SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ANSWERED VERSE-BY-VERSE ON JOHN 14:15!

WALANG BISA ANG 10 UTOS SA NGA SDA DAHIL SA PATULOY NA PAGBIBINTANG AT TSISMIS SA KAPWA?

BAKIT HINDI 10 UTOS SA REVELATION 14:12?

BAKIT KASALANANG SUMUNOD SA 10 UTOS?

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ANSWERED VERSE-BY-VERSE ON JOHN 14:15: "IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS"

John 14:15 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Seventh-day Adventists Argument: 

"Christians who truly love Jesus as their Lord and Savior should obey the Ten Commandments. If you don't obey the Ten Commandments, it means you don't really love Jesus."

Answer:

Here are two reasons why using John 14:15 to argue that Christians must still adhere to the Ten Commandments is flawed according to the SDA perspective:

#1.) The term "commandments" that Jesus referred to in John 14:15 does not signify the "Ten Commandments," as indicated by the Greek word "entole."

A frequent issue with the interpretation of John 14:15 by SDAs is the out-of-context understanding of the passage. The primary mistake lies in their presumption that “commandments” in this verse refers exclusively to the ten commandments. This approach is indicative of eisegesis, where one’s own ideas are imposed onto the text, rather than exegesis, which involves deriving meaning directly from the text itself. Essentially, they employ proof-texting method to align the verse with their beliefs, suggesting it pertains to the ten commandments, which is a misrepresentation of the Scripture’s intent.

In the Greek text of John 14:15, Jesus says, “Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσετε” (transliterated: “Ean agapate me, tas entolas tas emas tērēsete”). The word used for “commandments” here is “ἐντολὰς” (entolas) plural of entole, which does not specifically refer to the Ten Commandments. It simply means “commandments” or “instructions.” If the intent of Jesus in John 14:15 was to specifically refer to the Ten Commandments, the phrase “(Greek) deka rhemata” (ten sayings) could have been used. However, the term “entolas” (commandments) is employed, which is a broader term that can encompass a wide range of commandments or instructions, not limited to the Decalogue. The use of “entolas” suggests a focus on commandments given by Jesus rather than exclusively referencing the Ten Commandments. This distinction aligns with the broader context of Jesus’ teachings, which often expanded upon or went beyond the specifics of the Mosaic Law. Eerdman’s Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament clarifies that in John, the discussion is not centered on the Mosaic Law; rather, it pertains to the divine mandate received by Jesus from the Father and the particular directives He imparted to His followers.

"In contrast to the other NT writings, ἐντολή is never used in the Johannine literature of the Mosaic Torah. Instead, ἐντολή stands for the commission of the Father given to the Son (John 10:18; 12:49, 50; 15:10) and for Christ's commandment to his disciples (13:34; 14:15, 21; 15:10, 12)." [1]

These verses contain the commandments that Jesus gave his disciples based on the context:

John 13:34 (ESV) "A new commandment(Grk. entole) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

John 14:15 (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (Grk. entole)."

John 14:21 (ESV) "Whoever has my commandments (Grk. entole) and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 15:10 (ESV) "If you keep my commandments (Grk. entole) , you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments (Grk. entole) and abide in his love."

John 15:12 (ESV) “This is my commandment (Grk. entole), that you love one another as I have loved you."

Notice that not a single one of these verses mentions the Ten Commandments.

#2. ) According to the context, the “commandments” Jesus mentioned in John 14:15 are not the “Ten Commandments,” but rather the directive to “love one another as I have loved you.”

The only way to determine which commandment is Jesus talking about here is to consider reading the immediate context of John 14:15.

According to the SDAs scholarly reference, Handbook of Seventh-Day Adventist Theology (page 477), the Gospel of John employs the term “entole” ten times within the immediate context spanning chapters 10 to 15. However, it does not specifically apply this term to the Ten Commandments. Instead, the closest commandment (entole) mentioned is the “new commandment”(John 13:34) given by Jesus: “Love one another as I have loved you.” 

“Between chapters 10 and 15 John uses the word entolē, “command,” 10 times. Among these are the “new commandment” of John 13:34 and two references to keeping Christ’s plural commandments (John 14:15; 15:10). This section of the Gospel parallels to some extent the usage of entolē in the Epistles of John.”[2]

The teaching of Jesus, as it is understood by the disciples, is to "love one another as I have loved you" (13:34; 15:12; see also 1 John 4:21; 2 John 6). 

John 13:34 (ESV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

John 15:12-14 (ESV) “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."

John 15:17 (ESV) "These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

According to 1 John 3:23 God's ἐντολή (entole = command) has a twofold meaning: faith in the Son, Jesus Christ, and mutual love.

1 John 3:23 (ESV) "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us."

While these chapters do not address the Ten Commandments, Jesus’ teachings encompass various instructions and ethical principles. The emphasis lies on love, discipleship, and faithful living. The commandments of Jesus are the instructions that He has given us in the Gospels and the rest of the NT.

Thus, the Ten Commandments do not serve as the measure of our love for the Lord Jesus. Jesus himself stated that his true disciples are identified by their fulfillment of his "new commandment" to love one another.

John 13:34-35 (ESV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“PINAGHALO NG SDA CHURCH ANG OLD COVENANT AT NEW COVENANT!”

DATING SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BASHER FORMER ADVENTIST NA NGAYON!!!

HINDI NA PINOPROMOTE NI JESUS ANG 10 UTOS SA MATEO 5!

Seventh-Day Adventists Answered Verse-By-Verse on Luke 4:16 "Jesus went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath day."

 

Luke 4:16 (ESV)

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read."

 SDA Arguments:

1.) It demonstrates that every seventh day of the week, or Sabbath, rather than Sunday, is when our Lord Jesus Christ comes to church.

2.) Unlike other Christian churches that attend services on Sundays, SDAs are the only ones that observe weekly Sabbath worship, following Jesus' example.

Answer:

#1.) Luke 4:16 is not a convincing text against Sunday worship.

Is it right to use Luke 4:16 as proof of the validity of Sabbath worship over Sunday worship during Jesus’ time? Of course not! First and foremost, Sunday had no significance for Christians while the Lord Jesus was still on Earth. Sunday only gained significance for believers after Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday, after His appearances to the disciples on Sundays after His resurrection, and most importantly, after the inauguration of the Christian church on a Sunday.

Secondly, Jesus was born under the law of Moses. As a Jew, Jesus attended the synagogue rather than the church. While synagogues and churches serve different religious traditions, a synagogue is a central place for Jewish worship, study, and community life. The term ‘church’ is more commonly associated with Christian places of worship.” 

Galatians 4:4-5 (Amplified Bible) "But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons]."

Jesus' observance of the Sabbath day was ingrained in Him from childhood because the seventh day (Saturday) was the day of worship for the Jews in the synagogues during His time. It’s only natural to expect that His worship day would be the Sabbath, not because Sunday was wrong, but because, as previously mentioned, the Sabbath vs. Sunday controversy wasn’t relevant during His time as it is in our present day. This misinterpretation by some Seventh-day Adventists is an anachronism, assuming that the issues of our time applied to Jesus’ era when they were not even debated back then.

Therefore, it is not correct for Seventh-day Adventists to use Luke 4:16 as a basis to criticize Sunday worshippers for allegedly not following Jesus’ example of worshiping on the Sabbath. They are distorting the intention of the Luke 4:16. Additionally, it would be inaccurate to say that Jesus attended “church” every Sabbath, as the Christian church had not yet been inaugurated during His time.

#2.) Jesus did not worship in the synagogue to set an example for us to follow today; rather, he did this to redeem those who were subject to the regulations of the law, not to keep us under it.

Let’s once again use the testimony of Galatians 4:4-5 to correct the erroneous reasoning of our SDA friends that as Christians, we should follow Jesus’ example of observing the Sabbath weekly for worship, not Sunday.

Galatians 4:4-5 (Amplified Bible) "But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons].

In Galatians 4:4, the apostle Paul states that Jesus was “born of a woman” and “born subject to [the regulations of] the Law.” This phrase emphasizes that Jesus, as a devout Jew, adhered to the regulations of the Mosaic Law during His earthly life. His observance of the Sabbath and other aspects of the Law was part of this commitment.

However, verse 5 provides crucial context. It explains that Jesus’ subjection to the Law was temporary and had a specific purpose. His obedience to the Law served to “redeem” and “atone” those who were also subject to the regulations of Law. Jesus’ adherence to the Law was not an eternal requirement. It was a necessary aspect of His mission on Earth. By fulfilling the Law, He demonstrated His righteousness and became the perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sins.

Therefore, Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law perfectly for us through His active obedience to His Father’s will. Only Jesus was able to completely fulfill God’s law, thus He became righteous before God the Father. And this righteousness of His is given freely to everyone who believes in His work of salvation, so we also become righteous before the holy God not because of our adherence to the law but because of Christ’s righteousness through our faith. Here is the confirmation from the Scriptures:

Romans 5:19 (TLB) "Adam caused many to be sinners because he disobeyed God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he obeyed."

It should be noted that Romans 5:19 does not say, “Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because WE obeyed,” but rather because “HE” obeyed on our behalf. 

In essence, Christ attained righteousness by perfectly adhering to the law as a faithful Jew under its mandates, whereas Christians are deemed righteous not by our adherence to the law, but through embracing Christ’s righteousness by placing our faith in Him.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (ERV) "It is God who has made you part of Christ Jesus. And Christ has become for us wisdom from God. He is the reason we are right with God and pure enough to be in his presence. Christ is the one who set us free from sin."

So, while Jesus observed the Sabbath during His earthly life, His example doesn’t bind Christians to strict Sabbath observance. Instead, He invites us to find rest in Him—our eternal Sabbath rest. As Matthew 11:28-30 states, 

"Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Why did Jesus redeem us from the regulations of the Law?

Why was it necessary for Jesus to rescue us from the rules of the Law? Because the law is not meant to make us righteous but rather to expose our sinfulness and sentence those who commit it to death!

Romans 3:20 (TLB) "Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners."

This is verified by Hebrews 7:19.

Hebrews 7:19 (AMP) "For the Law never made anything perfect."

There is no way for any SDA to argue that Hebrews 7:19 only refers to the ceremonial laws pertaining to the priesthood because the Greek word translated "law" here is nomos, which normally refers to the 613 laws in the Old Testament including the ten commandments.

The main reason why being subject under the regulation of the law or the Ten Commandments isn't seen as good news for Christians is because the Bible refers to it as the ministry of death and condemnation!

2 Corinthians 3:6-9 (ERV) "He made us able to be servants of a new agreement from himself to his people. It is not an agreement of written laws, but it is of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life. The old agreement that brought death, written with words on stone, came with God’s glory. In fact, the face of Moses was so bright with glory (a glory that was ending) that the people of Israel could not continue looking at his face. So surely the new agreement that comes from the life-giving Spirit has even more glory. This is what I mean: That old agreement judged people guilty of sin, but it had glory. So surely the new agreement that makes people right with God has much greater glory."

SDAs objection

Some SDAs may argue: If Christ indeed subjected Himself to the Law’s mandates to liberate us from the Law’s dominion, does this not imply that Christ endorses lawlessness, resulting in Christians dwelling in a state of anarchy?

In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul directly addresses this objection:

Romans 6:14-15 (ERV) "Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace. So what should we do? Should we sin because we are under grace and not under law? Certainly not!"

Paul’s response to the SDAs who believe that our liberation from the law means that we no longer follow any law under the New Covenant of Grace is a definitive ‘no’. In fact, Paul himself clarified that although he is not subject to the regulations of the Law of the Old Covenant, there is a new law in place, which he referred to as the law of Christ:

1 Corinthians 9:20-21 (ERV) "To the Jews I became like a Jew so that I could help save Jews. I myself am not ruled by the law, but to those who are ruled by the law I became like someone who is ruled by the law. I did this to help save those who are ruled by the law. To those who are without the law I became like someone who is without the law. I did this to help save those who are without the law. (But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by the law of Christ.)

What then is the Law of Christ? Is it the Ten Commandments? Definitely NO! The two greatest commandments—loving God and loving our neighbor—is the Law of Christ, which according to Christ is greater commandment than the ten commandments.

Matthew 22:36-40 (TLB) “Sir, which is the most important command in the laws of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”

As a result, Christians who live under the covenant of grace do not live in chaos or lawlessness; rather, they follow the eternal and universal law of love, which has always existed because God is love (1 John 4:8). Following the fall of man, the Ten Commandments were designed, with the foundation being these two greatest commandments. More accurately put, the ten commandments are an expression of the moral law rather than the moral law itself. The eternal moral law itself is the greatest commandment, according to Christ, along with loving God and loving our neighbor.  

Finally, if the Seventh-day Adventists are right when they say that Jesus gave us an example of how to observe the weekly seventh-day Sabbath, then why, after we have obeyed Him, will He also redeem us under that law? We have also seen that the true Christians of today have been redeemed by Jesus under the law, which is why He now recognizes us as children of God.

Galatians 4:5 (AMP) "To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, toatone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons]."

While the SDAs who think that they are still following the example of Christ even while under the law, it unfortunately means they are not yet children of God.

SAAN MABABASA NA HINDI NA REQUIRED ANG MGA CHRISTIANS NA MANGILIN PA NG WEEKLY SABBATH?

KUNG "BAKIT" GINAWA SA MGA JUDIO ANG SABBATH HINDI KUNG "KANINO" GINAWA ANG SABBATH ANG MENSAHE NG MARK 2:27!

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS ANSWERED VERSE-BY-VERSE ON MARK 2:27 | APRIL 13 2024

Seventh-Day Adventist Answered Verse-By-Verse on Mark 2:27 "The Sabbath was made for Man"

Mark 2:27 (ESV)

"And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, 

not man for the Sabbath."

SDA Arguments:

1.) "Anyone who teaches that the Sabbath is only for Israel is mistaken because Jesus clearly said, ‘The Sabbath was made for MAN!’ If you consider yourself part of humanity, you should observe the Sabbath, as it was made for you, not just for Israelites!”

2.) "The word “human” in Mark 2:27 in Greek is anthropos, which means mankind or humanity. Therefore, the Sabbath was established not only for Israel but for all of humanity .

Answer:

Many have been deceived due to a misunderstanding of Mark 2:27, especially because of tricky questions frequently posed by Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs), particularly to those unprepared for discussions about the Sabbath. When I was an apologist for the SDA church for 24 years, I believed that SDAs were unbeatable in debates about the Sabbath, even if we only used Mark 2:27. In my past experiences debating “Sunday keepers,” I could easily lead them in circles and make them admit that the Sabbath was not only for Israel but also for all of humanity (“anthropos”).

However, now that I am a born-again Christian, the Holy Spirit has removed the deception from my use of Mark 2:27. I understand now the correct way to interpret this verse—through proper exegesis (reading FROM the text) rather than eisegesis (reading INTO the text). I realize that the SDAs’ conclusion regarding Mark 2:27 is incorrect because they apply eisegesis instead of exegesis. 

The Context of Mark 2:27

The context of Mark 2:27 reveals the purpose WHY the Sabbath was made, rather than focusing on TO WHOM it was given.

The central point of contention between Jesus and the Pharisees, as per the context of Mark 2:27, revolves around Jesus' disciples plucking grain from a field on the Sabbath day. 

The Clear Word Bible, translated by Seventh-day Adventist theologian Dr. Jack Blanco, provides a clear rendering of Mark 2:27. According to this translation, the message in Mark 2:27 is to emphasize WHY the Sabbath was made, rather than focusing on WHO it was made for. 

"Then to clarify, Jesus added, “You see, man was not created to serve the Sabbath; the Sabbath was made to serve man.” (Mark. 2.27 The Clear Word Bible) 

The purpose of the Sabbath, according to this SDA translation, is to serve man, not for man to serve the Sabbath. Interestingly, this passage does not discuss to WHOM the Sabbath was given. When we listen to the common argument made by SDAs regarding this passage, it diverges significantly from the true intention behind Jesus’ statement. While SDAs claim that Mark 2:27 is evidence that the Sabbath was given to everyone and not just the Jews, Jesus’ actual point is to emphasize the PURPOSE why the Sabbath was made for man. 

The Sabbath was made for Israel alone

Mark 2:27 is not the appropriate verse to establish that the Sabbath is universally commanded for all of humanity. Numerous other Bible verses, beyond those found in Mark chapter 2, address the question of to whom the Sabbath was specifically intended and when it was made. Here are some of the examples from the SDAs Bible translation, The Clear Word Bible along with other more reliable translation:

Psalm 147:19-20 (The Clear Word Bible) 

"He reveals His word to Jacob and gives His laws to Israel. He has not done this for other nations, so they do not know His laws.”

According to the clear statement from the Seventh-day Adventists’ own Bible translation, it explicitly states that the Law, including the Ten Commandments, was exclusively given to Israel. Furthermore, it emphasizes that this same Law was not intended for any other nations apart from Israel. The reason cited is that these other nations "do not know His laws."

Where did the SDAs get the idea that God instituted the Sabbath at Creation in Genesis, if the law—including the Sabbath—was only given to the Israelites 430 years after Abraham's time? This verse also dispels the myth spread by the SDAs, which holds that Abraham followed the Ten Commandments and kept the Sabbath, which is not supported by the Bible. The Bible makes it abundantly evident that none of the Israelites' ancestors, not even Abraham, received the law or the Sabbath that the Lord established for them on Mount Sinai. The Clear Word Bible, an SDA translation, explains it as follows: 

Deut. 5:2-3 (The Clear Word Bible) "Remember how the Lord spoke to us at Mount Sinai and made a covenant with us? It wasn’t with our ancestors that He made a written covenant, but with us and with all who are alive today.”

The Amplified Bible captures the essence of this passage in the following manner:

Deuteronomy 5:2-3 (AMP) "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made this covenant not with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us here alive this day."

Another erroneous method of interpretation by SDAs in Mark 2:27 concerns the Greek word "man" or "anthropos." What SDAs do is they isolate the word "man" or "anthropos" in the verse and look for its definition in secular dictionaries, where "anthropos" is defined as "humanity" or "mankind." After separating this word and relating it to the dictionary definitions, they then return it within Mark 2:27 and read it with the insertion "the Sabbath was made for MANKIND or HUMANITY," then conclude that therefore, the Sabbath was made by God for all people, not just for Israel.

However, this is not the correct approach of SDAs to the Bible verse. The final arbiter of the accurate definition of a word is not the dictionary, but rather the context itself or how it is used in a particular situation. In the case of Mark 2:27, the situation or background of Mark 2 will determine how Christ used it in a manner fitting to the discussion at hand.

This point was affirmed by a renowned New Testament Scholar, Dr. Donald Arthur Carson, stating that the word "anthropos" cannot be confined to just one meaning such as "mankind," as the SDAs would like to imply. This is because Mark uses this word multiple times in his Gospel with various nuances or meanings. Dr. Carson stated:

"The noun anthropos occurs in Mark as follows: (1) in the expression “sons of men,” 3:28;  (2) in “Son of Man,” 2:10, 28; 8:31, 38; 9:9, 12, 31; 10:33, 45; 13:26; 14:21 (twice), 41, 62; (3) with reference to a particular man or men, 1:23; 3:1, 3, 5; 4:26; 5:2, 8; 8:24, 27; 12:1; 13:34; 14:13, 21 (twice), 71; 15:39; (4) as “man” generically, 1:17; 7:7-8, 15 (three times), 18, 20 (twice), 21, 23; 8:33, 36-37; 10:7, 9, 27; 11:2,30, 32; 12:14. The distinction between (3) and (4) may be artificial, as in 12:1 or the parables. Neither the article nor the number changes the meaning of the noun itself (cf. 7:21 and 7:23). It must be concluded, therefore, that 2:27 cannot refer to “mankind” merely on the basis of the word anthropos."[1]

Therefore, the frequent emphasis of SDAs on the word "anthropos" as a basis is weak. They are the ones providing such a definition that does not align with the context of the entire book of Mark. This might also be the reason why only Mark mentions "the Sabbath was made for man," a phrase never mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

If Jesus' intention was indeed to emphasize that the Sabbath should be observed by all people, His response to the Pharisees' question in verse 24, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" would be quite different. Would Jesus' answer to the question be appropriate if He responded with, "The Sabbath was made for all people, not just for Israel!"? It seems like quite a distant answer, doesn't it?

I also used the context of Mark 2 to answer the question of who the "man" mentioned by Christ was that led to the establishment of the Sabbath in a formal debate that took place on social media. The topic of the debate was about Mark 2:27. My debate opponent was an SDA layman who was an apologist for the SDA. During my cross-examination of him, I asked who the "people" involved in the scene of Mark 2 were, Jews or Gentiles? The disciples of Jesus who plucked grain on the Sabbath were no doubt Jews, Jesus himself was a Jew, the Pharisees were Jews, David and his companions who ate the consecrated bread in the Temple that Jesus used as an example were Jews, and the other example Jesus gave of the priests who violated the Sabbath in the Temple were Jews. Therefore, Jesus' answer that the Sabbath was made for "man" aligns only with them since the people involved in that scene were all Jews! So my final question to the SDA debater was, were there any Gentiles in that scene in Mark 2? The amusing answer from the SDA debater was "I wasn't there in that scene so I can't answer!" That's how it goes when you collide with the truth and still try to oppose it!

When was the Sabbath was made?

Nehemiah 9:13-14 also assists us in answering our question of when the Sabbath was established or revealed.

Nehemiah 9.13-14 (The Clear Word Bible) “At Sinai you spoke to them from the mountain and gave them good laws and sound teachings. It was there that you wrote the Ten Commandments and made the Sabbath plain. Also, through your servant Moses, you gave them precepts, statutes and laws to govern their worship and their land.”

The SDA translation made it evident that God originally gave the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath at Sinai:

Ezekiel 20:10-12 (The Living Bible) “But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name, lest the Egyptians laugh at Israel’s God who couldn’t keep them from harm. So I brought my people out of Egypt right before the Egyptians’ eyes and led them into the wilderness. There I gave them my laws so they could live by keeping them. If anyone keeps them, he will live. And I gave them the Sabbath—a day of rest every seventh day—as a symbol between them and me, to remind them that it is I, the Lord, who sanctifies them—that they are truly my people."

Only the Israelites, who had been freed from the land of Egypt, were granted the privilege of keeping the Sabbath. This is an exclusive divine command for the Israelites alone. God established the Sabbath as a symbol of the covenant He made with Israel, which none of the other nations were ever made by God.

The New Testament also offers support in Galatians 3:17. Paul argues that the Law, which undoubtedly contains the Sabbath commandment, was added just 430 years after God made His covenant with Abraham, refuting the SDA claim that the Sabbath was a creation institution.

Galatians 3:17 (The Living Bible) "Here’s what I am trying to say: God’s promise to save through faith—and God wrote this promise down and signed it—could not be canceled or changed four hundred and thirty years later when God gave the Ten Commandments."

The Clear Word Bible, an SDA translation, confirms the meaning of Galatians 3:17:

Gal. 3.17 (The Clear Word Bible) "Also notice that the law at Sinai was given to Israel four hundred and thirty years after God made His agreement with Abraham. So the law, given many years later, does not set aside God’s earlier promise nor void the agreement He made.”

It is evident from the scriptures we cited that, contrary to what some SDAs assert, the Sabbath was not intended for everyone. Rather, we now know the reality that: 

1.) The Sabbath began as a law given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses (Nehemiah 9:13-14).

2.) The Sabbath is included among the laws added by the Lord 430 years after the time of Abraham (Galatians 3:17).

3.) And the "people" to whom God gave the Sabbath were none other than the nation of Israel alone (Deuteronomy 5:3; Psalm 147:19-20).

If Seventh-day Adventists humbly understand the three points mentioned above, it explains the meaning of Christ's words in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man." This means that the law regarding Sabbath observance was given by God 430 years after the time of Abraham at Mount Sinai for the Israelites alone. We will never find in the entire Bible that this commandment was also given to other Gentile nations. So, we can ask Seventh-day Adventists if they can find even a single verse in the Bible where God punished other nations for violating the Sabbath. Why did God only punish Israel for Sabbath violations? Why not other nations?

A case in point is found in Nehemiah 13:16–20. Only the Israelites were subject to God's rebuke for their commercial activities on the Sabbath telling them how, i.e., they were desecrating the Sabbath again as their fathers had done; While the people of Tyre, who were not Israelites, were not reminded about the Sabbath command since their fore. Since the non-Sabbatarian merchants were not part of the Old Covenant between God and Israel alone, Nehemiah threatened to attack them personally if they returned on the Sabbath without informing them of God's Sabbath covenant in Sinai.

Nehemiah 13:16-20 (The Clear Word Bible) "I saw people from Tyre who had moved to Jerusalem and had set up their markets to sell fish and all kinds of other imported merchandise to our people on the Sabbath. So I confronted the city fathers and said, “What is this wicked thing you are doing and letting others do? It’s desecrating the Lord’s day and is against all reasonable Sabbath keeping. It’s openly breaking the fourth commandment.” I reminded them that their forefathers had done the same thing and that’s why the Lord had allowed the Babylonians to come and destroy the city. Now they were desecrating the Sabbath again as their fathers had done and the consequences would be the same, because the Lord had not changed. So I ordered the city gates to be shut as soon as the evening shadows began to fall on the sixth day of the week and not to be opened again until the sun had set and the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates of the city to make sure my orders were carried out and that nothing was brought in through the gates into the city on the Sabbath. Once or twice after this, the merchants who were accustomed to selling their goods to our people on the Sabbath spent the night before outside the city walls. But I warned them not to wait there hoping to come into the city Sabbath morning, because the gates would not open until sundown. If they persisted and tried to come in, I would have them arrested. From then on, they stopped sitting outside the city walls during the Sabbath.”

It cannot be denied by anyone that in the narrative of Nehemiah 13:16-21 and other evidences we mentioned earlier, the Sabbath was instituted on Mount Sinai through Moses solely for the Israelites. We have proven this by considering the context of Mark 2, where when Christ said that the Sabbath was made for man, it was for the Israelites only, as it is part of God's covenant with them, and we non-Israelites are not included in it.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST ANSWERED VERSE-BY-VERSE ON MATTHEW 19:16-19: "IF YOU WOULD ENTER LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENT”? (English Edition)

Matthew 19:16-19 (ESV) 

"And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

SDA Argument:

1.) In the New Testament, Jesus Himself commanded that anyone desiring salvation and entry into eternal life should keep the commandments. 

2.) It is clear that Jesus is referring to the Ten Commandments, as He enumerates them in verses 18-19:

1. You shall not murder.
2. You shall not commit adultery.
3. You shall not steal.
4. You shall not bear false witness.
5. Honor your father and mother.

Answer: 

The question of the rich young man to Jesus reveals his lack of knowledge about Jesus’ true identity and the correct way to salvation. He referred to Jesus as a “Teacher,” implying that he considered Him on the same level as other great individuals. He emphasized eternal life as a reward rather than a gift. However, the Lord’s teaching makes it clear that salvation is a gift, not a reward, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

Similarly, this is the testimony of Romans 4:4-5:

Romans 4:4-5 (NLT) "When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners."

To test the rich young man on the path of salvation, Jesus said, “If you want to enter life, follow the commandments.” However, Jesus did not mean that a person could be saved by merely obeying the commandments. Instead, He used the commandments to convict the rich young man’s conscience and imply that he needed to repent because he couldn’t perfectly keep the commandments. Thus, he was a sinner in need of a Savior. Despite this, the rich young man clung to his mistaken belief that he could inherit eternal life through obedience to the commandments (Matt. 19:20).

The Purpose of the Old Covenat Law

The true purpose of the law is to declare and emphasize that humans are sinners and have not reached God’s high standard set by the law (Romans 3:23). This is evidenced by Romans 3:20.

Romans 3:20 (TLB) Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God’s laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.

Because the purpose of the law is merely to show us that we are sinners, the belief of the rich young man that he can attain eternal life by obeying the commandments is indeed mistaken. The error of the rich young man is similar to the mistake made by many SDAs today who continue to use Matthew 19:17 to argue that keeping the Ten Commandments is necessary for obtaining eternal life. However, according to 2 Corinthians 3:6, striving to keep the Ten Commandments for salvation will lead to death rather than salvation.

2 Corinthians 3:6 (TLB) "He is the one who has helped us tell others about his new agreement to save them. We do not tell them that they must obey every law of God or die, but we tell them there is life for them from the Holy Spirit. The old way, trying to be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives them life."

Even the SDA Bible Commentary agrees that the rich young ruler’s belief regarding salvation through the works of the law is truly mistaken. Here is the Commentary’s statement regarding the question in verse 17:

"What good thing? This question reflects the typical Pharisaical concept of righteousness by works as a passport to “eternal life” [1]

If SDAs persist in insisting that according to Matthew 19:17, the Ten Commandments must be obeyed to inherit eternal life, it implies that their doctrine aligns with that of the Pharisees, who taught “righteousness by works” rather than “righteousness by faith.” In doing so, SDAs inadvertently side with false teachers, akin to the Pharisees, rather than with the Lord Jesus. Jesus issued a warning to SDAs who also believe in the righteousness of the Pharisees:

Matthew 5:20 (NLT) “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

It is also important to remember that this event occurred during a time when the efficacy of the Old Covenant Law was still in force, and Christ had not yet died on the cross to redeem us from under the law (Galatians 4:4-5). This context helps us understand why Jesus responded as He did. As mentioned earlier, Jesus did not mean that salvation could be achieved through strict adherence to the commandments, as that would contradict passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, and Romans 4:4-5, as well as the overall message of the Bible that eternal life is received solely through God’s grace, by faith alone in Christ alone, and not by following the Ten Commandments or keep the law to maintain our righteousness in Christ. 

Conclusion:

Similar to the case of the rich young ruler, Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) should also understand that Jesus used the commandments to awaken the ruler’s conscience. By doing so, Jesus implied that the SDAs also needed to acknowledge their sins and repent. Despite the ruler’s assertion of keeping the commandments, Jesus revealed that something crucial was still lacking. The central point here is to demonstrate that salvation does not solely depend on adherence to the law; rather, the true path to salvation lies in placing faith in the Lord (Acts 16:30-31). This offer of salvation remains open to all our Seventh-day Adventist friends today! 

Footnote:

[1] Francis D. Nichol, Ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 5:457.

SDA ANSWERED VERSE-BY-VERSE ON MATTHEW 24:20!

Seventh-Day Adventist Answered Verse-by-Verse on Matthew 24:20: "Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath." (English Edition)

 

Matthew 24:20 (ESV)

"Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath."

SDA Arguments:

1.) The Sabbath continues to be observed by Christians even after Jesus ascended to heaven.

2.) If the commandment about the Sabbath was nailed to the cross, why did he still instruct his disciples to pray that their escape would not happen on the Sabbath day?

3.) The background of this instruction from Jesus is about the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened roughly 40 years after he said these words. This means that the Lord Jesus still expects his true followers to continue observing the seventh day of the Sabbath.

Response:

It’s important to note that only Matthew among the four gospel writers mentioned “pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.” On the other hand, Mark only reported “Pray that it may not happen in winter. (Mark 13:18, ESV) and did not mention anything about the Sabbath. Luke also did not mention these. According to Bible scholars, Matthew’s Gospel was written for Jewish Christians, so he was the only one who recorded the details about the Sabbath, while Mark and Luke, who wrote for Gentile Christians and Greek-speaking Jews, did not add any statement about the Sabbath. This means Gentile Christians do not need to worry about the warning about escaping on the Sabbath day. Gentile Christians do not need this advice because they are not from Jerusalem so they do not worry about escaping from Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

Jesus expected that Jewish Christians, along with unbelieving Jews, would continue to observe the Sabbath when Jerusalem began to be attacked by Roman soldiers in 70 AD. So it’s clear that this warning does not cover Gentile Christians, so it’s a big mistake to say that all Christians still observe the Sabbath at this time. Christ’s warning is really only appropriate for Jewish Christians who are not yet mature in their faith to leave the observance of the weekly Sabbath. They are really the only ones affected by winter and escaping on the Sabbath day. This is because on the Sabbath day in winter, there is heavy rain in Judea, it is difficult or impossible to escape to the mountains due to floods on the roads and ravines. And also escaping on the Sabbath day is difficult because they can only travel up to 1 kilometer (Ex 16:29; Nu 35:5; Jos 3:4), which is not enough for them to escape from the danger of death.

In Acts 15 and 21, it is shown that thousands of Jewish Christians are still zealous in the law and continue to follow these commandments, including observing the Sabbath. 

Acts 15:5 (ESV) "But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Acts 21:20 (ESV) "And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, all zealous for the law."

Regarding our analysis of the background and context of Matthew 24:20, we realize that it is incorrect to use this verse as strong evidence that Christians today are still obligated to observe the Sabbath. The continuation of Sabbath observance by Jewish Christians after Jesus ascended to heaven is not a compelling argument for convincing anyone that we should still observe the Sabbath today. As we discovered earlier in our examination of the background of Matthew 24:20, not all Christians continued to observe the Sabbath after Jesus’ ascension. If any did, it was only the Jewish Christians or even Jews who opposed Jesus. This was evident because only Matthew among the four Gospel writers mentioned the need to flee on the Sabbath, whereas Mark and Luke did not. Matthew’s Gospel was specifically written for Jewish Christians, while Mark and Luke wrote for Gentile Christians and Greek-speaking Jews. Thus, it is clear that the weekly Sabbath was given only to the Jews and not to the Gentiles. Paul also confirmed this in his letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:11-12 (ESV) "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

It is better to explain to Seventh-day Adventists that during that time, there were two groups of Christians: Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians (Acts 6:1). It is a mistake to assume that “all” Christians continued to observe the Sabbath during the apostolic era. After Jesus’ death on the cross and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, it became clear to them that the Old Testament laws, including Sabbath observance, were only shadows fulfilled in Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17 (NLT) "So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality."

The Jerusalem Council 50 AD

Additionally, let’s explore the context of early Christian discussions about the observance of the Sabbath and other Old Testament laws:

In the year 50 AD, the apostles and elders gathered at the Jerusalem Council to address issues related to Old Testament regulations. The faith of Jewish Christians was still maturing, and they insisted that Gentile Christians should be circumcised and follow Moses’ laws, as recorded in Acts 15.

Acts 15:1, 5 (ESV) "But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.  But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

However, after much discussion, the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, decided not to burden Gentile believers with the requirements of the Mosaic law. They sided with the Gentile Christians more than those Jewish Christians, emphasizing that they were no longer obligated to follow these laws, including the observance of the weekly Sabbath.

Acts 15:7-11 (ESV) "And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days, God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell." 

The salvation of the Gentiles comes through grace, as they have believed in the Lord Jesus and been cleansed by faith, no longer bound by adherence to the laws of the Old Testament, including Sabbath observance. The keeping of the Sabbath was not included in the decision regarding necessary matters. This testifies that Christians are no longer obliged to follow the laws of Moses, including the Sabbath, as they have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone. The official decision of the Jerusalem Council in 50 AD aligns with the belief of present-day believers that there is no requirement to observe the weekly Sabbath!

SDAs often use Acts 13 to show that Christians during the time of the apostles continued to celebrate the Sabbath.

Acts 13:42-44 (ESV) "As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 

However, their use of this passage is still incorrect. First, this is Acts 13, and the united decision of the apostles at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, stating that it is not required for Jesus' followers to continue following the laws of the Old Testament for salvation, including Sabbath observance, had not yet occurred. Secondly, if there were Jewish Christians in the Synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia, it's because this was a transition period and the apostles in Jerusalem hadn't made an official decision yet. If SDAs insist that we should still follow what they did in Acts 13, then they should worship in the synagogues of the Jews who opposed Christ rather than in the SDA church on Saturdays.

When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, many Jewish Christians continued to observe the Sabbath, even though the Jerusalem Council had decided in 50 AD that it was no longer necessary for Christians. These Jewish Christians should not be emulated by Christians because we know that their faith was not yet fully matured, and they did not accept the official decision of the Jerusalem Council to no longer adhere to the laws of the Old Testament, including the weekly Sabbath. It is sad to think that Seventh-day Adventists are imitating these Jewish Christians who were not yet mature in faith.

Today, we as Christians truly follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, along with the apostles at the Jerusalem Council, who decided that we are no longer obligated to observe the Sabbath day.

According to the account of the Jewish historian Josephus, who witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem along with the Temple, not a single Jewish Christian perished there. This is because as early as 66 AD, they followed Jesus' warning to flee to the mountains when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by Roman soldiers (Luke 21:20-21). According to early church historians like Eusebius and Epiphanius in the 4th century, the Jewish Christians who escaped went to Pella (modern Jordan) and settled there, while some returned to Jerusalem, and most migrated elsewhere.

There are reports that some descendants of Jewish Christians who escaped from Jerusalem in 70 AD, such as the Ebionites and Nazarenes, are considered heretics by early church apologists because of their continued adherence to the laws of Moses, such as circumcision, the weekly Sabbath, and other Jewish rituals. One sect of the Ebionites, for example, did not believe in the Virgin Birth, so for them, Jesus was only a prophet and not divine. Therefore, it is not a guarantee that early Sabbath keepers were true Christians, especially those who did not live according to the decision of the Jerusalem church Council.

Conclusion:

To summarize, it is clear that Jesus encouraged Jewish Christians (not Gentile Christians) in Matthew 24:20 to pray for their well-being as they fled the impending destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Jesus considered both practical (winter) and religious issues (Sabbath). Therefore, we can say that Matthew 24:20 suggests that many still many Jewish Christians observed the Sabbath at the time of Jerusalem's destruction, but this cannot be used as evidence that all Christians observed or should observe the weekly Sabbath afterward.