(Chapter
9)
Specific Verses Addressed
Many times very vital truths are missed, and people are led to false conclusions simply by not taking the time to carefully consider the true meaning of a verse in its context. The subject of the Sabbath is one of these vital truths that has been missed by drawing falty conclusions from verses that have either been looked at too quickly or out of context. In actuality, they are really quite simple and can be easily understood by the sincere and careful student. To begin, let us look at the eight times that Sunday is referred to. Let's see if Sunday's sacredness is ever inferred.
Matthew 28:1
"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
Mark 16:2
"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun."
Luke 24:1
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."
John 20:1
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
Each of these four texts refers to the first day of the week, Sunday, as a common working day. Each of the persons mentioned in these texts rested the Sabbath as Christ had shown them by His own example. On the first day of the week they promptly resumed their work where they had left off the Friday evening before. One will find absolutely no inference in these texts that Sunday was being, or is to be kept, holy. The women were not going to early morning Sunday service at the temple. No indeed, they were going about the usual weekly activities that they had rested from during the Sabbath hours.
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Mark 16:9
"Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."
In total abandonment to an overwhelming grief, Mary lingered near the place where she had last seen her Lord. In love and compassion, Jesus came to her and asked, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"
Not recognizing Him, and thinking He was the gardener, she asked if He had moved the body of her Lord, demanding that, if so, He show her where Jesus was placed. Then Jesus said her name. Instantly she realized Who was talking with her, and flinging herself at His feet, she cried, "Master!" Very tenderly, Jesus said,
"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and to your Father; and to my God, and to your God.'"
There is no conversation here as to the new sacredness of Sunday. Christ's only concern is for His followers. He wants them to know that He loves them and that they are not alone. (This discourse can be found in John 20:15-17.)
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John 20:19
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
Again, out of tender love and His desire to comfort the sorrowing disciples, Jesus comes to them. In the ensuing dissertation, Jesus verifies that He is indeed the same One that they have loved and followed and buried, and that He has truly risen from the dead! He also gives them insight into their future occupation as His witnesses. But never once in the five-verse intercourse does He even hint at Sunday being a day of worship. He doesn't even imply that it is in any way made holy by His resurrection. Nor does He say that it is at any time to be made a day of special remembrance.
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Acts 20:7, 11
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight....When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed."
This verse can be understood in two ways, neither of which support the claim that this was a typical Sunday church service. The days in Bible times were always figured from sundown to sundown (see Leviticus 23:32; Deuteronomy16:6; Nehemiah 13:19; Mark 1:21,32). What we would call Saturday night was, to them, the beginning of Sunday. And what, to us, would be Sunday night would be to them the beginning of Monday.
Therefore, this was most likely an extra Saturday night meeting so the believers could have one last chance to hear Paul before he left Sunday morning. It began shortly after the sun had set. They ate supper together, then Paul began to preach to them one last time. Getting long-winded (to the near demise of one of his listeners), he preached until early Sunday morning.
Some have said that this could have been a late Sunday afternoon supper and meeting that went on through most of the night, meaning that the majority of the meeting would have been on Monday. Either way, it was not the usual timing for their worship services, and thus does not in any way denote sacredness of that day.
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1 Corinthians 16:2
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
There are two key phrases in this verse that make the meaning clear, if they are not skipped over too quickly. They are, #1: "...let every one lay by him...", and #2: "...in store, ..." Each individual was to lay up his offering at home, by himself, alone, except for God. The gifts were to be set aside on a weekly basis according as God had blessed him. Then, when Paul came, they would be given publicly.
This accomplished two things: #1, because they were planning ahead and weekly setting aside the gifts, they were able to give more than if they had to try to find something at the last moment. #2, this method was also more expedient, in that Paul would not be staying long, and if the gifts were already prepared they could be easily brought without delaying Paul's journey. But these initial gatherings were not done in public, or at a weekly Sunday service. They were to be at home, alone, and then on what ever day Paul arrived they would be given openly.
There is no Sunday worship being incorporated here. Paul is not telling them to come together to worship and give money. No. At home they were to save up whatever gifts they could give in order to relieve the wants of the believers suffering from the famine at Jerusalem.
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Colossians 2:14, 16, 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...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..."
Again, there are two things that must not be missed if we are going to have a correct understanding of what Paul is saying to us. The first thing we notice is that Paul is talking about the handwriting of ordinances. What were the handwritten ordinances that the Jews held so highly? Were they the same as the Ten Commandments?
The ceremonial laws containing the laws and rights for the sanctuary system were written by Moses.
"And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel" Exodus 24:4.
In another place, God refers to these ceremonial laws as being written by Moses. He says that He will punish Israel.
"...so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law (the Ten Commandments) and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses (the ceremonial laws)" 2 Chronicles 33:8.
While God spoke the Ten Commandments with thunder, He wrote them in stone with His own finger, signifying their endurance and unfailing validity. But the laws regarding the sanctuary service were written on parchment by Moses under God's direction. These were intended to last only until they had been completed in Christ, and then they would be no longer binding. These laws were commonly referred to as "handwritten," clarifying to all which law was being discussed.
The best clarification is at the very end, and this part is often missed. This little phrase is: "which are a shadow of things to come." So the way of eating and drinking, the holy days, the new moon, and the Sabbath days mentioned, all pointed to something or someone that was to come in the future. When the One to whom all these things had pointed had come, there was no longer any need for the symbol. However, these things had nothing to do with the Ten Commandments. These were entirely different laws, having to do with the sanctuary system and the theocracy form of government.
The Jews had many festivals that were called Sabbaths, some of which lasted many days, such as the Feast of Tabernacles, or booths, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Sabbatical Year. All of these pointed to something yet to come or to take place. Thus, after Christ's life, death and resurrection, these festivals and sabbaths were of no further significance.
However, this is far from the case with the weekly Sabbath of the Ten Commandments! It is all-encompassing, past, present and future, and hence it is never outdated. It is perfectly situated to care for the needs of all, in all ages. The Sabbath points back to creation. It reminds us of redemption in the present. Finally, the Sabbath betokens our future translation and the recreation of the earth as its reason for existence.
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Hebrews 3:17-4:11
"But with whom was he [God] grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them...For we which have believed do enter into rest..."
This is saying that if we believe God, we will, out of love for Him, willingly keep the Sabbath. God is saying here that those who believe will rest (keep) the Sabbath day as He did.
"As he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works...."
Even though the creation of the world was complete in six literal days, theresting of the seventh day is to be perpetuated throughout all eternity. It will never have an end.
"And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein..."
Some translations render this more clearly by saying, "Seeing then that the rest remains, someone must enter into it."
"Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day...For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day...."
Jesus gave us no other day on which we were to rest..gif)
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God...."
Again we are told that God's people, those who truly believe God, will rest on the Sabbath day.
"...For he that is entered into his [God's] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
We have the privilege of following God's example by resting in the samemanner and day as He did.
"...Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
By simply reading the whole context of these verses, it becomes evident that the sanctity of the Sabbath is not being challenged. On the contrary, it is being validated and substantiated.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006 by J. Lee