Why Christ Could Not Change the Sabbath by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 15, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 11.

Why Christ Could Not Change the Sabbath.

By Editor

In the article, "The Sabbath and Sunday" (page 10 of last week) is the important statement that "Jesus did not institute a change of the Sabbath before His death, and could not after His resurrection." Some will ask, "Why could He not change the Sabbath after His resurrection?" We say that some will ask this question, because many now say that He did so change the day. But there is a reason why He could not do so. The Sabbath is part of the law of God, a jot or tittle of which can not be destroyed (Matt. 5: 17, 18; Luke 16: 17). This law is inseparably connected with the new covenant (Jer. 31: 31-33; Heb. 8: 8-11), and is established by faith (Rom. 3: 31). Now the new covenant, or testament, and all that is done under it, was ratified at the death of Christ. So if, before His death, He did not make any change in the law which was to be enforced by the covenant that was confirmed by His death, He could not make any change afterward: "Tho it be but a man's covenant [margin, 'testament'], yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuleth, or addeth thereto." Gal. 3: 15. Is God's covenant less sacred than a man's testament? Has He less regard for His covenant than men have?—No, indeed; for He emphatically says, "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips." Ps. 89: 34; also 111: 5-10.