Wasn’t the seventh day Sabbath made for the Jews?
The Bible shows that the seventh day Sabbath was not made for the Jews only. Let’s review the following points:
1) Adam and Eve were not Jewish.
“God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (Genesis 2:3) before sin entered. “Sanctified” means “to be set apart for holy use.” The only ones in the Garden of Eden for whom the Sabbath was “set apart” were Adam and Eve, who weren’t Jewish.
2) “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27).
Jesus said this declaration. It was “made” in the Garden of Eden before it was “written” down on Mount Sinai. The Sabbath was “made” for “man,” not just for the Jews.
3) The other nine commandments are not “just for Jews.”
God wrote the “Ten Commandments” on stone, not just nine (Deuteronomy 4:12, 13; Exodus 20). Does “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” and “Do not bear false witness” apply only to Jews?
4) “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God” (Exodus 20:10).
God calls the Sabbath, “my holy day” (Isaiah 58:13). The Bible never calls it “the Sabbath of the Jews.” It isn’t their Sabbath, but God’s.
5) The Sabbath commandment is for the “stranger” too.
The fourth commandment itself says the “stranger” is to rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10). “Strangers” are non-Jews, or Gentiles. Thus, the Sabbath applies to them too (Isaiah 56:6).
6) Isaiah said Gentiles should keep the Sabbath.
“Also the sons of the stranger … every one that keeps the Sabbath … for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:6, 7). Thus, the Sabbath is for Gentiles and “all people,” not just for Jews.
7) “All” mankind will keep the Sabbath in the New Earth.
In “the new earth … from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says the Lord” (Isaiah 66:22, 23). Here, God says that “all flesh” will be keeping the Sabbath in “the new earth.”
8) Gentiles kept the Sabbath in the Book of Acts.
“The Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath … Paul and Barnabas … persuaded them to continue in the grace of God”‘ (Acts 13:42-44). Here, saved-by-grace Gentiles kept the Sabbath (Acts 16:13).
9) “The law” [of Ten Commandments] is for “all the world,” not just for Jews.
Paul wrote these words (Romans 2:17-23; 3:19, 23).
10) Jesus said, “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Matthew 12:8).
Therefore, the Sabbath is for all that worship the Lord (Jews and Gentiles).
For more on the Sabbath, check (Lessons 91-102) of our Bible Lessons.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
