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Blessed
is he that readeth, and they that hear the words
of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 1:3 |
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Sunday
in the Bible
Lesson
15
Marking
Code: SB
Marking Color: Black
Key Text: John 14:21,23
- John 14:21,23. We
show our love for Jesus by our
willingness to keep His commandments
and be obedient to Him. This is true
in the matter of the day He has asked
us to keep holy as it is in any other
of His commandments.
Note:
There are only eight texts in the New
Testament that mention the first day of the
week-the day we know as Sunday. We will look
at each of these eight to determine if any of
them tell us that we are to observe Sunday as
a holy day or as the Sabbath of the Lord.
(Genesis 1:5 is almost the only text in the
Old Testament that mentions the first day of
the week; it refers to the events of the
first day of Creation.)
- Matthew 28:1. This
verse tells us that the women came to
Jesus’ tomb early on the first
day of the week. It says nothing
about the first day being holy or the
Sabbath. In fact, it says that they
came “after the Sabbath” on
the first day of the week. So the
Sabbath was finished before the first
day of the week began.
- Mark 16:1,2. Mark
mentions the same event-the women
coming to Jesus’ tomb on the
first day of the week. He too, says
that Sabbath “was past”
when the first day of the week began.
- Mark 16:9. Later
that same day-Resurrection
Sunday-Jesus appeared to Mary
Magdalene. However, He said nothing
to her about Sunday now being a holy
day.
- Luke 23:50-56;
24:1. Luke records the same event
told by Matthew and Mark-the
appearance of the women at
Jesus’ tomb early Sunday
morning. Like them, Luke says nothing
about Sunday now bring a holy day.
- John 20:1. This
is John’s version of the same
story already told by Matthew, Mark,
and Luke.
- John 20:19. Jesus
appeared to the disciples in the
evening of that same day-Resurrection
Sunday. Some individuals have said
that this was a religious service
being held because Sunday was now the
holy day of worship following the
Resurrection. However, notice that
the disciples were hiding in fear of
their lives; they were not holding a
worship service.
- Acts 20:7,8. Paul
preached at Troas on the first day of
the week continuing until midnight.
This was a special farewell meeting,
and the book of Acts records numerous
instances of Paul worshiping on the
Sabbath. One religious service on
Sunday does not make the day holy.
Christians often meet for mid-week
services on Wednesday or another
day-without making that day holy.
- 1 Corinthians
16:1,2. Some have said that these
verses refer to taking up an offering
in church on the first day of the
week. However, notice that Paul tells
the Christians that they are to set
aside something on the first day of
the week and store it up until he
comes. This is practical instruction
on beginning to save early in the
week at home, so that a person
didn’t have to wait until Paul
arrived to determine what he could
contribute.
Note:
These are all the verses in the New
Testament that refer to the first day of the
week. As we have seen, there is no indication
that the Sabbath has been changed from the
seventh day of the week to the first day of
the week following Jesus’ resurrection.
- Mark 7:7-13. Jesus
says that if we set aside a
commandment of God to follow a
man-made tradition, then our worship
is in vain.
- Colossians 2:12. Baptism-not
Sunday worship-is the memorial of
Christ’s resurrection.
SB-End.
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