Sabbatarianism
By Timothy Glover
Some affirm that Saturday worship (Sabbath observance) is binding on us today. According to this view, the “ceremonial laws” passed away but the “moral laws” (the 10 commandments) remain. This issue will set forth the reasons for not binding the Sabbath law today.
First, the ten commandments, which contain the Sabbath law, were made with Israel and were given as a rest from Egyptian bondage (Deut. 5:15). Also, in Exodus 31:13, 17, we learn that it was a sign between ISRAEL and Jehovah throughout their generations. Verse 14 says that it was holy for them and verses 16-17 read, “Therefore, the Israelites shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
The Hebrew words translated “forever and ever” means “a long indefinite time, eternity.” This does not mean, however, that it could not be abolished or changed at some point in time. Paul later tells us in Colossians 2:14,16-17 that Christ abolished the law (cf. Romans 7:1-6).
Other examples of the Hebrew use of “forever” is found in Amos 1:11 where Amos speaks of Jehovah’s anger tearing away forever (Heb. “Ad”). The context is speaking of Edom which no longer exists. Leviticus 16:29-31 speaks of a Sabbath on the tenth day of the seventh month which was the day of atonement. It, too, was a statute “forever.” Among the festivals, the day of booths was to be a Sabbath rest (Lev. 23:34). 2 Chron. 2:4 tells us that incense, burnt offerings, Sabbaths, new moons, and the appointed festivals of the Lord were ordained “forever for Israel.”
The text of Ex. 31, itself, limits this covenant sign by using the phrase, “throughout your generations” and specifically says that it was between Jehovah and the Israelites.
Sometimes, it is argued that the Sabbath was ordained at creation (Gen. 2:3, Ex. 20:11). It is my opinion that the statement is a literary prolepsis– a comment made in anticipation of that which had already taken place when he wrote. The evidence of Deut. 5:15 indicates that God had commanded them to keep the Sabbath because he had taken them out of Egypt, placing the command after the event. In addition, Nehemiah states that the Sabbath was made known at Sinai (9:13,14). The Genesis account says that God rested. Nothing is said of Adam or his descendants keeping a Sabbath. Besides, even if it can be proved that the Patriarchs observed the Sabbath, it still would not prove that Christians should observe it.
Second, the Sabbath was abolished. Several Old Testament passages show that the ten commandments were called “the covenant” (Ex. 34:28, Deut. 4:13, 1 Kings 8:9, 21). In the New Testament, the term “covenant” is used to describe both the old and the new. The “old covenant” is said to be done away. 2 Corinthians 3 refers back to Exodus 34 when Moses came down from Sinai the second time with the ten commandments. Paul contrasts the glory of the old shown in Moses’ face to the superior glory of the new. The ten commandments “engraved on stones” was that “old covenant” described in the text as the “words of the covenant.” He says that, while that which was written on stones was glorious (verse 7), they were “passing away” (verse 11).
Study the following passages. According to Galatians 3:10-12, 19-25, we are no longer under the law which was a “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ. We are freed from the law (Rom. 7:1-7) and cannot be joined to both the “old” and the “new.” Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15-17; 7:10-12, 16, 19 teaches that the “old covenant” from Mt. Sinai (12:18-27) is vanishing away (8:13). It is an “old covenant” because Christ has established a “new” covenant. A.R. Johnson illustrates it this way, “California was once a part of Mexico. Mexico had laws against stealing and killing along with laws concerning holidays. California is now a part of the United States. We are not bound by any of the laws of Mexico, yet in our nation it is also a crime to kill or steal. These are not a continuation of Mexican law but laws of the new nation. The new nation has some laws like the old but any not passed under this government are not binding on this people. Likewise, unless the laws concerning the Sabbath were re-enacted under the new constitution, it cannot be binding.”
It is disturbing to hear someone say that they do not observe the ten commandments. While I observe many of the same commands contained in the ten commandments, I observe them not because the ten commandments contain them, but because they are also required under the new.
There have been many efforts to make the Sabbath law an exception of the old covenant, making it perpetual. One effort is to divide the law into “ceremonial” and “moral” laws. Neither terms are used in the Bible to distinguish the law of Moses. Further, the yearly feast days and new moons are just as ceremonial as the weekly Sabbath. Should we not observe these also?
Some laws that are not contained in the ten commandments are also not “ceremonial” and would be, by their logic, binding today. They would include laws about usury, debts, slavery, levirate marriages, resting the land, returning a lost animal, not wearing garments of the opposite sex, eating things that die of itself, etc. Should we bind the Sabbath law and all of these along with it?
It is also obligatory upon those who profess the binding nature of the Sabbath law to also observe how it is to be kept. What an Israelite was allowed to do on this day was very important. We see just how important it was when one caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath was stoned. I wonder, are these limitations also “ceremonial?”
Third, the Sabbath is specifically mentioned as no longer binding (Colossians 2:14-17, 20-21). Paul lists three things: “feast days (yearly observances), “new moons” (monthly holy days), and “Sabbaths”(weekly). These were said to be “shadows of things to come” and no one was to condemn another with regard to these observances. In other articles, we will examine the practice of New Testament Christians to see if the Sabbath is binding.
