The word “sabbath” in Hebrew means “rest”. God expects us to take one day in seven as a day of rest. He Himself did so, having created the world in six days. He expects us to do the same.

For the Jewish nation the day of rest has traditionally been the seventh day of the week, which in their week is Saturday. For most Christians, following the example of the early church led by the apostles of Jesus Christ, the day of rest has been the first day of the week, for us known as Sunday or ‘The Lord’s day”. This may be due to the fact that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, He ascended back into heaven on the first day of the week, and the Holy Spirit came upon believers in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, which was a first day of the week. Western civilization as a whole has kept Sunday as a day of rest from commercial interests and as a day of worship. Sadly for us in Britain, big business has ensured that Sunday has indeed become a day of worship – but it is a day of worship in our modern cathedrals, which are the shopping malls, and people go on Sunday to worship the god of shopping, while the retailers worship the god of profit.

God has rested – so we should have a day of rest.

Two reasons are given for mankind to have a day of rest. The first is that God rested from his labours on the seventh day, and so should we. Mankind has been made to need a rest and God has graciously given us a day when our bodies and minds can rest from work, as He did. In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20. 11

God has redeemed – so we should have a day of remembrance

The second reason is that God has redeemed His people and they are to set aside a day to remember this and to worship Him. His earthly people, the Jewish nation, were to remember their redemption and delivery from slavery in Egypt. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5. 15

Christians are to remember our redemption and delivery from slavery to sin and Satan as a result of the death of Christ on the cross for us. So the first day of the week/the Lord’s day/Sunday should be a day of rest from our employment and a day to concentrate on the worship of God and to remember all that He has done for us. It is not a day for ourselves alone – it is a day set aside for Him. On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them. Acts 20. 7.

Man needs a day of rest for health reasons, to be well rested and maintain efficiency in his daily work. He needs it for social reasons, to maintain a meaningful form of family life. He needs it for spiritual reasons to receive instruction in the things of God and to give God His place in his life.