Question: Does Exodus 31:16-17 mean that the seventh-day Sabbath is a perpetual covenant for Christians?

Edith

Answer: Dear Edith,

You asked about Exodus 31:16-17, and if this passage means that the seventh-day Sabbath is a perpetual covenant for Christians.

The seventh-day Sabbath is a part of the old covenant. If the old covenant is necessary and required for Christians today, then the Sabbath would be as well. But the books of Hebrews, Romans, Galatians, along with many other passages in the New Testament clearly show us that Christians live by and follow the new commandments of the new covenant – you may wish to specifically study 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

The seventh-day Sabbath should be understood in relationship to the rest of the old covenant, rather than simply pulling it out of its context. For example, the passage you question states that the Sabbath "is a sign between me and the sons of Israel forever" (Exodus 31:17).

As we study the New Testament we see that the first major issue that Jewish Christians (all Christians at the beginning were Jewish, and brought their culture and traditions with them from Judaism into the church, a culture and traditions that were very much a product of the old covenant) were challenged with was the Old Testament covenant of circumcision. We can study the way that God guided the early Christians to deal with this issue in Acts 15.

As Exodus 31:17 states, the Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel. But in order to be a "son of Israel" a male had to be circumcised. Then and only then would the Sabbath be required of them. Circumcision was a beginning and entry sign of identity (on the eighth day of life for all males), and the Sabbath was the continuing sign of identity for God’s Old Testament covenant people.

The New Testament makes it clear that the seventh-day Sabbath is no longer the sign for Christians, but instead the sign of Jesus Christ, his birth, life, death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb. The old covenant was made only with the "sons of Israel" – not with all humanity. All humankind are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and as a result of his cross we are all called to him, not simply one racial group.

The Sabbath is absolutely and inseparably connected with the old covenant. If someone teaches that Christians are obligated to keep the seventh-day Sabbath, then by the same logic that teacher must declare all of the old covenant to be required as well.

You also asked about the word "forever" or "perpetual." Some study of the use of this word in Hebrew will reveal that it is used about many other aspects and teachings of the old covenant. Again, if one teaching is "forever," then all those teachings are "forever." Further, the idea that was conveyed in the Hebrew language at the time was not the same kind of idea that we often use "forever" in today. Finally the Old Testament itself is filled with Messianic prophecies of Jesus Christ, who would fulfill the old covenant – with the "forever" and "perpetual" conditions being fulfilled through his birth, life, death and resurrection.

I hope this is of some help to you in answering your question.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht