BACKDROP REGARDING THE SABBATH AT THE START OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY
When Jesus came on the scene what was the position of the Sabbath in the minds and hearts of worshipers of the true God? The Sabbath was the sign of the creator God and of their covenant relationship with God. It marked, which God they worshiped. See Ex 31:13-17, Deut. 5:12-15 and Ezekiel 20:12. All Jews were fully aware of their tragic history regarding the cruel exile.
Jeremiah 17:27 NKJV 27 "But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."
All the people were aware that their nation went into captivity for two reasons. One was Sabbath breaking and the other was idolatry and general related sinfulness. The nation of Judah, when returned from exile, put a special emphasis on Sabbath keeping. They have never, to this day, forsaken the Sabbath. Jesus, like all others, would value the Sabbath. However; Jesus used it correctly and spiritually while the religious leaders made it a nightmare of over regulation bondage. Jesus protected and explained the true usage of the Sabbath.
Mark 2:24-28 MNT 24 "Look," said the Pharisees to him, "Why are they doing on the Sabbath Day what is against the law?..." 25 "Have you never read what David did when he was needy and hungry,... 27 "The Sabbath," he told them, "was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is Master even of the Sabbath."
Jesus is nullifying some of the burdensome rules that undermine the real purpose of the Sabbath. Note that Jesus is the master of the Sabbath. He knows how the Sabbath should be kept and the Pharisees did not. He proved this again to the embarrassment of these power hungry leaders.
Mark 3:1-3 MNT 1 ... there was a man with his hand withered. 2 And they kept watching Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath; so as to have some charge to bring against him. 3 "Stand up," Jesus said... come forward."
The evil leaders were setting a trap for Jesus. Note how he turned it around and embarrassed them about their petty mean thinking.
Mark 3:4-6 MNT 4 Then he asked them: "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?" 5 They were silent. Then looking around upon them with anger, and deeply grieved by the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and the hand was at once completely restored. 6 ... the Pharisees plotted against him... in order to destroy him.
Jesus is protecting and clarifying the true purpose of the Sabbath. He is defending it from regulatory abuse by hard hearted leaders. Jesus, as was his custom, kept the Sabbath all his life see Luke 4:16. Further, when talking with a Samaritan about religion he supported the Old Testament and laws preserved by Israel as a vehicle for salvation.
John 4:22 MNT 22 You are worshiping something you do not know: we know what we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews.
Jesus did not say that the things pagan nations, did were an acceptable vehicle for salvation. Note also Romans 3:1-2. Further He never would have chosen the pagan day of the sun god to replace the Sabbath. Never! That would be a betrayal of the true God. He would never even consider such a direction. Why would he support worldly pagan religions by altering the Sabbath? The Jewish nation had preserved the God given Old TESTAMENT with the Fourth Commandment regarding the Sabbath, and Jesus naturally supported all of it.
THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO KEPT THE SABBATH
The Apostle Paul is the principle author of the New Testament. We would expect to see him explaining any changes in the Sabbath since it is one of the most primary doctrines in the Bible. It is mentioned in the New Testament fifty nine times and always with respect, and not one discussion of altering it to another day of worship.
Acts 13:27 MNT 27 "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
Note Paul did not say we Christians who believe in Jesus read scriptures on Sunday now as well. No, Paul said the truth was read every Sabbath. Note that Paul had another opportunity to remind people that the church met now on Sunday if that were the case but he did not make any such utterance.
Acts 13:42-46 MKJV 42 And the Jews having gone out of the synagogue, the nations begged that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
If the church was on a Sunday schedule of meetings almost certainly, Paul would have told them. The gentiles also knew that true worshipers would be meeting on God's holy day the Sabbath.
43 And the synagogue being broken up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; …. 44 And on the coming sabbath day almost all the city came together to hear the Word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy.... and blaspheming.
Why would the Jews be jealous of Paul's success if he were taking them to a religion using the pagan sign, the day of the sun god. They were jealous because of Paul's remarkable evangelistic success. He was taking large numbers of gentiles into the religion of the true God.
Acts 16:13-14 MKJV 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was usually made. And we sat down and spoke to the women who came together there. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God; whose heart the Lord opened.....
Paul also built a strong church with these totally gentile Sabbath keepers where no synagogue existed. Even before Paul's conversion he knew where to find Christians. They were attending the synagogues on the Sabbaths then would go to local gatherings, after hearing the Bible read.
Acts 26:11-14 MKJV 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue; I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them....so traveling to Damascus with authority and power of decision from the chief priests, 13 at midday, along the highway, ... saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun; shining around me.... Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?
Christians were found in the synagogues every Sabbath. Paul, as a good hunter, persecutor knew where and when to find his prey.
Acts 22:19 MKJV 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and beating those who believed on You throughout the synagogues.
Paul's record of persecutor also proves that true believers were in the only places where the Bible was publicly available in the first few decades of Christianity. It was in places that were open every Sabbath. The leaders of Judaism considered Christianity as a disliked sect within the worship of the religion of the true God.
Acts 24:14-15 NKJV 14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 "I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
Further and most importantly Paul believes in ALL THINGS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. Paul is called to save gentiles from sins such as Sabbath breaking.
Acts 26:17-18 NKJV 17 'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
He flatly explains to believers that a seventh day Sabbath remains for them and us.
Hebrews 4:4-9 BBE 4 For in one place he has said of the seventh day, And God had rest from all his works on the seventh day; .... 6 So that as it is clear that some have to go in,.... 7 After a long time, again naming a certain day, he says in David, Today (as he had said before), Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart, 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have said anything about another day. 9 So that there is still a Sabbath-keeping...
Remember the major author of the New Testament says there remains a keeping of the Sabbath.
