In Isaiah 66 we read that when the new earth is created that the Sabbath observance will continue. What an amazing promise that the weekly memorial of creation which was instituted, blessed, sanctified, and observed by God Himself will continue for eternity! This weekly day of rest which has blessed many people for thousands of years will bless all people forever as they remember and celebrate God as their creator. The true spirit of the Sabbath is a day of celebration and rest from our works which God tells us to REMEMBER. But Satan has done remarkedly well in persuading people to forget the Sabbath day and to see it as just a day of don’ts. Satan has also done well in undermining its importance, or to change the weekly seventh day to a different day, or to distort its original purpose of a blessing into a burden of man-made restrictions. Yet in Hebrews 4:4, Paul reminds us that God rested from His works on the 7th day and in verse 10 he says that we can have that SAME rest by ceasing from our works AS GOD DID from His. Clearly, the Sabbath was intended as a gift and a blessing to be remembered. It was never intended to be a legalistic Jewish law to be forgotten as many would have you believe.
Let’s look at some common myths and misapplied scriptures regarding the Sabbath:
Myth number 1 – “The Sabbath was an old testament law for Jews.”
Reality – The Bible is absolutely clear that the 7th day Sabbath was instituted, sanctified, and even observed by God Almighty Himself. This was one of His greatest gifts to mankind THOUSANDS of years BEFORE the Jewish nation, BEFORE Moses, and BEFORE Jewish laws. The Israelites were keeping the Sabbath even before God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. Furthermore, the Sabbath is mentioned and validated many times in the New Testament. When Jesus spoke of the end times, He said “pray that your flight not take place in winter or on the Sabbath day.” – Mathew 24:20.
Myth number 2 – “Because I’m a new testament Christian, I believe that Jesus is our Sabbath.”
Reality – This unbiblical notion is quickly refuted by Jesus’s own words: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mathew 12:8. Even a 5th grader understands that if “A” is Lord of “B” that logically speaking “A” is not “B”.
Myth number 3 – “Some of the 10 commandments, including the Sabbath observance, are not mentioned in the New Testament and therefore are no longer a requirement.”
Reality – All of the 10 commandments are found in the New Testament multiple times. Jesus confirmed the essence of the 10 Commandments is a loving relationship with God and your neighbors (see Mathew 22:37-40). “He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1st John 2:4.
Myth number 4 – “Only Jews and Seventh Day Adventists observe the Sabbath.”
Reality – The book of Acts mentions several times that both the disciples and gentiles (AKA the first Christians) met regularly on the Sabbath. We know historically that the disciples’ descendants also observed the Sabbath. As the true church became persecuted by Nero and later by Papal Rome, Sabbath observing Christians, including a large portion of the Waldensians, the Cathars, and others, fled for safety (confirmed by ancient manuscripts***). Today the Sabbath is also observed by Seventh Day Adventists, Jews, Seventh Day Baptists, Worldwide Church Of God, and others.
Myth number 5 – “We can choose any day of the week to have a Sabbath rest”.
Reality – No one has the authority to change the 4th commandment and in both old and new testaments the Sabbath is always acknowledged as the 7th day of the week. There is no scripture which gives us authority to change what God wrote with His own finger. Read the prophetic warning about the evil one who dares to change God’s times and laws in Daniel 7:25.
Misapplied scripture 1 – We know the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday because the disciples broke bread on the first day of the week as mentioned in Acts”.
Reality – First, according to Jewish custom, we know that the first day of the week begins at what we now call Saturday night and this is further confirmed in Acts 20: 7. Second, we know that the disciples didn’t just break bread on the first day of the week, but rather “daily” as found in Acts 2:46.
Misapplied scripture 2 – “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 days.” Colossians 2:16
Reality – Paul is clearly advising against judging others but never states that the 7th day Sabbath was abolished. The more accurate Bible versions like the King James does NOT capitalize sabbath which indicates a ceremonial sabbath. All ceremonial laws (AKA – “requirements or ordinances against us” – see verse 14) were done away with at the cross. By contrast, the 7th day Sabbath which will continue for all eternity (see Isaiah 66:23) is always distinguished with capitalization in more accurate versions like the King James.
Misapplied scripture 3 – “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” Romans 14:5
Reality – The key word is “person”. Paul specifically states a day that a “person” esteems but Paul never mentions a day that God Almighty esteems. The context of the scripture never speaks of God withdrawing or abolishing the Sabbath blessing. The point Paul is making is to “not judge one another” – Romans 14:13.
Misapplied scripture 4 – “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.” Galatians 4:9-10
Reality – Reading this scripture in context reveals that Paul is warning against being under the law. When we are under grace Paul says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. Furthermore, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Mathew 5:17-18. Jesus also said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
Here are some historical references regarding the reference to the Waldensians who kept the Sabbath:
***Moneta and Tommaso Agostino Ricchini, Venerabilis Patris Monetæ Cremonensis ordinis prædicatorum S. P. Dominico Æqualis adversus Catharos et Valdenses libri quinque: Quos ex manuscriptis codd. Vaticano, Bononiensi, ac Neapolitano (Rome: 1743; reprinted, Ridgewood, N.J.: 1964), pp. 475-477
***Moneta and Ricchini, pp. 476, 477
***Johann Döllinger, Beiträge zur Sektengeschichte des Mittelalters (Munich: Beck, 1890), Vol. II, p. 662.
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This is a great study and very great information! Great job! Great way to distinguish differences that sometimes are so settle but brings entirely different meaning.