Why No Sabbath in New Testament?

Spirituality Column #37
July 24, 2007
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper

Why No Sabbath in New Testament?By Bob Walters

Nine of the 10 Commandments of the Old Testament are mentioned as items of obedience in the New Testament.

The one that’s missing is about keeping the Sabbath holy.

Ever wonder why that is?

I’ve written here before that the only two truly New Testament commandments are to “love God” and to “love others as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). “Love others” is a command – “as you love yourself” just proves how well Jesus knows us.

Still, having no other Gods, no idols and not misusing God’s name; honoring our parents; not committing murder or adultery; and not lying, stealing or coveting, are all mentioned in the New Testament as works of our faith.

But there’s nothing about observing the Sabbath.

The word “Sabbath” appears 57 times in my NIV New Testament, but always to identify a day or time, or in an argument Jesus is having with the Jewish leaders.

Jesus – a Jew – is frequently rebuked by the Pharisees for his activities on the Sabbath: healing the sick, blind and crippled, casting out demons, allowing his disciples to pick up grain, etc. In Matthew 12:11-12 Jesus points out that as we would rescue our sheep on the Sabbath, so is it right to do good for others on the Sabbath.

Sunday isn’t the Sabbath anyway. Saturday is the Sabbath, commemorating the Seventh Day of creation when God rested and commanded Israel to similarly rest. Sunday, the first day of the week, is the Lord’s Day commemorating Jesus’ resurrection. That’s why Jews observe Shabbat on Saturday, and Christians (mostly) go to church on Sunday.

So why no “Sabbath” observance for Christians? Because while Jewish law commands worship days, feasts and festivals to honor God at specific times, Christ promised He would be with us and in us always, just as we are to worship him always.

Christians have no need for a Sabbath, because Christ is always with us.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) believes God doesn’t care when you go to church (or Temple, for that matter), but that He’d sure love to see you there.