Question 1: When was the Sabbath Created?
The Sabbath was created at the end of creation week, the cherry on top, if you will.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Question 2: What did God do with the Sabbath day?
He did three things with the Sabbath: He blessed it, He sanctified it, and He rested on it Himself.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Question 3: Wasn’t the Sabbath only for the Jews?
No, there were no Jews at creation. Plus, the Bible makes it clear that all who accept Jesus are part of Spiritual Israel. Therefore, no matter how you slice it, the “just for the Jews” logic falls apart when compared with the Bible.
Mark 2:27-28 — And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Romans 2:28-29 — For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Galatians 3:26-29 — For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Question 4: Did anyone before Moses keep the Sabbath?
Yes, all of God’s faithful people kept the Sabbath between creation and Moses, even on up to now.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Genesis 26:5 — Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Exodus 16:23-28 — And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Question 5: What is the Sabbath intended to remind us of?
God intends the Sabbath to be a reminder to us of two main things: that God is our Creator, and that He is also our Redeemer.
Ezekiel 20:12 — Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Ezekiel 20:20 — And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
Question 6: But can’t we keep any day holy?
No, God only blessed one 24 hour period as being holy, sanctified, and set apart for Sabbath observance.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 20:8-11 — Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Question 7: Didn’t Jesus give us a new law that says love God, and love your neighbor as yourself?
It’s not that it’s a new law, because it isn’t. But Jesus did say love God supremely, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:36-40 — Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Question 8: If it’s not a “new” law, where did Jesus quote from when stating the Scripture in the last question?
He was quoting from the Old Testament books of Leviticus 19:18, and Deuteronomy 6:5. In direct context of both, is the Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 6:5 — And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Leviticus 19:18 — Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Question 9: But is the Sabbath found in the direct context of the Old Testament Commands to love God and your neighbor?
Yes it is.
Leviticus 19:3 — Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 — Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Question 10: How does Jesus ask us to prove our love for Him?
By obedience to His Ten Commandments.
John 14:15-24 — If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Question 11: Wasn’t the Sabbath part of the law that was added because of sin?
No, the sacrificial law is what was added because of sin; the Sabbath was there before the fall of man, showing the presence of the Ten Commandments before the fall of sin. It wasn’t until after Adam and Eve sinned that the sacrificial system was instituted. The Lord God made coats for Adam and Eve, signifying that an animal had to be sacrificed for that to happen.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 20:8-11 — Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Genesis 3:21 — Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Galatians 3:19 — Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Question 12: Didn’t Paul tell us in Colossians 2 not to judge each other about the Sabbath, and in Romans 14 that it no longer matters what day we keep as the Sabbath?
No, Romans 14:1 (RSV) states the context of that chapter is over matters of opinion; while Colossians 2 was referring to shadows of things to come. This feasts and sacrifices, also called sabbaths (Leviticus 23).. They were kept in the Law of Moses, referred to in both Deuteronomy and Colossians as the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” Neither chapter was referring to the Ten Commandments or the weekly Sabbath.
Romans 14:1 (RSV) — As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions.
Colossians 2:14-17 — Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Leviticus 23:32 — It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Deuteronomy 31:26 — Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Question 13: But isn’t the Ceremonial Law the same thing as the Ten Commandments? Or they two different laws?
They are two different laws. While the ceremonial law, aka, the law of Moses, was kept in a scroll in a side pocket of the Ark of the Covenant, the Ten Commandments were written in stone, by the finger of God, and placed INSIDE the Ark of the Covenant. It is also important to note that the Ten Commandments are the only portion of Scripture God wrote directly Himself. Everything else, He inspired His prophets to write, but the Ten Commandments, He did Himself.
Exodus 31:18 — And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Exodus 25:16, 21 — And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee…And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Deuteronomy 31:26 — Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Hebrews 9:4 — Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Question 14: What law was it, then, that was abolished at Calvary?
It was the ceremonial law, not the Ten Commandments, that was fulfilled and abolished at Calvary.
Daniel 9:27 — And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Matthew 27:50-51 — Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mark 15:37-38 — And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Luke 23:45-46 — And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Question 15: But doesn’t Paul say we are under grace, not the law or the Sabbath?
No, Paul states in the context of Romans 6:14 that we are slaves to who we obey, whether of sin or of Jesus. Thus Paul is saying we are not under the condemnation of the law, or under legalism.
Romans 6:14-15 (CJB) — For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace. Therefore, what conclusion should we reach? “Let’s go on sinning, because we’re not under legalism but under grace”? Heaven forbid!
Question 16: Did Jesus say the Sabbath would end at Calvary?
Not only did Jesus not say the Sabbath would end at Calvary, but He commanded its observance to continue well past His death and resurrection. In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and still expected His followers to be keeping the seventh day Sabbath even then. Sabbath is from the Bible; Sunday is from tradition.
Matthew 24:20 — But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Matthew 15:3-9 — But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:6-13 — He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Question 17: But didn’t Jesus break the Sabbath?
No, Jesus did not break the Sabbath. The pharisees accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, because He did not submit to their worthless traditions surrounding the Sabbath. Jesus also declared He kept the Commandments.
John 15:10 — If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Luke 4:16 — And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Matthew 5:17-18 — Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Isaiah 42:21 — The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
Question 18: Does the Bible say where to find the seal of God?
Yes it does. The Bible says we find the seal in the Ten Commandments. When we look at a seal, we see three elements: Name, Title, and Territory. We find these in the very heart of the Ten Commandments, specifically, the Sabbath Commandment.
Isaiah 8:16, 20 — Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples….To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Exodus 20:8-11 — Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD (NAME) made (Creator, TITLE) heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, (TERRITORY) and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Ezekiel 20:12, 20 — Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them…And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
Question 19: But didn’t the apostles keep Sunday?
No, they did not. Not once does the Bible record the early church ever keeping Sunday. However, Acts records the early church over 80 times as keeping the seventh day Sabbath.
TWICE: Acts 13:14, 44 — But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down…And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
ONCE: Acts 16:13 — And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
THREE TIMES: Acts 17:1-2 — Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
78 TIMES: Acts 18:4, 11 — And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks…And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Question 20: But doesn’t Acts 20:7 show Sunday sacredness?
No, it doesn’t. The word “day” in this verse isn’t even in the Greek. When we study the Greek further in this text, it more accurately translates to “one of the first Sabbaths,” or, “on Sabbath evening.” Given that each new day starts at sunset, this was a Sabbath evening, not Sunday church service. There’s no indication of Sunday sacredness in this text at all.
Genesis 1:5, 8, 13 — And the evening and the morning were the first day…And the evening and the morning were the second day…And the evening and the morning were the third day.
Acts 20:7 (GNB) — On Saturday evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.
Question 21: Do we see the Sabbath in Revelation?
Yes we do. There are both direct quotes and allusions to the Sabbath Commandment. Any time the Bible mentions creation or redemption, it’s a call back to the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8-11 states to keep the Sabbath because God is our Creator. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 states to keep the Sabbath because God is our Redeemer. Revelation 14:6-7 also quotes from the Fourth Commandment, calling it part of the Everlasting Gospel.
Genesis 2:2-3 — And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Exodus 20:8-11 — Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 — Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Ezekiel 20:12, 20 — Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them…And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
Revelation 4:10-11 — The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 5:6 — And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Revelation 14:6-7 — And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Exodus 20:11 — For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Question 22: Will we keep the Sabbath in Heaven and the New Earth?
Yes we will. Isaiah tells us we will keep the Sabbath in Heaven and the New Earth, and Revelation 21:4 also references Isaiah 66 in saying God will re-create the Heavens and the Earth to be brand new again.
Isaiah 66:22-23 — For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Revelation 21:1-5 — And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Question 23: What will your decision be? Will you accept the true seventh day Sabbath of God?
All Scriptures used are KJV unless otherwise noted