Someone inquired, “Why did the Sabbath change?” The Sabbath has not changed. What the one posing the question probably means is, “Why has the day of worship changed from the seventh day or Sabbath under Judaism to the first day of the week under Christianity?” The first day of worship under Christianity is not called the Sabbath in the Scriptures.
Nothing taught in the Old Testament is applicable under Christianity unless it is taught in the New Testament. The New Testament has replaced the Old Testament (Romans 7:6-7; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14). New Testament Scriptures note persons, particularly Jews, observing Sabbath day worship, but the New Testament does not teach Christians to observe the Sabbath, which was the seventh day of the week. Instead, the New Testament teaches Christians to assemble for congregational worship on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
The Old Testament had a purpose, which was to prepare mankind for the coming of Christ and the Gospel or the New Testament system of faith. “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made…” (Galatians 3:19 NKJV). “But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:23-25). Yet, the Old Testament has a purpose today, which is to serve as the foundation on which the New Testament stands – providing knowledge and points of reference for New Testament passages so we can understand them better. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4-5).
The significance of the first day of the week in Christianity doubtless corresponds to the several events relative to Christianity that occurred on that day of the week. Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1-6; Mark 16:9). One of the resurrection appearances of Christ to His apostles was specifically noted to be on the first day of the week (John 20:19). The church also began on the first day of the week – on Pentecost, which was always the first day of the week (Acts 2). Subsequently, the Lord’s church assembled weekly upon the first day of the week for congregational worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Notice what Vine’s says of the word “Sabbath.” “The idea is not that of relaxation or refreshment, but cessation from activity.” A related word in the Greek is translated as “rest” in Hebrews 4:9. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). Therefore, using a different Greek word, not related to “Sabbath,” Revelation 14:13 reinforces the message of Hebrews 4:9. “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Revelation 14:13). The closest to what could be called a Christian Sabbath is not the first day of the week, but rather, heaven someday. The message of Hebrews 4:9 and Revelation 14:13 appears uniformly in both testaments of the Bible. “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The activities in which we humans engage are restricted to our earthly existence. For Christians, though, heaven will be a pleasant release from our earthly works.
Works Cited
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. CD-ROM. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985.
