The scriptures indicate that early Christians were no longer bound to observe the sabbath, but instead met on the first day of the week or Sunday.  They broke bread when observing the Lord’s evening meal, and gave contributions to the saints on that day.

Acts 20:7 states:  “On the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”  (See also Acts 2:46-47)

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 states:  “1 Now concerning the contribution to the saints; as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.  2 On the first day of the week (Sunday), each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come.”

The observance of the weekly sabbath was no longer binding on the early church, nor did anyone have a right to pass judgment on a fellow believer as to whether or not they observed a sabbath, a festival, or a new moon.  The true substance or reality was in Christ.

The Apostle Paul at Colossians 2:16-17 states:  “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.  17 These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance (reality) belongs to Christ.”

If Christians were no longer in a position to pass judgment on a fellow believer in regards to food and drink, a festival, a new moon, or a sabbath, then the laws pertaining to these celebrations were no longer in effect.  These were not laws involving loving your neighbor as yourself, which all Christians were still under: Ex. thou shall not covet, thou shall not steal, thou shall not commit adultery, etc.  The observance of festivals, new moons, and sabbaths were instead legal laws from the law of Moses, that were no longer binding on the early church.  If the weekly sabbath was still in effect, certainly Paul would have mentioned the sabbath as an exception.  Instead he concluded that the true substance or reality was in Christ, and that love of neighbor was the fulfillment of the law.

The Apostle Paul wrote at Romans 13:8-10:  “8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  9 For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”  (See also James 2:8 & Galatians 5:13-14)

The Apostle Paul rebuked the Galatians for being bewitched by false brethren (Judaizers), who had sought to deprive the Galatians of their Christian freedom and compel them to observe days, months, seasons, and years, along with the works of the law.  These observances would have included the weekly sabbath.  

Galatians 2:4-5 & 15-16 states:  “4 But because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage– 5 to them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.  15 We ourselves who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,  16 yet who know that a man is not justified by works of law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.”

Paul admonished believers not to go back to Jewish observances, such as festivals, new moons and sabbaths.  Galatians 4:10-11 states:  “10 You observe days and months and seasons and years!  11 I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.”

The Jerusalem Synod

The book of Acts documents the only synod to ever be held in the first century Christian church.  This large gathering in Jerusalem, included all of the apostles and elders of the early church.  Its purpose was to determine what was legally binding from the Law of Moses, on early Christians.  Many of the early Christian converts were Gentiles.  Some of the sect of the Pharisees had risen up, and were declaring that it was necessary for Christians (including Gentile converts) to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.  

Wikipedia states:   “As Gentiles joined the young Christian movement, the question of whether they should convert to Judaism and observe the Torah (such as food laws, male circumcision, and Sabbath observance) gave rise to various answers.  Some Christians demanded full observance of the Torah and required Gentile converts to become Jews.  Others, such as Paul, believed that the Torah was no longer binding because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  In the middle were Christians who believed Gentiles should follow some of the Torah, but not all of it.” 

The World History Encyclopedia states: “The followers of Jesus first took this message to the synagogue communities of Jews in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire.  Many Jews did not believe that Jesus was the expected Messiah, but to the surprise of these apostles (messengers), Gentiles (pagans) wanted to join the movement.  This unexpected occurrence raised questions of inclusion: should these pagans become Jews first, entailing circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance?  At a meeting in Jerusalem (ca. 49 CE, The Apostolic Council), it was decided that pagans could join without becoming Jews.  However, they had to observe some Jewish principles such as draining blood from meat, sexual morality, and the cessation of all idolatry (Acts 15).  By the end of the 1st century, these Gentile-Christians dominated the Christianoi (the followers of the Christ).”

James (the half brother of Jesus) presided over the assembly, under the guidance and auspicious of the Holy Spirit.  The councils purpose was to determine, once and for all, what was legally binding on the early church.  The final renderings of this apostolic council were given: to abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from fornication (sexual immorality), from things strangled, and from eating or drinking blood.  (See Bible Topic: “God’s Word On the Sanctity of Blood”)  Any restrictions beyond this councils renderings would have been considered legalistic and an attempt to further burden the church under the Law of Moses.  This would have included legalistic mandates such as circumcision, tithing, and observing the sabbath, etc.*  The decrees that were laid down by the Holy Spirit and the apostles are still binding on Christians throughout the world today.

Acts Ch. 15:4-18 states:  “Now when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.’  Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.  And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them:  ‘Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.  So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.’
Then the entire multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.  And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon (Peter) has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.  And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written.  Amos 9:11: ‘After this I will return; and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who will do these things…'”

The following letter was then sent to all the churches.  Acts 15:28-29 states:  “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden (trouble) than these necessary things; that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols (drink or meat sacrificed to idols)  (See 1 Cor. 10:14-22) and from blood (eating or drinking blood) (See Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10-14; Deut. 12:23-25) and what has been strangled (eating or touching the carcass of a dead animal, not bled)  (See Lev. 11:39-40, 17:15-16; Deut. 14:21) and from unchastity (fornication, sexual immorality)  (See 1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19).  If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well (you will be doing right).  Farewell.”

This letter from the Jerusalem council was a referendum on all forms of legalism, future, past, and present.  The letter was sent out to all the churches.  It freed all believers from the burden of keeping the Law of Moses.  The councils final rendering was clear: “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden (trouble) than these necessary things; that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols (drink or meat sacrificed to idols) and from blood (eating or drinking blood) and what has been strangled (eating or touching the carcass of a dead animal, not bled) and from unchastity (fornication, sexual immorality).  If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well (you will be doing right).” 

It is important to note that the above decrees, legislated by the apostles, were legal laws reinstated from the Law of Moses and involved one’s personal relationship and obedience to the Creator.  These were not laws involving loving one’s neighbor as one’s self, which all Christians were still under as part of the new covenant.  One of these legal laws, eating things sacrificed to idols or idolatry was similar to the sabbath, having been one of the ten commandments.  (See Exodus 20:4-5)  Idolatry or eating things sacrificed to idols was once again adopted by the Jerusalem council as legally binding on the church, whereas the sabbath, circumcision, and tithing were never included in their rulings.  

As Christ Himself said at John 13:34- 35:  “34 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. . . 35 By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Apostle Paul confirmed Jesus words at Romans 13:8-10:  “8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  9 For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”  (See also James 2:8 & Galatians 5:13-14)

The Apostle John confirmed idolatry as still being a sin in the early church and legally binding on all Christians.

1 John 5:21 states:  “Little children, keep yourselves (guard yourselves, keep away) from idols.”

The Apostle Paul also confirmed idolatry as a sin.

1 Corinthians 10:14 states:  “Therefore my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (from idolatry).”

2 Corinthians 6:16-17:  “16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God. . . 17 Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them says the Lord.”

The Jerusalem synod was arguably the most important event of the New Testament church.  Ironically, this letter, which contains the rulings set forth by the Holy Spirit and the apostles, is rarely, if ever, read in any church or for that matter preached from the pulpit.  (See Matthew 18:18-20)  After the Jerusalem synod, early Christians were no longer bound by what was written in some legal code.  (See also Bible Topic: Legalism in the Church)

Sunday, the Day of Worship / The Sabbath Discontinued 

Readers Digest, After Jesus the Triumph of Christianity states:  Sunday, A Legal Day of Rest: “When Constantine came to power, Christian worship was still rather loosely structured, though there were general guidelines.  About the only thing all churches held in common since the first century, however, was the Sunday gathering for worship; on that day (called the first day of the week) Christians commemorated the resurrection.”

Hasting’s Dictionary of the Apostolic Church states:

“The ten-percent tithe faded away under the New Covenant, as did worship on the Sabbath, Temple rites, and the entire sacrificial system as it existed under the Mosaic Law.”

Justin Martyr (an early Christian apologist) addresses the commonality of Sunday worship, writing from Rome (150 CE).  His comments reflect similar customs in other cities, such as Ephesus, where he lived for a while.

“On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read…. Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead.”

Justin Martyr was clear that it was the widespread practice for Christians to observe Sunday worship.  Perhaps there were some Gentile Christians who kept the Sabbath…but if so, they found no spokesman whose writings survive.  One historian observed:

“Many Christians were already honoring Sunday near the beginning of the second century.  The evidence is very strong that many, if not most Christians, had given up the Sabbath as early as A.D. 130.  Just as Sunday observance came into practice by early in the second century, so among Gentile Christians Sabbath observance went out of practice by early in the second century.”

The following quotes are from early Christian church fathers, confirming that they no longer celebrated the sabbath or the seventh day (Saturday), but rather met on the first day of the week or the eighth day (Sunday), also referred to as “the Lord’s Day.”

• 90 AD DIDACHE: “Christian Assembly on the Lord’s Day: 1. But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.” (Didache: The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Chapter XIV)
• 100 AD BARNABAS “We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead” (The Epistle of Barnabas, 100 AD 15:6-8)
• 100 AD BARNABAS: “Moreover God says to the Jews, ‘Your new moons and Sabbaths 1 cannot endure.’ You see how he says, ‘The present Sabbaths are not acceptable to me, but the Sabbath which I have made in which, when I have rested [heaven: Hebrews 4] from all things, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another world.’ Wherefore we Christians keep the eighth day for joy, on which also Jesus arose from the dead. . .”
• 132-200 AD IRENAEUS:  “He does not wish those who are to be redeemed to be brought again under the Mosaic legislation — for the law has been fulfilled by Christ — but to go free in newness by the Word, through faith and love towards the Son of God…. We have no need of the law as pedagogue…. For no more shall the law say: ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ to him who has not even conceived the desire of another man’s wife; or ‘thou shalt not kill,’ to him who has put away from himself all anger and enmity…. Nor will it demand tithes of him who has vowed to God all his possessions, and who leaves father and mother and all his kindred, and follows the Word of God. Nor will he be commanded to leave idle one day of rest, who is constantly keeping sabbath, that is giving homage to God in the temple of God, which is man’s body, and at all times doing the works of justice.” 
• 150 AD JUSTIN: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.” (First apology of Justin, Weekly Worship of the Christians, Ch 68)
• 150 AD JUSTIN: “There is no other thing for which you blame us, my friends, is there than this? That we do not live according to the Law, nor, are we circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers, nor do we observe the Sabbath as you do.” (Dialogue with Trypho 10:1. In verse 3 the Jew Trypho acknowledges that Christians ‘do not keep the Sabbath.’)
• 180 AD ACTS OF PETER.- “Paul had often contended with the Jewish teachers and had confuted them, saying ‘it is Christ on whom your fathers laid hands. He abolished their Sabbath and fasts and festivals and circumcision.'” (1: I)-2
• 180 AD GOSPEL OF PETER: “Early in the morning when (the Sabbath dawned, a multitude from Jerusalem and the surrounding country came to see the scaled sepulcher. In the night in which the Lord’s day dawned, while the soldiers in pairs for each watch were keeping guard, a great voice came from heaven. [There follows an account of the resurrection. Early in the morning of the Lord’s day Mary Magdalene, a disciple of the Lord …. came to the sepulcher.” (9:34f.; 12:50f.)
• 190 AD CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: “He does the commandment according to the Gospel and keeps the Lord’s day, whenever he puts away an evil mind . . . glorifying the Lord’s resurrection in himself.” (Ibid. Vii.xii.76.4)
• 200 AD BARDESANES: “Wherever we are, we are all called after the one name of Christ Christians. On one day, the first of the week, we assemble ourselves together.” (On Fate) 
• 200 AD TERTULLIAN: “We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradistinction to those who call this day their Sabbath” (Tertullian’s Apology, Ch 16)
• 200 AD TERTULLIAN: “It follows, accordingly, that, in so far as the abolition of carnal circumcision and of the old law is demonstrated as having been consummated at its specific times, so also the observance of the Sabbath is demonstrated to have been temporary.” (An Answer to the Jews 4:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 3, page 155)
• 200 AD TERTULLIAN: “Others . . . suppose that the sun is the god of the Christians, because it is well-known that we regard Sunday as a day of joy.” (To the Nations 1: 133)
• 200 AD TERTULLIAN: To us Sabbaths are foreign. (On Idolatry, 14:6)4220AD ORIGEN “On Sunday none of the actions of the world should be done. If then, you abstain from all the works of this world and keep yourselves free for spiritual things, go to church, listen to the readings and divine homilies, meditate on heavenly things.” (Homil. 23 in Numeros 4, PG 12:749)          200 AD Tertullian wrote:  “By us, who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons, and festivals, once acceptable to God (under the Law of Moses), the Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia, are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new years day presents are made with din, and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians.” 
• 220 AD Origen “Hence it is not possible that the [day of] rest after the Sabbath should have come into existence from the seventh [day] of our God. On the contrary, it is our Savior who, after the pattern of his own rest, caused us to be made in the likeness of his death, and hence also of his resurrection” (Commentary on John 2:28)
• 220 AD ORIGEN “On Sunday none of the actions of the world should be done. If then, you abstain from all the works of this world and keep yourselves free for spiritual things, go to church, listen to the readings and divine homilies, meditate on heavenly things.” (Homil. 23 in Numeros 4, PG 12:749)
• 225 AD THE DIDASCALIA “The apostles further appointed: On the first day of the week let there be service, and the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and the oblation, because on the first day of the week our Lord rose from the place of the dead, and on the first day of the week he arose upon the world, and on the first day of the week he ascended up to heaven, and on the first day of the week he will appear at last with the angels of heaven.” (Didascalia 2)
• 250 AD IGNATIUS: “If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death-whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master-how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead. If, then, those who were conversant with the ancient Scriptures came to newness of hope, expecting the coming of Christ, as the Lord teaches us when He says, ‘If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me; ‘ and again, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad; for before Abraham was, I am;’ how shall we be able to live without Him? The prophets were His servants, and foresaw Him by the Spirit, and waited for Him as their Teacher, and expected Him as their Lord and Savior, saying, ‘He will come and save us.’ Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of idleness; for ‘he that does not work, let him not eat.’ For say the [holy] oracles, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.’ But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them. And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week].  Looking forward to this, the prophet declared, “To the end, for the eighth day,” on which our life both sprang up again, and the victory over death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of perdition, the enemies of the Savior, deny, ‘whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things,’ who are ‘lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.’ These make merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men’s possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, Chapter IX)
• 250 AD IGNATIUS: “On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried. During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathea had laid Him. At the dawning of the Lord’s day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the Lord’s Day contains the resurrection.” (The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, chapter 9)
• 250 AD CYPRIAN: “The eight day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath, and the Lord’s Day.” (Epistle 58, Sec 4) 
• 300 AD VICTORINUS “The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom. . . . On this day also, on account of the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we make either a station to God or a fast. On the seventh day he rested from all his works, and blessed it, and sanctified it. On the former day we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord’s day we may go forth to our bread with giving of thanks. And let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should appear to observe any Sabbath with the Jews . . . which Sabbath he [Christ] in his body abolished.” (The Creation of the World).
• 300 AD EUSEBIUS: “They did not, therefore, regard circumcision, nor observe the Sabbath neither do we; because such things as these do not belong to Christians.” (Ecc. Hist., Book 1, Ch. 4)
• The above historic references overwhelmingly confirm that Constantine was not the one responsible for removing the observance of the Saturday sabbath, and replacing it with Sunday as their day of worship.  The above quotes and scriptural references bear witness to the fact, that the early church had already discontinued the weekly observance of the sabbath, several hundred years prior to Constantine coming into power, and had instead chose to meet on the first day of the week, Sunday, as their day of worship.  What Constantine did do, was that he legalized Sunday as the day of worship for Christians through out the empire.  Christians could now meet on Sundays without any threat of reprisal or persecution.  Prior to Constantine’s legalizing Sunday worship, Christians had been subject to 300 years of persecution by the Romans and had been forced to meet in secret.                                                      

Questions Commonly Asked About the Sabbath

1. If the early Christians had given up celebrating the sabbath, why did Jesus tell His disciples to pray that their flight from Judea, not occur in winter or on a sabbath in advance of the invading Roman armies?

At Matthew 24:20 Jesus told His followers:  “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.”

The answer to the above question lies in the following explanations that are supported by scripture.

Jesus and His earliest disciples were Jews, who were under the old law covenant.  Jesus and His disciples were still observing the sabbath, at the time Jesus spoke the words at Matthew 24:20.  Christ had to fulfill the law, by living it perfectly, leading up to His death on the cross.  By living a perfect life under the law, Christ freed us from the penalty of the law, which was sin and death.  By His shed blood and bodily sacrifice, Christ made the law obsolete.  In this way He released us from the curse of the law, and the old covenant was no longer in effect.  Upon expiring, Jesus spoke the words, “It is finished.”  By shedding His blood for humanity, both Jew and Gentile alike, Christ nailed the law of ordinances to the cross and abolished it.  From that point on, the early followers of Jesus, who were Jews, were no longer bound to keep regulations regarding food and drink or observances such as a sabbath, a new moon, or a festival.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Apostle Paul at Galatians 2:13-16 states:  “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Galatians 3:13 states:  “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'”

At Colossians 2:13-14, Paul states:  “13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled (blotted, wiped ) out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us (the law, the hand written document, the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments, the bond written in ordinances), which was hostile to us (stood against us, always hung over our heads); and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

The Apostle Paul at Ephesians 2:13-17 states:  “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity (He has put an end to the law with its decrees, He annulled the law with its rules and regulations, He removed the hostility of the law, with all its commandments and rules), which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Apostle Paul at Romans 10:4 states:  “For Christ is the end of the law, that everyone who has faith may be justified.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Colossians 2:16-17 states:  “16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a sabbath.  17 These are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance (the reality) belongs to Christ.”

The Law of Moses expressly forbade the travel of anyone on the sabbath.  Anyone who ventured out or was making preparations to travel or was caught traveling on the sabbath day, could have been put to death.  That is why Jesus told His early Jewish followers to pray that their flight not occur on the sabbath.                                                                                                                                                             

           Regarding travel on the Sabbath, the Law of Moses states:

           “See, for that the LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore he gave you bread on the sixth day for two days; remain every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  So the people rested on the seventh day.”    

            The Law of Moses also forbade any sort of work to be done on the sabbath.  The following are some examples of such restrictions:

           “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.  For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

            Exodus 16:29-30 & Exodus 20:8-11

The above verses confirm that any sort of work or travel was forbidden on the Sabbath day!  The people needed to make sure they arrived at their intended place, before the Sabbath!  Even though Jesus’ disciples had converted to Christianity and were now under a new covenant, they were still living in a radical Jewish society that was under the old law covenant and that strictly forbade anyone to travel on the sabbath.  Jesus knew that the Roman armies would invade Judea in 66 C.E.  That is why He told His disciples to pray that their flight from Judea, not occur on a sabbath or in the winter.  Anyone in Judea that was seen doing any sort of work; such as gathering their provisions, or was caught in the act of traveling, faced being condemned by the Jewish authorities for breaking the Law of Moses.  This would have included Christians. 

2. If early Christians had given up the celebration of the Sabbath, what did the the author of Hebrews mean when he wr0te to Jewish Christian believers about the prospect of entering God’s sabbath rest, a promise that was still open to them?

Hebrews 4:1 states:  “Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

Hebrews 4:9-11 states:  “So then a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 For those who enter God’s rest cease from their labors as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fail through disobedience as theirs.”

God’s Day of Rest, the Seventh Day of Creation, Not A Weekly Sabbath

The sabbath rest that Christians still had the prospect of entering was not the weekly sabbath, but rather God’s day of rest; the seventh creative day, on which God rested from the founding of the world.  The book of Genesis tells us that there was an evening and a morning at the completion of each creative day, signifying that each day had come to a close. (See Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)  Yet, on the seventh day, God rested from all of His creative works and there was no evening and morning, thus signifying that the seventh day never ended.

Genesis 2:1-3 states:  “1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude (the host of them).  2 And on the seventh day God finished the work (ended His work) that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had done.  3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it (set it apart as His own), because on it God rested from all the work (His work) that He had done in creation (that He had created and done).”

The book of Hebrews states that the ancient Israelites, even though they were observing the weekly sabbath, failed to enter God’s sabbath rest due to their lack of faith and disobedience.  God swore in His anger, “They shall not enter my rest,” though His works were finished from the founding of the world.*  In contrast, the Christians to whom the book of Hebrews was written, still had the hope and promise of entering God’s sabbath rest by their faith and obedience.

Hebrews 4:2-11 states:  “For indeed the good news came to us just as it did to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.  3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,  ‘As in my anger I swore.  They shall not enter my rest,’ though His works were finished at the foundation of the world.  4 For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows,  ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.’  5 And again in this place it says, ‘They shall not enter my rest.”  6 Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again He sets a certain day-‘today’-saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’  8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day.  9 So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 For those who enter God’s rest also cease form their labors as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.”

The above verses confirm that the sabbath that the ancient Israelites failed to enter and that the early Christians still had the prospect of entering, was not a weekly sabbath, but rather the seventh creative day of God, on which God rested from the founding of the world.  If Joshua had given the Israelites rest by observing the weekly sabbath, God would not have spoken to them later about another day.  So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from His.  As Christians, we need to make every effort to enter that rest, the seventh day of creation, so that no one may fall short through disobedience as the Israelites did.

This prospect will become a reality during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.  During God’s sabbath day of rest, Christ will be enthroned by His Father and rule as king for a thousand years.  The Son of Man, Jesus Christ, is Lord of the sabbath.  All things in heaven and earth will be reconciled in Christ.  There will be a new heavens and earth in which righteousness is to dwell.  

That Jesus is Lord of the sabbath, is confirmed by Jesus’ words:

Jesus said at Matthew 12:8: “For the Son of Man is Lord (Master, Sovereign) of the sabbath.”

All things in heaven and earth will be gathered together in Christ, during His 1,000 year reign.

Ephesians 1:10 states:  “10 He (God) planned for the maturity of the time and the climax of the ages (with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, a divine order which was to mark the completion of the ages) to unify all things (gather up together the things in Christ) and head them up and consummate them in Christ, both things (all things and everything that exists) in heaven and on the earth.”

The promise of a new heavens and a new earth is confirmed in scripture. 

2 Peter 3:13 states:  “Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness is to dwell.”

During this time, Christ will rule for a 1,000 years with his saints.  These holy ones are enthroned and have power of judgment given to them.  They shall judge the 12 tribes of Israel.  This will be a new age, a new world, a recreation, where the old heavens (the wicked spirit forces) and the old earth (evil human society) will have passed away.  This will usher in a new heavens and a new earth.  The tent of God will be with mankind and He will dwell among them; tears, death, morning, outcry, and pain will be gone.  The former things have passed away.  (See also Bible topic: A New Heavens and a New Earth)

Matthew 19:28 states:  “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, in the new world (the recreation, the regeneration, when the world is born anew, the new creation, the new order of life, the new age, the new birth, the Messianic rebirth of the world) when the Son of Man shall sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'”  (See also Luke 22:28-30)

The Apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 6:2 states:  “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is to be judged by you?  Are you incompetent to try trivial cases?”

Revelation 20:4 states:  “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. . . They came to life, and reigned with Christ (for) a thousand years.”

Revelation 21:1, 3-4 states:  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first (former) heaven and the first (former) earth had passed away, and the sea* was no more.“  3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling (tabernacle) of God is with men.  He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. . . 4 He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither shall there be morning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’  5 And He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new.’  Also He said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy (faithful) and true.'”

*After delivering Israel from bondage in Egypt, the LORD God (Yahweh) brought His people to the foot of Mount Sinai.  It was there that Moses received the ten commandments on stone tablets, written by the finger of God.  Among the ten commandments was the commandment to observe the sabbath.  (Exodus 20:8)  From that point on the people of the nation of Israel were under God’s law, which included the ten commandments and the celebration of the weekly sabbath.  (Approx. 1446 BC)

If you read Exodus chapter 20 where God delivered the ten commandments, and then read the succeeding chapters 21-23, you will see that there were many other succeeding laws given by the LORD (Yahweh) to the nation of Israel.  In Exodus chapter 24:3-4, the people all pledged to follow the laws God had given.

Exodus 24:3-4 states:  “Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD (Yahweh) and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do.’  4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. . .”

A little over a year later, the Israelites arrived at a place called Kadesh Barnea. (Approx. 1445 BC)  During the Exodus, Kadesh Barnea emerges as a major staging area point for the Israelites.  Deuteronomy 1:19 explains, “Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that vast and terrifying wilderness you saw… and we reached Kadesh-Barnea.” Here are the pivotal events associated with Kadesh:

1. Preparation for Entering the Promised Land – From Kadesh, Moses sent twelve spies to scout Canaan (Numbers 13:1-3). This established Kadesh Barnea as the gateway to the land, underscoring its strategic and spiritual position at Israel’s threshold of promise.

2. Spies’ Report and Rebellion – Upon the spies’ return, the people threatened rebellion against Moses and God, out of fear of Canaan’s inhabitants. The account of the spies revealed that there were giants (Nephilim) in the land of extraordinary size, and the Israelites were like grasshoppers in their sight. (Number 13:26-33)  Their reluctance to trust in God’s promise, that He would deliver the inhabitants of the land into their hand, led directly to the LORD’s divine judgment and His sentencing of the entire nation to wandering 40-years in the wilderness.  (Numbers 14:22-35)  This certainly underscores Kadesh Barnea as being a pivotal moment, where the Israelites demonstrated their unbelief and rebellion against God.  They failed to demonstrate their faith in Yahweh, that He would deliver the occupants of Canaan into their hand.  (Consequences: 40 yrs. of wandering, Approx. 1445-1405)

As has already been established, the Israelites at Kadesh Barnea were already observing the sabbath and the many other laws God had given them. Why then does the book of Hebrews state that because of their lack of faith and disobedience, they would not enter God’s rest?  Weren’t they already consecrated as being part of God’s rest, by their faithfully observing the weekly sabbath?

The answer to these questions is quite simple: The rest that the ancient Jews under the old law covenant failed to enter was not the weekly sabbath, which they were already observing; it was the seventh creative day of God, on which He rested from the founding of the world.  The same would hold true for the future Church.  The rest that early Christians still had a hope of entering was not the weekly sabbath, which they were no longer observing; it was the seventh creative day of God, on which He rested from the founding of the world.

It should be noted that the nation of Israel, by their lack of faith and disobedience, greatly offended and angered God Almighty.  This was a rebellion against the LORD (Yahweh) and Moses.  Not only were they denied entrance into the promised land and forced to wander forty years in the wilderness until that entire generation had died off, but from what the Book of Hebrews tells us, they will not be allowed to enter God’s seventh day of rest.  This sabbath day rest of God will reach its fulfillment during the millennial reign of Christ and the creation of a new heavens and the new earth.

*The “sea” in scripture is identified as being the wicked.  Isaiah 57:20-21 states : “The wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot rest. . . There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.”  In the book of Revelation, the waters are comprised of the peoples, crowds, tongues, and nations.  (See Revelation 17:15)  The sea, representing wicked humanity, will be no more when Christ begins His millennial reign.  (See Revelation 21:1)