Exodus 31 · a question people ask
The Sabbath is a sign "forever". Does that mean Christians must keep it?
The LORD says, "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever" (31:17), kept "throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant" (31:16). Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Christians who share the same beliefs read what this means for them in three main ways. All agree that rest is God's gift, and that "the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
The seventh day still
Those who hold this view note that the reason given for the sign reaches back to creation, "for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested" (31:17), when "God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy" (Genesis 2:3). They read "forever" (31:17) and "The Sabbath was made for man" (Mark 2:27) as keeping the day for everyone.
Exodus 31:17 · Genesis 2:3 · Mark 2:27
The Lord's day
Those who hold this view keep the pattern of "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest" (31:15) on the first day of the week. They point to the disciples gathering "On the first day of the week" to break bread (Acts 20:7; also 1 Corinthians 16:2), and to John being "in the Spirit on the Lord’s day" (Revelation 1:10), which they take to be the first day.
Exodus 31:15 · Acts 20:7 · 1 Corinthians 16:2 · Revelation 1:10
Fulfilled in Christ
Those who hold this view note that the sign is "between me and the children of Israel" (31:17), and read the Sabbath day among the things Paul calls "a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s" (Colossians 2:16-17). They leave the keeping of days to each believer: "Let each man be fully assured in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). They find the rest itself in Christ: "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9).
Exodus 31:17 · Colossians 2:16-17 · Romans 14:5-6 · Hebrews 4:9-10
The verses
“Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’””
“He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.””