Daily Devotions
Is Sunday the "Christian Sabbath?"
Title: Is Sunday the "Christian Sabbath?"
Reading for January 21: Exodus 17-20
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Exodus 20:8
Is Sunday the "Christian Sabbath?"
No, it's not. The Sabbath is the seventh day. Sunday is the first day of the week.
The first day of the week was the day Jesus rose from the dead (Mt 28:1; Mk 16:2; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1), and showed himself alive from the dead to his disciples (Jn 20:19 - and then a week later, Jn 20:26). The first day of the week was the day the saints in Corinth (and Galatia) collected funds for needy saints (1 Cor 16:1-4). The first day of the week was the day when the saints in Troas gathered to break bread (Acts 20:7)
Sunday is not the Sabbath. But as you can see, this day was significant in the early church. Besides these biblical references, early church writers such as Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Cyprian gave witness to the fact that the ancient church observed the first day of the week.
But why?
It was not because of convenience. The first day of the week was the beginning of the work week for both Jews and Gentiles. It had no significance to the Jews in their religion. Why would they choose this day when it had no religious meaning and was so inconvenient?
They met on this day because it was commanded. Paul spoke with apostolic authority when he ordered the church to give on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-4). Acts 20:7 says the saints in Troas "gathered" on the first day of the week. That Greek verb, sunago, means "to gather together, to gather, to be gathered." (Compare it's usage in Mt 2:4; 3:12; 25:32; 26:3; 28:12.)
The Sabbath didn't move. It's still on the seventh day. From the evidence we have in the New Testament, the first day of the week is the day the Lord chose as a special day for his people to worship him and remember his death.
Father, thank you for the first day of the week. May we always set aside this special day, the Lord's Day, to remember your Son.
