One of the most common things I hear concerning the Sabbath command is that it is no longer applicable to Christians because it was only for the Jews. I’ve searched the Scriptures diligently and have not found anything in the Bible that says such a thing. To the contrary, Yeshua’s own words make it obvious that the Sabbath is for all people, not a specific race: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) In other words, the Sabbath is for you, me, and every other human being.

Even the command itself says it was to be kept by the stranger who was within the gates (See Exodus 20:10). The stranger was what the Bible refers to as a Gentile (any person who isn’t a Jew). While being in the camp, all people had to respect God’s law. Thus, those who argue that the Sabbath was only for the Jews are essentially disconnecting themselves from God’s chosen people.

What I find to be ironic is that people who say the Sabbath was only for the Jews, don’t say that about the other nine commandments, which can be read in Exodus 20:3-17. There is an obvious lack of intellectual consistency in such argumentation. If the Sabbath applies to the Jews, and they are God’s chosen people, why wouldn’t it apply to us as well? If we have no problem agreeing with the other nine commandments, which were also given to the Jews, why would it be such a problem to honor God by keeping the Sabbath day holy?

It is worthy to note that the Sabbath was created long before the Jews existed, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Notice the striking similarities in the following words:

Thus, God finished creating the heavens and the earth, and all the host thereof. And on the seventh day, God ended His work, which He had made, and rested on the seventh day. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, for in it, He rested from all His work, which He created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3)

Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yahweh your God; in it, you shall not do any work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor any stranger who is within your gates. For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Thus, Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)

Does it really make sense to throw out one of the ten commandments on the grounds that it was supposedly only created for the Jews, while embracing the other nine? If one were only created for the Jews, it would follow that it must be so for the rest of them. Even James alluded to this point of connectivity when he had said, “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Hence, God’s commandments are interconnected; each one represents something God expects from both Jews and Gentiles.

At this point, it should be obvious that the argument that “the Sabbath was only created for the Jews” doesn’t make sense, and should not be an excuse to justify not keeping it holy.

If you have an objection to what I’ve just shared, please let me know. I am willing to hear what you have to say. You can contact me here: Contact Me. But please be sure to read the rest of the lessons. You might find I’ve already addressed your objection (if you have one).

• Next Lesson: Not Because of Egypt – The Sabbath Part 2
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