Is Sabbath-Keeping Required for Christians?

[David]

This question has divided many: Are Christians today required to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest and worship, or was the Sabbath command given only to Israel under the Old Covenant?

The seventh day Sabbath was clearly commanded to Israel under the Law of Moses:

“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…” (Exodus 20:8–10).

But what does the New Testament say about Sabbath-keeping under the New Covenant?

Key passages to consider:

• Colossians 2:16–17 – “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.”
• Romans 14:5 – “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
• Galatians 4:9–10 – “But now, after that ye have known God… ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
• Hebrews 4:9–10 – “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

Some teach that the Sabbath is a perpetual moral command, never revoked, and that Christians must observe it today — often on Saturday.
Others teach that the Sabbath was a ceremonial law given to Israel, fulfilled in Christ, and believers are now free to rest in Him daily.

What does the Bible say?
Is Sabbath-keeping required for Christians under the New Covenant? Or is it part of the law that pointed to Christ and has now been fulfilled?

Please answer with Scripture and keep the discussion respectful. Opinions are welcome only when grounded in the Word of God.

 

[PLANofMAN]

God's Sabbath continues. Of the days of creation, the Sabbath is the only one that is mentioned without an end. God entered into the Sabbath rest and continues in it. The commandment to keep the Sabbath was but a reflection of the reality that God's Sabbath represents. While Jews were required to keep the Sabbath one day a week, we, as Christians, keep the Sabbath daily.

As Christians, we find our rest in Jesus alone, and choose to celebrate on the first day of the week, Sunday, our Lord's resurrection day.

As a Christian, this question troubled me for a long time, because I saw Jesus's death and resurrection as the abolishment of the legal and ceremonial law code, but as Christians, we are still required to follow the Mosaic Law of the ten commandments. And keeping the Sabbath holy is one of those commandments. After all, Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, and his sermon on the mount is a clear indication that not only are we to still follow that law, we are responsible for following the moral tenets of that law, not just the 'letter' of the law.

Once I realized that the Sabbath was so much more than just a weekly single day of rest, it set my mind at ease.

 

[David]

God's Sabbath continues. Of the days of creation, the Sabbath is the only one that is mentioned without an end. God entered into the Sabbath rest and continues in it. The commandment to keep the Sabbath was but a reflection of the reality that God's Sabbath represents. While Jews were required to keep the Sabbath one day a week, we, as Christians, keep the Sabbath daily.

As Christians, we find our rest in Jesus alone, and choose to celebrate on the first day of the week, Sunday, our Lord's resurrection day.

As a Christian, this question troubled me for a long time, because I saw Jesus's death and resurrection as the abolishment of the legal and ceremonial law code, but as Christians, we are still required to follow the Mosaic Law of the ten commandments. And keeping the Sabbath holy is one of those commandments. After all, Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, and his sermon on the mount is a clear indication that not only are we to still follow that law, we are responsible for following the moral tenets of that law, not just the 'letter' of the law.

Once I realized that the Sabbath was so much more than just a weekly single day of rest, it set my mind at ease.

Thanks for your ideas regarding the Sabbath. Here are my thought on the subject. The seventh day of Genesis stands out as a distinctive entity. God rested, blessed it, and set it apart (Genesis 2: The seventh day in Genesis lacks the phrase "evening and morning" but provides no biblical teaching to suggest God stayed in that day or that it continued indefinitely. This rest serves as an indicator toward a more significant future event.

Under the Mosaic Law, Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath weekly (Exodus 20: Colossians 2:16–17 reveals the Sabbath as a shadow while Christ represents the true substance. Hebrews 4 reveals that we find real “rest” spiritually through Him alone. The scripture states that God’s people have a remaining rest and we should cease working the way God ceased from His work (Hebrews 4:9–10). This statement clearly shows how the true essence isn't about literal day observance but resting in Jesus' completed work.

You pointed out daily Sabbath observance but Scripture doesn’t use those exact words although our current continuous spiritual rest through faith aligns perfectly with the concept. Jesus told His followers to “come to me and I shall give you rest” according to Matthew 11:28. The Sabbath we experience today requires daily trust rather than weekly rest.

Jesus completed the law through His teachings but did not eliminate it according to Matthew 5:17. When Jesus fulfilled the law He completed its requirements making the old covenant law obsolete for us (Romans 6:14, Galatians 5:18). The Church continues to uphold essential moral principles although no longer receives a specific command to observe the Sabbath. The invitation stands for us to remain united with Jesus throughout each day.

It’s beautiful that we celebrate His resurrection on Sunday, the first day of the week (Matthew 28: The New Testament provides no directive to observe Sunday as a Sabbath day. Christ remains the central focus while the calendar holds secondary importance.

The Sabbath represents a precursor to the rest believers experience through Christ now. The understanding that we have freedom through Christ expands our appreciation for His work on our behalf. The need to observe a specific day disappears because your rest is completely secure in Him. That’s the freedom Scripture gives us.

 

[PLANofMAN]

...When Jesus fulfilled the law He completed its requirements making the old covenant law obsolete for us (Romans 6:14, Galatians 5:18)...

Careful. This ignores the sermon on the mount, where Jesus re-affirmed the ten commandments as the moral code for all to live by.

This is why I separated those from the Mosaic ceremonial and legal law.

 

[David]

Careful. This ignores the sermon on the mount, where Jesus re-affirmed the ten commandments as the moral code for all to live by.

This is why I separated those from the Mosaic ceremonial and legal law.

This is how I think about it when studying the scriptures. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not present the Ten Commandments as a set of rules for Christians to follow. He brought the law into people’s hearts by taking it to a deeper level. He taught that people are condemned not only by murder but also by anger. Not just adultery, but lust. He revealed the ultimate standard of righteousness which surpasses any achievement through mere legal adherence. He came to bring the law to completion because He stated He came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it (Matthew 5:17). The Greek term plēroō signifies both completion and attainment of an intended purpose. He accomplished this by living a perfect life, followed by His death on the cross and His resurrection. The law's full requirements were met through His actions on our behalf.

The New Testament never commands the church to follow the Ten Commandments as a covenant code. In fact, it says the opposite. Romans 6: The book of Romans chapter 6 verse 14 states that we live under grace instead of the law. Galatians 3: Galatians 3:24–25 teaches that the law functioned as our teacher to lead us to Christ but our faith now releases us from this instructional guide. James 2: James 2:10 shows that breaking any part of the law makes you accountable for its entirety. The Bible itself does not break down the law into moral, ceremonial and legal parts because this structure was developed by scholars rather than originating from scripture. The Bible teaches that Christ fulfilled all the law's requirements and now believers are directed by the Holy Spirit instead of the stone tablets (Galatians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 3:7–11). Faith brings our righteousness while returning to the old covenant does not.

 

[A.W. Bowman]

Off topic: Three related questions:

1. What Laws are written on the hearts of men?

2. Do these Laws include the question of Sabbath keeping?

3.. How does Jer 31:33 relate to Christians, or does it?

":But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people".

Context.

 

[NeutralZone]

This question has divided many: Are Christians today required to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) as a day of rest and worship, or was the Sabbath command given only to Israel under the Old Covenant?

The seventh day Sabbath was clearly commanded to Israel under the Law of Moses:

No, Christians are not required to keep the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law, which was for the ancient Israelites who, at the time, were God's chosen people. Jesus made it clear that he fulfilled the Mosaic Law, thereby cancelling it out.

Matthew 5:17​

“Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill.

 

[David]

No, Christians are not required to keep the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law, which was for the ancient Israelites who, at the time, were God's chosen people. Jesus made it clear that he fulfilled the Mosaic Law, thereby cancelling it out.

Matthew 5:17​

“Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill.

You are correct that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic law, so the ceremonial precepts associated with the Old Covenant such as Sabbath keeping are not required of us. That covenant was given to Israel at a different point in redemptive history and Christ came as the perfect sacrifice who fulfilled the Law perfectly by His life, death, and resurrection. (That being said, when Christ says in Matthew 5: 17 that He has come to fulfill the Law, this does not mean that He came to abolish the Law. Rather, fulfillment means that He satisfied the Law’s requirements, that is, its purpose has been accomplished, but not that He did away with it.) Paul clarified that much more in Colossians 2: 16–17 when he told believers not to let anyone judge them regarding Sabbaths because they were a shadow of things to come, pointing to Christ. He also made clear in Romans 14: 5 that Christians have liberty in how they view special days. What is important is that believers are fully convinced in their own minds and live unto the Lord.

We are not under the Law’s precepts regarding the Sabbath, but we also don’t treat the Sabbath lightly, either. We now rest in Christ Himself, who is our true Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9–10).

 

[NeutralZone]

You are correct that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic law, so the ceremonial precepts associated with the Old Covenant such as Sabbath keeping are not required of us. That covenant was given to Israel at a different point in redemptive history and Christ came as the perfect sacrifice who fulfilled the Law perfectly by His life, death, and resurrection. (That being said, when Christ says in Matthew 5: 17 that He has come to fulfill the Law, this does not mean that He came to abolish the Law. Rather, fulfillment means that He satisfied the Law’s requirements, that is, its purpose has been accomplished, but not that He did away with it.) Paul clarified that much more in Colossians 2: 16–17 when he told believers not to let anyone judge them regarding Sabbaths because they were a shadow of things to come, pointing to Christ. He also made clear in Romans 14: 5 that Christians have liberty in how they view special days. What is important is that believers are fully convinced in their own minds and live unto the Lord.

We are not under the Law’s precepts regarding the Sabbath, but we also don’t treat the Sabbath lightly, either. We now rest in Christ Himself, who is our true Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9–10).

I agree with some of what you said above. However, prior to his death, Jesus informed his first century disciples that he was now establishing a new covenant (known as the Law of Love).

Jesus Christ abolished the Mosaic Law and replaced it with the Law of Love.

Berean Standard Bible -- Hebrews 8:13
By speaking of a new covenant, He [Jesus] has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

After Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, even the first century Christians who, because they were Hebrew, had been subject to the Mosaic Law were freed from the Mosaic Law.

 

[Tom Lee]

Hello, I keep seeing Mt. 5:17 used to support the idea that the Sabbath--and the Law as a whole--is no longer relevant or applicable under the New Covenant. Could those making this assertion read a couple more verses and explain that assertion in light of that further context?

The way we should interpret fulfill (pleroo, "pleh-rah-oh") depends on the context, whether it means fulfill as checking something off a list or fulfill as bringing something to its fullest and most complete state. Also, this is part of the sermon on the mount, which also includes Jesus saying in multiple places, "You heard it said... but I tell you..." I believe that this, too, brings some needed context to Mt. 5:17, particularly the intended meaning of pleroo.

 

[Yesua888]

The Bible provides specific verses indicating that Jesus fulfilled and abolished the Mosaic Law, particularly its ceremonial and dividing aspects, replacing it with the Law of Christ or the Law of Love. Key biblical backing includes Ephesians 2:15, which states Jesus abolished the "law of commandments expressed in ordinances" to create one new man, and Colossians 2:14, which describes the law as "blotted out and nailed to the cross." Additionally, Hebrews 8:13 declares the first covenant obsolete, while Matthew 5:17 records Jesus stating He came to "fulfill" the Law rather than destroy it, a fulfillment that involved elevating the commandments to a higher standard of heart-obedience.

The replacement with the Law of Love is explicitly supported by Galatians 6:2, which refers to the "law of Christ" as bearing one another's burdens, and Matthew 22:37-40, where Jesus identifies loving God and neighbor as the greatest commandments upon which "all the Law and the Prophets hang." Furthermore, Romans 13:8-10 explains that "love is the fulfillment of the law," and 2 Corinthians 3:11 notes that the old covenant "passed away" because of its glory being surpassed by the new covenant.

• Abolition of the Law: Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 8:13, Galatians 3:24-25.
• Fulfillment and Replacement: Matthew 5:17-19, Hebrews 10:9, John 1:17.
• Law of Love/Christ: Galatians 6:2, Matthew 22:37-40, Romans 13:8-10, 1 John 4:7-8.

 

[David]

Hello, I keep seeing Mt. 5:17 used to support the idea that the Sabbath--and the Law as a whole--is no longer relevant or applicable under the New Covenant. Could those making this assertion read a couple more verses and explain that assertion in light of that further context?

The way we should interpret fulfill (pleroo, "pleh-rah-oh") depends on the context, whether it means fulfill as checking something off a list or fulfill as bringing something to its fullest and most complete state. Also, this is part of the sermon on the mount, which also includes Jesus saying in multiple places, "You heard it said... but I tell you..." I believe that this, too, brings some needed context to Mt. 5:17, particularly the intended meaning of pleroo.

You’ve got to see this the way Jesus said it, not the way people try to soften it. Jesus didn’t show up to tear anything down. He said it plain: “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” ~Matthew 5:17. That word plēroō means to fill it up, bring it to completion, carry it all the way to where it was always headed. The Law wasn’t the destination. It was the road.

And He doubles down: “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” ~Matthew 5:18. Nothing falls apart. Nothing gets tossed aside. Everything reaches its finish line.

Now watch how He handles it. He says, “Ye have heard… But I say unto you…” ~Matthew 5:21–22. That’s not Him tightening bolts on the old system. That’s Him pulling the hood off and showing you what was under it the whole time. The Law was never just about hands. It was about the heart. You can keep your hands clean and still be guilty before God.

So what did the Law do? It exposed you. It boxed you in. It showed you that you don’t have what it takes. “By the law is the knowledge of sin” ~Romans 3:20. The Law is like a mirror in a dusty room. It doesn’t clean you. It shows you just how dirty you are.

And that’s where Christ steps in. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” ~Romans 10:4. That word telos means the goal, the finish line. The Law was pointing somewhere, and that somewhere is a Person.

Paul says it straight: “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ… But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” ~Galatians 3:24–25. The Law walked you to the door. Christ is the One who brings you inside. You don’t keep standing on the porch once you’re in the house.

Now bring that into the Sabbath question. Scripture does not leave this unclear: “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” ~Colossians 2:16–17. A shadow isn’t fake, but it isn’t the substance either. You don’t hug a shadow when the real person is standing in front of you.

Hebrews says the same thing: “The law having a shadow of good things to come…” ~Hebrews 10:1. The Law was pointing forward. Christ is what it was pointing to.

So here’s the truth, plain and straight. The Law is not trashed. It is fulfilled. Completed. Brought to its intended end in Christ. And because of that, you are not standing under it trying to earn righteousness. “Ye are not under the law, but under grace” ~Romans 6:14.

But don’t twist that into license. God didn’t lower His standard. He moved it from stone to heart. “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” ~Hebrews 8:10. This is not less righteousness. It is deeper righteousness.

So Matthew 5:17 is not teaching that everything stays the same. It is teaching that everything reaches its fulfillment. The shadow had its place. But now the substance has come. And that substance is Christ.

 

[Tom Lee]

I hear you, but let me put it this way... Are you instructing me that it's okay to disobey [even the least of] these commandments?

 

[David]

I hear you, but let me put it this way... Are you instructing me that it's okay to disobey [even the least of] these commandments?

No, I am not telling you it’s okay to disobey God. Not at all. Obedience still matters. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” ~John 14:15. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is how you relate to the Law.

Before Jesus went to the cross, people stood under the Law like a strict rule system. It showed them their sin and judged them. But it could never fix them. Scripture says, “By the law is the knowledge of sin” ~Romans 3:20. It exposes the problem, but it doesn’t solve it.

After Jesus fulfilled the Law, you are no longer under that system trying to earn righteousness. The Bible says it straight, “Ye are not under the law, but under grace” ~Romans 6:14. That means you are not trying to get right with God by keeping rules. You are made right through Christ.

Now here’s the key. That does not mean you stop obeying. It means obedience comes from a changed heart instead of pressure from rules. God said, “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” ~Hebrews 8:10. That’s the difference.

Jesus in Matthew 5 wasn’t lowering the standard. He was showing how deep it really goes. Not just actions, but the heart. Anger, lust, pride. That’s where the real issue is.

Now about the Sabbath. If it were still a binding rule the same way, Scripture would not say, “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… the sabbath days… but the body is of Christ” ~Colossians 2:16–17. That means it pointed forward to Christ, and now He has come.

So here’s the simple truth. You still obey God. But you don’t stand under the Law trying to earn it.

You stand in Christ, and obedience flows out of that.

It’s not about rule-keeping to get saved. It’s about a new heart that actually wants to obey.

 

[Yesua888]

You stand in Christ, and obedience flows out of that.

It’s not about rule-keeping to get saved. It’s about a new heart that actually wants to obey.

Yes, I get that, and this is where we can tell whether we are truly His, because wanting to please Him should now flow : )

 

[Tom Lee]

In thinking about how to respond, it occurred to me that the focus of this discussion has shifted from the specific topic of Sabbath to the far broader topic of the Law as a whole. Are there any objections to reining this back in to just the Sabbath so that this doesn't start following tangents and rabbit trails?

 

[David]

In thinking about how to respond, it occurred to me that the focus of this discussion has shifted from the specific topic of Sabbath to the far broader topic of the Law as a whole. Are there any objections to reining this back in to just the Sabbath so that this doesn't start following tangents and rabbit trails?

Bringing it back to the Sabbath is the right move. Let’s deal with it plain, straight from the Word.

God already told us what the Sabbath was. It was a shadow. “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” ~Colossians 2:16–17. A shadow has a purpose, but it is not the reality. When the real thing shows up, you don’t keep chasing the outline on the ground.

Now here’s where it gets real. Hebrews doesn’t point you to a calendar. It points you to Christ. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God… For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works” ~Hebrews 4:9–10. That’s not one day a week. That’s a man laying down his effort to earn righteousness and trusting fully in what Jesus finished.

So no, this is not permission to disobey God. It’s the opposite. It’s finally understanding what He was aiming at all along. The Sabbath wasn’t the destination. It was pointing you to the One who gives rest.

You can take a day and honor the Lord. That’s fine. But the moment you turn that into a requirement, you’ve stepped outside what Scripture says.

God didn’t give you a day to cling to. He gave you His Son.

And if you’re in Him, you’re already in the rest the Sabbath was pointing to all along.

 

[Yesua888]

God didn’t give you a day to cling to. He gave you His Son.

And if you’re in Him, you’re already in the rest the Sabbath was pointing to all along.

Makes it Complete, Jesus is our "Sabbath", NOT a special day, our Saviour Jesus Christ is ALIVE