There are moral laws that are true for all people in all places at all times. To give an example of these moral laws I like bring up the Ten Commandments. They provide a framework on how we interact with God and how we interact with other people. Don’t seek other gods and don’t lie other people as an example. However, there is one commandment, number four, that is hard to fit into western culture. This is the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath day is Saturday however Christians hold Church on Sunday. How did we get here?

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 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. 11 For in six days the Lord made 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 20:8-11 ESV

What is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath on the western calendar is Saturday the last day of the week. If you are Jewish you go to the temple on Saturday. Some Christian denominations also hold Church services on Saturday since it is the Sabbath day. However most Christians hold Church services on Sunday the first day of the week which is obviously not the Sabbath Saturday. Why Sunday and not Saturday?

How did we get Sunday Church?

Sunday is the day that Jesus was raised from the dead and made alive. Sunday is a celebration of a risen savior. It is called the Lord’s day since this was the day that he was made alive and defeated the grave.

Christinas hold Church on Saturday because this example is what the early church in Acts is described as doing.

7 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 next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. Acts 20:7 ESV

Additionally, the early church is described as taking up offerings on the first day of the week which is Sunday. It’s not church if someone is not asking for money.

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week [Sunday], each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ESV

Give the Frist Day to God

History and the tradition of the Christian church has led us to a Sunday not Saturday day for worship. For me personally I love that Church is on Sunday the first day of the week. The First day of the week is perfect for worshiping God. Give to God the first and starting each week in Church with Christ is the only way I want to approach the week.

Sabbath Saturday Rules over Sunday worship

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8 ESV

The Pharisees had a very strict interpretation of the Sabbath laws to even the point that plucking the head of grain to eat was not lawful. Jesus responds with one of the greatest lines in the Bible. “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” God has not given a command that you can’t even lift the mouse on your keyboard to work on a website or respond to an email. This does not make sense. What God wants is for our hearts to be turned to him. Commandment number four is a command for us to take one day, Saturday in this case of the commandment, pause from our labors and spend time with him. It is also a healthy thing to do. He did not make us to work seven days a week with no end.

What did Jesus have to Say?

8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8 ESV

Jesus claims the authority of God to the Pharisees in what I am sure was an infuriating moment for them. And with that claim he is not abolishing the fourth commandment but he is putting it into perspective. Jesus is greater than the commandments. If you put your trust in him he will direct you in a guiltless path.

Centered on Christ

Sabbath Saturday or the Resurrection Sunday? What is right? Dear reader these are questions the Pharisees would ask. The question you should be asking is what day are you setting aside to God? How does God want you to live? Does he want you to keep the letter of the law on Saturday the way the Pharisee demanded? If so then listen to that conscience and keep the law. Or does he want you to gather with the saints and seek him as the source of salvation? My conscience tells me that I can keep the spirit of this command by centering my life around Christ and his church. If that means Sunday where you live then make Sunday holy. The key dear reader is to set that one day where your life revolves around the things of God and not around you and your agenda.