12:41-42, Luke 11:30-32). Acts 2:10-11 mentions converts to Judaism present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. The fact that these Gentiles were seeking God through Judaism actually put them in position to hear the good news about Jesus from Peter (Acts 2:14-41). Foreigners (Gentiles) have always been encouraged to keep God's laws (including the Sabbath).

c. God never abolished the Sabbath or the Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

i. Jesus declared he is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5). So why would he abolish it?

ii. Jesus & his disciples observed (rested on) the Sabbath. (Matthew 28:1, Mark 6:2, 16:1, Luke 4:16, 23:56*)

1) John said that whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did (1 John 2:5). Jesus kept the

Sabbath.

iii. Jesus taught on the Sabbath. (Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16, 31, 13:10)

iv. Jesus’ disciples / apostles observed and taught on the Sabbath, even after Jesus' ascension to heaven.

(Acts 1:12, 13:14, 27, 42-44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4)

1) Paul's custom was to go to the synagogues and reason from the scriptures on the Sabbath (Acts 17:2,

18:4)
2) In Pisidian Antioch almost the whole city went out to hear the word of the Lord. (Acts 13:13-45)

3) Believers went outside the city looking for a place of prayer on the Sabbath (Acts 16:13)

4) The Thessalonian believers waited until the Sabbath was over (as soon as it was

night) before sending Paul away to avoid persecution (Acts 17:10)

v. Prophecies about the future mention Sabbath observance as still to be expected (Isaiah 66:22-23, Matthew

24:20)

vi. It’s a sign between God and his people forever. (Exodus 31:12-17, Ezekiel 20:12, 20)

1) The Sabbath will endure forever along with the new heavens and new earth. (Isaiah 66:22-24)

2) Surely, God being all knowing (Hebrews 4:13) and unchanging (Malachi 3:6), declaring the end from

the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10), and not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19) would not have

establish the Sabbath with such permanence and then change it after Jesus and apostles walked the

earth.

a. Jesus is the messenger of the New Covenant (Malachi 3:1) and the cornerstone and sure

foundation (Isaiah 28:16). His apostles were to teach everything he commanded them

(Matthew 8:20) and to lay the foundation (Ephesians 2:20).

d. There have always been Christians who have met on the Sabbath. Many of them were persecuted (even killed) because of their obedience in keeping the Sabbath. The following links site evidence of this throughout the

centuries since the early church.

i. History of Sabbath Observance

ii. http://ccg.org/weblibs/study-papers/p122.html

ii. https://www.sabbathtruth.com/sabbath-history/sabbath-through-the-centuries/id/1001/3rd-century

1) A few historical excerpts from these websites:

a. 2nd Century - EARLY CHRISTIANS “The primitive Christians had a great veneration for

the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they

derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to the

purpose.” Dialogues on the Lord's Day, p. 189. London: 1701, By Dr. T.H. Morer (A Church of

England divine).

b. 5th Century - THE WORLD “For although almost all churches throughout the world

celebrated the sacred mysteries (the Lord's Supper) on the Sabbath of every week, yet the

Christians of Allexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, refuse to do this.” The

footnote which accompanies the foregoing quotation explains the use of the word “Sabbath.”

It says: “That is, upon the Saturday. It should be observed, that Sunday is never called “the

Sabbath' by the ancient Fathers and historians.” Socrates, Ecclesiastical History, Book 5, chap.

22, p. 289.

c. 8th Century - CHINA A.D.781 In A.D. 781 the famous China Monument was inscribed in

marble to tell of the growth of Christianity in China at that time. The inscription, consisting

of 763 words, was unearthed in 1625 near the city of Changan and now stands in the “Forest

of Tablets,” Changan. The following extract from the stone shows that the Sabbath was

observed: “On the seventh day we offer sacrifices, after having purified our hearts, and

received absolution for our sins. This religion, so perfect and so excellent, is difficult to name,

but it enlightens darkness by its brilliant precepts.” Christianity in China, M. I'Abbe Huc, Vol.

I, ch.2, pp. 48, 49

d. 15th Century - FRANCE - Waldenses “Louis XII, King of France (1498-1515), being informed

by the enemies of the Waldense inhabiting a part of the province of Province, that several

heinous crimes were laid to their account, sent the Master of Requests, and a certain doctor of

the Sorbonne, to make inquiry into this matter. On their return they reported that they had

visited all the parishes, but could not discover any traces of those crimes with which they

were charged. On the contrary, they kept the Sabbath day, observed the ordinance of baptism,

according to the primitive church, instructed their children in the articles of the Christian

faith, and the commandments of God. The King having heard the report of his commissioners,

said with an oath that they were better men than himself or his people.” History of the

Christian Church, Vol.II, pp. 71, 72, third edition. London: 1818

e. 16th Century - LICHENSTEIN FAMILY (estates in Austria, Bohemia, Morovia, Hungary.

Lichenstein in the Rhine Valley wasn't their country until the end of the 7th century). “The

Sabbatarians teach that the outward Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, still must be observed, They say

that Sunday is the Pope's invention.” Refutation of Sabbath, by Wolfgang Capito, published

1599

f. 18th Century - GERMANY-Tennhardt of Nuremberg “He holds strictly to the doctrine of the

Sabbath, because it is one of the ten commandments.” Bengel's “Leban und Wirken,” Burk,

p.579 He himself says: “It cannot be shown that Sunday has taken the place of the Sabbath

(P.366). the Lord God has sanctified the last day of the week. Antichrist, on the other hand,

has appointed the first day of the week.” Ki Auszug aus Tennhardt's Schriften, P.49 (printed

1712)

3. Priests do violence to God's law by shutting their eyes to the keeping of God's Sabbaths (Ezekiel 22:26). We

Christians are to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). Priests are to keep God's Sabbaths holy

(Ezekiel 44:24).

4. Counter-Arguments to Keeping The Sabbath

Many of Paul’s letters seem to suggest that we’re no longer required to keep the Sabbath because we’re no longer under

the law. Paul’s letters (as translated today) generally contain many things that seem to contradict God’s law and Christ’s

teachings (see "Contradictions of Paul" study for more details - Coming Soon). Note that Paul did not walk with Jesus

during Jesus's time on earth, but he was converted over 5 years later. We should obey God above men (Acts 5:29).

Why Should Christians

Counter to Sabbath

When is the sabbath

Arabic: Sabet

Armenian: Shabat

Bosnian: Subota

Bulgarian: Sabota

Corsican: Sàbatu

Croatian: Subota

Czech: Sobota

Georgian: Sabati

Greek: Savvato

Hebrew: Shabbat

Indonesian: Sabtu

Italian: Sabato

Latin: Sabbatum

Maltese: is-Sibt

Polish: Sobota

Portuguese: Sábado

Romanian: Sambata

Russian: Subbota

Serbian: Subota

Slovak: Sobota

Slovene: Sobota

Somali: Sabti

Spanish: Sabado

Sudanese: Saptu

Ukranian: Subota

Arguments Used By Those Not In Favor of Keeping the Sabbath

Our Counter-Arguments

1. Paul argues against Christians obeying God's law

in Galatians 3:1-5:1.

a. Paul refers to the law as weak and miserable

forces (principles) that enslaved the

Galatians, including observing special days

and months and seasons and years (Galatians

4:8-10, 3:1-4:7).

b. Paul is disappointed with the Galatians who

want to follow the law (Galatians 4:21). He

writes about the law as slavery and

proclaiming our freedom from it (Galatians

4:21-5:1).

c. Paul says that if anyone gets circumcised,

Christ will be of no value to them and

that they would be obligated to obey the

whole law and have been alienated from

Christ and have fallen from grace (Galatians

5:2-6).

Paul contradicts Jesus who said that he did not come

to abolish the law (Matthew 5:17-20)

1. We're not sure why Paul felt comfortable in

speaking against God's Law, which is like

speaking against God and Jesus, who is the

Word of God (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13).

Therefore Jesus is the law spoke through

Moses (John 5:46). Perhaps Paul had difficulty

differentiating the law of God given to Moses

from the traditions of the elders or Pharisees

that did not originate from God and found in

Judaism (Galatians 1:14).

2. Though Paul illustrates God's law to be a

slavery that we have been liberated from,

Jesus said "come to me, all you who are weary

and burdened and I will give you rest…..take

my yoke upon you…for my yoke is easy and

my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus

said this because the religious leaders put

heavy loads on the people & didn't practice

what they preached (Matthew 23:1-4). And we

know that they added many of their

traditions to the law, which Jesus disapproved

(Mark 7:1-13, Matthew 15:1-9, 23:13-39). The

apostle John said "his commands are not

burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Paul later

contradicts himself by admitting that we are

to be slaves to righteousness (obedience) and

slaves to God (Romans 6:15-23).

3. Following God's laws do not alienate us from

Christ as Paul suggests. We obey God's

commands because we believe in Jesus, who is

the Word of God (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13),

and if we love him then we will keep his

commands (John 14:15-24, Revelation 12:17,

14:12). In fact, Paul contradicts himself in

many of his other writings by condemning

certain behaviors that violate God's (written

OT) laws and warning that such people will

not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians

5:19-21, Ephesians 5:3-7, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Additionally, God gave his circumcision

command to Abraham well before the law was

given to Moses & the Israelites, and it was to

be an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17).

2. Colossians 2:16 - Therefore do not let anyone judge

you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a

religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a

Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that

were to come; the reality, however, is found in

Christ.

1. Paul does not directly say here that we should not

keep the Sabbath, though it does seem to lower the

Sabbath's importance.

2. From the context in Colossians 2:18, the "anyone

judge" that Paul was referring to in verse 2:16 were

those who delight in false humility and the worship

of angels who are puffed up in idle notions by their

unspiritual mind. This is not necessarily speaking

against sincere followers of Christ who believe in

keeping the laws of God (including the Sabbath).

3. Also from the context in Colossians 2:20-23, Paul is

referring to rules of this world and human

commands with self-imposed worship and harsh

treatment of the body. These should not be

referring to abolishing the Sabbath since the

Sabbath is not a human command, but is a

command from God (Exodus 20:8-11). This is most

likely dealing with the human commands added to

God's command, similar to the time of Jesus when

the Pharisees accused him of not keeping the

Sabbath because he did not follow their rules /

interpretations concerning it (Matthew 12:1-14,

Mark 2:23-3:6, Luke 6:1-10, 13:10-17, John 5:8-18, *7:21-

24, 9:13-16). It was not that Jesus was not keeping

the Sabbath, nor did Jesus ever say that we did not

need to keep the Sabbath. Jesus had a problem with

the rules created by the religious leaders that

interfered with truly keeping God's commands and

were simply rules taught by men (Matthew 15:1-14,

Mark 7:1-13). We also see this in many churches of

today, where God's commands are not kept, but

traditions of the church or denomination are

followed.

3. Romans 14:1- 6

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.

The concern with this passage is that Paul's view here does not fully align with the complete unity of the believers that Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-23. How can we completely unify if we don’t agree on how we are to live as Christians? Today, the churches are not unified. There are many different denominations with many different beliefs who do not associate with each other or partner together. Jesus said "every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25). The best that we have to unite us is the Word of God (truth) and the Holy Spirit of God. True worshipers that the Father seeks must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:6). God's word is truth (John 17:17). God's word (command) is to keep the Sabbath (seventh) day holy (Exodus 20:8-11). If this is truly a "disputable matter" as Paul eludes to, then one might suppose that all the other commands are disputable as well.

4. Christians use the above verse (Romans 14:5-6)to

say that they keep everyday holy.

Keeping the Sabbath holy means to set it (the day) apart (from other days). Therefore, no one can use “living holy everyday” as an excuse for not treating the Sabbath as special.

5. Christians met on the 1st day of the week

a. Christ rose on the 1st day of the week (Mark

16:9, Luke 24:1 John 20:1, 19)

b. Acts 20:7-8 - On the first day of the week we

came together to break bread. Paul spoke to

the people and, because he intended to leave

the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

There were many lamps in the upstairs room

where we were meeting.

c. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 - Now about the

collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I

told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the

first day of every week, each one of you

should set aside a sum of money in keeping

with your income, saving it up, so that when

I come no collections will have to be made

d.Revelation 1:10 - On the Lord’s Day I was in

the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud

voice like a trumpet

1. While it is fine to meet on the 1st day or any and

every day of the week, this should not nullify God's

original command of keeping the Sabbath (7th) day

holy (which means to set it apart as sacred).

2. Although these scriptures show believers gathered

on the 1st day, there are other scriptures showing

believers met on the Sabbath (see scriptures in

section 3.2.c above about God never abolishing the

Sabbath)

3. Also see section 3.2.d for historical (non-

scriptural) proofs of Christians meeting on the

Sabbath

4. Although Christians refer to Sunday as the Lord's

day, we don’t have any proof that Jesus / God's goal

was to establish this as a day to trump the Sabbath.

Also, how can we be certain that John (in

Revelation 1:10) was referring to the Lord's Day as

Sunday (1st day of the week)? In fact, the only days

the Lord ever referred to as His day was the Sabbath

(seventh day) (Isaiah 56:4, 58:13, Exodus 31:13,

Leviticus 19:3, 30, 26:2) or his day of wrath (Isaiah

13:6-22, Zechariah 14)

6. Hebrews 4:1-10 discusses that we can enter God's

rest by faith (believing) and once we enter, we rest

from our work. Christians use this to say that we

already observe the Sabbath by entering God's rest

in Christ by faith.

Hebrews 4:11 says make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. From the context, this disobedience is referring to those who disobeyed God's commands in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:16-19). Therefore if the writer is telling us to make an effort to enter the rest, then we have not yet entered nor began this (eternal) rest yet.

1. Additionally, there's no justification to believe that

disobeying God's command to keep the Sabbath day

holy will improve our chances of entering God's

rest.

7. Paul and the apostles at Jerusalem decided against

making Gentiles follow the law and only required

them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from

sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled

animals and from blood. (Acts 15:1-35)

1. The leaders didn't seem totally sure what the

Gentiles should follow:

1. They wrote to the Gentiles that "it seemed

good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to

burden you with anything beyond the

following requirements" (Acts 15:28). Note

that those requirements were from God's

law. These were likely some of the biggest

areas in which they noticed Gentiles

breaking God's commands.

a. Note that many Christians don’t even

practice obedience to those 4

requirements listed.

b. Note that there are more requirements

for Gentiles listed throughout the New

Testament writings that were not

included here.

2. After James's recommendation of these

requirements he mentions that "the law of

Moses has been preached in every city from

the earliest times and is read in the

synagogues on every Sabbath" (Acts 15:21).

a. This statement infers that these

Gentiles were already going to

synagogues to hear the law on the

Sabbath (implying perhaps that they

may have already been keeping the

Sabbath).

b. This statement leaves room for the

Gentiles to interpret how they should

obey God as they hear the law of

Moses.

i. In Jesus's parable about the rich

man in hell, the man was told that

order for his living family

members to avoid hell, they

should listen to Moses & the

prophets (Luke 16:19-31).

2. The main issue that prompted this meeting in

Jerusalem was the question of whether or not

circumcision was a requirement to be saved (Acts

15:1-2). The premise of the requirements they

recommended was that "we should not make it

difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God"

(Acts 15:19). Just imagine as a grown man who

now believes in God, being told that you now have

to get circumcised (foreskin cut off of private

area). That might make any man cringe.

However, this does not compare well to Sabbath

keeping, which is much easier and is a privilege to

do.

3. Although many of Paul's writings seem to indicate

he is against following the law, he tries to prove

that he does follow the law in Acts 21:17-26). This

was 7 years after the Jerusalem council of Acts

15:1-35.

1. The Jews in Jerusalem who believed were zealous for the law (Acts 21:20)

2. They heard that Paul had been teaching Jews not to obey the law and wanted him to prove that he lived in obedience to the law. (Acts 21:21-26)

4. Also see our study on "The Law - Should

Christians Follow It?" - coming soon.

Why do most Christians

How to keep the sabbath

5. Why Did Most Christians Stop Observing The Sabbath?

1. “From the apostles' time until the council of Laodicea, which was about the year 364, the holy observance of the Jews' Sabbath

continued, as may be proved out of many authors: yea, notwithstanding the decree of the council against it.” Sunday a Sabbath. John

Ley, p.163. London: 1640.

2. The Roman Catholic Church under the Roman emperor Constantine changed the day of worship to Sunday

a. “Unquestionably the first law, either ecclesiastical or civil, by which the sabbatical observance of Sunday is known to have

been ordained, is the sabbatical edict of Constantine, A.D. 321.” Chambers Encyclopedia, Article: “Sunday.” The following is

what Constantine’s law required of the people:

i. “Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those

who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens

that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose

the commodities ranted by Heaven.”

1) Translated from the original edict in Latin, now in Harvard College U.S.A. - Also in Codex Justinianus, lib. 3, tit.

12, 3; translated in Phillip Schaff’s History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 380.

b. Roman church doctrine declared after Constantine’s Sunday Law:

i. “Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday [in the original: sabbato, shall not be idle on the Sabbath], but

shall work on that day; but the Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no

work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out [anathema — excommunicated] from

Christ.”

1) Council of Laodicea, c. A.D. 363-364, Canon 29, quoted in C.J. Hefele’s A History of the Councils of the Church,

Vol. 2, p. 316. - Also in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 1899 Edition, Vol. XXIII, page 654.

c. As time continued the Roman Catholic Church power and influenced grew and this law was enforced throughout

the world. Through Canons (church laws), persuasive letters and even inquisitions persecution against Sabbath keepers was

waged by the Church. Evidence of this persecution can be seen in the following historical quotes:

i. 5th Century - POPE INNOCENT (402-417) Pope Sylvester (314-335) was the first to order the churches to fast on

Saturday, and Pope Innocent (402-417) made it a binding law in the churches that obeyed him, (In order to bring the

Sabbath into disfavour.) “Innocentius did ordain the Saturday or Sabbath to be always fasted.” Dr. Peter Heylyn,

History of the Sabbath, Part 2, p. 44.

ii. 7th Century - ROME (POPE GREGORY I,A.D.590 TO 604) “Gregory, bishop by the grace of God to his well-beloved

sons, the Roman citizens: It has come to me that certain men of perverse spirit have disseminated among you things

depraved and opposed to the holy faith, so that they forbid anything to be done on the day of the Sabbath. What shall

I call them except preachers of anti-Christ?” Epistles, b.13:1.

iii. 8th Century - COUNCIL OF FRIAUL, ITALY-A.D. 791 (CANON 13) “We command all Christians to observe the

Lord's day to be held not in honour of the past Sabbath, but on account of that holy night of the first of the week

called the Lord's day. When speaking of that Sabbath which the Jews observe, the last day of the week, and which also

our peasants observe..” Mansi, 13, 851

iv. 12th Century - SPAIN (Alphonse of Aragon) “Alphonse, king of Aragon, etc., to all archbishopss, bishops and to all

others...'We command you that heretics, to wit, Waldenses and Insabbathi, should be expelled away from the face of

God and from all Catholics and ordered to depart from our kingdom.'“ Marianse, Praefatio in Lucam Tudensem,

found in Macima Gibliotheca Veterum Patrum, Vol.25, p.190

v. 13th Century - FRANCE (Waldenses) “The inquisitors...[declare] that the sign of a Vaudois, deemed worthy of death,

was that he followed Christ and sought to obey the commandments for God.” History of the Inquisition of the Middle

Ages, H.C.Les, vol.1

vi. 13th Century - FRANCE-Council Toulouse, 1229 Canons against Sabbath-keepers: “Canon 3.-The lords of the different

districts shall have the villas, houses and woods diligently searched, and the hiding-places of the heretics destroyed.

“Canon 14-Lay members are not allowed to possess the books of either the Old or the New Testaments.” Hefele, 5, 931,

962

vii. 15 Century - NORWAY (Church Council held at Bergin, August 22,1435) “The first matter concerned a keeping holy

of Saturday. It had come to the earth of the archbishop that people in different places of the kingdom had ventured

the keeping holy of Saturday. It is strictly forbidden-it is stated-in the Church Law, for any one to keep or to adopt

holy-days, outside of those which the pope, archbishop, or bishops appoint.” The History of the Norwegian Church

under Catholicism, R. Keyser, Vol.II, p. 488.Oslo: 1858

viii. 16 Century - INDIA “The famous Jesuit, Francis Xavier, called for the Inquisition, which was set up in Goa, India, in

1560, to check the 'Jewish wickedness' (Sabbath-keeping).” Adeney, The Greek and Eastern Churches, p.527, 528

ix. 16 Century - NORWAY-1544 “Some of you, contrary to the warning, keep Saturday. You ought to be severely punished.

Whoever shall be found keeping Saturday, must pay a fine of ten marks.” History of King Christian the Third, Niels

Krag and S. Stephanius

x. 16 Century - BAPTISTS “Some have suffered torture because they would not rest when others kept Sunday, for they

declared it to be the holiday and law of Antichrist.” Sebastian Frank (A.D. 1536)

2. Nowhere in scripture (where the word Sabbath is mentioned 154 times) do we find God changing or abolishing the Sabbath day.

The Catholic Church's changing of the Sabbath to Sunday is a similar example of why Jesus opposed the religious leaders of his

lifetime on earth, because they nullified God's word by creating their own "traditions of men." (Matthew 15:1-9, Mark 7:1-13)

a. When this happens, people let go of the commands of God and hold on to human traditions (Mark 7:8). This is what has

happened regarding the Sabbath & Sunday worship.

6. How Can We Keep the Sabbath Today?

1. No work is to be done on the Sabbath, wherever you live, even during plowing season and harvest. (Exodus 20:10-12, 34:21, Leviticus

23:30)

a. This includes you, your family, servants, slaves, foreigners, animals, etc. so that all may be refreshed. (Exodus 20:10-12)

b. Working on the Sabbath was punishable by death in the law. (Exodus 31:15, Numbers 15:32-36)

c. Originally everyone was to prepare food the day before and stay where they were on the Sabbath and rest, but in Jesus’ time

people obviously would go to the temple or synagogues on the Sabbath. (Exodus 16:21-30, Luke 14:1)

d. The Lord commanded the Israelites to not light a fire in your home on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:3). Perhaps this would have

been labor-intensive work back in the time this was said. Therefore it is best not to do any labor-intensive activities on the

Sabbath.

e. Buying & selling is discouraged on the Sabbath. (Nehemiah 10:31, 13:15-22*, Amos 8:1-7)

f. No loads were to be carried out of the home or thru the city gates on the Sabbath. This brings judgment on the city.

(Jeremiah 17:19-27)

i. The Sabbath is actually kept holy by not doing any work on it (Jeremiah 17:24, 27)

g. Guards of the king’s palace & priests were permitted to be on duty (while others off duty) on the Sabbath. (2 Kings 11:5-9, 2

Chronicles 23:5-10, Nehemiah 13:22)

h. It is permissible to deal with emergency needs (i.e. hunger, healing, danger) on the Sabbath. God is merciful. The Sabbath

was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5, Exodus 16:29)

i. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. God, the Father, is always working. Don’t judge by mere appearances, but judge

correctly. (Matthew 12:10-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11, 13:10-17, 14:1-6, John 5:1-18, 7:22-24, 9:1-16)

j. Work for six days a week. (Exodus 35:2)

2. The Sabbath is a day of sacred assembly (holy convocation). (Leviticus 23:1-3)

a. In the time of Jesus & the apostles it was customary to read the Word of God in synagogues every Sabbath.

(Acts 13:27, 42, 44, 15:21, 18:4)

3. Worship the Lord on the Sabbath day. (Ezekiel 46:3)

a. On the Sabbath, God's people are to worship in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of the inner court gateway that

faced east - it only opened on the Sabbath and New Moon days. (Ezekiel 46:1-3)

b. A song for the Sabbath day is found in Psalm 92-97

4. Offerings were required every Sabbath. (Numbers 28:9-10)

5. Don’t go your own way and do as you please on the Sabbath. (Isaiah 58:13)

6. Don’t desecrate (disrespect or violate) the Sabbath. (Isaiah 56:6, Ezekiel 23:38)

7. It’s okay to visit on the Sabbath. (Luke 14:1)

8. Don’t speak idle (no value) words on the Sabbath. (Isaiah 58:13)

9. The Sabbath is to be delightful & honorable. (Isaiah 58:13)

a. Don’t be anxious for the Sabbath to be over or try to cut it short. (Amos 8:5)

10. The Sabbath is for your benefit

a. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)

b. Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath. (Exodus 16:22)

11. Sabbath observance is worthless to God where there is sin & rebellion. (Isaiah 1:13-15)

a. Hosea 2:11 - God did away with Israel's Sabbaths & festivals for a time because of their sin

b. The fact that God's people have forgotten his Sabbaths is a result of His judgment (Lamentations 2:6)

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