A Tale of Two Sabbaths
Stuart Brogden
The Bible declares
itself to be sufficient for life and godliness for those indwelt by the Holy
Spirit. This is the concept behind the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. People who truly hold to this doctrine will not
embrace dogma that cannot be clearly taught from God’s Word. While there are
myriad issues that divide denominations and churches from one another, one’s
view of the Sabbath appears to be one of major contention amongst those who
embrace the idea of Sola Scriptura.
Within this arena there is a coalition who herald the Puritan view of the
Sabbath, which is recorded in the Westminster and Second London Baptist
confessions. What follows is a comparison between the biblical description of
the weekly Sabbath and the confessional views of Christian Sabbatarians,
according to the Second London Baptist Confession in chapter 22. Let the reader
decide if the Puritans and those confessions had it right or followed
traditions of man.
|
Biblical
Sabbath |
“Christian
Sabbath” |
|
Every 7th day (Ex 16:27-30, Ex 20:8-11,
31:15, 35:2; Lev 23:3; Deut 5:14) |
Para 7: Claims One day in Seven (Ex20:8). Changed from
the last day of the week to the first day of the week (citing 1 Cor 16:1-2;
Acts 20:7); claiming “Christian Sabbath” as the Biblical Sabbath was abolished
(no Scripture citation). |
|
Rest from all work (Ex 16:23, 25; 20:8-10; 35:2; Lev
23:3; Num 15:32; Deut 5:12-15; Jer 17:21) |
Para 8: Rest from all things (Isaiah 58:13; Neh
13:15-22). |
|
Remain in your dwelling (Ex 16:29; Lev 23:3) |
Private and public worship are commanded (para 8; no
Scripture citation) |
|
It is a sign to the Israelite (Ex 31:13, 16, 17; Lev
24:8; 2 Chr 2:4; Neh 9:14; Ezek 20:12, 20) |
|
|
Death penalty for violating it, even minor activities such as picking up sticks (Ex 31:14-15; Num
15:32-36) |
|
|
No
fires for cooking, Sabbath day meals were prepared the day before (Ex 35:3) |
|
|
Ceremonial bread, made in accordance with a strict
formula, was presented (Lev 24:8; 1 Chr 9:32) |
|
|
Offerings – consisting of lambs, grain, and drink (Num
28:9, 10) |
|
|
Soldiers/priests guard the temple (2 Kings 11:512; 2
Chr 23:4-8) |
|
|
Gentiles not bound (Deut 5:15; Neh 10:31) |
Para 7: Claims “law of nature … by Gods appointment” a
“moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages” (no
Scripture citation). |
|
Prohibited from business (buying or selling) with
Gentiles (Neh 10:31, 13:15-19) |
|
|
Gentiles invited to join with God’s people and keep the
Sabbath (Isaiah 56:1-7) |
|
|
Israel to keep the Sabbath (Isaiah 58:13) |
|
|
|
Duties of necessity and mercy are permitted (para 8;
Matt 12:1-13) |
|
No bearing of burdens (Jer 17:21-27) |
|
Notes:
1.
The Second London Baptist Confession (1689 LBC) cites
Exodus 20:8 for setting the Sabbath one day in seven and for binding all men.
That verse does not mention the frequency of the Sabbath; verses 10 & 11
both specify the 7th day, that day which ended the week for the
Hebrew nation. Every 7th day, not one day in seven – that’s the
consistent record in Scripture. Neither does that passage mention anyone other
than national Israel as the subjects of this covenant and this specific
command.
2.
The 1689 LBC then claims 1 Cor 16:1-2 and Acts 20:7 as
a record of God having changed the day of observing the Sabbath. Read the texts
– narratives showing the practice of the new church on “the day after the
Sabbath.” No instruction or record of changing the Sabbath; no record of
establishing the “Christian Sabbath” or abolishing the 7th day
Sabbath, which continued on during the Lord’s time on earth and the apostolic
era.
3.
Because of the death penalty for minor infractions of
the Sabbath command to rest (as shown in Ex 31 & Num 15), it was common in
Israel for the people to ask the religious leaders for clarification of what
was permissible. This developed into the complex, legalistic list of rules that
were infamous in the time of Christ.
4.
The “holy convocation” mentioned in Lev 23:3 is widely
considered to have been a call to prayer, praise, and instruction from the Word
of God. But the biblical record (Ex 12; Lev 23; Num 28 & 29) shows a
consistent requirement to cease work, with cooking meals being the only
exception. There is the occasional mention of humbling one’s self, making
offerings to God, and the blowing of trumpets. Some of these convocations
lasted several days or weeks. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate this
was a weekly occurrence of prayer, praise, and preaching; although
extra-biblical history does show the post-exile nation adopting the weekly
synagogue practice that was well established by the time of Christ.
5.
There are many special Sabbaths, such as the Day of
Atonement (Lev 23:32) and the Sabbath year (Lev 25). This comparison is
restricted to the weekly Sabbath.
6.
Nehemiah 13:20-22 reveals the only passage in Scripture
wherein Gentiles are told about the Sabbath, their merchants being warned to
leave the Jews alone on the Sabbath so the Jews won’t be led astray. Gentiles
are not commanded by Nehemiah to keep the Sabbath.
7.
In Matthew 12, there is no support for the Mosaic Law
permitting acts of mercy. We have Jesus making note that Jewish men would
violate their Sabbath to save an animal. Jesus summed up His announcement that
He is Lord of/over the Sabbath by saying it was "lawful to do what is good
on the Sabbath." Contrary to the Mosaic Law, Jesus didn't define
"good" and there's nothing indicating He was revealing the true
meaning of the Sabbath law; there is nothing in the Mosaic Law that provides
for acts of mercy on the Sabbath. Jesus even said the Jews broke the Sabbath by
circumcising on that day, because circumcision was more important.
8.
There is not one Scripture cited by the 1689 showing
the weekly Sabbath being addressed to, defined for, imposed on, or required of
anyone other than those under the rule of Moses. Nor is there any biblical
record of Christians keeping the Sabbath.
