Question: I saw in one of your previous questions that you mentioned the Sabbath was Saturday, but it was not a requirement to "keep" the Sabbath on that day because of the new covenant. Wasn’t the new covenant about the fact people no longer had to observe the sacrificial system? Jesus stated, "Keep my commandments." If we are to "keep" the other nine commandments, aren’t we also to "keep" the commandment outlined in Exodus 20:10?

Thanks for your help!

James

Answer: Dear James,

The answer to our question lies in Jesus’ statement – keep my commandments. Did he say "the 10 commandments"? No. Second consideration. Are the 10 commandments part of the old covenant, or are they separate – and somehow still required for Christians, even though the rest of the old covenant is not, because of the blood of Christ and the cross? Answer – study will show that the 10 commandments are very much a part of the old covenant – in fact they are the core of the old covenant.

Then what does Jesus mean when he says "commandments" – and what do the New Testament writers mean? They must not mean the 10 commandments. There are a variety of places in the New Testament where lists appear – some call them "sin lists" and "virtue lists" – and in all of these places there is an iteration about what Jesus expects of those who live in him, and under the new covenant, saved by his grace. No where can we find Sabbath breaking or Sabbath keeping to be a sin or a virtue.

But we do find that Jesus himself replaces this key commandment of the old covenant – the very sign of the people of God in the old covenant. He becomes the rest – not a period of time – whether it be Sunday or Saturday – but Jesus is holy, not a day. Jesus gives rest, not a day. Jesus is the sign of Christians – not a day. Hebrews – the early chapters – Colossians, Galatians, Romans, and the Sabbath controversies of the Gospels all help to give background.

Big topic – hope this brief answer will help.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht