you say the 10 commandments are a subset of the law? Take the time to study this rather lengthy response then see if you still say that.
There are three primary texts in the letters of Paul that are used by some Christians to show that the Sabbath does not apply to Christians today.
They believe that these Scriptures show that the Sabbath was done away with. These texts are Colossians 2:16, Romans 14:5, and Galatians 4:10.
In order for us to explain these texts, we must go back to the Old Testament. From the Old Testament, we must understand the distinction between the ceremonial law and the moral law. We must also understand the relationship between the weekly Sabbath, the special holy days, and ceremonial Sabbaths.
The Two Laws
In the life of Israel, the people were very concerned about the Law of God. They used the word "law" to refer to the Ten Commandments (moral law), the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament), and the whole Old Testament. To the Israelites, all Scripture applied to them, and it was all "law." The Israelites did not make distinctions in the law, just like most Americans do not make distinctions between federal, state, and local laws. But to the God who gave the Law, was there a difference in the laws? The answer is "yes."
Deuteronomy 10:1-5, 12-13 describes the giving of a law. From the context and description of the law involved, it is clear that it refers to the moral law, or Ten Commandments. The text tells us four things about this Law:
Written on two tablets of stone.
Written by God with His finger.
Law placed inside the Ark of the Covenant.
Law given for the good of the people.
There is a second law described in Deuteronomy 31:24-26. This law is clearly different from the Ten Commandment Law described in Deuteronomy 10. This text also tells us four things.
Written in a book.
Written by Moses.
Law placed beside the Ark of the Covenant.
Law given as a witness against the people.
It should be obvious, even to the casual observer, that these passages refer to two different laws. If the law described in Deuteronomy 10 is the Ten Commandments, what law is described later on? The ceremonial law is the one being described in Deuteronomy 31.
It was the ceremonial law-with its commands regarding animal sacrifice, festival days, and unclean foods-which was completed and fulfilled in the death of Christ. These laws no longer apply to the Christian believer today.
Part of this ceremonial law involved the establishment and regulation of festival days and special holy days which were called "sabbaths." These special Sabbaths were not the weekly seventh day Sabbaths. Most of the time, these special or "high Sabbaths" did not fall on the seventh day of the week. In Leviticus 23:32, the Day of Atonement was called a "Sabbath," even though it did not fall on the seventh day of the week.
The weekly Sabbath is also tied to the ceremonial law because on the seventh day Sabbath, animal sacrifices were to be a part of worship. (See Numbers 28:9-10.) Finally, the Sabbath is part of the ceremonial law in that it is one of the feasts or "appointed times" listed in Leviticus 23.
Therefore, the weekly seventh day Sabbath is part of the ceremonial law and also part of the moral law. The weekly Sabbath is part of the ceremonial law because it is one of many of God’s "appointed times." The weekly Sabbath is also part of the ceremonial law because sacrifices take place on that day. There were also "Sabbaths" which were part of the ceremonial law, but not weekly Sabbaths.
Colossians 2:14-16
The Apostle Paul is dealing with two false teachings in the
second chapter of Colossians. First Paul is dealing with an early form of Gnosticism which had begun to creep into the church at Colosse. This was a pagan belief where everything physical was considered evil, and a person sought fulfillment in mystical experiences and worship of angels.
Second, Paul was dealing with false teachers who insisted on strict observance of the ceremonial law and the teaching of the elders.
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him (Christ), having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2:13-14).
We must ask what "written code" was "against us" and nailed to the cross. Scholars suggest several good options for interpreting this text. First, in this text the word "written" is literally "handwritten" in the original Greek. Second, the code that was cancelled was "against us." We are then looking for a handwritten code that was against us. We know that t his is not referring to the Ten Commandments (moral law), because Deuteronomy 10:13 says that the moral law was given for "our good."
The ceremonial law was handwritten by Moses (Deuteronomy 31:24) and was placed beside the Ark: "There it will remain as a witness against you" (Deuteronomy 31:26). There is strong evidence to suggest that it was the ceremonial law Paul is referring to as being nailed to the cross.
If the ceremonial law was taken away and nailed to the cross, then we would expect the New Testament to say that the sacrifices, dietary laws, and special festival and holy days (sabbaths) would be taken away also. The Apostle Paul does go on to say this in the same text in Colossians 2.
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16).
Examine the progression of thought in Colossians 2:14-16. First, the Apostle Paul says that the ceremonial law was taken away and nailed to the cross. Paul then uses the word "therefore" to introduce the conclusion, or result, of having the ceremonial law taken away. Having the ceremonial law taken away means that we are no longer to be judged by dietary laws, festivals, or sabbath days.
In verse 16, the Apostle Paul gives examples of items from the ceremonial law that no longer apply. He begins with dietary laws, which are ceremonial. He then goes on to the religious festivals and New Moon celebrations, which are ceremonial. Then he talks about "Sabbaths" (no the weekly Sabbath), which are also ceremonial (Leviticus 23:32). It would seem inconsistent for Paul to give clear examples from the ceremonial law, and then switch suddenly to an example from the moral law. The "sabbaths" whose observances are not to be judged are the ceremonial "sabbaths," and the ceremonial aspects of the weekly Sabbaths.
The fact that the ceremonial Sabbaths (not weekly Sabbaths) and the ceremonial aspects of the seventh day Sabbath are canceled, does not affect the requirements of the moral law regarding the Sabbath. The Sabbath "was made for man" at creation and written by the finger of God in stone, in the Ten Commandments. Not one tiny aspect of this moral law (Ten Commandments) regarding the Sabbath will be changed "until heaven and earth disappear" (Matthew 5:17-18)
An example of having two laws on the same matter could come from our own legal system. It is possible for the state and federal governments to have laws which apply to the same matter, such as civil rights. The fact that a state may change or abolish its civil rights law does not mean that a person is not bound by the federal law on the matter of civil rights. In the same way, God had two laws which applied to the weekly Sabbath. The ceremonial law dealt with the matters of sacrifice on the Sabbath, and the moral law dealt with attitude, conduct, and the other issues related to the Sabbath. Abolition of the ceremonial law regarding the Sabbath sacrifices had nothing to do with changing the moral law regarding the Sabbath.
Romans 14:5-6
"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giventh God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. (Romans 14:5-6).
The Apostle Paul is addressing one issue, the ceremonial law. But he gives two examples of its use-special holy days, and items regarding food. The whole point of this text is that people should not be judged in matters related to the ceremonial law.
If this text dealt with the weekly Sabbath, then it would require a change in the Ten Commandments. The Fourth Commandment tells us to rest and keep the seventh day Sabbath holy. Paul is not saying that one of the Ten Commandments is optional, depending on whether you are convinced in your own mind. That would be like saying that adultery or murder is permissible if a man is "fully convinced in his own mind."
Galations 4:10-11
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
The people of Galatia had begun as pagans "under the basic principles of the world." They believed in the elemental spirits of earth, wind, water, fire, etc. These beliefs included sacred times and places. The Galatians were slaves to "those who by nature are not gods" (Galatians 4:8). This could refer to their belief in the elemental spirits, which are not gods at all.
The contrast now is that they know the true and living God, or are known by Him. Paul goes on to chastise the Galatians for going back to their weak and miserable principles, and once again becoming enslaved to them.
One argument is that they are turning back to their original pagan, elemental spirits or powers. In this case, they would be celebrating or observing "special days and months, and seasons and years." This is clearly against the gospel taught by Paul when he started the churches.
The second possibility is that with the coming of the Judaizers, they were not going all the way back to pagan elements; they were convinced instead to begin keeping the law of Moses (ceremonial law). To Paul, slavery to the ceremonial law was no better than slavery to the elemental spirits. In this case, they would be celebrating the Jewish festivals of the ceremonial law, which was contrary to Paul’s teaching for the church.
With either interpretation, the seventh day Sabbath is not in question. The Sabbath is part of the moral law-which is just, holy, righteous, and good.
Questions for Study and Discussion
Fill in the following chart.
"The Two Laws" Deut. 10 Deut. 31
On what written -----------------------------------------------
By whom written? -----------------------------------------------
Where placed? ---------------------------------------------------
Purpose of law? --------------------------------------------------
Which law is it? ---------------------------------------------------
Describe how the Sabbath is part of the ceremonial law and the moral law. (When the ceremonial law is done away with, the Sabbath command from the moral law is still in place.)
What is the written code referred to in Colossians 2:14? Give good reasons for your response.
What are the "Sabbaths" referred to in Colossians 2:16? Give a good reason for your response.
In Romans 14:5-6, what is Paul saying about "regarding" certain days as "special"
What are the special days, months, seasons, and years referred to in Galatians 4:10-11?
How does an understanding of the two laws affect our understanding of the Sabbath and how it is to be kept?
