~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: Are we to keep the ten commandments, even the Lord's sabbath ? Can you give me a scripture where GOD or JESUS said, keep Sunday Holy? this is important to me. We know the disciples or any man has no power to change GOD'S WORD, only GOD. Does GOD change? Is HE the same? If JESUS is the WORD, IS THE WORD THE SAME? Is there one GOSPEL?Answer:
First, let's take a look at what the Bible says in Exodus 20:8-11, which is part of the Ten Commandments. (vs. 8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (vs. 9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (vs. 10) 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: (vs. 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.
Secondly, let's look at references in the New Testament, as almost all Bible teachers will readily agree that the Sunday Sabbath is a New Testament "Christian" concept and that historically, the Sabbath was "kept" on the seventh day until sometime after the resurrection. Most Bible teachers will also acknowledge that Jesus, the Messiah, kept all the Ten Commandments and the law of God during His life on earth, including honoring the seventh day Sabbath. Is then the Sabbath the same day as the Christian's Sunday?
In searching the Bible through concordances, there was not found any reference to the word "Sunday." In fact, "Sunday" doesn't even appear in any of these translations: the NAS, KJV, NKJV, and NIV. The reason Sunday does not appear in your Bible, is that in the first century Sunday did not exist as we know it. (From the Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia.) In the early days of Christianity Sunday began to replace the Sabbath, and to be observed to honor the resurrection of Christ. Sunday was instituted as a day of rest, consecrated especially to the service of God, by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the 4th century, ecclesiastical and civil legislation has regulated work on Sunday and service attendance. "Sunday," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.
Our next step is to look at the first day of the week. Your concordance will not list these as it is a phrase instead of a word, but a search of your Bible program on your personal computer should provide the same results:
Matt 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.
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.
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.
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.
Acts 20:7 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.
Of these seven passages of scripture, we find that five relate to the resurrection of Jesus. Obviously, these are important passages but note that their content teaches us nothing about observance of the 4th commandment, about worship, about attending church, or setting aside Sunday as a holy day. However, each of the above verses contain the common phrase that we searched for: the first day of the week.
Now, out of Ten Commandments, all of them are repeated in the New Testament except the 4th one concerning "keeping the Sabbath holy." Therefore early Christians did not keep the Jewish Sabbath as it was pertaining strictly to the Jews, but rather observed the "first day of the week" as a day set aside to worship the Lord.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
According to the writings from early Church fathers, the day set aside for this assembling together was held on the first day of the week known as Sunday.
Allow me to quote from The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, page 381: "In The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles, written about 80 A.D.; we read, 'Let every Lord's day (Sunday) do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread and give thanksgiving."
I trust this will answer your questions. Below are some additional resources you may want to check out. May God bless you.
