What Commandments should Christians keep?

The Gentile believers should abstain from these four things:

1. Pollutions of idols / things offered to idols
2. Blood
3. Things strangled
4. Fornication

Let’s look at these things in detail:

First, believers should not pollute themselves with idols; particularly, they should not participate in offerings to idols. We will explain this in more detail later.

Second and third, they should not drink blood or eat meat of animals that were killed by strangling them, i.e. they should not eat anything that is not completely exsanguinated. Heathens killed animals by strangling them before their meat was eaten; in contrast, the Jews perform kosher butchering so that they exsanguinate completely. When strangling animals, they cannot exsanguinate properly, so blood is consumed by eating them.

The command not to eat blood is documented several times in the Old Testament (see in particular Lev 19:26; Deut 12:16+23‑25; Deut 15:23), for the first time when God spoke to Noah:

³ Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. ⁴ But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. (Gen 9:3‑4 ESV)

The reason for this command is that in the blood there is the life (Hebrew “nephesh,” which also means soul; see also Lev 17:11).

Fourth, they should abstain from fornication. We will answer in a separate section later what fornication is.

The dispute was triggered by circumcision (Acts 15:1). However, the consultation in Jerusalem was then about the following request:

… The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses. (Acts 15:5)

The Mosaic law is then referred to as a “yoke” (Acts 15:10), which would “make it difficult” and “burden” the Gentiles (Acts 15:19+28). In the letter they wrote:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law… (Acts 15:24 KJV)

When the four things are repeated a few chapters later, reference is again made to the law of Moses (Acts 21:20‑25).

The subject of discussion at the Council at Jerusalem was therefore not only certain regulations such as circumcision or other parts of the law like offering, feast or dietary regulations. The directive is about the entire law of Moses, the content of which we will discuss in a separate section later.

The trigger for the Council at Jerusalem was that men from Judea (Acts 15:1) came to Antioch (Acts 14:26) and taught the Gentile believers that they would need to be circumcised according to the law of Moses. During the consultation in Jerusalem, however, no mention was made at all of the believers in Antioch, but instead general reference was made to the “Gentiles” (Acts 15:3+7+12+14+17). In addition, James specifically recommended:

…that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (Acts 15:19)

The letter which was sent to Antioch was also not only addressed to the believers in Antioch, but also to the brothers in Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:23) which were the surrounding landscapes.

The third Bible passage, where the four things were repeated, is also generally about…

…the Gentile believers… (Acts 21:25)

Therefore, the instructions outlined at the Council at Jerusalem are very fundamental things that are also valid for us Christians nowadays.

Let us now consider the last sentence with which James finished his speech:

For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath. (Acts 15:21)

Because this verse is given as a reason, some people think that Gentiles should be taught these four things in the beginning and then little by little to keep the entire Mosaic law. Please remember that the dispute regarding circumcision was the trigger for the Council (Acts 15:1) and then, together with the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28), they came to the consensual conclusion (Acts 15:25) not to impose the law of Moses on them (see also Gal 5:1‑12). Such a teaching therefore contradicts the New Testament. There is also no similar remark in the letter to the Gentiles (Acts 15:23‑29) and also not when repeating the four things later (Acts 21:25).

This remark may be understood in the following way: Because the law of Moses is regularly preached and read in the synagogues, on the one hand, it should be clarified that the believers do not need to keep it except for the four things. On the other hand, if while reading the law of Moses the Holy Spirit then speaks to you to do one thing or another, then of course you should obey God’s voice. The big difference is that the apostles did not – and we also should not – teach which Mosaic rules the others should keep (except the four), but that all believers are entrusted to the further guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said:

²⁷ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: ²⁸ But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mt 5:27‑28 KJV)

The Greek verb “epithyméō” which is translated here with “to lust after” is sometimes translated with “to covet.” It is the same that was used when referring to the tenth commandment (Rom 13:9; Rom 7:7). Jesus interpreted the Ten Commandments in such a way that if one breaks the tenth commandment and covets his neighbor’s wife, he also breaks the seventh commandment.

Finding a woman beautiful or attractive is not a sin. It is about a passionate desire, that is, longing to have sex with her. Sin is not only the act itself, but already the intention.

Jesus continued to say:

⁸… “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. ⁹ I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Mt 19:8‑9; see also Mt 5:31‑32)

¹¹… “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mk 10:11‑12)

Jesus also called divorce, which was tolerated under the Mosaic law, adultery. Jesus urged people to act according to what pleases God. It is already written in the Old Testament:

¹⁵… So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. ¹⁶ ‘The man who hates and divorces his wife,’ says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘does violence to the one he should protect,’ says the Lord Almighty. [or: ‘I hate divorce,’ says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘because the man who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,’] So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. (Mal 2:15‑16)

If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. (Ex 22:16)

²⁰ …if … evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman, ²¹ then … the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring… (Deut 22:20‑21 ESV)

If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people. (Lev 20:18; see also Lev 18:19)

If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Lev 20:13; see also Lev 18:22)

The Greek word “arsenokoítēs,” describing sexual intercourse between men, was used by Paul in the following two scriptures:

⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1Cor 6:9‑10)

⁸ We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. ⁹ We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the sexually immoral, for those practising homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine ¹¹ that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. (1Tim 1:8‑11)

In the epistle to the Romans, Paul described that people neither honored God nor gave thanks to him, but instead practiced idolatry (Rom 1:21‑23). This had the following consequences:

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is for ever praised. Amen. ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Rom 1:24‑27)

Verse 24 refers to men, whose wives are referred to in verse 26. This verse 26 is the only one in the Bible on the subject of sexual intercourse between women. Homosexuality is described here as a consequence of sin.

According to the above, it is obvious that sex among men is fornication and therefore sin. But what about sex among women? Is unnatural behavior always sin?

Paul also wrote:

Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, (1Cor 11:14)

Long hair is therefore an unnatural disgrace for men, although in all Israel there had been not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom, who had very long hair (2Sam 14:25‑26); his hair was even so long that his hair got caught in a tree so that he was left hanging in mid-air (2Sam 18:9).

According to God’s creation a man leaves his parents, lives together with his wife, both of them have sex with each other (Gen 2:24) and they get children (Gen 1:22+28; Gen 9:1+7). So it is natural to marry, and yet Paul pointed out as positive and even worthy of imitation that he was unmarried (1Cor 7:7‑9).

God did not always command men and women to comply with the same rules; only men had to travel to the temple in Jerusalem for the highest feasts (Ex 23:17; Ex 34:23; Deut 16:16). Other commandments also differ depending on gender (Ex 13:12‑13+15; Ex 22:29; Lev 12:2‑5; Lev 27:3‑7). Therefore, we cannot conclude that a behavior that is sinful for men is automatically also sinful for women.

In everything, one should be guided by what pleases God.

No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the Lord. (Lev 18:6; see also Lev 18:7‑18 and Lev 20:11‑17+19‑21; Deut 27:22‑23)

Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death. (Ex 22:19; see also Lev 18:23; Lev 20:15‑16; Deut 27:21)

The Bible reports on the very first day of rest:

² By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Gen 2:2‑3)

After six days of creative work, God rested on the seventh day, hereby he sanctified it.

For the first time the word “Sabbath” appears in the sixteenth chapter of Exodus; there we read:

Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no-one is to go out. (Ex 16:29)

God spoke the following to the prophet Ezekiel:

¹⁰  Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. ¹¹ I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live. ¹² Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy. (Ezek 20:10‑12)

God led the Israelites out of Egypt and gave them the law of Moses, in particular the Ten Commandments (verse 11). And to them God gave also the Sabbaths, that is, to those whom he had led out of Egypt. So the Sabbaths did not exist before, because if they had existed before, then God could not have given them anymore.

The book of Jashar^[1] The book of Jashar (or “Jasher” or “Yashar”) is an apocryphal history book. The Hebrew adjective “yashar” means straight, right or upright. The Book of Jashar is referred to twice in the Bible, in Joshua 10:13 and 2Sam 1:18. reports in detail about the introduction of the Sabbath as a day of rest during slavery in Egypt:

⁴¹ And the day arrived when Moses went to Goshen to see his brethren, that he saw the children of Israel in their burdens and hard labor, and Moses was grieved on their account. ⁴² And Moses returned to Egypt and came to the house of Pharaoh, and came before the king, and Moses bowed down before the king. ⁴³ And Moses said unto Pharaoh, I pray thee my lord, I have come to seek a small request from thee, turn not away my face empty; and Pharaoh said unto him, Speak. ⁴⁴ And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Let there be given unto thy servants the children of Israel who are in Goshen, one day to rest therein from their labor. ⁴⁵ And the king answered Moses and said, Behold I have lifted up thy face in this thing to grant thy request. ⁴⁶ And Pharaoh ordered a proclamation to be issued throughout Egypt and Goshen, saying, ⁴⁷ To you, all the children of Israel, thus says the king, for six days you shall do your work and labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest, and shall not preform any work, thus shall you do all the days, as the king and Moses the son of Bathia have commanded. (Jashar 70:41‑47; “The Book of Jasher” J.H. Parry & Co. 1887)

Prior to this, the pharaoh had enslaved the Israelites with the help of a trick (Jashar 65:9‑13+19‑30): The Israelites initially worked voluntarily with the Egyptians and got paid. Then all the Egyptians gradually withdraw from their work. Later, the Israelites were paid no wages and were forced to continue their work. In contrast to the other tribes, the Levites did not work for the Egyptians from the beginning and were not forced to do so later (Jashar 65:20+32‑34). Therefore, we may assume that the Israelites initially worked voluntarily without a day off; it would be absurd to assume that they were forced to do so later, because the Levites were not forced to work at all.

There is not any command in the Bible to rest on the Sabbath before Moses. Perhaps the seventh day of the week was celebrated or sanctified in a similar way to the new moon, i.e. the first day of the month on which the trumpets were blown and offerings were made (Num 10:10; Num 28:11‑14; Num 29:6). The Mosaic law does not command to rest at new moons, nevertheless they were celebrated (1Sam 20:5+18; 2Kgs 4:23; Ezek 46:1+3; Hos 2:13) and sometimes even observed as days of rest (Am 8:5).

The fourth of the Ten Commandments forbids working on the Sabbath and the Mosaic law also commands:

There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord. (Lev 23:3)

So the Israelites were supposed to attend divine service every Sabbath. Further, people working on the Sabbath should be put to death (Ex 31:14‑15; Ex 35:2).

Several reasons are given in the Bible. Let’s start with the following:

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Ex 20:11)

It will be a sign between me and the Israelites for ever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. (Ex 31:17)

Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed. (Ex 23:12)

God rested and refreshed himself after six days of work. He is the example. God gave the day of rest for all his creation, not only for the Israelites, but also for their servants, their animals and the foreigners.

Furthermore, we read:

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. (Deut 5:15)

¹³ … You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. ¹⁴ Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you… (Ex 31:13‑14)

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. (Ezek 20:12 ESV)

and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. (Ezek 20:20 ESV)

By bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, God sanctified them. (See also the note on the first cup at the Passover meal in my article “The Lord’s Supper – The Meal of the New Covenant”). They should remember and realize on the Sabbath that it is God who sanctifies them. They should especially know that the Lord is their God (Ezek 20:20); they should know the Lord as their God, so they should know the Lord. The Hebrew verb “yada” translated as “to know” is also found, for example, in the following scripture:

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived… (Gen 4:1 ESV)

Knowing the Lord means more than having superficial knowledge. God wants to have a love relationship with us and wants us to know him very intimately and very closely. The Sabbath rest is also for this purpose.

¹³ ‘If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, ¹⁴ then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isa 58:13‑14)

Keeping the Sabbath (i.e. the “Lord’s holy day,” verse 13) with joy results in a special blessing, in particular to find our joy in the Lord (see also Isa 56:2 and Isa 56:6‑7). When do we find our joy in the Lord? When we have a warm and intimate fellowship with Him.

It is written:

…the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Neh 8:10)

The Hebrew word “maoz,” translated here as “strength,” means “place or means of safety, protection.” Often it is translated as “stronghold” or “fortress.”

David wrote:

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps 37:4)

“To take delight” (Ps 37:4) and “to find joy” (Isa 58:14) in the Lord is the same; in Hebrew there is the same verb “anog” used in both verses. So by joyfully keeping the Sabbath, we get (i) joy in the Lord and by this intimate fellowship with him and (ii) strength and (iii) we get what our heart desires!

Jesus said:

Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. (Mt 24:20)

Jesus said this when speaking about the great tribulation before his return (Mt 24:3+14+30). So the Sabbath will also have a special importance in future. Isaiah prophesied:

²² “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. ²³ From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. (Isa 66:22‑23)

In future, when God will have created the new heavens and the new earth, the new moons and the Sabbaths will be sanctified – in particular by worshiping God.

New moons also had a special significance at the time of the Old Testament. The Festival of Trumpets is on the new moon (Lev 23:24; Num 29:1) and a number of remarkable events took place on the new moon (Gen 8:5; Gen 8:13; Ex 40:2; Ex 40:17; Num 1:18; Num 33:38; Deut 1:3; 2Chr 29:17; Ezr 3:6; Ezr 7:9; Ezr 10:16‑17; Neh 8:2; Ezek 45:18) and God often spoke on the new moon (Num 1:1; Ezek 26:1; Ezek 29:17; Ezek 31:1; Ezek 32:1; Hag 1:1).

Zechariah’s following prophecy is also still to be fulfilled:

¹⁶ Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. ¹⁷ If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. (Zech 14:16‑17)

In future, the Festival of Tabernacles will also be celebrated particularly by worshiping God. This Festival is one of the three annual feasts to which one had to travel to the temple in Jerusalem; the Passover and the Festival of Weeks are the other two (Deut 16:16). The spring feasts have an additional meaning in the context of Jesus’ life on this earth, because Jesus was crucified on the Passover (Lev 23:5), he was resurrected during the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:6‑8), specifically on the Day of Firstfruits (Lev 23:9‑14), and it was at the Feast of Weeks (Lev 23:15‑21) that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples (Acts 2). I expect that the Festival of Tabernacles (Lev 23:33‑36) in autumn will get an additional meaning in future, perhaps also the Festival of Trumpets (Lev 23:23‑25) and the Day of Atonement (Lev 23:26‑32).

God said to Moses:

¹⁶ Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. ¹⁷ It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. (Ex 31:16‑17 ESV)

The Hebrew word “olam” has been translated here as “forever.” It is also used in the following verses:

⁴⁴ As for your male and female slaves whom you may have… ⁴⁶ You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever… (Lev 25:44‑46 ESV)

¹² If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you… ¹⁶ But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, ¹⁷ then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever… (Deut 15:12‑17 ESV)

The word “olam,” translated as “forever,” also means “for a long duration” or “for an indefinite time.” It was regularly used in the context of the Mosaic law, where its instructions were often referred to as “lasting ordinance” (NIV), “perpetual statute” (ESV), “statute forever” (ESV, KJV) or “ordinance for ever” (KJV): Ex 12:14+17+24; Ex 27:21; Ex 28:43; Ex 29:9+28; Ex 30:21; Ex 40:14; Lev 3:17; Lev 6:18+22; Lev 7:34‑36; Lev 10:9+15; Lev 16:29+31+34; Lev 17:7; Lev 23:14+21+31+41; Lev 24:3+8‑9; Lev 25:32‑34; Num 10:8; Num 15:15; Num 18:8+11+19+23; Num 19:10+21; Num 25:13. God also gave the Israelites the land “forever” (Gen 13:15; Gen 17:8; Gen 48:4; Ex 32:13), even tough heaven and earth will pass away (Mt 24:35).

There are not any commands to rest on the weekly Sabbath or other feasts apart from the Mosaic law. God gave the Sabbaths to those whom he brought out of Egypt (Ex 16:29; Ezek 20:12). The prophecies about the future earth and the New Testament do not give any indication either that work would be forbidden on the Sabbath.

There are Christians today who believe that the apostles wrote nothing about the Sabbath because it would have been self-evident that the Ten Commandments had to be kept. The Gentiles did not keep the Sabbath and were sometimes so far away from Israel that many probably did not even know it. So they would have had to start keeping the Sabbath when they converted. And then they would have had to keep it so strictly that none of the apostles saw any reason to remind them of the Sabbath commandment. Consider in this regard that many Christians, even after their conversion, did not live an ideal life and were often admonished, even regarding several of the Ten Commandments. Here are some examples:

^1st Commandment, no idolatry: 1Cor 5:11; 1Cor 6:9; 1Cor 10:7+14; 1Jn 5:21

^5th Commandment, honor parents: Eph 6:2

^6th Commandment, do not murder: Jam 4:2; 1Pet 4:15

^7th Commandment, do no commit adultery: Rom 2:22; Rom 13:13; 1Cor 5:11; 1Cor 6:9; 1Cor 10:8; 2Cor 12:21; Eph 5:3+5; Col 3:5; Hebr 13:4; Jam 4:4

^8th Commandment, do not steal: Rom 2:21; 1Cor 5:11; 1Cor 6:10; Eph 4:28; 1Tim 1:10; 1Pet 4:15

^9th Commandment, do not give false testimony: 1Cor 5:11; 1Cor 6:10; 2Cor 12:20; Eph 4:31; Col 3:8; 1Tim 3:11; Tit 2:3; Jam 4:11; 1Pet 2:1

^10th Commandment, do not covet: Rom 13:13; 1Cor 5:11; 1Cor 6:10; Gal 5:26; Eph 5:3; Jam 3:14; Jam 4:2; 1Pet 2:1; 2Pet 2:3

The Corinthians had committed such terrible adultery that “even pagans do not tolerate” (1Cor 5:1). So why should they have kept the Sabbath in an exemplary manner, so that they would not even need to be reminded of it, when they were so vehemently violating so many of the Ten Commandments?

Jesus occasionally reminded of some of the Ten Commandments (Mt 5:21+27; Mt 19:18‑19; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20). However, there is not a single scripture where he encouraged people to keep the Sabbath.

The prohibition to work on the Sabbath is part of the Mosaic law, which does not have to be obeyed, as the apostles and the Holy Spirit stated at the Council at Jerusalem. Therefore, one cannot conclude that it is forbidden to work on the Sabbath nowadays.

In several languages the weekday name “Saturday” goes back to the Jewish Sabbath (French “samedi,” Greek “Σάββατο” (“sábbato”), Italian “sabato,” Polish “sobota,” Portuguese “sábado,” Russian “суббо́та,” Spanish “sábado”). Various calendar reforms over the millenniums have not changed the sequence of weekdays and the Jews have been continuously celebrating the Sabbath on Saturday. Thus, the divine Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, is on Saturday and not on Sunday.

To begin the week on Monday is a rather new development in course of Saturday and Sunday being days off; it follows an ISO recommendation from 1976 (ISO 2015:1976). In the past the week had begun on Sunday (for example in Germany according to DIN 1355). Sunday is still the first day of the week in the USA and other countries.

Let’s read what happened when Aaron’s sons didn’t follow the divine order:

¹ Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. ² So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. (Lev 10:1‑2)

Aaron’s sons died when they defied God’s order as to how they should sacrifice.

Daniel prophesied about a king:

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws… (Dan 7:25)

God doesn’t like it when we try to change his orders and the timings of his feasts.

In the fourth century, emperor Constantine I decreed Sunday as the day of rest, namely the day of the “sun god,” that is, a day to worship a pagan idol. Christianity had initially celebrated the Sabbath, but also used the non-working Sunday for church services later. Christianity was influenced by paganism and eventually the Sabbath was replaced by Sunday as the day of rest.

But God wants us to be holy and to worship him in the spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23‑24), and without pagan influence, because he is a jealous God (Ex 20:5; Ex 34:14; Deut 4:24; Deut 5:9; Deut 6:15; Josh 24:19; Jam 4:4‑5).

On the basis of the biblical scriptures, it cannot be concluded that we are not allowed to work on the Sabbath. But the Sabbath is very important to God. It always has been and will be a holy day for eternity. So I recommend everyone to ask God what to do on this day and how to sanctify it. Please also remember that there are promises associated with keeping the Sabbath.

I would like to encourage you to ask God if he might would like you to sanctify the Festivals or to celebrate them somehow. We can celebrate the Festivals in spring out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us and the Festivals in autumn in anticipation of the future.

On each weekly Sabbath the Israelites had to come together for a sacred assembly or a holy convocation (Lev 23:3). At several feasts they had to make offerings in addition to the sacred assembly (Lev 23:1‑44; Num 28:9‑31; Deut 16:2‑17). I think God enjoys it when we worship him at his Sabbaths and other feasts in church services and offer him thanksgiving as a sacrifice:

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me… (Ps 50:23 ESV, see also Ps 27:6, Jer 33:11, Jonah 2:9, Hebr 13:15)

The following table provides an overview of the most relevant clean and unclean animals (see Lev 11:2‑47 and Deut 14:4‑19):

According to the Mosaic law the tenth was to provide for the Levites, who themselves had no land and who performed sacrificial service (Lev 27:30‑32; Num 18:21‑24; Deut 14:22‑29; Hebr 7:5). The Levites also gave the tenth of their income, that is, the tenth of the tenth they received from the others (Num 18:25‑32). The Levite priests do not exist anymore. Therefore, it is no longer possible to tithe according to the Mosaic law. Burnt offerings are not required anymore, because Jesus died for us. We Christians are all priests (Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10; 1Pet 2:9) and Jesus is our high priest (Hebr 5:10; Hebr 6:20; Hebr 7:21).

However, is there beyond the law of Moses a command regarding tithing? The tithe is mentioned for the first time in the Bible where Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe:

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, ¹⁹ and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. ²⁰ And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen 14:18‑20)

From this, there is no requirement to tithe today: there is no indication in the Bible that Melchizedek would have asked anything of Abraham; probably Abraham gave him the tithe of his own free will. There is nothing in the Bible about Abraham tithing again; it was probably something unique.

The only other text in the entire Bible where tithing is mentioned without reference to the Mosaic law is where Jacob made a vow after his dream:

²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God ²² and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Gen 28:20‑22)

Nothing is mentioned that God commanded to tithe; Jacob probably voluntarily vowed to tithe. Even if there had been a command for Jakob, it would not be possible to conclude that this would also be applicable to his descendants. And even if it had been applicable to his descendants, then this would still not mean that we would have to keep it today, because Abraham and his descendants needed to be circumcised, but we don’t.

Thus, on the one hand, there is no biblical basis to teach (neither in the Old nor New Testament) that we would have to tithe; on the other, we have seen that tithing had some significance even before Moses.

Let’s read a well-known text from Malachi:

⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘But you ask, “How are we to return?” ⁸ ‘Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. ‘But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” ‘In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty. ¹² ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Mal 3:7‑12)

The point here was that the Mosaic law was not followed; tithes and offerings were not brought to the Levites according to the Mosaic law (verse 8). Because of this, the curse of the law came upon them (verse 9; cf. Deut 28:15‑68).

Malachi prophesied that if they keep the law, they will be blessed (verses 10‑12). This is a summary of the blessings promised to those who keep the Mosaic law (Deut 28:1‑14). In particular, Malachi prophesied to those who tithe “so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (verse 10).

Verse 11 contains a confirmation that the curse of the law does not come to rest. The curse includes the crops being eaten by locusts and the grapes by worms (Deut 28:38‑39). Paul wrote:

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Gal 3:13‑14)

Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law; that’s why we don’t have to tithe to have protection from the pests. We have the blessing of Abraham; therefore, we are blessed in every way (Gen 24:1). And that includes financial prosperity, because Abraham was very wealthy (Gen 13:2; Gen 24:35).

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (Prov 3:9‑10 ESV)

A special blessing is given to those who honor God with their possessions and the firstfruits of all their income (cf. Ezk 44:30). This blessing is very similar to the blessing that Malachi prophesied concerning tithing (Mal 3:10).

According to the Mosaic law, the firstfruits had to be offered (Ex 23:19; Ex 34:26; Deut 26:2). The firstfruits are the first fruits of everything (Num 18:13), especially all the best of the oil, must (wine) and grain (Num 18:12). The firstfruits include a sheaf of the first grain harvested (Lev 23:10) and a loaf from the first flour (Num 15:20‑21). The firstfruits of planted trees are the fruits of the first four years (Lev 19:23‑25). The firstlings of the cattle are the firstborns (Num 18:15) and the first wool (Deut 18:4).

The offering of firstfruits existed even before the Mosaic law. Firstfruits are already mentioned at the beginning of the Bible:

³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor… (Gen 4:3‑5)

The reason why God did not like the offering of Cain is written in the book of Jashar:^[1] The book of Jashar (or “Jasher” or “Yashar”) is an apocryphal history book. The Hebrew adjective “yashar” means straight, right or upright. The Book of Jashar is referred to twice in the Bible, in Joshua 10:13 and 2Sam 1:18.

And unto Cain and his offering the Lord did not turn, and he did not incline to it, for he had brought from the inferior fruit of the ground before the Lord… (Jashar 1:16; “The Book of Jasher” J.H. Parry & Co. 1887)

God was pleased that Abel offered him “of the firstborn,” that is, of the best; but Cain offered only “inferior fruit.” The firstfruits are the best that we can offer to God.

Offerings were often brought in the morning (Ex 36:3; Lev 9:17; 1Chr 16:40; 2Chr 13:11; Job 1:5; Ezek 46:13‑15; Am 4:4), so people served God already at the beginning of the day and did other things afterwards.

A psalmist wrote:

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (Ps 119:147)

It is a fundamental principle that we should always put God’s matters first:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)

When we honor God with our firstfruits, it is a sign that we put God first. We thank him for his provision and we are more than abundantly blessed. That is why I recommend doing this regularly out of gratitude. A firstfruits offering is really not much and you will see how God works.

Jesus said:

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Mt 5:42)

It is also written:

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Prov 14:31)

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. (Prov 19:17)

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Prov 22:9)

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. (Prov 28:27)

⁶ “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. ¹¹ And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isa 58:6‑11 ESV)

Whenever you support the poor, you honor God and you are blessed – even with healing (Isa 58:8) and your bones are made strong (Isa 58:11). This is promised to those who do not hide themselves from their own flesh (Isa 58:7), that is, who provide for the needs of their own family (NIRV). At his return Jesus will answer the question of the righteous when they have fed him, given him drink, sheltered him, clothed or visited him:

… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Mt 25:40)

Jesus’ brothers and sisters are the other believers (Mt 12:50; Lk 8:21). It is especially important to do good to them. Paul wrote on this matter:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)

Additional scriptures on providing for the poor: Deut 15:7‑11; Ps 112:5+9; Prov 14:21; Prov 21:13; Mt 6:4; Lk 10:25‑37; Lk 12:33; Acts 10:4+31; 2Cor 9:9; Gal 2:10; Eph 4:28.

Jesus said to his disciples before he sent them out to proclaim the gospel and heal the sick:

⁹ Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food…
⁴⁰ Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ⁴¹ The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mt 10:9‑42 ESV; see also Lk 10:7)

We ought to support the brothers and sisters who serve us, and for this we are even rewarded. Paul wrote:

But those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher. (Gal 6:6 NIRV)

Elsewhere, Paul explained that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel (1Cor 9:1‑14; see also 1Tim 5:17‑18; 3Jn 1:5‑8). The principle is that instead of doing normal work, the servant of God is ministering their brothers and sisters and therefore should be supported by them.

⁶ … Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Cor 9:6‑7)

In the book of the prophet Haggai we can read that the Jews were doing badly because they cared only about building their own houses and not about the temple (Haggai 1:2‑11). Also regarding our finances we should listen to God and follow his direction diligently, i.e. we should obey God’s instructions which he gives us personally. And if, for example, he would ask us to sell all our property and give it to the poor, then we should do the same (see Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21). Jesus said:

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Lk 14:33)

It is also written:

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. (Prov 10:22)

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. (Prov 22:4 ESV)

God wants us to be well and to live in prosperity (see also Deut 28:8+11‑12; Ps 112:3; Prov 14:24; 2Cor 8:9). In the Bible we can also read that rich people have many friends (Prov 14:20; Prov 19:4) and that money provides safety (Eccl 7:12). Some famous men of God were very rich: Abraham (Gen 13:2; Gen 24:35), Isaac (Gen 26:12‑14), Job (Job 1:3) and Solomon (1Kgs 10:23).

The Bible warns us:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Tim 6:10)

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. (Eccl 5:10)

…though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Ps 62:10)

Being rich is a blessing of God, but love of money is bad. It is important that we do not serve money but God (Mt 6:24; Lk 16:9‑13). Jesus warned against greed (Lk 12:15) and encouraged us to trust Him and seek His kingdom (Lk 12:31). He provides for us and we should not put our trust in our possessions (Lk 12:15‑34). This was also the problem of the rich young man whom Jesus told to sell all his possessions and give to the poor (Mk 10:17‑27). He put more trust in his riches than in Jesus (Mk 10:24 KJV; see also Job 31:24; Prov 11:28; Jer 48:7; 1Tim 6:17).

Jesus said:

¹ Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Mt 6:1‑4)

Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and pretended to donate all the money from the sale, although they kept part of it for themselves. Therefore they had to die. They wanted to look good in the eyes of the people (Acts 5:1‑11). In everything we do, it is very important that we do it to honor God and not to be honored by people. And this does not only apply to giving, but also to everything else like praying (Mt 6:5‑6), fasting (Mt 6:16‑18), singing, preaching, helping people in practical matters and so on. Paul wrote:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1Cor 10:31)

I would like to close this section on finances with the following thought:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. (Rom 12:1)

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. ¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; ¹⁹ then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (Ps 51:15‑19 ESV)

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pet 2:5 ESV)

³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. ³¹ This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. (Ps 69:30‑31)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Prov 21:3)

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6 ESV; see also Mt 12:7; Joel 2:13; Am 5:22)

More important than financial offerings is that we give ourselves completely to God! Because…

…to obey is better than sacrifice… (1Sam 15:22; see also Jer 7:22‑23)