In the 1st Part of this study, we laid the groundwork in understanding The Sabbath day, which is also God’s 4th Eternal Commandment. We learned that the Sabbath had a direct connection with the 7th Day of Creation. That God made it for man, so that he may be refreshed, just as God was refreshed on the 7th Day. That it is an important day for Him, as He calls it “My Holy day” and “My Feast/Appointment”. And that the only thing you cannot do on the Sabbath, according to God’s Commandment, is your regular work/occupation done for monetary gain. (If you have not read the 1st Part, please start there, as you will have a clearer understanding of the definitions).
We were supposed to address questions in the 2nd part of this post, but I have decided that the more important question to address is whether the Sabbath is actually Saturday, Sunday, Everyday or no more. We will continue this study further into a 3rd part, where we will answer all the questions listed down on Part 1. Today, we will look at the 4 positions people have taken regarding the Sabbath, and come to a conclusion using Scripture as evidence. As mentioned above, the 4 positions are
1)Sabbath is Saturday 2)Sabbath is Sunday 3)Sabbath is Everyday 4)Sabbath is no more
Only one position can be true.
What exactly is the 7th Day?
In our Modern Calendars, there is a reason for a 365 Day year. There is a reason for 29,30 or 31 day Month. There is a reason for a 24 Hour Day. But is there a reason for a 7 Day Week? The 7 day week can only be traced back to the Creation account, as there is no valid reason for us to divide the year into weeks with 7 days. The question about the Sabbath amongst most Christians revolve around what this 7th Day is. Is it Saturday? Sunday? Can it be any day or everyday? Or is there no way of knowing which is the 7th day?
Even though today, we have names for the 7 days of the week, there were no names for the days of the week in the Bible, Old Testament as well as New. In the Scriptures, the days of the week are called 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, 4th day, 5th day, 6th day & Sabbath. You see evidence for this even in the New Testament(Joh 2:1).
What most Christians do not understand is that, “Sabbath” was also the name given for the Seventh Day(Exo 16:26). Can we call everyday Saturday? Can Tuesday be called Saturday? In the same way, the Sabbath is a name given to a particular day and cannot be moved. You cannot call the 3rd Day, Sabbath. the 7th day alone was called the Sabbath, which meant “rest”.
Is Sabbath Saturday?
Let us look at the original word used in the Greek Manuscripts of the New Testament which is translated as “Sabbath” in English.
G4521 – σάββατον – sabbaton – sab’-bat-on – Of Hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se’nnight, that is, the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: – sabbath (day), week.
We see that the Greek word used for the “Sabbath” (G4521 – σάββατον – sabbaton – sab’-bat-on) sounds very similar to the Hebrew word (H7676 – שׁבּת – shabbâth – shab-bawth’). The most interesting point that most have not noticed yet, is that Saturday is called by the same word in Greek even today! (Please check this for yourself in any Greek – English Dictionary) Let me put that in another way. In Greece, the day which is called “Saturday” is still called “Sabbato” – the same word which is in the Original Greek New Testament Manuscripts which is translated as “Sabbath” in English.
SABBATH = SATURDAY!!!
How can anyone refute the fact that Saturday is Sabbath, if the 2 words match? It is as if, everywhere in the New Testament where the word “Sabbath” is mentioned, you could replace it with “Saturday” instead.
For example,
Luk 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on saturday, and stood up for to read.
Act 17:2, And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three saturdays reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Luk 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested on saturday according to the commandment.
I wonder if it was translated as such, whether people would still refute the fact that Sabbath is Saturday and that it is still in effect.
Further proof can be seen by the days which are celebrated as Yeshua’s(Jesus’ true name) death & resurrection. Yeshua’s death was before the Sabbath according to John 19:31, Mark 15:42,43, Luk 23:52-54 and is celebrated on Friday by Christians around the world, while His Resurrection was after the Sabbath according to Mt 28:1-6, Mar 16:2-4, Luke 24:1-3, Joh 20:1,2 which is celebrated on Sunday. What is the Day after Friday and before Sunday? Saturday of course! (Find out more about Yeshua’s Death & Resurrection here)
Further research on the words used for Saturday in other languages will also show you how The Word Sabbath is connected to Saturday. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica says that Saturday is the Seventh Day.
What about Sunday?
Sol Invictus (“Invincible Sun”) was the official sun god of the late Roman Empire. After “Constantine the Great” converted to Christianity, he changed the Saturday Sabbath to worship on Sunday. On March 7, 321, He declared “The venerable day of the Sun” (Sunday) – as the Roman day of rest. Which the majority of the world has adopted as the day of rest and worship. (Please read any Encyclopedia for this historical information). Just because the majority does it, does not make it right. I am not saying, one should not worship God on Sunday. I am merely saying that Keeping Sabbath is God’s Commandment. We can meet and praise Him the rest of the Six days as well, if we want to, but the Sabbath is special to God. (Lev 23:2,3)
What about how the 1st century church met on the 1st Day of the Week, which is Sunday?
Acts 20:7 & 1Cor 16:2, shows us how the assembly was gathered on the 1st Day of the Week. Does this mean that they did not keep the Sabbath? Hardly. Acts 2:46, shows us how people assembled together daily. And Paul himself regularly went to the Synagogue on Sabbath(Acts 17:2). The fact is, that the 1st Century Church attended synagogue on Sabbath and met the rest of the days in the temple and each others houses.
Isn’t Sunday the Lord’s Day?
Some say, the reason behind meeting on Sunday, is that He rose from the dead on that day. (By saying this, they further establish that Saturday is Sabbath, as Yeshua rose after the Sabbath). The Lord’s Day is mentioned only once in Rev 1:10, and Yeshua or His apostles never commanded us to keep that day special, while the Sabbath Commandment is seen throughout the Scriptures spoken out of the Mouth of God, written down with the Finger of God, and is part of the Commandments that are forever to which even Yeshua agreed(Mat 5:18, Luk 16:17)
The Lord’s Day also means the great day of judgement, which is called “The day of the Lord” throughout scripture. (Isa 13:6, Joe 3:14, Oba 1:15, Zep 1:14, Zec 14:1, Mal 4:5, Act 2:20, 1Cor 5:5, 1Thes 5:2, 2Pet 3:10). In Rev 1:10, John could be saying that he is witnessing the great and dreadful Day of the Lord, as he is seeing what is about to happen at the end of time.
But isn’t Sabbath Everyday?
Some say that the Commandment says to work 6 Days and rest on the Seventh Day. So we can work on any 6 Days and rest on the Seventh. The only problem with this idea is that, if this idea was true, everyone would have different days that they kept the Sabbath, While Lev 23:2,3 point to a standard day of the week, which cannot be moved.
Others say, with the numerous changes done to the Calendar in history, we cannot possibly know which day the original Sabbath is. The problem with this thought is that, people do not understand that the changes done to the calendar has never effected the 7 day week. Meaning there has never been 2 consecutive mondays, tuesdays, etc. The 7 day week has continued on as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc without any change. Which means the 7th day in Yeshua’s time is still the 7th day, today!
Romans 14 is the most famous verse quoted by most to say Sabbath can be everyday. Let’s put this to the test. As in all of Paul’s Epistles, we only see one side of the story. As Paul is addressing questions and issues of the particular assemblies through his letters, we have to be very careful not to misinterpret what Paul says. Remember Peter’s warning about Paul’s Letters (2Pet 3:15,16). Even though we read specific Chapters and Verses off this Epistle, it was written as a letter(without chapters or verses separated), and like all letters, we cannot pick and choose pieces from here and there. We must read the whole letter from beginning to end, to understand the real meaning of it. Reading Romans from the beginning will give you a better understanding of what Paul says. He even says that he does not make the Law void. He establishes the Law(Rom 3:31). He speaks to people who knows the Law(Rom 7:1). He says that the Law is spiritual(Rom 7:14). He delights in God’s Law(Rom 7:22). The Law contains the Sabbath commandment as well. We cannot pick and choose what Laws we want to adhere to, out of the 10. So what is Paul trying to address here in Romans 14? The issue in question, I believe is not the Sabbath, as he would be going against his previous words, if that was so. Rom 14:5,6 shows us that it is a matter of regarding one day above another and eating or not eating. So, could he be talking about Fasting? The argument could have been on what day was better to fast on? The fact is, the Sabbath is not mentioned here at all.
Isn’t the Sabbath done away with after Yeshua?
God has called His Commandments eternal. Even Yeshua has said that not a single thing will pass from the Law, till Heaven and earth exist, and till all is fulfilled. All of the Law has not been fulfilled yet. Neither has Heaven and Earth passed away. How is it that people have taught us that God’s Sabbath Commandment is no more?
If it was done away with, why did Yeshua’s disciples keep the Sabbath, including Paul after His Death? Where exactly did Yeshua say that the Sabbath Commandment is no more?
Let us check the only Scripture that has been misinterpreted to say that the Sabbath is done away with – Colossians Chapter 2
As with all of Paul’s epistles, we must clearly understand what he is trying to say. Remember Peter’s warning about Paul’s Letters (2Pet 3:15,16). Do not read a verse, but the whole letter, as Paul did not write the Epistle with verses and chapters.
Col 2:16 is quoted by many, saying “see… Paul clearly says that not to let anyone judge you for not keeping a holy day, a Sabbath or a New Moon”. Is this true? Or are we reading our own bias into this verse?
let us first see who Paul is talking to. Are the Colossians, people who used to keep the Sabbath or any Holy Days? Obviously not. They are gentiles who have started believing in God Almighty.
In Col 2:1-7, Paul praises them for their faith and asks them to build themselves up walking in Christ.
Col 2:8, he says not to let anyone spoil you with philosophy, vain deceit, after the “traditions of Men” and the “principles of the world”. (God’s Word & His Commandments are not Traditions of Men or principles of the world)
Col 2:9-15, he says that Yeshua has raised us up from death to life and taken out the “Handwriting of Ordinances” (which were the curses of the Law – Please read the “Isn’t Law a curse” subject in this post) nailing them to the cross.
Now we come to the verse in question. Col 2:16, Paul says “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath.”Is he saying that we can eat and drink anything we like and not keep any holydays, new moons or Sabbaths, which are all commanded by God? Is Paul saying we are free from all of these because Yeshua nailed the Law to the Cross? First of all, what was nailed to the cross was not the law but the curses of the Law & the barrier which said Gentiles cannot become Children of God.
While some say Paul is saying not to let anyone judge you regarding “not keeping/obeying” these things, the converse can also true. Paul could be just as easily saying not to let anyone judge you regarding “keeping/obeying” these things. Can you see how we read our own bias into the verse? We need to understand that the Colossians would have been new believers who were trying to keep/obey these laws such as food, drink, holy days, new moons & Sabbaths (which are all God’s Commandments), and were being harassed/judged for doing those by some of the Jews. So Paul says, not to let anyone judge you for keeping/obeying those laws.
Further proof for this can be found in Col 2:20-22.
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
He asks the Colossians to not be subject to ordinances/Laws which are of Men. Is the Sabbath a Law or doctrine of Man or God? God is the one who instituted the Sabbath. Not Men. Nothing which is written in the Scriptures are commandments and doctrines of men. If God Commanded the Sabbath, how can Paul say that it is a commandment of Man?
Reading our own bias into one scripture in the whole Bible and using this one scripture to support that the Sabbath is done away with, is quite an erroneous teaching. We must look at God’s Word as a whole, where one verse cannot disagree with another. One author cannot disagree with another. God’s Word is just like Him, it is timeless. Without change.
In conclusion, I hope you have adequately seen, that the Sabbath, according to the Word of God, was and remains Not Sunday. Not Everyday. But Saturday alone. It is not abolished yet and will not be so, until the end of this age, when God will bring about a new heaven and a new earth according to God’s word. My prayer for you is that you will read the word and fully understand, obey His Word and walk in His Ways which include His appointment(Lev 23:2,3) which falls every week, “His Holy Day”, The Sabbath.
Bible things in Bible ways 