What Day Is The Sabbath in the Bible?
The Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday. It starts on Friday sunset and ends on Saturday sunset. (Genesis 2:2–3, Exodus 20:8–11, Leviticus 23:32).
The Sabbath was made for everyone. It is not only for the Jewish people but for all mankind. (Mark 2:27)
Jesus did not change the Sabbath while He was on Earth. The Apostles also kept the Sabbath on the seventh day as Jesus did. (Luke 4:16), (Acts 13:42,44, 16:13, 17:2, 18:4).
Many are keeping the Sabbath today on the wrong day, Sunday. God knows their heart, and they worship according to the light they have. But the Sabbath of the Lord is Saturday.
The changing of the Sabbath day to Sunday was done by man and not by God.
Let’s explore together what the Bible says about what day is the Sabbath.
Jesus said that if we love Him, we need to keep His commandments. (John 14:15)
Don’t you want to know what the Bible says about the Sabbath day?
Who changed the Sabbath day to Sunday?
The Sabbath day was changed to Sunday by Roman Emperor Constantine. In 321 AD, he gave the first Sunday law decree.
“On the venerable day of the Sun, let the magistrates and people residing in the cities rest, and let all workshops be closed! In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits!” History of the Christian Church, 1902 ed., vol. 3, p. 380
Emperor Constantine wanted to unite Christians and Pagans, to expand his empire.
He was also pagan, and a worshipper of the Sun.
Fast forward to years later, and another powerful institution decided to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
In the Council of Laodicea, the Papacy also decreed that people should honour Sunday instead of Saturday.
“Christians shall not Judaize [keep Sabbath] and be idle on Saturday…but shall work that day; but the Lord’s day shall they, especially honor, and, as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day.” — A History of the Councils of the Church, vol. 2, p. 252
They call the Lord’s Day Sunday, but the Bible tells us that the Sabbath is the Lord’s day. And the Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week. (Isaiah 58:13–14)
The Bible warned us that a “little horn” power would “think to change times and laws”. (Daniel 7:25)
What day is the Sabbath in Christianity?
The Sabbath in Christianity is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday.
The Bible says that Saturday is holy and is the Sabbath of the Lord.
We find numerous accounts of the apostles keeping the Sabbath after Jesus ascended to Heaven.
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.
Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Acts 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Unfortunately, the majority of Christian churches are keeping Sunday holy instead of the Sabbath.
There is no commandment in the Bible to keep Sunday holy. Even though Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week, He did not command that this day be kept holy.
His death on the cross on Friday is equally important to the Sunday resurrection. And for these events, He established the baptism. (Romans 6:3–4)
God has many people who love Him who keep Sunday instead of Saturday as the Sabbath.
He knows the light they have, but once we discover the truth about the Sabbath, we must accept it.
What is the true Sabbath day Saturday or Sunday?
The true Sabbath day is Saturday and not Sunday. When Jesus was on this Earth, He kept the Sabbath holy.
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
He came not to change the Law, as many think, but to fulfil it!
Matthew 5:17–19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
His followers did the same!
Mark 16:1,2,9 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Luke 23:53–56 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
What day is the Sabbath in Judaism?
The Sabbath in Judaism is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday. (Exodus 20:8–11)
Some people think the Sabbath was made only for the Jewish people, or that is a Jewish Sabbath.
But if we look closely in the Bible, the term “Jewish Sabbath” does not exist.
The Sabbath was made for everyone. When God instituted the Sabbath day, after the six literal creation days, Jewish people were not even in existence. (Mark 2:27), (Genesis 2:2–3).
Later on, at Mount Sinai the Law was given in written form, but they knew the Law all along from Genesis.
Abraham knew and kept God’s commandments way before it was given in written form at Mount Sinai. (Genesis 26:5)
The Israelites also knew the Law of God before the Mount Sinai event.
Exodus 16:29–30 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
So the people rested on the seventh day.
What day is the Sabbath in the Catholic Church?
The Sabbath in the Catholic Church is on Sunday, the first day of the week. Unfortunately, this practice does not come from the Bible.
The Catholic Church admits it is their mark of authority.
“Sunday is our mark of authority …. The church is above the Bible, and this transference of sabbath observance is proof of that fact” — (The Catholic Record of London, Ontario, Sept. 1, 1923)
“This is what the papal power claims to have done respecting the fourth commandment. Catholics plainly acknowledge that there is no scriptural authority for the change they have made, but that it rests wholly upon the authority of the church; and they claim it as a token, or mark, of the authority of that church; the “very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday” being set forth as proof of its power in this respect.” Who Changed the Sabbath? Uriah Smith p. 19.2
There are many sincere and God-loving people in the Catholic Church also. They worship God according to the light they have.
But God calls them out of these Churches that have departed from His Word.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Sabbath Day Rules
The Sabbath day rules are simple. God tells us to do no work on this day or our pleasure.
Buying and selling on the holy day of God is also forbidden.
Exodus 20:8–11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Nehemiah 10:31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Shopping, cooking, cleaning, and working must be done on the other six days of the week.
The Sabbath is a day of rest, and God does not want us to be stressed with life’s problems. Instead, we must disconnect from all these issues, and enter into the rest of the Sabbath.
What to do on Sabbath day
We can go to Church on this holy day, to pray, worship and study the Word of God with other God-loving people.
Then we can walk in nature and admire His creation, and recharge ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Spending time with our family and friends is also important to do on the Sabbath.
And let us not forget about those around us in need as well. We may help them on the Sabbath, the same as Jesus did. (Matthew 12:12)
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have discovered together that the Sabbath day is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday.
It was instituted after the six literal creation days, and it was made for everyone, not only for the Jewish people.
Jesus kept the Sabbath, and the apostles as well. Nowhere in the Bible, we are commanded to keep holy the first day of the week, Sunday.
We have seen together who changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, and there is no biblical support for this change.
Many Christians are keeping today Sunday holy because they do not know better. God loves them, and accepts their sincerity.
However, if we want to follow Jesus and His Word, we must keep Saturday holy, as the Bible teaches.
Everyone will have to make a choice because a time will come soon, when the entire world will be divided into two groups: those who keep the commandments of God, and those who worship the beast and its image. (see Revelation 13 and 14:12)
The choice will have eternal consequences. (Revelation 14:1–3, 9–11, 20:4)
What about you? What will you choose in the final conflict between truth and error?
FAQ
Is Saturday the Sabbath day or Sunday?
The Sabbath day is Saturday and not Sunday. We find this evidence in Exodus 20:8–11. The Sabbath was always on the seventh day of the week, Saturday, and it will always be.
Where in the Bible does it say Sunday is the first day of the week?
We find Sunday is the first day of the week on multiple verses. (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1,2,9, Luke 24:1).
What is the 7th day of the week?
The seventh day of the week is Saturday. (See Luke 23:53–56, Mark 16:1–2)
