We appreciate this opportunity to address some common misconceptions about sabbath keeping and what the Bible really says. We believe that it can be healthy for believers to discuss doctrine and the Bible as long as it is in a spirit of love.
To avoid being argumentative and confrontational, we have restricted our responses to only citing Bible verses. If you the reader would like additional explanation, please ask.
This is a response to an article that was shared with us entitled: “Stumper Questions Sabbatarians don’t like to be asked”.
Article Questions followed by Bible verse responses:
1. If every man from Adam to Moses kept the Sabbath, why is the Hebrew word for the weekly Sabbath found in the ten commandments, never found in the book of Genesis? Why is no one before Moses ever being told to keep the Sabbath. Why are there no examples of anyone keeping the Sabbath?
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed* the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
Genesis 2:2-3
2. Why were the Patriarchs never instructed about he Sabbath, but were instructed regarding: offerings: Gen 4:3-4, Altars Gen 8:20, Priests: Gen 14:18, Tithes: Gen 14:20, Circumcision: Gen 17:10, Marriage: Gen 2:24 & Gen 34:9. Why would God leave out the “all important” Sabbath command?
*”You have blessed it, O LORD, and it shall be blessed forever.” 1 Chronicles 17:27
“…Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Genesis 26:4-5
3. If the fact that God wrote the 10 commandments on stone proves they are forever, then whatever happened to the two stone tablets that God gave Adam at the beginning of time? Why is Moses the first one to see a stone tablet written by the finger of God?
“But the word of the LORD endures forever.”
1 Peter 1:25
4. Why is the weekly Sabbath commandment never quoted in the New Testament?
“So He [Jesus] 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 to read.” Luke 4:16
“Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56
“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24:20
“ For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8
5. Why is the Sabbath the only one of the ten commandments that are said to be “throughout your generations”, the usual phrase that indicates it was a temporary ceremonial law only for the Jews?
[The Sabbath was instituted thousands of years before the Jews]
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:2-3
6. Why is there no example of exclusively Christians coming together on the Sabbath day as a church or prayer meeting after the resurrection of Christ?
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 18:4
“So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” Acts 13:42-44
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there” Acts 16:13
7. Why is there no command in the New Testament for Christians to keep the Sabbath holy?
“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’; and again in this place: ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ … There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:4, 9-11
“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24:20
8. While Paul taught in the synagogues up to 84 times, why does the Bible never say he kept the sabbath?
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,” Acts 17:2
9. If Paul’s action of preaching to non-believers 84 times in the book of Acts on the Sabbath make him a Sabbath keeper, is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor a Sunday keeper if we invite him for 84 Sundays in a row to teach us about God’s word?
“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.” Acts 13:14
10. How could Adam, Noah and Abraham keep the Sabbath, when Deuteronomy 5:2-4 says that the 10 commandment covenant (see was “not made with any of the fathers of Israel who lived before Moses.”
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19
11. If the Sabbath was intended for all people, both Jew and Gentile, then why does Exodus 31:16-17 state that the Sabbath was a sign between God and the “Children of Israel” instead of clarifying that it should be kept by all people of all nations for all time?
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12
“hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’” Ezekiel 20:20
12. Why is the Sabbath never mentioned in the Book of Job? The title character of this book is said to be the most righteous and religious man that ever lived (next to Jesus), but with that being the case, how come his story is completely void of any reference to the Sabbath or any other law/restriction given by Moses?
“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
13. If breaking the Sabbath was punishable by death in the Old Testament (Exodus 31:14 & 35:2), why is it not condemned in any way, shape, or form in the New Testament? Various passages in the New Testament list numerous types of sinners who will not inherit the kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, and Revelation 21:8 & 22:15), but none of those lists ever mention Sabbath-breakers. Why is that?
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15
14. You claim that Noah and Abraham kept the exact same statutes, laws, and commandments that were later given to Moses and the Israelites, which included both the Sabbath laws and the dietary laws. But if that were completely true, then why was Noah given permission in Genesis 9:2-3 to eat all animals with no restrictions whatsoever whereas Leviticus 11 lists a whole hoard of various meats that were forbidden to the Israelites?
“You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;” Genesis 7:2
15. If we must follow the example of Jesus in all things like keeping the Sabbath, then why do Sabbatarians not follow the example of Jesus in circumcision, animal sacrifices and keeping Passover?
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Galatians 5:6
16. If the Sabbath was for Gentiles and Adam, Noah and Abraham, then why is the Sabbath a sign to remind their exodus from Egypt? Exodus 16:23,29; 31:13-18. Were either Abraham or Seventh-day Adventists ever slaves in Egypt?
“The Sabbath was made for man” Mark 2:27
17. If the Sabbath law is still in force, then why do they not stone their own members when they break the Sabbath as the law said?
“Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You [Jesus] say?… ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’” John 8:5, 7
18. Ellen G. White, who is considered inspired by Seventh-day Adventists, said that the Pope changed the Sabbath in about 321 AD. Why do all Adventists today reject their inspired prophet and say the change of the Sabbath occurred in about 140 AD? If White was wrong about this, was she wrong when she traveled to heaven and saw the 4th commandment glowing brighter than all the rest?
19. If the current position of the Seventh-day Adventist church is that the change from Saturday to Sunday took place in 140 AD, doesn’t that mean that they have come a long way from Whites 325 AD and have only 40 more years to travel to reach the truth of the Apostolic age?
20. If the change from Saturday to Sunday happened, why is there absolutely no discussion of this change of actual day for the first 600 years of church history. Merely calling Sunday the Sabbath doesn’t count!
21. If Sabbatarians reject White’s inspiration, that Constantine change the Sabbath day to Sunday, why do they keep bringing Constantine up as proof? If Constantine changed the Sabbath to Sunday, why does here merely legislate that work must stop on Sunday with no actual mention of the day being moved?
“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law.” Daniel 7:25
22. If the first/old covenant was abolished according to Heb 8:13 and the Ten commandment law was that first covenant (Ex 34:27-28; 1 Kings 8:9,21; Heb 9:1-4), then why do Sabbatarians want to keep the first/old covenant?
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Hebrews 8:10
23. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians never kept the Sabbath (7th day) and have always worshipped on Sunday?
24. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians ate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday in the tradition of Acts 20:7?
25. Why is the universal record of history (75-500AD) 100% in unanimous agreement that Christians always called Sunday the Lord’s Day because, they said, this was the day Jesus rose from the dead?
26. Why has no Sabbatarian every produced even one historical quote (75-500AD) that says Christians kept the Sabbath?
Also see: Was the Seventh Day Sabbath observed through the ages?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy …” Exodus 20:8
27. If the Sabbath is not a ceremonial law, then why is it lumped into the same identical class of “holy convocations” as the rest of the Jewish feast days? Lev 23:2; Ex 20:9; 31:17
“‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— besides the Sabbaths of the Lord ...” Leviticus 23:37-38
28. If the 10 commandments remain but the book of law was abolished, then why did God put two copies of the 10 commandments in the book of the law? Ex 20; Deut 5
29. How can there possibly be an difference between “the law of God” and the “Law of Moses” when God gave the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6; Neh 8:1) and Moses gave the Law of God (Neh 10:29; 2 Chron 34:14)?
30. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, why are the Jewish feast days called part of the Law of the Lord? (2 Chron 331:3)
31. If there is a distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, why in a single chapter of Nehemiah 8are the following phrases all used interchangeably: “book of the law of Moses” v1, “the law” v2, “book of the law” v3, “the law of god” v8, “book of the law of god” v18?
“Take this Book of the Law [Moses’ Law], and put it beside the ark of the covenant [that contained God’s Law] of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you” Deuteronomy 31:26
“Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law [God’s Law], and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses [“Ceremonial Law”] the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.” Daniel 9:11
32. Why are the two most important commandments contained within the “ceremonial law of Moses that was Sabbatarians say was nailed to the cross? (Matthew 22:36-40)
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40
33. Why did Jesus say Moses gave the 10 commandment law: “Thou shalt not kill” in Jn 7:19?
“So He [God] declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.” Deuteronomy 4:13
34. If the Sabbath cannot change, because God cannot change (Mal 3:6) then what about all the other feast days and laws that changed? Heb 7:12. And why did Jesus give a “a new commandment” in John 13:34?
“having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances [feast days], so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace” Ephesians 2:15
“And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5
35. If the ten commandments are going to be in heaven, what is the use of “thou shalt not commit adultery”, if there is no marriage in heaven? Lk 20:34-35
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ‘And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.'” Revelation 19:6-9
36. If the Sabbath was given to all men, why were Gentiles called “strangers”. Why were Gentiles outside the gates not required to keep the Sabbath? Ex 20:10.
“Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant—Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,” Isaiah 56:6-7
37. How could the Sabbath be a sign between God and Israel, if all nations were expected to keep it? Ex 31:17
“I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
38. Why did God send the Jews into Babylonian Captivity for breaking the Sabbath, but never ever criticized any Gentiles for never keeping the Sabbath?
“The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.” Isaiah 24:5
39. Why did God often criticize the Gentiles via the prophets for moral violations, but never for not keeping the Sabbath?
“I will punish the world for its evil,
And the wicked for their iniquity;” Isaiah 13:11A
40. If the Gentiles were supposed to keep the Sabbath, why are they called “strangers of the Covenant” in Eph 2:12?
[passage continued] “…For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:18-19
41. If the term, “the law” always means the 10 commandments, then why is Leviticus called “The Law” in Mt 22:35ff, Numbers called “The Law” in Mt 12:5, Deuteronomy called “The Law” in Mt 22:35f, Psalms called “The Law” in Jn 10:34,45, Rom 3:10-12; 3:13-14,19, the Prophets called “The Law” in 1 Cor 14:21 and the Ten commandments are called “The Law” that is abolished in Rom 7:4-7?
“having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances [Moses’ Ceremonial Law], so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace” Ephesians 2:15
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law [God’s Moral Law]. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.'” Romans 7:7
42. If the term “commandments” always means the 10 commandments, then why are the laws that are not part of the ten commandments but called commandments in Mt 19:16-19 not also included?
“Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew 19:19
[Those were the 10 commandments. Compare with Exodus 20:13-17]
43. If the term “commandments” always means the 10 commandments, then what did Paul call the injunction for prophet’s wives to keep silent in the assemblies, a “commandment of the Lord” in 1 Cor 14:37?
[next verse continued] “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” 1 Corinthians 14:38
[We cannot say the word “commandment” is exclusive to the 10 commandments]
44. If the term “keep my commandments” always means the 10 commandments, then why is this a new commandment? Jn 15:10-12 + Jn 13:34.
“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Romans 13:9
45. If only the ten commandments are going to endure until heaven and earth pass away, why did Jesus say the law AND THE PROPHETS? Mt 5:17-18
[next verse continued] “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40
46. When Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” why did Jesus NOT QUOTE from the 10 commandments, but from the abolished ceremonial law of Moses? Matthew 22:36-40
[Jesus did quote the 10 commandments] “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He [the rich young ruler] said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 19:17-19
47. If the 10 commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did it lack the two most important commandments? Matthew 22:36-40 where is the prohibition against drunkeness, homosexuality and fornication?
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40
[Jesus expanded the law to reach the heart]
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment… “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery…
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King…
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also….
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-35, 38-39, 42-48
48. If the 10 commandments are the highest and most complete expression of God’s will, then why did Jesus give a new commandment to “love one another, even as I have loved you” John 13:34. Where were the Jews told to love their neighbor as Yahweh loved them?
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10
[original reference:]
“…but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” Leviticus 19:18
49. If Christians worshipping on Sunday is equal to Sun Worship, then is Adventists worshipping on Saturday equal to Saturn worship?
“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9 [Tradition]
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:3 [God]
50. If Sabbatarians will boldly quote “scholars” who are really Bible trashers and skeptics who claim “the origin of Sunday worship is entirely pagan”, like Arthur Weigall in his ridiculous little book, “the paganism in our Christianity”, will these same Sabbatarians turn a few pages later where these same authors say the origin of the Sabbath is also pagan? “I have, already mentioned that Sunday, too, was a pagan holy-day; and in this chapter I propose to discuss the origin of this custom of keeping one day in the week as a Sabbath, or “day of rest,’ and’ to show that the practice was forcefully opposed by Jesus Christ. The origin of the seven-day week which was used by the Jews and certain other peoples, but not till, later by the Greeks or Romans, is to be sought in some primitive worship of the moon (The Paganism in Our Christianity, Arthur Weigall, 1928, p209,210-211)
“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:3
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20
51. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did Jesus say that David, the priests, a man with his donkey could all break the Sabbath without sin? Mt 12:1-14; Mk 2:23f, Lk 13:10-17; 14:1-6 Jn 5:8-18; 7:19-24; 9:14-16.
[verses continued] “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:12
“Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.” Mark 3:4
“Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” Luke 6:9
52. If the Sabbath is a moral law, why did God grow tired of the Jews keeping it and told them to stop keeping the Sabbath? Isa 1:13-14 Did God ever grow weary of anyone not committing adultery or murder, and tell them to be immoral and kill?
[same verse] “I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.” Isaiah 1:13
53. If the Sabbath is a moral law, how could Jesus break it without sinning? Jn 5:18
“For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8
54. If one of the distinctions between the ten commandments was proven by the fact they were written by the finger of God, why did Moses copy them out twice with his own hand? How can there be any distinction between the 10 commandments in the ark and the book of the law beside the ark, if the book contained two copies of exactly what was in the ark?
55. Why are the terms “ceremonial law” and “moral law” never found in the Bible. Why is the word ceremonial or any of its roots never found in the same verse as the word LAW and why is the word moral or any of its roots never found in the same verse as the word LAW?
56. If there is a distinction between moral and ceremonial laws, why do “God’s laws” and “the law of God” contain ceremonial laws. Why do “Moses law” and the “law of Moses” contain moral laws?
57. If there is a distinction between moral and ceremonial laws, why does the “law of God” command animal sacrifices Lk 2:23-24 and the “law of the Lord” contains burnt offerings 2 Chron 31:3; 1 Chron 16:40?
58. If there is a distinction between moral and ceremonial laws, then why is the book of the law filled with moral laws not contained in the 10 commandments?
59. If there is a distinction between the Law of the Lord and the Law of Moses, why in 2 Chron 35:26 are “the acts of Josiah and his deeds of devotion as written in the law of the Lord”?
60. If there is a distinction between moral and ceremonial laws, then why does the Law of God include new moons, solemn feast days: Ps 81:3-4?
61. If there is a distinction between the Law of the Lord and the Law of Moses, why did the law tell Israel to dwell in tents: Neh 8:14?
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: … And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.” Exodus 25:1, 16
“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you” Deuteronomy 31:26
“Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law [God’s Law], and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses [“Ceremonial Law”] the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.” Daniel 9:11
62. If Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets, then didn’t Mt 5:17 say that only then would they be abolished before heaven and earth pass away? If the law and the prophets are still in force, doesn’t that prove Jesus didn’t fulfill the law completely?
63. When you ask me, “if the 10 commandments are abolished, does that mean we can steal”, can I ask you, “when you travel from Canada to the USA, does that mean you can steal? Is it possible that two completely different “codes of law” (law of Moses vs. law of Christ) have the same laws just like Canada and the USA?
[next verse] “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18
[heaven and earth has not passed]
64. If the Jewish law against eating pork was abolished by Christ, why do Sabbatarians continue to enforce what they call, “the ceremonial law of Moses”: Mk 7:18-19; 1 Tim 4:1-4; Rom 14:2; Acts 10:9-16
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
65. If the Jewish law of Tithing is forbidden in 2 Cor 9, why do Sabbatarians practice from “ceremonial law of Moses”?
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, ‘and try Me now in this,’
Says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10
66. If the Jewish Sabbath was abolished in Col 2:14-16, yet Sabbatarians keep the Sabbath, which itself is the only ceremonial law of the 10 commandments?
67. Why do you practice Tithing which is Prohibited: 2 Cor 9:7 forbid Eating Pork, which is Permitted: Mk 7:18-19 and keep the Sabbath which is Abolished: Col 2:14-16? Aren’t all three of these ceremonial laws?
68. When Sabbatarians attempt to prove there is a distinction between the moral vs. ceremonial laws, the law of God vs. the Law of Moses, the 10 commandments vs. and the book of the law, and they shown countless bible passages that destroy any distinction Sabbatarians might dream up, will they at least be honest and admit they need to find some definitive way to create this false distinction that does not exist in the Bible and will try again tomorrow?
69. Why do you refuse to accept that Col 2:16 contains the Old Testament pattern of referring to the Jewish holy says in a yearly, monthly, weekly sequence as in 1 Chronicles 23:31, 2 Chronicles 31:3, 2 Chronicles 8:13, 2 Chronicles 2:4, Nehemiah 10:33, Ezekiel 45:17, Hosea 2:11, Galatians 4:10?
[see Doesn’t Colossians 2:14-17 abolish the seventh-day Sabbath?]
70. If the plural “sabbaton” in Col 2:16 cannot refer to weekly Sabbath day, then why does plural “sabbaton” refer to the weekly Sabbath day in Matthew 28:1, Luke 4:16, Acts 16:13, Exodus 20:8 (in Septuagint) Leviticus 23:37-38 (in Septuagint)?
[Singular form, not Plural]
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” Matthew 28:1
“So 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 to read.” Luke 4:16
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.” Acts 16:13
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8
[Plural]
“‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.” Leviticus 23:37-38
71. If in Col 2:16, the lack of the definite article before the word “Sabbath” in the Greek proves it cannot refer to the weekly Sabbath, then why does the weekly Sabbath lack the definite article in Matthew 28:1, John 5:9, 10, 16?
“Now after the Sabbath [definite article], as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” Matthew 28:1
“And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath [definite article]. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, ‘It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.’ … For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, ]and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath [definite article]. ” John 5:9, 10, 16
72. If Isa 66:23 proves the Sabbath will be in heaven, will the new moon festival also be there? “from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath”.
“‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22-23
73. If Hebrews 4 teaches we are to keep the weekly Sabbath, then why does the text say we are to enter a rest that none of the Jews at the time of Joshua in the promised land ever experienced in v 8?
[answer in verse 6] “and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience” Hebrews 4:6
74. If the Sabbath will endure forever because it is called “eternal” then won’t all the Jewish feasts and circumcision also endure because it is also called eternal in Gen 17:10-14 (same Hebrew word used)
75. If the Sabbath will endure forever because it is called “holy” then won’t all the Jewish feasts also endure forever because they are also called holy?
76. If the Sabbath will endure forever because God hallowed it, then won’t Solomon’s temple Ps 65:4; 1 Ki 9:3 and the vessels in the tabernacle Ex 40:9; Num 31:6; 1 Ki 8:4 also endure forever because God hallowed them too?
77. If the Sabbath will endure forever because it was an eternal sign between God and his people, then shouldn’t we also still practice circumcision Gen 17:11 and Passover Ex 12:13 because it too is called an eternal sign between God and his people?
78. If it is only through the Sabbath that we can know that it is God who sanctifies us Ex 31:13, then what ever happened to faith in Christ sanctifying us? Any if we should therefore keep the Sabbath, then we must also build the tabernacle, for the Bible says through it we may know it is God who sanctifies us Ezel 37:28?
79. If the fact that the Sabbath is mentioned in the New Testament after Pentecost proves it is still in force, then does the mention of The Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1, The days of unleavened bread Acts 12:3; 20:6, Days of Purification: Acts 21:26, Animal Sacrifices: Acts 21:26, Circumcision: Acts 16:3, Temple worship: Acts 24:12 prove we must keep these too because they are also mentioned and must therefore also still be in force like the Sabbath?
“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 [referring to the ceremonial law governing the sacrificial system and priesthood that ended on the cross] of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17
80. If Seventh-day Adventists want to deny that their official position is that worshipping on Sunday is the Mark of the Beast, do they realize that the “inspired” Ellen G. White, Uriah Smith, the Advent review and Leo Schreven (who conducts “Revelation seminars” today) all call it the mark of the beast?
81. Christians can find 21 reasons why the first day of the week is significant to their faith as Christians in the New Testament. Can Sabbatarians find even one reason in the New Testament why the Sabbath has any meaning distinct to Christians?
“For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8
82. Did you know that the Jewish Sabbath was significant to the Jews because it was a memoral of this present physical creation and their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and that the first day of the week is a memorial of our new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:7) and our deliverance from the bondage of sin. (Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:7)
“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9
83. Did you know that regardless of whether the Sadducee’s or Pharisee’s method of calculating Pentecost was used the year Christ died, both would calculate Pentecost in Acts 2:1 as the first day of the week. Did you also know that the official position of the Seventh-day Adventist church was that Pentecost in Acts 2:1 fell on a Sunday that year?
“… but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God” Exodus 20:10
84. Do you realize that the phrase, “that no collections be made when I come” in 1 Cor 16:2 proves the Christians were forbidden from saving up their offerings each week at home and demanded they put it into a common treasury every Sunday?
85. Did you know that 1 Cor 16:2 actually says, “EVERY 1st day” because the same Greek phrase is also found in Acts 13:14 “appointed elders in EVERY church”. Did you know that you must give every 1st day of the week in to the church’s common treasury?
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me..” 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
[A collection day for Paul’s trip to these cities]
86. If Jesus died on Wednesday and rose on the Sabbath rather than a Friday – Sunday duration because you demand a full 72 hours in the grave, then why did Jesus count the Friday – Sunday duration as three days in Lk 13:32?
87. If Jesus died on Wednesday and rose on the Sabbath rather than a Friday – Sunday duration because you demand a full 72 hours in the grave, why is exactly a 72 hour period called 4 days by Peter in Acts 10:3+9+23+24+30?
“That day [crucifixion] was the Preparation [sixth day of the week], and the Sabbath [seventh day of the week] drew near.” Luke 23:54
“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared… Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again [on the third day, not after 72 hours].’” Luke 24:1, 6 & 7
88. If the fact that the 10 commandments were written in stone, that proves they will never be abolished, then where was Adam’s stone copy of the 10 commandments? Why did God not give Adam a stone copy once for all time? Why is it that Moses was first person in history to not only see the 10 commandments, but the first person to hold the stone tablets upon which the 10 commandments were written? Why do Seventh-day Adventists argue that the ten commandment law is no longer written in stone, but in the flesh of the human heart in 2 Corinthians 3:3? (Of course 2 Cor 3:3 says the 10 commandments were abolished and the new Covenant, the law of Christ is written on human hearts)
89. If only the 10 commandments we can “live”, then why does Ezek 20:11 say this of the “ceremonial law”, “I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live.” (Ezek 20:11)?
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Hebrews 8:10
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:4-6
For more on the Sabbath, please check (Lessons 91-102) of the Bible Lessons.
