The Sabbath and God’s Enduring Law: A Comprehensive Biblical Study

Question 1: Are the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath, part of God’s enduring law?Verse: Psalm 89:34 – “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”

God’s law is unchanging and He does not break His covenant. The Ten Commandments, spoken by God’s own lips, remain in force.

Verse: James 2:10 – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

This shows that God’s law, the 10 commandments, is a complete unit. Breaking even one commandment breaks the law as a whole, indicating its ongoing authority.

Verse: Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Faith does not cancel God’s law; instead, it upholds it, showing that the commandments remain valid in the Christian era.

Verse: Hebrews 10:16 – “This is the covenant that I will make… I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”

Under the new covenant, God’s law (including the Sabbath) is internalized, showing that it has not been abolished but placed within our hearts.

Verse: John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Jesus links love for Him with obedience to His commandments, emphasizing their ongoing relevance.

Verse: 1 John 2:3-4,7 – “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments… Brethren, I write no new commandment…but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning.”

Knowing God is tied to keeping His established commandments, including those given at the beginning, reinforcing that the Ten Commandments remain.

Question 2: Did Jesus abolish the Law or the Sabbath commandment?

Verse: Matthew 5:17-18 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law… till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law…”

Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, indicating its continued validity.

Verse: Mark 2:27 – “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.”

Jesus reaffirms the Sabbath’s purpose for humanity, not its abolition, reinforcing its enduring nature.

Verse: Matthew 12:8 – “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

Jesus identifies Himself as Lord of the Sabbath, showing its importance and His authority over it, not its removal.

Verse: Luke 4:16 – “And he came to Nazareth… and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day…”

Jesus’ own practice of Sabbath observance sets an example for believers, demonstrating it was never abolished.

Question 3: Was the Sabbath observed before the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai?Verse: Genesis 2:2-3 – “And on the seventh day God ended his work… and God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.”

The Sabbath was instituted at creation, long before Sinai, showing its universal and timeless application.

Verse: Exodus 16:26 – “Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day… in it there shall be none.”

The Israelites observed the Sabbath commandment regarding manna before the law was written on stone at Sinai, demonstrating the Sabbath’s pre-Sinai existence.

Question 4: Which commandment explicitly states the Sabbath requirement?

Verse: Exodus 20:8-10 – “Remember the sabbath day… the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God…”

The fourth commandment commands Sabbath observance, “remembering” it as a special day set apart by God.

Verse: Exodus 20:11 – “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth…and rested the seventh day…”

The reason given for the Sabbath commandment is rooted in creation, emphasizing its foundational nature.

Question 5: Is Sabbath observance intended for all people who join themselves to the Lord, not just Israel?

Verse: Isaiah 56:6-7 – “…every one that keepeth the sabbath… even them will I bring to my holy mountain…”

The Sabbath blessing extends to all who love the Lord, not just to one nation, showing its universality.

Question 6: Does the Bible indicate a future time when believers should still regard the Sabbath?Verse: Matthew 24:20 – “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”

Jesus projected Sabbath observance into the future, suggesting it would still be significant after His ascension.

Verse: Isaiah 66:22-23 – “…from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me…”

In the new heavens and new earth, humanity will continue to honor the Sabbath, proving its eternal relevance.

Question 7: Did the early church continue to observe the Sabbath?

Verse: Luke 23:56 – “…rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”

Even after Jesus’ death, His followers kept the Sabbath.

Verse: Acts 13:42 – “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.”

Gentiles asked to hear the gospel on the next Sabbath, showing the practice of Sabbath worship in early Christian communities.

Verse: Acts 13:44 – “And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.”

A large gathering occurred on the Sabbath, indicating that early Christians continued to meet and worship on this day.

Verse: Acts 2:46 – “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple…”

While believers met daily, the Sabbath remained a distinct day of worship (as shown in other verses), not replaced or abolished.

Question 8: How does the Bible describe the significance of the Sabbath as a sign between God and His people?

Verse: Ezekiel 20:20 – “And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you…”

The Sabbath serves as a distinguishing mark of God’s people, symbolizing their relationship with Him.

Verse: Exodus 31:13 – “…Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you…”

The Sabbath is a divine sign, confirming the covenant between God and His people.

Question 9: Does Scripture foretell an attempt to change God’s law, including the Sabbath?

Verse: Daniel 7:25 – “And he shall… think to change times and laws…”

Prophecy warns of a power that would try to alter God’s times (such as the Sabbath) and laws.

Question 10: Is there a counterfeit system (inspired by Satan) that seeks to enforce its own mark, opposing God’s law?

Verse: Revelation 13:4,8 – “And they worshipped the dragon… all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him…”

A false system of worship arises, leading many away from God’s true law.

Verse: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – “…that man of sin… who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God…”

A rebellious power sets itself against God’s authority and law.

Verse: Isaiah 14:13-14 – “…I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the most High.”

Lucifer’s (Satan’s) original rebellion was about replacing God’s authority, foreshadowing attempts to change His law.

Verse: Revelation 13:16-17 – “…he causeth all… to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads…”

This false power enforces a mark, symbolizing false worship and disobedience, mirroring the place where God’s law should be (forehead and hand).

Question 11: Where does God desire His law to be placed, and how does this contrast with Satan’s mark?

Verse: Deuteronomy 11:8,13,18 – “…bind them for a sign upon your hand… between your eyes.”

God’s law is to be symbolically placed in the mind (forehead) and actions (hand), contrasting Satan’s counterfeit mark placed in the same areas.

Verse: Revelation 7:2-3 (mentioned twice) – “…Hurt not the earth… till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

God seals His faithful in their foreheads with truth and obedience, countering the enemy’s mark of rebellion.

Question 12: How do we show our love for God and receive life through obedience?

Verse: 1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law…”

Sin is defined as breaking God’s law. Obedience is the evidence of love and holiness.

Verse: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life…”

Disobedience leads to death, while God’s gift of eternal life is found through faith and loyal obedience.

Verse: James 2:17 – “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead…”

Genuine faith expresses itself in obedience, not mere words.

Verse: John 1:3 – “All things were made by him…”

Christ the Creator authored the Sabbath at creation; to love Him is to honor what He made.

Verse: Romans 6:3-4 – “…we are buried with him by baptism into death… should walk in newness of life.”

Through Christ, we experience transformation to live a life in harmony with His will, including obedience to His law.

Question 13: How should we regard the Sabbath in worship and conduct?

Verse: Isaiah 58:13 – “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath… and call the sabbath a delight…”

Proper Sabbath observance brings delight, spiritual renewal, and honor to God.

Verse: Matthew 12:12 – “Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.”

The Sabbath is a day of doing good, reflecting God’s loving character rather than burdensome restrictions.

Question 14: What about verses that mention other days or Christian liberty in regard to feasts and foods?

Verse: Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday… which are a shadow of things to come…”

Paul refers to ceremonial laws and temporary feast days pointing to Christ. This does not abolish the weekly Sabbath established at creation.

Verse: Romans 14:5 – “One man esteemeth one day above another…”

This context refers to personal convictions about fasting days or ceremonial observances, not the eternal moral Sabbath command.

Question 15: Will the redeemed continue to honor God’s order, including the Sabbath, throughout eternity?

Verse: Revelation 14:7 – “…worship him that made heaven, and earth…”

True worship focuses on the Creator. The Sabbath is the memorial of Creation, thus it remains central in worship.

Verse: Hebrews 4:10 – “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works…”

Sabbath rest symbolizes entering God’s rest, both now and in eternity.

Verse: Romans 2:14-15 – “…the work of the law written in their hearts…”

God’s moral law is written in our hearts, a principle that continues beyond this life.

Verse: Revelation 1:10 – “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…”

“The Lord’s day” aligns with Christ’s claim as Lord of the Sabbath, highlighting its importance even as John received divine revelation.

Verse: Matthew 15:9 – “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Only God’s commandments, not human traditions, form true worship, reinforcing the purity of Sabbath observance.

Verse: Psalm 19:7 – “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul…”

God’s law is perfect and leads to spiritual growth, showing no need for abolishing any command, including the Sabbath.

Question 16: Does following God’s law bring liberty rather than bondage?

Verse: James 2:10 (already cited) and James 2:17 (already cited) together show the law as a standard for faithful living.

James calls God’s law the “law of liberty” (James 2:12 context). Keeping God’s commands frees us from sin’s bondage, giving true spiritual freedom. All these verses collectively affirm that God’s law, including the Sabbath, remains in effect. Faith in Christ establishes rather than nullifies the law. Obedience is the response of love, and Satan’s counterfeits only seek to replace God’s true sign—His Sabbath—with another mark. The Bible consistently teaches that God’s commandments stand firm, guiding believers into a life of freedom, holiness, and eternal fellowship with their Creator.