Doctrine Of The Sabbath Day And The Lord’s Day
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, October 29, 2025 (Donate)
All Scripture NKJV
In today’s culture, there is often confusion over the day of
rest and the differences between the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Lord’s Day
(Sunday). In Scripture, the Sabbath Day and the Lord’s Day are distinct in
origin and purpose.
The doctrine of the Sabbath day was instituted by God as a
day of rest and worship. It first appears in Genesis 2:2–3, where God rests on
the seventh day after creation and sanctifies it. This sets the precedent for
the Sabbath as a holy day.
Sabbath In The Old Testament
The Sabbath originates in Genesis 2:2–3, where God “rested
on the seventh day from all His work” and blessed it. The Fourth Commandment
(Exodus 20:8–11, Deuteronomy 5:12–15) formalized this day of rest for Israel,
setting apart the seventh day (Saturday) as holy with Law implications at that
point. In other words, you could get in trouble for violating that rest period.
The Sabbath commemorated God’s rest from creation by
instituting a day of “taking a break” from His usual work during Creation Week.
God still upheld things in existence for instance on Day 7. It was not that God
needed to rest—His power is infinite (omnipotent).
The Sabbath day also signifies Israel’s deliverance from
Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). From that point, the Sabbath was a sign between God
and Israel (Exodus 31:13–17), marking them as His covenant people. Violation of
it under the Mosaic Law carried severe penalty (Numbers 15:32–36).
After its declaration in the 10 Commandments, the
Sabbath continued as a regular establishment and way of life (e.g., Exodus 31:13-17).
The Israelites were commanded to do no customary work, and this command applied to
everyone in the household, including servants and animals.
The Sabbath served as a sign of the covenant between God and
Israel and was deeply tied to both rest and remembrance of God's deliverance
from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). Violating the Sabbath was considered a serious
offense, even punishable by death for those who intentionally defy and profane
it and continue to do their normal work anyway (Exodus 31:14–15, Numbers 15:32–36).
The Sabbath was a key part of ancient Jewish identity and
religious life, marked by rest, and Synagogue, Tabernacle, and Temple worship, where
they would reflection on the Law and the prophets (Old Testament).
Sabbath In The New Testament
In the New Testament, the Sabbath is still recognized, but
its role begins to unfold in light of Jesus' teachings and the coming of the new
covenant.
Jesus often performed healings and other acts of mercy on
the Sabbath, which brought Him into conflict with the religious leaders faulty
understanding of the Sabbath rest. Consider in Mark 2:27–28, Jesus says,
“The Sabbath was made for man, not
man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
This statement means that the Sabbath was a gift, not a
burden, and affirms Jesus' authority over it. In
Matthew 12:1–14, Jesus defends his disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath
and heals a man’s hand, showing that doing good is lawful on the Sabbath.
Picking grain, if that was their normal, daily job, would have been a problem.
But that wasn’t the disciples normal activities from which they were resting, but an
enjoyable treat, honorable to the Lord in their rest.
Jesus reoriented the Pharisees faulty understanding of the
Sabbath from overly strict rule-keeping, based more so on the traditions
of their fathers (now written in the Talmud), instead of Scripture.
Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus declared, “The Son of Man
is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27–28), showing His authority over it and
revealing its true intent—mercy, not mere ritual (Matthew 12:1–12). Again, the Sabbath
was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. And sadly, the Law was followed with
such fervor so as to attack people for doing anything on that day (Law violations)—even
doing good.
Today, this still persists with strict followers in the religion
of Judaism (followers of the Talmud). One can’t even push an elevator button on
the Sabbath as that being seen as work and can get you in trouble!
But Christ helped us understand that a day of rest was meant
to help man recuperate and recover from normal activities and enjoy other
things of the Lord on that day. And one should always be allowed to do good on
those days!
The Bible explains that rest has a spiritual aspect as well.
The book of Hebrews (chapter 4) explains more about those in Christ who have this
eternal spiritual rest where others fail to enter that rest.
1 Therefore, since a promise
remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come
short of it. 2 For indeed the
gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did
not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest,
as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the
seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His
works”; 5 and again in this place:
“They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must
enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of
disobedience, 7 again He
designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as
it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your
hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had
given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people
of God.10 For he who has entered
His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. 11
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to
the same example of disobedience. (NKJV)
The Type Of Work
The weekly holiday of the Sabbath also has an aspect of physical
rest as well as obedience under the Mosaic Law, pointing to spiritual rest in
God. The prophet Isaiah associated it with delighting in the Lord and
refraining from one’s normal pursuits/work (Isaiah 58:13–14).
The Bible clarifies this further on other rest days. Certain feast days and holy convocations—such
as Passover, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and others—required
the people to refrain from "customary work" (Leviticus 23).
This was similar to the Sabbath in that these days were set
apart as holy, meant for rest and worship rather than regular labor.
Like the Sabbath, they served as reminders of God's provision, deliverance, and
covenant with His people.
For example, on the Day of Atonement, the Israelites were to
“do no work at all” (Leviticus 23:28), and on the first and seventh days of the
Feast of Unleavened Bread, no customary work was to be done (Leviticus 23:7–8).
These special days, like the weekly Sabbath, emphasized ceasing from ordinary
routines to focus on God.
Both the Sabbath and these feast days functioned as sacred
time—God-appointed pauses in the week or year—where rest and worship took
priority over daily tasks. They reflected God's rhythm of rest and served as
opportunities for spiritual renewal and remembrance.
Doing good on the Sabbath and not going to the extreme or the
intentional profaning of the Sabbath. Sabbath was made for man and his
refreshment—not man for the Sabbath (the threat of death for a misstep!). The death penalty was for
blatant disregard for God’s command—and if someone was being belligerent toward
God regarding the Sabbath to defy Him and do their normal work anyway. This is
how they were having evil disregard for God’s commands to rest.
The Lord’s Day (First Day/Sunday)
After Jesus’ resurrection (on the first day of the week),
the early Christians began gathering on Sundays (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
These passages indicate a transition from seventh-day worship pattern to observance
to Sunday, often called “the Lord’s Day” (see Revelation 1:10) by John and
early church fathers (e.g., John’s disciple, Ignatius of Antioch, in his Epistle to the Magnesians, chapter 9).
Paul also addressed the Sabbath in his letters. Consider: says,
"Therefore let no one pass
judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or
a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the
substance belongs to Christ." (Colossians 2:16–17, NKJV)
"One person esteems one day as
better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be
fully convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5, NKJV)
In the Bible, the Sabbath began as a sacred day of rest
modeled by God and commanded under the Law. In the New Testament, Jesus honors
the Sabbath but also becomes the substance of what it represented. In Christ, we
have an eternal rest from sin, death, and the meaningless of chasing after the wind.
The early church, while acknowledging the Sabbath, shifted
its main day of gathering to Sunday in honor of Jesus' resurrection (while preaching to the Jews in synagogues and the Temple on the Sabbath). Under the
new covenant in Christ, worship observance is now different (not at the Temple,
no animal sacrifices, no Levitical priesthood, etc.), but rest and worship
remain central themes in Christian life.
The Lord’s Day is not the Sabbath renamed, but a distinct
commemoration of Christ’s resurrection. Jesus rose “on the first day of the
week” (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). The early disciples
gathered on this day to break bread and receive apostolic teaching (Acts 20:7),
and Paul instructed the Corinthians to set aside offerings “on the first day of
the week” (1 Corinthians 16:2). By the time of Revelation 1:10, John calls it
“the Lord’s Day,” recognizing it as sacred to Christ’s victory over death.
Theologically, the Lord’s Day represents the new creation
and eternal rest in Christ. Hebrews 4:9–10 explains that “there remains a rest
[Greek sabbatismos] for the people of God,” fulfilled not by a day, but
by faith in Jesus.
So, the Sabbath was like a “type” or a “shadow” of the
things to come. In Christ, we have eternal rest from the strife of meaningless and
mundane work on this sinful side of heaven. Our work now has a joy and an eternal
reward in heaven.
Thus, believers rest from their righteous works (seen as filthy
rages by God—Isaiah 64:6). God also rested from His perfect, unstained work
after its completion, modelling for up a spiritual Sabbath through the gospel
(Matthew 11:28–30). So, what does that do about the weekly rest day? It opens
it up actually.
One person esteems one day
above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully
convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the
Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.
He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not
eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. (Romans 14:5-6, NKJV)
The book of Colossians explains more about this.
So let no one judge you in food or
in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow
of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17, NKJV)
Now all days can be seen as the type of Sabbath rest, not
just one. Because we have entered God’s eternal rest, all days are technically the
same from a spiritual perspective. In the same way God made all foods clean
(Mark 7:14), God now made all days the same as the typical rest day by His work
on the Cross and His subsequent Resurrection. Christ is now our rest, and the
Sabbath was a shadow pointing to Christ; but He is the fulfillment for which we
were waiting.
Because this is now opened up—all seven days can be a rest
and time to honor God in Christ spiritually. So, no one should pass judgment on you or your
local church for any day of rest taken. If someone rests on Sunday, so be it.
If someone rests on Saturday or a Wednesday, so be it.
This is why some Christians utilize Sunday as their day of
rest—because they can. Some even denote this as a “Christian Sabbath” (e.g.,
Presbyterians). Nevertheless, Sunday is still the Lord’s Day and distinct from traditional
understanding and practices of the Sabbath (seventh day).
With all this in mind, let’s not violate what God has said
and pass judgment on those who sincerely rest and advocate for rest on the day(s)
of their choosing. That is now between them (as individuals or congregants) and God.
Now understand, that this has to do with rest, not corporate
worship and breaking of bread (e.g., Lord’s Supper). The early church, in honor
of Christ’s resurrection, did these things exclusively on the first day of the
week (Sunday). So, this example shouldn’t be neglected.
Distinction
The Sabbath day was the seventh day instituted as rest for man. It
was rooted in creation and Mosaic Law. It was a sign of God’s covenant with
Israel.
Lord’s Day is the first day of the week when Christians
gather. It celebrates Christ’s resurrection and the new covenant in Christ’s
blood—an eternal covenant. Its focus is on worship, breaking of bread, and living
and growing in God’s Word and Christ’s finished work.
In essence, the Sabbath looked forward to redemption; the Lord’s
Day celebrates that redemption fulfilled. Both honor God—one in creation, the
other as a new creation in Christ.
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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist
since 1998 helping out in various churches and running an apologetics website.
He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and
researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head
of the Oversight Council.
Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a
personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has
spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
