Did the early church worship on Sabbath?

[SabbathBlessings]

You are using scripture out of context.

Yes.

Numbers 29:35 in context is during Sukkot. Has nothing to do with Christian Sunday worship. The reason Christians hold services on Sundays is because Yeshua rose on the first day of the week (Sunday) and it is to commemorate that event. The sabbath is on the 7th day, always was and always will be...

People keep Sunday based on traditions, not a commandment of God. Jesus never told anyone to keep Sunday in lieu of the Sabbath commandment because He rose on that day after resting on the Sabbath in His tomb. This is strictly a man-made idea thats in competition with what God of the Bible said, His own Testimony that stands sure forever. Psa93:5 Exo31:18 Rev15:5

The Sabbath is the seventh day and always will be and is a commandment of God. Exo20:8-11 no different than the commandment to only worship God. This commandment lets us know what God we are to only worship Exo20:11

Its a matter of following traditions or God's commandments.

Jesus told us which path to take.

Mat 15:3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father [a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the [b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Paul taught the same thing.

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

 

[Jan001]

You are using scripture out of context. Numbers 29:35 in context is during Sukkot. Has nothing to do with Christian Sunday worship. The reason Christians hold services on Sundays is because Yeshua rose on the first day of the week (Sunday) and it is to commemorate that event. The sabbath is on the 7th day, always was and always will be...

The public assembly on the eighth day is what ended all the Jews' major feasts. Jesus' resurrection on the eighth day fulfilled forever the Passover feast of the Jews. The eighth day was Sunday, the first day of the week. Christians commemorate Jesus' resurrection day every Sunday. Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath. Israelite Levite priesthood-Sabbath worship. Melchizedek priesthood-Sunday worship.

Hebrews 7:11-17
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.



Hebrews 10:24-26
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. 25 We should not stay away from our assembly,[a] as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. 26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The public assembly on the eighth day is what ended all the Jews' major feasts. Jesus' resurrection on the eighth day fulfilled forever the Passover feast of the Jews. The eighth day was Sunday, the first day of the week. Christians commemorate Jesus' resurrection day every Sunday. Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath. Israelite Levite priesthood-Sabbath worship. Melchizedek priesthood-Sunday worship.

Hebrews 7:11-17
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Lets look at the context of Hebrews 7 is about the change in the Priesthood. From the tribe of Levi to Jesus who came from Judah. The law said the priesthood needed to come from the tribe of Levi, but Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, why the law (of the priesthood) had to change.

Its says it plainly right in the Scriptures you quoted

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Its why its important to let the word of God speak for Itself. The Sabbath is not mentioned as the law that needed to change, just the priesthood.

God already promised He would not alter the words of His covenant Psa89:34, not a jot or tittle Mat5:18-19 so I think its best to allow the Scriptures to interpret themselves and try not to make them contradict what God said, which there is no one greater, at least that is what we are told if we are seeking Truth Pro3:5-6 Pro30:5-6, sadly not everyone does 2 Tim4:3-4

Its why Sabbath worship continues forever thus saith the Lord Isa66:22-23 because God keeps His promises.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Hebrews 10:24-26
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. 25 We should not stay away from our assembly,[a] as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. 26 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries.

When did Jesus say that assembly was? Lev23:3

Mark 11:17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

What is Jesus quoting....

Isa 56:1 Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who lays hold on it;
Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”


6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—

7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

What did Jesus say His people would be doing in His house of prayer?

Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant

Why we see both Jews and Gentiles in God's house of prayer (assembly) keeping every Sabbath decades after the Cross


Acts 13:27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.

Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Acts 15:21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

And God's house of pray continues in this same assembly on the Sabbath for worship for eternity, thus saith the Lord. God does not change. Mal3:6 Heb 13:8

Isa 66:23 “For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

God identified only one holy day for Him, in all of Scripture, sadly man assigned God a day He said was for works and labors that most keep in lieu of what God said to do.

This is God speaking here...

Isa 58:13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,

The end times is about worship. Do we worship God the way He tells us to, or follow what's popular by mans traditions.

Lets not be cheated

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

We are told to get back to worship our Creator Rev 14:7 which is what the Sabbath is about Exo20:11

 

[The Liturgist]

These were Jewish worship services, not Christian worship services. Paul went to the synagogues on the Sabbath because that is where he could speak to both large numbers of Jews and to the circumcised Gentile converts to Judaism. Acts 13:43

Christians worshiped on the first day of the week, the Lord's day. Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Revelation 1:10

Numbers 29:35 On the eighth day you will hold a public assembly: you shall do no heavy work.

The eighth day (Sunday, the first day of the week) is the day the Christians have publicly worshiped God for 2000 years.

That said, the Christians did worship on other days of the week - the primary day of the week was always Sunday, the feast of the Resurrection, which we know because of the worship service in progress at the Cenacle at St. Mark’s house in Jerusalem at the third hour (9 AM) on a Sunday when the Holy Spirit descended, since Acts clearly says that there were 200 of the faithful present when that occurred.

However it is also the case that, ironically, the church that Sabbatarians appear to believe it is their religious duty to criticize, the Roman catholic Church, conducts more worship services on Saturday than any other denomination. All current and retired Roman Catholic priests are required to celebrate the Mass daily, and also the Liturgy of the Hours, and most churches have at least one public mass on Saturday, and recently Catholics have been permitted to attend a vigil mass on Saturday as a means of satisfying their Sunday worship obligation. The net result is that every Sunday, there are more masses celebrated in Catholic churches, cathedrals, priories and friaries, oratories, chapels, monasteries and convents than there are parishes of all Sabbatarian denominations combined - and all of these services, being masses, feature the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ our God given for the remission of sins and life everlasting (1 Corinthians 11:1-34), as a perpetual recapitulation of and participation in (anamnesis) of His voluntary sacrifice on the Cross, wherein God in the person of the Son and Word died in order to trample down death by death, and show us what it means to be human - death is swallowed up in victory as Christ arose from the grave on the First Day.

Thus, on Friday we commemorate that Christ remade humanity in His image, just as He made humanity in His image in Genesis 1 (it is not a coincidence that John chapter 1 parallels Genesis chapter 1, for Genesis 1 is a prophecy of the Passion of Christ our True God), on Saturday we commemorate Christ reposing in a tomb, and also by extension the mystery of Him who is uncircumscribable being contained in the womb of Our Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin mary, and because of the Harrowing of Hell, a day to pray for our departed loved ones, and then on Sunday we celebrate Christ rising from the grave, and the light of the World to Come, the mystical Eighth Day of Creation.

The Sabbath is fundamentally prophetic, in that it was about the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Theotokos and his repose in the tomb, and our own pending repose even as our soul shall either be with Christ in Heaven or not with Christ, depending on our probable eschatological outcome. Thus, traditional Christians properly observe this feast through the Vesperal Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday in the Orthodox Church and equivalent services such as the Roman Catholic Paschal Vigil Mass (all of which originated in Jerusalem and are very similar, well, in the Roman Catholic Church it was nearly identical to the Orthodox liturgy until Pope Pius XII made some odd changes to the Paschal Triduum in 1955 - I don’t see what the point was of taking an ancient liturgy virtually identical to that celebrated by the Orthodox, which in the case of the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday contained elements in common with the Eastern Orthodox Presanctified Liturgy we attribute to Pope St. Gregory the Great, and replacing those liturgies with rescheduled liturgies very different from what was historically celebrated and what still is celebrated by the Orthodox.

Fortunately, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has been encouraging Roman Catholics who are still able to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass to use the pre-1955 Triduum, and thus the celebration of the ancient version of it is increasingly common. Alas, the SSPX, which is regarded as canonically irregular by many, and by some as schismatic, although I don’t think that’s the position of the Vatican, but I don’t know, only uses the final 1962 Tridentine missal, which of course has all the unpleasantness of the 1955 reforms.

 

[The Liturgist]

You are using scripture out of context. Numbers 29:35 in context is during Sukkot. Has nothing to do with Christian Sunday worship. The reason Christians hold services on Sundays is because Yeshua rose on the first day of the week (Sunday) and it is to commemorate that event. The sabbath is on the 7th day, always was and always will be...

The problem is of course Sabbatarian churches who attack us, the Eastern Orthodox, for having our main weekly Divine Liturgy on Sunday, even though we have the second largest number of liturgies on the Sabbath after the Roman Catholic and sui juris Eastern Catholic churches in communion with the Roman bishop (not even counting Vespers and All Night Vigils, which technically happen on liturgical Sunday, since like in Judaism, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox start the liturgical calendar at Sunset, as you know but some other readers might not).

They accuse us in many cases of being under the control of Roman Catholics and also say false things about the purpose of the Council of Nicaea, St. Constantine and other important events and persons in the history of the Orthodox church - there seems to be a false dichtomy wherein everyone not a part of the Sabbatarian denomination is viewed as either part of the Roman Catholic Church or somehow enthralled to the Roman Catholic Church, despite that not being the case for the Orthodox.

Indeed the fact that the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East, despite being separated by tragic schisms that in some cases have lasted for over 1500 years, all worship on Sunday, despite never having been subject to the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome is one of many reasons why people should accept that worship on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ our True God is an ancient practice going back to the Holy Apostles (which we also see in Acts on Pentecost Sunday in 33 AD - it is not a coincidence the Holy Spirit descended when most Christians are worshipping.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

The public assembly on the eighth day is what ended all the Jews' major feasts. Jesus' resurrection on the eighth day fulfilled forever the Passover feast of the Jews. The eighth day was Sunday, the first day of the week. Christians commemorate Jesus' resurrection day every Sunday. Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath. Israelite Levite priesthood-Sabbath worship. Melchizedek priesthood-Sunday worship.

That has nothing to do with anything, although you are forcing it to. Yeshua died on the 14th of Nisan (a Friday that year), Passover day at the same exact time the Paschal lambs were killed. He rested on Shabbat (the 15th, the 1st day of unleavened) and rose on the 16th (the first day/8th day of the week) fulfilling Yom HaBikkurim.

 

[Leaf473]

That said, the Christians did worship on other days of the week - the primary day of the week was always Sunday, the feast of the Resurrection, which we know because of the worship service in progress at the Cenacle at St. Mark’s house in Jerusalem at the third hour (9 AM) on a Sunday when the Holy Spirit descended, since Acts clearly says that there were 200 of the faithful present when that occurred.

However it is also the case that, ironically, the church that Sabbatarians appear to believe it is their religious duty to criticize, the Roman catholic Church, conducts more worship services on Saturday than any other denomination. All current and retired Roman Catholic priests are required to celebrate the Mass daily, and also the Liturgy of the Hours, and most churches have at least one public mass on Saturday, and recently Catholics have been permitted to attend a vigil mass on Saturday as a means of satisfying their Sunday worship obligation. The net result is that every Sunday, there are more masses celebrated in Catholic churches, cathedrals, priories and friaries, oratories, chapels, monasteries and convents than there are parishes of all Sabbatarian denominations combined - and all of these services, being masses, feature the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ our God given for the remission of sins and life everlasting (1 Corinthians 11:1-34), as a perpetual recapitulation of and participation in (anamnesis) of His voluntary sacrifice on the Cross, wherein God in the person of the Son and Word died in order to trample down death by death, and show us what it means to be human - death is swallowed up in victory as Christ arose from the grave on the First Day.

Thus, on Friday we commemorate that Christ remade humanity in His image, just as He made humanity in His image in Genesis 1 (it is not a coincidence that John chapter 1 parallels Genesis chapter 1, for Genesis 1 is a prophecy of the Passion of Christ our True God), on Saturday we commemorate Christ reposing in a tomb, and also by extension the mystery of Him who is uncircumscribable being contained in the womb of Our Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin mary, and because of the Harrowing of Hell, a day to pray for our departed loved ones, and then on Sunday we celebrate Christ rising from the grave, and the light of the World to Come, the mystical Eighth Day of Creation.

The Sabbath is fundamentally prophetic, in that it was about the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Theotokos and his repose in the tomb, and our own pending repose even as our soul shall either be with Christ in Heaven or not with Christ, depending on our probable eschatological outcome. Thus, traditional Christians properly observe this feast through the Vesperal Divine Liturgy on Holy Saturday in the Orthodox Church and equivalent services such as the Roman Catholic Paschal Vigil Mass (all of which originated in Jerusalem and are very similar, well, in the Roman Catholic Church it was nearly identical to the Orthodox liturgy until Pope Pius XII made some odd changes to the Paschal Triduum in 1955 - I don’t see what the point was of taking an ancient liturgy virtually identical to that celebrated by the Orthodox, which in the case of the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday contained elements in common with the Eastern Orthodox Presanctified Liturgy we attribute to Pope St. Gregory the Great, and replacing those liturgies with rescheduled liturgies very different from what was historically celebrated and what still is celebrated by the Orthodox.

Fortunately, Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has been encouraging Roman Catholics who are still able to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass to use the pre-1955 Triduum, and thus the celebration of the ancient version of it is increasingly common. Alas, the SSPX, which is regarded as canonically irregular by many, and by some as schismatic, although I don’t think that’s the position of the Vatican, but I don’t know, only uses the final 1962 Tridentine missal, which of course has all the unpleasantness of the 1955 reforms.

Informative, thank you

Quick question, in the section below, did you intend to write Sunday or Saturday?

The net result is that every Sunday, there are more masses celebrated in Catholic churches...

 

[prodromos]

Informative, thank you

Quick question, in the section below, did you intend to write Sunday or Saturday?

He meant Saturday.

 

[The Liturgist]

Informative, thank you

Quick question, in the section below, did you intend to write Sunday or Saturday?

I meant to write Saturday, so thank you for catching that typo, my friend.

 

[The Liturgist]

He meant Saturday.

Indeed.

By the way, if anyone ever has any questions about anything I’ve written on the subjects of Patristics, Church History or Eastern Orthodox theology, or general theology, @prodromos is the only member of the forum who I trust to speak on my behalf completely, because if I’ve made a mistake, his Orthodox faith is deep and profound and he can supply a correct answer, whether that mistake was a typo or a gross theological error.

The only areas where I don’t know if Prodromos and I share the same knowledge is with regards to liturgical history, and we might have differing opinions about ecumenical reconciliation and how it should be done, but whatever his opinion is, I respect it, so in general, if Prodromos says I meant to say X, he has earned that right.

He and I were hoping to meet a few months back, but I was very ill at the time unfortunately, but we will meet in the future, I have no doubt. He’s one of my oldest and best friends on the forum, along with my dear Lutheran friend @MarkRohfrietsch and my dear Anglican friend @Shane R and my Catholic friends @chevyontheriver and @Xeno.of.athens , and another friend whose username I can’t share because he sent me a PM indicating he is very ill, and I don’t know if he wants it publicly known, but I would ask my traditional Christian friends to pray for him - his baptismal name is Neil (and since I am as far as I’m aware the only member of the forum who knows that, I can share that without embarrassing him if he doesn’t want people knowing of his very severe cardiopulmonary health problems - he is in worse shape than I am, by far, and many members know what a disaster my health has been of late, but don’t pray for me, if your time is short, pray for Neil, because regarding my health, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Terminator 2 would say of me “He’ll live.”