EPISODE 97 – THE BIBLE VS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 37) – “The Sabbath and the Lord’s Day”

Do the Sabbath and Sunday really mean the same thing? Or is there something much deeper at stake than just “a day off from work”? Let’s examine what the Bible says and how it compares with Church teaching. The topic of the Sabbath and the “Lord’s Day” has stirred debate for centuries. The Bible clearly presents the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week—a day of rest established by God (Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15). Christianity, however—including the Catholic Church—shifts the focus to the first day of the week, associated with the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1; John 20:1). How can this be reconciled? And what does it mean for our spiritual lives? 1. The Sabbath in the Bible – a gift of rest, not a burden of law “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…” (Exodus 20:8–10) The Sabbath was established as a day of rest for all creation—people, servants, and even animals. It was also a sign of God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 31:13–17). The spiritual meaning of the Sabbath points to resting in God, not to a list of prohibitions. It is God who works and saves—man does not “earn” salvation through effort. The Exodus from Egypt is a picture of spiritual deliverance accomplished by God’s power, not human striving. 2. The problem of literalism – when rest becomes work “And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?” (Matthew 12:11) “Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision… and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision… are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?” (John 7:22–23) Over time, the Sabbath in Judaism became surrounded by many additional rules. Restrictions on everyday activities (such as healing or travel) turned the gift of rest into a burden. Jesus challenged this approach, showing that the law should serve life and love as an expression of God’s grace. God’s grace is a gift, independent of human works. 3. The Resurrection and the “first day of the week” The New Testament states that Jesus rose “the first day of the week” (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). This event became the foundation for Christians observing Sunday as the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). However, the Bible does not give a clear command to replace the Sabbath with Sunday—this developed later within Church tradition. 4. Church teaching versus practice – a new law instead of freedom? The Catholic Church teaches the observance of Sunday and abstaining from “unnecessary work.” The issue arises when a system of rules is created again—defining what is allowed and what is not. In practice, this can lead to tensions similar to those in Judaism—different interpretations, unclear boundaries, and a focus on regulations rather than a relationship with God. 5. The true “rest in Christ” The Bible shows that true rest is not about fulfilling religious obligations, but about God’s salvation. Jesus said: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) This emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace, not the result of human effort. Any attempt to “work” for salvation—even in a milder form—moves away from the essence of the Gospel. The Sabbath and Sunday are not just days of the week—they symbolize two approaches to a relationship with God: • one based on rules and human effort, • the other on grace and God’s work. The Bible leads us to understand that true rest is not about a calendar, but about spiritual transformation—the realization that God has already accomplished the work of salvation.