Untitled article by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 4, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 27.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 8.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

"JUST read that once more, please, Mr. Jones. Are you sure the psalmist doesn't say nine of the commandments?"

'Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto ALL Thy commandments.' I suppose that means all ten of them, Mr. Hartman," smiled Mr. Jones.

"Well, but," objected Mrs. Wilbur, "I am quite sure that the apostle Paul must have made the change, being instructed to do so by Christ."

"Perhaps it would be well for you to take time to look this up, Mrs. Wilbur," smiled Brother Hartman, "and report at our next meeting. We may be sure if there was any change in the Sabbath, Paul has mentioned it, because he assures us that he has 'not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.'"

"I am willing to try," said Mrs. Wilbur, "and I shall certainly tell you what I find."

"But I would like to know if there is anything in favor of keeping the old Jewish Sabbath in the New Testament," said Mr. Jones.

"May be you can answer the question, Elsie, you or John."

"Brother and I were studying that point this afternoon together, and we found that the last verse of Luke 23, and the first verse of the next chapter, is pretty plain on that point. John will read it."

"It is speaking of the burial of Christ. The holy women wanted to prepare the body of their Lord for the tomb according to the custom of the times. 'And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared.'"

"Where did you say that was found?" asked Mrs. Wilbur. "Queer I don't remember reading that verse."

"Luke 23:56 and 24:1," responded John.

"They 'rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment,'" repeated Brother Hartman. "Now, Beth, you will have to repeat the commandment again, I guess, to tell us which day the commandment says is the Sabbath."

And little Beth, glad of another opportunity to answer some of the questions, repeated the sacred command which the Almighty has placed in the very heart of His holy law, solemnly and with great emphasis.

"So it was the seventh day that the holy women observed so carefully that they would not even prepare the body of their Lord for burial. What day comes 'in the morning' after the seventh day, or the Sabbath? Josie, will you answer?"

"Why, the first day, or Sunday," smiled Josie.

"What day comes just before the first day, Beth?"

"Saturday, papa, or the seventh."

"Well, then, it is very evident, is it not, that the day before the first day is the one observed by the holy women, even after the death of Christ. What is your opinion, Mr. Wilbur?"

"Well, to be candid, neighbor, I should suppose Christ would have told them before His death, that He was about to change the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day, because He would arise on that day, and that they were to observe it ever after."

"Your idea is reasonable, quite so," said Sister Hartman; while Mrs. Wilbur exchanged glances with Mrs. Jones, who seemed somewhat troubled.

"The first day of the week is mentioned barely eight times in the New Testament," continued Brother Hartman, "and if there is any sacredness attached to it, I suppose it will be mentioned in connection somewhere. But I think we will find that not in one of these instances is it spoken of as a holy day. Josie, will you please turn to Matt. 28:1, because this is the first time the day is mentioned in the New Testament."

Josie turned to the passage, and read:

'In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.'

"Why mother," exclaimed Josie, "don't you see by this verse that instead of finding anything for Sunday keeping, it plainly says that the day before the first day of the week is the Sabbath?"

"Let me read that verse again; it's strange I never noticed it before," and Mrs. Wilbur read once again the word of inspiration.

"Now, Mr. Wilbur, you will please read the next instance in which the first day is mentioned. Turn to Mark 16:2."

'And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher, at the rising of the sun?'

"Well, Neighbor Jones, I see nothing so far for Sunday observance, can you?"