What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday?

The Sabbath is traditionally observed on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as commanded in the Old Testament. However, many Christians observe Sunday as a day of worship and rest, associating it with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The distinction between these practices stems from biblical and historical developments.

Biblical Sabbath: Saturday

  1. Creation Ordinance
    The Sabbath originates in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day after creating the world.
    • Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV):
      “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.”
  2. The Fourth Commandment
    Observing the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing rest and worship on the seventh day.
    • Exodus 20:8-10 (NIV):
      “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”
  3. Sabbath as a Covenant Sign
    The Sabbath was given as a sign of God’s covenant with Israel.
    • Exodus 31:16-17 (NIV):
      “The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever.”
  4. Jesus and the Sabbath
    Jesus observed the Sabbath but emphasized its true purpose, correcting legalistic interpretations.
    • Mark 2:27-28 (NIV):
      “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'”

The Transition to Sunday

  1. The Resurrection of Jesus
    Early Christians began gathering on Sunday, the first day of the week, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.
    • Matthew 28:1 (NIV):
      “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”
    • John 20:19 (NIV):
      “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!'”
  2. The Early Church and Sunday Worship
    The early church gathered on Sunday for worship, breaking bread, and celebrating the resurrection.
    • Acts 20:7 (NIV):
      “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.”
    • 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV):
      “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income.”
  3. Historical Development
    By the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Sunday became the primary day of Christian worship, often referred to as “the Lord’s Day.”
    • Revelation 1:10 (NIV):
      “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.”
  4. The shift was solidified in 321 AD when Emperor Constantine officially recognized Sunday as a day of rest in the Roman Empire.

Key Differences

  1. Saturday Sabbath (Seventh Day):
    • Rooted in the Old Testament law.
    • Observed by Jews and some Christian groups, such as Seventh-day Adventists.
  2. Sunday Worship (First Day):
    • Rooted in the resurrection of Christ.
    • Observed by most Christian denominations as a day of worship, rest, and fellowship.

Theological Perspective

  1. Sabbath Fulfilled in Christ
    Some Christians believe Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath, and its deeper meaning points to spiritual rest in Him.
    • Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV):
      “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
    • Hebrews 4:9-10 (NIV):
      “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
  2. Freedom in Observance
    Paul emphasized that Christians are not bound by specific days for worship, allowing for freedom in how the Sabbath is observed.
    • Romans 14:5-6 (NIV):
      “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
    • Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV):
      “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

Conclusion

The Sabbath, as originally instituted, is on Saturday (the seventh day). However, many Christians observe Sunday as a day of worship in recognition of Christ’s resurrection and the early church’s practice. The Bible highlights the importance of rest, worship, and devotion to God, but it also allows for freedom in how believers honor these principles, focusing on the spiritual rest found in Christ.