Answering the Sabbath Observance

by David Tant

Those who claim that the Sabbath (Saturday) is the day God has ordained from the beginning
certainly believe that their claims are based on Scripture, and vigorously defend their belief and
practice. But a careful examination of the Scriptures shows a problem with the arguments they
make to support the practice of keeping the Sabbath as a holy day in the New Testament era. Let
us consider the arguments that are made to support the claim, and then see what the Bible said. 

Proposed Reasons for Observing the Sabbath 

1. The Sabbath is a holy day, for God blessed it and set it aside. “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it...” (Gen. 2:3). “"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). Response: The truth is that God also set aside other days as “holy.” “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you” (Lev. 2:27). It is obvious that the “tenth day” of the month is not a Sabbath. The fact is that there are various things in the Old Testament that were holy, but which were confined to the Old Testament period, and were not included in New Testament practices. “These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the LORD--burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day's matter on its own day” (Lev. 23:37). We would agree that burnt offerings are not a part of the New Covenant, even though God said they were “holy.”
2. The Sabbath was to be perpetual, everlasting, forever, etc. “So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed” (Ex. 31:16-17). Response: Notice that the passage says the Sabbath was to be perpetual “throughout their generations.” When the nation of Israel ceased to exist, “their generations” also ceased to exist. There were also other “forever” and “perpetual” matters that obviously are not to be observed today. For example, when God brought Israel out of Egypt, the Passover feast was inaugurated, as the Lord “passed over” the houses with blood on the doorpost. “Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance” (Ex. 12:14). I am not aware that Sabbath observers observe the Passover feast today.  The fact that something was “permanent” is modified by “throughout your generations.” We further note that there were other observances that were “perpetual,” “continual” and “throughout your generations.” "When Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations” (Ex. 30:8). “It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD...” (Ex. 29:42). “Aaron shall