Have you ever stopped to consider who truly holds the authority to alter one of God’s commandments? The fourth commandment clearly instructs, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), identifying the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord. Yet many Christians observe Sunday instead. A common explanation points to the Catholic Church’s role in this shift. But does the Church possess the divine authority to make such a change? Let’s examine this question through Scripture and historical claims, inviting you to rethink traditions and relearn from the apostles’ faithful example.
The Biblical Standard: God’s Unchanging Authority #
Scripture presents the Sabbath as rooted in creation—God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and made it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). The commandment is part of the Ten Commandments, described as eternal and binding (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). Jesus affirmed the law’s enduring nature: “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17). He kept the Sabbath as His custom (Luke 4:16) and declared Himself Lord of it (Mark 2:28), emphasizing mercy while upholding its sanctity.
The apostles continued this pattern—resting according to the commandment (Luke 23:56) and gathering for teaching every Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44; 17:2; 18:4). No New Testament passage records a command, debate, or example of transferring the day. If authority existed to change God’s explicit command, we would expect clear apostolic instruction—yet silence prevails.
Thought-provoking question: If God declares the seventh day holy and the apostles upheld it without alteration, where does any human institution find the right to override this?
Claims of Authority: Admissions from Catholic Sources #
Historical records show the Catholic Church openly claims responsibility for shifting observance from Saturday to Sunday. Various Catholic writings assert that the change occurred through ecclesiastical authority, not Scripture. For example, catechisms and official statements explain that the Church transferred solemnity from the seventh to the first day, emphasizing its power to institute festivals of precept.
Admissions include acknowledgments that the Bible specifies Saturday as the Sabbath, with no command to sanctify Sunday. One notes the Scriptures enforce Saturday observance, which the Church does not follow. Another highlights that Protestants, claiming Scripture alone, lack warrant for Sunday yet follow the change—making consistent seventh-day keepers more aligned with biblical principle in this matter.
These claims rest on the view that the Church holds supreme authority, even to modify divine law as a vicegerent of Christ. Tradition, not Scripture, is presented as the foundation in some contexts. Yet Scripture warns of a power that would “think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25), raising questions about any human claim to alter God’s set times.
Challenge yourself: When an institution admits the change lacks biblical authority but asserts its own power to enact it, does that align with the apostles’ reliance on Scripture and God’s word?
Evaluating Mainstream Teachings: Apostolic Example vs. Human Tradition #
Many Protestant churches maintain Sunday observance, often viewing it as the “Lord’s Day” for worship and rest. Yet the apostles knew no such transfer—they kept the seventh day faithfully. The Reformation emphasized freedom in hearing God’s word but did not restore the biblical day, retaining a tradition inherited from earlier shifts.
Jesus taught obedience flows from love: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The apostles modeled this, never compromising on God’s law. Claims of authority to change rest on post-biblical developments, influenced by emperors and councils, not divine mandate.
What if following the apostles means honoring the day God sanctified, rather than one altered by human decree? The Sabbath remains a sign of loyalty to the Creator (Exodus 31:13-17), a weekly delight (Isaiah 58:13-14), and a pointer to rest in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10).
A Call to Rethink and Relearn #
The question of authority boils down to this: Does ultimate power lie with God’s word or human institutions? Scripture shows no basis for changing the day—only consistent seventh-day observance by Jesus and the apostles. Claims of ecclesiastical power to institute the change invite careful evaluation against the Bible’s plain teaching.
At Yovel Ministries, we’re committed to returning to biblical foundations. Does this perspective challenge your understanding of worship? What steps might you take to align more closely with apostolic practice? Share your thoughts below—let’s explore these truths together and pursue faithfulness to God’s unchanging word.
