1. The Eternality and Importance of the Sabbath

• Exodus 31:17-18 “It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

The Sabbath is established as a perpetual covenant between God and His people. It is not merely a command but a sign of the Creator’s work and rest. The seventh day, which is the Sabbath, was never intended to be replaced by any other day.

• Ezekiel 20:12 “I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.”

The Sabbath is again emphasized as a sign of sanctification and holiness, indicating its ongoing importance.

• Genesis 2:1-3 “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 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 was instituted at creation, long before the Law was given to Israel, marking it as part of God’s original design for humanity.

2. The Sabbath During Jesus’ Ministry

• Luke 23:56 “Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

This verse shows that, even after Jesus’ crucifixion, the women who followed Jesus observed the Sabbath rest as commanded by God.

• Luke 24:1 “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.”

The first day of the week is mentioned, but it is important to note that there is no mention of a religious service or day of rest. The day is noted because the resurrection occurred early in the morning.

• Matthew 28:1 “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

The reference to the first day of the week highlights the time of Jesus’ resurrection, but this is not a commandment to rest or worship on Sunday.

• Mark 16:2, 9 “Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb… When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…”

Again, this references the resurrection and Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene, but it is not a directive to worship on the first day of the week.

• John 20:1 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb…”

This verse mentions the first day of the week but highlights an event that took place after the Sabbath rest.

3. The First Day of the Week in the Early Church

• Acts 20:7 “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 talking until midnight.”

This passage mentions that the early church gathered on the first day of the week for a fellowship meal, but there is no mention of rest or worship in the context of a commandment. It was a practical meeting due to Paul’s travel plans, not an established religious observance.

However, it’s important to note that the reference to midnight in this passage is key. In the first century, days began at sunset in a Jewish context, meaning that by the time Paul continued speaking until midnight, they were already into the “first day of the week,” which began at sundown on Saturday. Therefore, the meeting occurred on Saturday evening, transitioning into Sunday night. This implies that the early church was still observing the Sabbath, with meetings lasting well into the night, until the first day of the week officially began.

Thus, Acts 20:7 can be understood as evidence of Sabbath observance rather than Sunday worship, as Paul was preparing to leave the next day (Sunday), and there is no indication that Sunday was a day of rest or worship. The church continued to meet on the Sabbath, and Sunday was simply a regular day, not yet marked by any specific religious observance in the early church.

• John 20:19 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’”

This event shows Jesus appearing to His disciples, but again, there is no command or indication that the first day of the week was set aside for worship. It was simply a meeting time for the disciples.

• 1 Corinthians 16:2 “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.”

Paul instructs the Corinthians to set aside funds at home on the first day of the week until he could visit their congregation. However, this instruction is for a practical matter, not a day of rest or worship. The focus here is on preparing the offering, not on establishing Sunday as a religious observance or a day dedicated to rest and worship.

4. The Relationship Between Baptism, Death, and Resurrection

• Romans 6:3-5 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

The resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope, but this passage does not establish Sunday as a day for worship. The early church would have continued to observe the Sabbath as the day of rest and worship while recognizing the significance of Christ’s resurrection.

5. The Perpetuity of the Sabbath and the First Day of the Week

• Hebrews 4:4-6, 9 “For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘On the seventh day God rested from all his works.’ And again in the passage above he says, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God…”

The writer of Hebrews emphasizes the eternal nature of the Sabbath, showing that it remains as a day of rest for God’s people. This is consistent with the creation pattern and ongoing throughout the New Testament.

6. The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ

• Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath but fulfilled the law. The Sabbath remains relevant as a commandment from God, and it was never replaced by Sunday observance.

• Romans 13:10 “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Keeping God’s commandments, including the Sabbath, is part of loving God and loving others.

• Romans 8:4 “In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Christ’s work in us fulfills the righteous requirement of the law, including the Sabbath command, and this continues to be relevant for believers today.

Conclusion:

The Bible consistently teaches that the seventh day is the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship established at creation and reinforced throughout Scripture. The first day of the week, while significant as the day of Christ’s resurrection, was never instituted as a day of rest or worship by the early church. Instead, the Sabbath continues to be observed as a holy day, a gift from God, and an eternal command. The early church, including the apostles and disciples, observed the Sabbath as commanded in the Bible, while also recognizing the significance of the resurrection.

As followers of Christ today, we are called to honor the Sabbath, just as Jesus, the apostles, and the early church did, remembering it as a day of rest, worship, and renewal.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it important to understand the distinction between the first day of the week and the Sabbath in Scripture?

2. How does the perpetual nature of the Sabbath help us understand God’s original plan for humanity?

3. What are some practical ways we can observe the Sabbath in our lives today?

4. In what ways does the resurrection of Christ influence our understanding of the Sabbath?

5. How can we explain the biblical view of the Sabbath to others who may observe Sunday as the day of worship?

This study emphasizes that while the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated on the first day of the week, the Sabbath remains the designated day for rest and worship, a commandment that has not been replaced or changed in the New Testament.