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.
Church Ages, part 2: The Patmos Vision
60-1204E §65
Now let's go back to Isaiah, the 28th chapter, and the 8th verse, I believe it is, now. Isaiah 28:8, and let's read Isaiah 28---the prophet speaking seven hundred and twelve years before it happened. Now how many would like to know what the true Sabbath is? the true rest is? Here it is. Now here's where the prophet spoke it, and I'll show you where it come to pass. Watch. Isaiah 28:8: "For all [the prophet prophesying of these days.]..." For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness [people taking communion that...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
52-1027 §22
The Jews was questioning Him a little later. Read down there on down. Read the chapter, and you'll find out when they were in question about Him on the Sabbath and so forth, listen, what He said: St. John 5:19 and 20: "Verily, verily I say unto you. The Son could do nothing in Himself but what He sees the Father doing. Whatsoever the Father doeth, He showeth the Son. And these things doeth the Son also. And He'll show you greater things than the healing of this diabetic, that you may marvel." Jesus plainly stated t...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
58-0214 §42
The man was packing his bed on the Sabbath. He was questioned. Saint John 5, now, still in Saint John, 5th chapter, the 19th verse, if you want to mark it, 5:19. Jesus was questioned. And listen what He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing in Himself; but what He sees the Father doing, that doeth the Son likewise." Other words, "I do nothing until the Father shows Me first what to do." See, it was all... No flesh can glory in the presence of God. God was in Christ. And if Christ is in you,...
Hebrews, Chapter 4
57-0901E §69
So, if you've never received the Holy Ghost yet, you have never entered into God's rest. You don't have to say, "Oh, I couldn't, I want to smoke. I just couldn't do it, I'm a Christian. I really don't want to drink, but I---I---I'm a Christian. I just can't... Don't want to drink but yet I like to." If you lust after women, if you do all these ungodly things, you've never hit that rest period yet. You've never entered into your rest. And when you enter into this rest, you cease from your own worldly works like God...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
55-0806 §59
Oh, what a dig. What a black eye to Christianity. I stood, I thought, O God. You atheistic. Wait till the time comes. God is under obligation to His Word. Jesus lives and reigns. They, the Bishops, was talking to him, and he said, "Let me see you teachers produce it." Said, "Mohammed taught life after death; we believe it. Your Jesus taught life after death, and you believe it." Said, "Other words, all the resurrection, and all that stuff," said, "prove it." Said, "You've had two thousand years to do it in. And you...