by Sam Garcia
We go to church on Sunday, but the Jews held Sabbath on the last day. Why?
Often, people will use verses on Jesus being resurrected on the first day, or that the observance of Sabbath and days must be fully convinced in his own mind, but a deeper study of those actually either is incomplete or misguided.
And that is not even to say that the Jews didn’t use the solar Gregorian calendar, but the Hebrew calendar which is based on the lunar cycle. Which means the last day of the week in the Hebrew calendar is not always Saturday but could be Wednesday then Thursday the next month. At least according to Google.
The Sabbath. Is it on Saturday or Sunday?
People miss the point. It isn’t about the Sabbath. Going to church isn’t the Sabbath. They are two totally different things.
Nowhere does the Bible say that Sunday or the first day of the week has replaced the Sabbath, but that doesn’t mean people are wrong in gathering to worship on the first day
But where does it say we are to meet in church for the Sabbath? Nowhere, either. The Sabbath is to be holy, yes, but people make a logical leap and assumption that means “go to church”.
In fact, the first day and last day are both important and holy in the Bible. They are both important today, as well. Those days are when schools are off, and many, if not most, jobs are off.
So before I lose you with this reasoning seemingly without a point, I will make this assertion so you know where I stand:
Saturday is still the Sabbath and a day of rest, however, Sunday is the day of assembly primarily for New Testament believers.
Notice I didn’t say worship. We must worship God every day.
Let me substantiate this claim Biblically.
What is the Sabbath?
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11
Where in these passages say that we are to gather together and worship on the Sabbath? Nowhere. To keep it holy, yes, but do not make the assumption and logic leap that “keeping it holy” is equal to “going to church”. It may mean that, but not necessarily.
What it does say is that the Sabbath is mainly for rest, and it is on the seventh day.
Schools and many jobs have Saturdays off. It is already considered a day of rest.
So the Sabbath is the last or seventh day of the week marked with rest. Saturday is the off day from school and work and is the last day. Saturday is the Sabbath.
But what about keeping holy, then, if it doesn’t mean go to church? Keeping it holy means keeping it apart as its own day. The word holy means “sanctified, or set apart”. The passages explain it, six days man shall labor, and on the seventh, man will rest, making it a special day apart. It doesn’t mean go to church.
Now, we have established that the Sabbath is the last day and is about rest. What about the first day?
Why do Christians worship on Sunday?
The First Days In The Bible
The first mention we have of the first day is in Genesis 1 like we do about the last day. God uses the Creation week as the reason why the last day is the Sabbath. Without getting too convoluted, I would surmise it is obvious why the first day is on the surface important in the Creation week, for it being the beginning. It is also important because Jesus rose again on the first day. But that is just the shallow end of reasoning if we want to prove why we assemble on the first day and hence why we will just pass over those reasons, no pun intended.
We know in Acts that the disciples gathered on the first day.
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:7
Here we see clearly that the disciples came together on the first day.
Notice the phrase break bread. I believe this is referring to the communion (for obvious reasons). This will be important later on.
We also use this verse to justify all day meetings and also Sunday evening services, even if we don’t always go till midnight.
Now, where does it say the first day replaced the Sabbath? Nowhere. Where does it say that the disciples gathering together means Sabbath? Nowhere. Where does it say preaching only happens on the Sabbath? Nowhere.
Now certain people would do some mental gymnastics and claim that since in Jewish time, days began at sunset or nightfall or whatever, and thus it was technically the last day, not the first day.
Which makes no sense because if they considered the first day at that time, it was the first day and the day before the last day.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2
Here we see a command to the church to lay in store on the first day of the week. We understand this to be tithes and offerings. Where do we see it commanded that we are to collect offerings on the Sabbath?
Even in the Old Testament do we even find the first day holy for worship in some contexts.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Nehemiah 8:2
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Nehemiah 8:18
These passages show it isn’t out of the ordinary to hold services on the first day or any other day of the week, even if it went from first to last day. Notice, too, on the eighth day, which is the first day repeating again, a solemn assembly was held.
16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exodus 12:16-17
This is in the context of the Passover. So why is it relevant to the debate?
Jesus told us to observe the communion as oft as we will:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
Remember breaking bread when the disciples were gathered together in Acts? They were observing the communion.
The communion is our equivalent Passover as Christ fulfilled the Passover. We have unleavened bread to remember Christ our Lord, hence we need to observe it on the first day as does the feast of Unleavened Bread, not the last day.
Notice it doesn’t say that the Passover observance on the first day replaces the Sabbath last day, doesn’t it?
Lastly, we are to assemble as much as we see the day approaching.
What does the Bible say about going to church every Sunday?
Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Now whether one chooses to assemble Saturday or Sunday or any other day of the week, we should assemble. And there’s no Biblical law against assembling on Sunday. We should assemble more, in any day, not less. We have the liberty to.
So if the Passover was on the first day of the week, and the Passover is our communion, and on communion we gathered as the disciples did back then, and if on the first day we store our tithes and offerings, and if on the first day Paul preached and thus someone preaches, then all that happens in church on the first day, and thus that is why church is on Sunday.
In Conclusion
We assemble with the church to worship God on Sunday not because it is the Sabbath not because it replaced the Sabbath but because the disciples did so, because it is commanded to store our tithes and offerings on the first day, because we are to observe communion as oft as we will, which is connected to the Passover, which happens in the first day of the week, because we are to assemble any time as the day comes hence we may observe BOTH the last day of rest of Saturday and first day of assembly of Sunday.
Two weekend days sound nice, don’t you think?
Thank you for these article
The Sabbath is not a shadow, for it is to be observed as long as the New Heavens and the New Earth remain.
“For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
“And it shall come to pass, that from one new-moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22, 23.
“All flesh” never have worshipped God on the Sabbath since Isaiah wrote this prophecy, neither will this prophecy be fulfilled until the righteous are all gathered into the New Earth, then the Sabbath, in its Eden glory, will be observed as long as the immortal saints, and the New Heavens and Earth remain.
Mark this. The Sabbath was instituted before the fall, when man was holy, and Eden bloomed on earth, and it will be in its place after the restitution, the same as before the fall.
Sam, do you even understand the fact that the phrase “the first day of the week” isn’t in the bible? The Greek says, transliterated, “mia ton sabbaton” which in English literally means “first the sabbaths”. Sabbaths is plural because after Jesus’ death on Passover there was to be a seven sabbaths count to Pentecost. Look it up in Lev. 23. The bible nowhere speaks of anyone meeting every Sunday. That is a lie!
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Acts 20:7
Kevin, you obviously don’t have a Bible in the first place because anything other than the King James Version is a perversion. Check out some other articles and true history on that then maybe you can comment once you have the truth. Bro. Garcia explains it plain as day from God’s Holy Word…literally the First Day of the week is when Christians ought to assemble along with the other six days. Can’t assemble too much!
I’m sorry where did you get the idea that anything other than KJV is a perversion? KJV also is a translation and if you know the original languages you can directly translate from the manuscripts which some other versions have also done.
Because the perverse so-called new versions omit verses, words, and change the meaning. For example: The NIV omits Acts 8:37 and removes the blood from Colossians 1:14. Skimming through the book of Revelation I found 17 omissions of verses in the ESV. The old Authorized King James Bible is more than just a translation. It is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, preserved word of God. It’s record of over 400 years and the great revivals and moves of God preached from it testify to this fact
Interestingly, they met to ‘break bread’ daily – but only One day is the Lord’s day – that’s the 7th day Sabbath, according to both the OT and NT.
Notice Ezekiel 22:26 – when they too pretended another day was to be ‘kept’.
(note: can’t ‘keep’ what isn’t sanctified, blessed, made Holy to begin with)
Sabbath was sanctified, blessed, made Holy – since Creation – Gen 2;2-3
and will be still kept in Heaven to come – Isaiah 66:22-23
The King James Bible is abother translation of the original text and was translated several times by(well king james didnt do it but it was done during his reign) King James. King James wasnt even a believer. the original languages of the Bible has so many meanings that even the King James doesnt always capture what the scripture is saying or means.
Amen Christopher. Kevin is obviously one of those “scholars” that knows more than the translators of the Authorized King James Bible who were quite likely the greatest language experts that ever lived. In addition many of them were outstanding preachers of the word of God.
Totally disagree! Saturday is the seventh day, which is the SABBATH. SO MANY PEOPLE CHANGE THE LAW, FOR THEIR CONVENIENCE.
“Mark this. The Sabbath was instituted before the fall”
So were the moed! The Kings James bible incorrectly calls these days feasts. If you don’t believe me look up Gen 1:14 in Hebrew. God’s moed will be kept in His kingdom also, just read Zech. 14
Isaiah 66:23 “and it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another & from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.”
Luke 4:16 16 He { Jesus } went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
Jesus’ earthly ministry was mainly to the Jews so obviously He would meet on the customary day that they met.
Matthew 15:24
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
However, He never commanded to meet on the Sabbath though and we know from further study that He did away with most man made customs.
Matthew 15:9
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
He resurrected on the first day of the week, Sunday, and the disciples set an example for us to follow meeting on Sunday and also met throughout the rest of the week. God used the churches in Acts as examples for us to follow today; anyone who doesn’t understand this has not been taught properly and needs to study their KJB more.
So if we will meet on Sunday what will we do on the Sabbath day
Danquel Bruce out of all Ten Commandments, God tells us to REMEMBER in only one of them. The very one he tells us to remember is the main one they want us to forget. A time is coming when, the day you worship will determine WHO you worship. Discernment!
Jesus went to the synagogue to preach on the sabbath day … Mark 1:21 , Luke 4:31….
Paul did as well in the book of Acts 13:1-43
Vs 43 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
“Preached to them on the next sabbath “
Read my above comment to Sarah.
But…There is historically an ugly side to this you didn’t go into. The establishment of worship on the Roman day of the sun occurred after Emperor Hadrian crushed the Bar Kokhba revolt and outlawed “Jewish” practices in Judea. Passover was banned (as well as all the other actual biblical Holy days) and worship on resurrection day replaced it. At some point in time pig became the resurrection meal and the day was referred to by the name of a pagan goddess – Easter. At least humans are consistent, right? The truth is more than most Christian people can handle, and that is Christianity never conquered paganism it became a pagan religion itself. Christmas is celebrated on the birthdate of Mithras aka Sol Invictus. Constantine’s arch which still stands in Rome contains three reliefs of Sol and no Christian symbology. Mary worship – the title Queen of Heaven – comes from worshippers of a number of different pagan goddesses. The list just goes on and on and on…The name Jesus is a perversion (extremely bad transliteration), of the Messiah’s name – Yeshua. If you are seeing a pattern here like the pieces of a jigsaw coming together you are blessed. Pagan Christianity and Islam are blending. Pope Francis has been instrumental in creating this apostate religion of the book of Revelation, Chrislam, and “Jesus” will preside over it. Israel signed a pact with devil last year when they signed the Abraham Accord.” The ‘Abraham Accord’ is the culmination of all the work done by Pope Francis and the Vatican in creating the One World Religion of Chrislam. With this agreement, Chrislam took a giant step forward in realizing the signing of what will culminate in the 7-year covenant foretold in Daniel 9:27.”
Reference:
Breaking: Abraham Accords and the Ezekiel War!
Bravo! Nice to see someone knows what’s really going on!
In short, you are comparing Roman Catholicism with true Christianity, when in fact they’re two totally different things. Nothing the Roman church has done should be considered Biblical, Christian, or of God. They persecuted and killed Christians. As for celebrating Easter and Christmas, God can take a pagan holiday or person and transform it or him into bringing glory to Him, which is why any Christian celebrates these holidays or “Holy Days.” We as Christians set them apart to specifically remember Christ’s birth and Resurrection not their pagan counterparts. And for you to say the name Jesus is a perversion is blasphemy adding insult to injury and obviously you don’t use a King James Bible either, which was not promoted by the Catholics but 70 men of God who were used to translate God’s Holy Word into the language of the common people. Nothing you speak of has anything to do with this article. I agree with you though that the Pope is evil along with Islam and is preparing the way for the Antichrist and Tribulation.
Danquel Bruce – On the sabbath… we rest!
Mr. Garcia. Thank you so very much for this article. Its contents make sense to me, especially because it’s backed up with scripture. For the past couple of years, I’ve stayed put looking for answers that made sense. I found that theology and religious rituals may tend to impede the flow of Christ in our lives. I don’t believe that the message is convoluted; Yeshua made it simple for us. So now… I am able to resume my gathering with the saints, while keeping the sabbath as holy as I know to! Blessings!
God bless you for this philosophical articulation
“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2035&version=NIV
Remember the Israelites during the Exodus were us today also following the only creator God. This was before the establishment of Jews.
So today, work on Sunday can be house chores or whatever you couldn’t do during Monday to Friday. Saturday is set aside to especially rest within God’s holy presence as He commanded and so everyone that is able can meet also.
Great article. It really gave me clarity.
Sunday was instituted be the Catholic Church. Period. That alone is enough to make me run from it. The disciples went to synagogue on Saturday. Several references are given above thanks to Cameron. Because people want their Saturday to do what they want they will believe anything. There are no good and true arguments in this article for Sunday. None. Nada. Nil. Try again. And next time only use God’s word please. I was looking for something, anything to give me a reason to go to church on Sunday. I have done it my whole life until now. I feel like I have been lied to my whole life by Baptist preachers. This article did not convince me, on the contrary it confirmed what I was afraid of, that Saturday is the Sabbath which GOD says to keep holy.
Sunday was instituted by the Catholic Church. Period. That alone is enough to make me run from it. The disciples went to synagogue on Saturday. Several references are given above thanks to Cameron. Because people want their Saturday to do what they want they will believe anything. There are no good and true arguments in this article for Sunday. None. Nada. Nil. Try again. And next time only use God’s word please. I was looking for something, anything to give me a reason to go to church on Sunday. I have done it my whole life until now. I feel like I have been lied to my whole life by Baptist preachers. This article did not convince me, on the contrary it confirmed what I was afraid of, that Saturday is the Sabbath which GOD says to keep holy.
It’s true brother! Sunday holiness is an invention of the Papacy. It has nothing to do with the Bible. It is coming from pagan worshipping of the SUN.
People are trying to find support in the Bible to keep Sunday holy but there is none.
The Sabbath was always on the seventh day of the week, Saturday and always will be! https://sabbathfacts.org/what-day-is-the-sabbath/
No matter how many arguments people try to find for Sunday worship, there are none in the Bible!
And the verse from Acts 20:7 talks about what we call today Saturday evening. Jews were counting days from sunset to sunset. (Leviticus 23:32)
In GNT translation we also find it this way:
On Saturday[a] evening we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight, since he was going to leave the next day.
Acts 20:7 GNT
If the first day were to be holy, how can Paul was ready to travel on that day? The commandment says to rest on that day!
This proves that the first day is not holy! And the Sabbath never changed!
I highly recommend the book called “The 10 Commandments Twice Removed” which explains everything the author tried to explain, but it accurately shows why the “7th day” (created before sin) is part of God’s eternal laws (we will even have Sabbath in Heaven, Isaiah 66:23). Those who love God at the end of time will be the ones who KEEP His commands & their testimony of Jesus (Rev. 14:12). When the rich man asked Jesus what he needed to do to gain eternal life, Jesus didn’t say “just believe in Me” – instead He told him to KEEP the commandments of God & then stated several of the 10. Jesus never said 1 of God’s eternal laws would be changed, wven after He resurrected. This change is clear through History first with Constantine then the Catholic Church. The book of James says if we break 1 of God’s commands, we break them all (they are a 10 pack set to be kept). Read your Bible for yourselves – that is the only way to know the real truth. Study! “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus said “if you love Me, KEEP My commandments.” We obey God because we love Him, as our Creator, God, & friend. The Sabbath became a genuine delight for me when I realized this human-made Sunday tradition & changed to the TRUE 7th day (Saturday) Sabbath. I have entered that sweet rest & I can tell you personally it has changed my entire life. The Sabbath matters to my Creator, He said to “remember” to keep it holy & that is enough for me. God is the only One we answer to for how we live this life. God will bring you to many other scriptural truths when You honor His day. God’s 7th day Sabbath is a symbol & sign between God & us, that we belong to Him. Satan is a terrific liar & counterfeits everything God made. Just like Eve, he will cause you to question the Word of God. “Study & show yourself approved…” The Holy Spirit is the best teacher! And remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 (the word iniquity means lawlessness). I pray for this author who is breaking God’s law & teaching others to do so! The Bible speaks about how God feels about this in Matthew 5:19. We must seek FIRST the kingdom of God & His righteousness, then all these things shall be added unto you. God bless! 🙏
Im sorry but this is the dumbest thing i have read.
Read the full chapter of Roman 14 And after reading for yourself not anyone else. Just remember that we only have one Master that will Judge Eternal Life Jesus Christ!!! Also read Hebrew 11:1 We live My Faith and not by sight. Also remember That we have the Holy Spirit living with in us to help us to discern what is true. May God bless you With wisdom and knowledge in Jesus Christ name Amen.
thanks for the article
Absolutely stated the Holy Truth🙏🏻🙏🏻