What Did Jesus Say About Sabbath Is It Still a Practice for Christians of Today?
1) Direct Answer
Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, and that He is Lord of the Sabbath. For Christians today, the true Sabbath is fulfilled in Christ—resting from our own works by the Holy Spirit. We are not under a legal command to keep a certain day, but we should gladly gather to worship and do good, without judging one another over days.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Jesus’ words:
- “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath… the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28).
- He defended His disciples plucking grain and healed on the Sabbath, showing “it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days” (Matthew 12:1-13).
- Christ gives the real rest:
- “Come unto Me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-29).
- “There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God… he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works” (Hebrews 4:9-10).
- Not bound to sabbath days as law:
- “Let no man therefore judge you… in respect of… sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).
- “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5-6).
- Believers still assemble:
- They gathered on the first day (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2), and we are told not to forsake assembling (Hebrews 10:25)—but this is worship, not bondage to a legal Sabbath.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Now notice: Jesus didn’t cancel mercy to protect a ritual. He revealed the purpose—Sabbath was made to bless man, not bind him.
- You see, the weekly Sabbath under the Law was a shadow. Christ is the substance. When He gives you the Holy Spirit, you enter God’s rest—Sabbath life every day, not just one day.
- If righteousness came by a calendar, why did Scripture say not to let anyone judge you in sabbath days? And why did Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, place doing good above strict observance?
- Therefore, Christians are free from the yoke of a legal Sabbath. We honor God by resting in Christ, walking in the Spirit daily, assembling with believers, and doing good any day.
4) Reinforcing Statement
It’s not about a day holding you; it’s about the Lord holding you. Enter His rest, live holy every day, gather with the saints, and let no one bring you back under shadows when the Light Himself has come.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Remembering the Lord
62-1209 §41
And the church member of today is the same. If they trusted in their denomination and so forth, them days, and was afraid of their prestige, they'd be put out of the synagogues, what was it then? It was idolatry! Worshipping an idol creed or an idol church religion, instead of accepting the living Word which was manifested before them. And they saw the Word of God. The Bible said, "We have seen Him and handled Him." Human beings laid hands upon the literal, living, manifested Word of the living God; and let traditi...
God using His Gift
56-0311E §50
What if he's sick, needs help? Could I help him? No. Could Jesus help him if He was standing here? No, no more than to tell him. And if Jesus has risen from the dead, and I can yield myself to Him, the Holy Spirit, what would the Holy Spirit do if He's the same yesterday, today, and forever? The same thing He done to the woman at the well: would tell her where her troubles was. He'd tell the man where his troubles was, and what he come here for. Is that right? Then that would make the resurrected Jesus living in Hi...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 5:E-85
Now how was this trinity expressed? It was expressed by an equilateral triangle even as it is expressed in Rome today. Strange, the Hebrews did not have such a concept. Now who is right? Is it the Hebrews or the Babylonians? In Asia the polytheistic idea of three gods in one came out in an image with three heads on one body. He is expressed as three intelligences. In India, they found it in their hearts to express him as one god in three forms. Now that really is good modern day theology. In Japan there is a great...
Christianity versus Idolatry
61-1217 §72
Now, we find out, so it is today. The Roman church continues right on with their same round biscuit, believing that Christ comes down and jumps in. And, listen, do you know the priest drinks the wine? when they're to take it one with another. "He passed the cup one to another." But in the pagan form the priests drink the wine. See, you still... It's all pagan! Just exactly. They don't care. They tell you, "I won't talk to you about no Bible." That minister, or priest, said to me up there, said, "Mr. Branham, you're...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 9:E-68
Take a good look around you. Examine the people as they walk by. In the multitudes you see, can you pick out those that have the appearance of Christians? Watch how they dress, watch how they act, hear what they say, see where they go. Surely there ought to be some real evidence of the new birth amongst all those we see go by. But few there be. Yet today the fundamental churches are telling us they have millions saved and even Spirit-filled. Spirit-filled? Can you call women Spirit-filled who go around with frizzy...