Is the Sabbath in the New Covenant?
As we draw closer to this Earth's final days there are more Christians asking if the Sabbath Commandment is found in the New Covenant and the answer is yes. There are several ways to reveal this but below is one proof, missed by many which is so simple and yet proves conclusively that the Sabbath Commandment remains. But before revealing this evidence it is necessary to understand the following three very significant points.
1. Both Covenants were ratified (to approve and give formal sanction) by blood as shown by the following scriptures. (Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-18; Hebrews 12:24) As most would already know, the Old Covenant was ratified by the blood of an Ox and the New Covenant of course by the blood of Jesus Christ.
2. Hebrews 9:11-18 tells us that the new began with the death of the testator being Christ. Note verses 15-17, which state that Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant, by means of death and so necessitates of the death of the testator as it has no power at all while the testator lives.
3. And finally, note that Galatians 3:15 says a Covenant cannot be changed after the death of the testator.
So we know the New Covenant was sealed by the blood of Christ that Friday afternoon on the crucifixion day and we have just seen from scripture that it can never be changed in anyway whatsoever after His death. The same applies to the will and testament of any person who has died as any lawyer will tell you. Read when was Jesus crucified for proof the day was Friday.
If there is even so much as one single scripture revealing that the Sabbath was kept after Jesus died that Friday afternoon then the Sabbath is in the New Covenant. This is a fact that cannot be argued. Now note the following words from Luke that could not be written any clearer that he wrote more than three decades after Jesus died on the cross.
When referring to the woman who were preparing spices and ointments for the body of Christ, Luke said, “…they rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment.” Luke 23:55-56
The day that Jesus' mother and the others rested “according to the Commandment” was Saturday and it was the day after the New Covenant had begun. Those with itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3-4) will try to bury this truth by saying that Luke did not know the Sabbath Commandment had ended but this cannot be as Luke wrote this more than thirty years after the cross. That is half a lifetime for many and there is no way Luke would not have known.
And when you say, “they rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment,” then you are informing the reader that there was no change to the Commandment. You would obviously be misleading the reader if this was not the case. If it had been changed in any way then to not mislead the reader you would have to write accordingly saying something like, “they rested the Sabbath day according to the old Commandment,” “or according to the changed or abolished Commandment,” to not misinform the reader. This should require no explanation but I have stated the obvious here due to someone who thought this sounded like a good excuse to avoid loving obedience and quality time with their Heavenly Father.
Jesus not only kept the Sabbath but He did not change it in any way during His life and ministry, and since it cannot be changed after His death then we find the Sabbath in the New Covenant proven by it being kept after the cross. But not only that but we are told it was kept according to the Commandment after the cross.
Those claiming the Sabbath was changed to Sunday in honor of the resurrection of Christ are also proven to be in error as the New Covenant had already been sealed by the blood of Jesus two days earlier, so such a change is in fact impossible. The NC cannot be changed after it was sealed by the blood and death of Christ that Friday afternoon, and to state the obvious, Sunday is after Friday and hence Sunday is impossible. Indisputable fact! And since the Sabbath was kept according to the Commandment after the death Of Christ, then this is just one more very solid proof that the Sabbath remains a blessing for us today and that Jesus cannot be the Sabbath, which is an excuse that is becoming more popular lately. See is Jesus the Sabbath and also who changed the Sabbath to Sunday or what day is the Sabbath for further confirmation.