Sunday as a day of rest. Is it biblical? Where did it come from? If the majority of the Christian Churches worship on Sunday, are we to do the same?
Is there any specific Bible verse that tells us to rest & worship on Sunday, the first day of the week?
In this post, we break down the confusion about the day of rest. If you want to find out the truth about the day of rest, you must search the Scriptures.
The Bible says “thy Word is truth”! (John 17:17).
We will leave aside the opinions of many, and we go straight to the source of truth – the Word of God!
Stay with us till the end of the article if you want to see what the Bible has to say about the day of rest, and hopefully, there won’t be confusion anymore on this subject!
Is Sunday the day of rest in the Bible?
A common tradition today in our society and in Christianity is to consider Sunday as a day of rest.
However, the Bible does not teach that Sunday, a common working day, also known as the first day of the week is a day of rest or a holy day!
The Scriptures tell us that God made the day of rest the seventh day!
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Genesis 2:2-3 KJV
So, straight from Genesis, when He instituted the Sabbath, God declared the seventh day to be the day of rest as a memorial for His creative powers!
Later on, in Exodus, when the Law was given in written form, we find the same statement:
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
He is a God of order, and not of confusion! (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Which is the seventh day? Saturday or Sunday?
Many countries have different calendars with different days as the beginning of the week. Some start their week on Monday, others on Sunday, and so on.
But what does the Bible say to be the seventh day of the week?
It is simple, the answer is to be found in the Gospels!
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Luke 23:53-56 KJV
It is well-known in Christianity that Jesus died on the cross on Friday and rose on Sunday!
According to the above verses, the Preparation Day is Friday, and the Sabbath is on Saturday!
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:1-3 KJV
The first day of the week, when Jesus rose from the dead, is known today as Sunday!
Simple, the Bible always makes light in darkness and confusion! (Psalms 119:105)
When did Sunday become a day of rest?
Sunday became a day of rest in 321 AD, when Constantine, the Emperor of Rome made the first Sunday law:
“On the venerable day of the Sun, let the magistrates and people residing in the cities rest, and let all workshops be closed! In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits!”
History of the Christian Church, 1902 ed., vol. 3, p. 380
Who made Sunday the day of rest?
Sunday was also made a day of rest by the Catholic Church later on, in 363 AD, at the Council of Laodicea.
“Christians shall not Judaize [keep Sabbath] and be idle on Saturday…but shall work that day; but the Lord’s day shall they, especially honor, and, as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day.”
A History of the Councils of the Church, vol. 2, p. 252
Also see “Who Changed the Sabbath Day To Sunday?”
Very important to know that this change was not made with the authority of God, but by people in their councils!
The Sabbath was made for everyone according to the Bible, and not only for the Jewish people! (Mark 2:27)
Also, the Bible clearly defines the Sabbath as the Lord’s day and not Sunday!
Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
KJV Bible
Conclusion
To conclude, Sunday as a day of rest does not have any biblical support. The Bible teaches us that Saturday, also known as the Sabbath is the day of rest and worship established by God.
It is His fourth commandment and whoever wants to follow Jesus and His teachings, must keep the Sabbath day holy!
If something is popular does not automatically make it true! There are many sincere Christians who worship on Sunday today, and probably many will be in Heaven as well!
Yet, God wants us to obey once we have new light from His Word!
Jesus kept the Sabbath holy, and also the apostles, thus if we are truly following Jesus we should start keeping holy the Sabbath as the Bible teaches!
FAQ for Day of Rest Sunday
Why is Sunday supposed to be the day of rest?
Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest because people think that because Jesus rose on Sunday it somehow makes it the “new Sabbath”! However, this teaching is not found in the Bible. Instead, the Bible tells us that Saturday, the seventh day of the week is the day of rest and worship! (Exodus 20:8-11)
What does the Bible say about resting on Sunday?
The Bible does not say anything about resting on Sunday. It is an incorrect interpretation, that Sunday is somehow a special day in the Bible but it is not. Instead, Saturday also known as the Sabbath is the fourth commandment of God that tells us to rest on that day and do no work in it! (Exodus 20-8:11).
Why did Christians change the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday?
The Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday. But the Bible does not teach such a thing! Thus, it is a dangerous thing to play with the commandments of God! (Revelation 22:18,19)
Does the Bible say that Sunday is the Sabbath?
The Bible does not teach that Sunday is the Sabbath. This is an incorrect interpretation. The Bible says that Saturday is the Sabbath, the holy day of rest that God established after the six literal creation days. (Genesis 2:2-3)
Is the Lord’s day Saturday or Sunday?
The Lord’s day is Saturday and not Sunday according to the Bible! (Mark 2:28, Isaiah 58:13)
References
Holy Bible KJV
A History of the Councils of the Church, vol. 2, p. 252
History of the Christian Church, 1902 ed., vol. 3, p. 380
My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary
The Days of Noah – Powerful Documentary (Video Format)
Bible Studies – Written Format
