Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:3

Sunday in the Bible

Lesson 15

Marking Code: SB
Marking Color: Black
Key Text: John 14:21,23

1. John 14:21,23. We show our love for Jesus by our willingness to keep His commandments and be obedient to Him. This is true in the matter of the day He has asked us to keep holy as it is in any other of His commandments.

Note: There are only eight texts in the New Testament that mention the first day of the week-the day we know as Sunday. We will look at each of these eight to determine if any of them tell us that we are to observe Sunday as a holy day or as the Sabbath of the Lord. (Genesis 1:5 is almost the only text in the Old Testament that mentions the first day of the week; it refers to the events of the first day of Creation.)

2. Matthew 28:1. This verse tells us that the women came to Jesus’ tomb early on the first day of the week. It says nothing about the first day being holy or the Sabbath. In fact, it says that they came “after the Sabbath” on the first day of the week. So the Sabbath was finished before the first day of the week began.

3. Mark 16:1,2. Mark mentions the same event-the women coming to Jesus’ tomb on the first day of the week. He too, says that Sabbath “was past” when the first day of the week began.

4. Mark 16:9. Later that same day-Resurrection Sunday-Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. However, He said nothing to her about Sunday now being a holy day.

5. Luke 23:50-56; 24:1. Luke records the same event told by Matthew and Mark-the appearance of the women at Jesus’ tomb early Sunday morning. Like them, Luke says nothing about Sunday now bring a holy day.

6. John 20:1. This is John’s version of the same story already told by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

7. John 20:19. Jesus appeared to the disciples in the evening of that same day-Resurrection Sunday. Some individuals have said that this was a religious service being held because Sunday was now the holy day of worship following the Resurrection. However, notice that the disciples were hiding in fear of their lives; they were not holding a worship service.

8. Acts 20:7,8. Paul preached at Troas on the first day of the week continuing until midnight. This was a special farewell meeting, and the book of Acts records numerous instances of Paul worshiping on the Sabbath. One religious service on Sunday does not make the day holy. Christians often meet for mid-week services on Wednesday or another day-without making that day holy.

9. 1 Corinthians 16:1,2. Some have said that these verses refer to taking up an offering in church on the first day of the week. However, notice that Paul tells the Christians that they are to set aside something on the first day of the week and store it up until he comes. This is practical instruction on beginning to save early in the week at home, so that a person didn’t have to wait until Paul arrived to determine what he could contribute.

Note: These are all the verses in the New Testament that refer to the first day of the week. As we have seen, there is no indication that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh day of the week to the first day of the week following Jesus’ resurrection.

10. Mark 7:7-13. Jesus says that if we set aside a commandment of God to follow a man-made tradition, then our worship is in vain.

11. Colossians 2:12. Baptism-not Sunday worship-is the memorial of Christ’s resurrection.

SB-End.

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