- Feb 5, 2002
- 166,616
- 56,253
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
Question: In the Bible, there is so much emphasis on keeping the Sabbath. Is going to church on Sundays in disobedience to God’s command since in the Scriptures there is nothing to back up worshiping on Sunday?
— Joseph Kamwendo, via email
Answer: It is true that we must keep all the commandments. However, we do more than “keep” the commandments; we fulfill them. To fulfill something means to “fill it full,” that is, to keep not only its letter but its implications. Hence, Jesus says regarding the Fifth Commandment: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill ….’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna” (Mt 5:21-22). So it is not enough to avoid committing murder, but one must also guard his heart from the things that lead to murder: unforgiveness, vengeance, dehumanizing attitudes, and so forth. This is what it means to fulfill the Law.
Now, the Third Commandment must be kept because it’s one of the Ten Commandments, which Jesus said we must follow to attain everlasting life. But there are aspects of it that are ceremonial or incidental. The Jews kept the law on the Sabbath of the week (i.e. on Saturday) because God rested on the seventh day of creation. But in Jesus’ resurrection, the Lord arose on the “eighth day” (Sunday) establishing a “new creation.” We arise with him and fulfill what God’s rest pointed to, still maintaining the duty, we have to render him praise and adoration, but doing so now in the new creation. It remains true that those who omit this sacred duty on Sunday commit grave sin since it disobeys the heart of what is commanded (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2181).
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
— Joseph Kamwendo, via email
Answer: It is true that we must keep all the commandments. However, we do more than “keep” the commandments; we fulfill them. To fulfill something means to “fill it full,” that is, to keep not only its letter but its implications. Hence, Jesus says regarding the Fifth Commandment: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill ….’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna” (Mt 5:21-22). So it is not enough to avoid committing murder, but one must also guard his heart from the things that lead to murder: unforgiveness, vengeance, dehumanizing attitudes, and so forth. This is what it means to fulfill the Law.
Now, the Third Commandment must be kept because it’s one of the Ten Commandments, which Jesus said we must follow to attain everlasting life. But there are aspects of it that are ceremonial or incidental. The Jews kept the law on the Sabbath of the week (i.e. on Saturday) because God rested on the seventh day of creation. But in Jesus’ resurrection, the Lord arose on the “eighth day” (Sunday) establishing a “new creation.” We arise with him and fulfill what God’s rest pointed to, still maintaining the duty, we have to render him praise and adoration, but doing so now in the new creation. It remains true that those who omit this sacred duty on Sunday commit grave sin since it disobeys the heart of what is commanded (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2181).
The early Church
Continued below.
Why don't Christians keep the Sabbath on Saturdays?
Following the Third Commandment looks different for Christians than it does for the Jewish. Why is that?
www.oursundayvisitor.com
