The Torah sets apart the seventh day as holy and commands Israel to observe the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant, while Jesus says that the Sabbath was made for man and that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. In Acts 15, the Sabbath is not listed among the prohibitions for Gentile converts, while Colossians 2:16–17 says not to let anyone judge you regarding Sabbaths, calling them a shadow of things to come. Christians differ on whether the Sabbath remains obligatory for them; the answer is formed from several passages.
What does the Bible say about this?
- Genesis 2:2–3: God completed His work of creation and ceased from all His work on the seventh day; He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Exodus 20:8–11: remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy: six days you shall labor, but the seventh is a Sabbath to the Lord, on which no one in the household is to do any work, including servants, livestock, and the sojourner; the reason is that the Lord made heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh.
- Exodus 31:12–17: The Lord tells Moses that the Sabbaths must be observed because they are a sign between Him and the children of Israel throughout their generations; whoever profanes it shall be put to death; Israel must keep the Sabbath as an everlasting covenant, as a sign forever.
- Mark 2:23–28: the disciples pluck heads of grain on the Sabbath; Jesus recalls David and says that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, and that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. In this passage, He does not say that the Sabbath has been abolished.
- Acts 15:5–29: the dispute concerned whether Gentiles needed circumcision and had to keep the law of Moses; the assembly decided not to place any further burden on them and asked them to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality. The Sabbath is not named in this list; 15:21 says that the law of Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
- Romans 14:5–6: one person regards one day as more important than another, while another regards every day alike; each does so for the Lord. Galatians 4:9–11: Paul is concerned about the Galatians, who observe days, months, seasons, and years. The word “Sabbath” does not appear in either of these two passages.
- Colossians 2:16–17: Paul writes that no one should judge believers regarding food and drink, a festival, a new moon, or Sabbaths: these are a shadow of things to come, but the body belongs to Christ.
- Hebrews 4:1–11: the promise of entering His rest remains; the seventh day and God’s rest are mentioned; it says that a “Sabbath rest” remains for the people of God; whoever enters that rest also rests from his works, just as God did from His. The meaning of the word and its connection with the seventh day are interpreted in different ways. Acts 20:7: the disciples gathered to break bread on the first day after the Sabbath; this is a narrative, and the day is not called a new Sabbath in the text.
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
10 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
Genesis 2:2–3
2 And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He ceased on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He ceased from all His work that God had created.
Exodus 20:8–11
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; 9 six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God: you shall not do any work on it—you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor 11 because in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and on the seventh day He rested; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it.
Exodus 31:12–17
12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 13 Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: Surely you shall keep My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you; 14 You shall therefore keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.
Mark 2:23–28
23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went, His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath? 25 But He said to them, Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those who were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him? 27 And He said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.
Acts 15:5–29
5 Then some believers from the sect of the Pharisees rose up and said that it was necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 The apostles and elders gathered to consider this matter. 7 After much discussion, Peter rose and said to them: “Brothers, you know that from the earliest days God chose me among us, so that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why are you testing God by trying to place on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved, just as they are.” 12 Then the whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they had finished speaking, James replied: “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has explained how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear My name,’ says the Lord, who does all these things. 18 All His works have been known to God from eternity. 19 Therefore, I judge that we should not trouble those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood[[, and not to do to others what they do not want done to themselves]]. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22 Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole Church, decided to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. 23 They sent them with the following letter: “The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with their words and unsettled your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law—although we gave them no such command. 25 So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm the same things to you verbally. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary requirements: 29 to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality [[, and not to do to others what you do not want done to yourselves]]. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
Colossians 2:16–17
16 Therefore, let no one judge you regarding food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, or a new moon, or a Sabbath; 17 these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
Romans 14:5–6
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord; and the one who does not observe the day, does not observe it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord, because he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and gives thanks to God.
Galatians 4:9–11
9 But now, having come to know God—or rather, being known by God—how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elements, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
Hebrews 4:1–11
1 Therefore, let us beware lest, while the promise of entering His rest remains, any of you should seem to have fallen short. 2 For the good news was preached to us just as to them; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.” 5 And again in this passage: “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, 7 He again appoints a certain day—“Today”—saying through David, after such a long time, as it was said above: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Jesus Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken afterward about another day. 9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. 10 For whoever enters His rest also rests from his works, just as God did from His. 11 Therefore, let us strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through following the same example of disobedience.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week, when the disciples gathered to break bread, Paul, intending to depart the next day, spoke with them and continued speaking until midnight.
