Is working on Sunday a sin?

Response

Working on Sunday is not considered a sin. The Bible does not prohibit working on Sunday. The belief that Christians should refrain from working on Sunday stems from a misinterpretation of the Old Testament Sabbath observance by the Israelites and its connection to Sunday worship for Christians. In Exodus 20:8–11, the Sabbath is identified as the seventh day of the week when the Israelites were instructed to rest in commemoration of God creating the universe in six days and resting on the seventh day. Observing the Sabbath as holy meant refraining from work on that day.

During the Exodus journey, when God provided manna in the desert, He directed that the manna should only be collected for six days, with a double portion gathered on the sixth day to sustain the people during the Sabbath rest. Gathering manna was considered work, similar to planting and harvesting. Exodus 31:14–16 and 35:2 mandated death for anyone working on the Sabbath. Engaging in buying and selling on the Sabbath was also viewed as a violation of the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:15-17). Clearly, observing the Sabbath as “holy” entailed ceasing all work for the Israelites.

The Sabbath was instituted so that the Israelites could rest from their labor and then resume work after a day of rest. Why then are Christians not bound by the same regulation? The key to understanding this lies in recognizing that the various aspects of the Sabbath symbolized the arrival of the Messiah, who would fulfill the Law by offering an enduring rest for His people, rather than just a one-day rest. Under the Old Testament Law, the Jews were continually striving to make themselves pleasing to God. Their efforts involved striving to adhere to all the requirements of the ceremonial, temple, and sacrificial laws. However, they could not possibly

God provided various sin offerings and sacrifices for the people to seek forgiveness and restore fellowship with Him temporarily because they couldn’t keep all the laws.

Just as they resumed their physical work after a day of rest, they also had to continue offering sacrifices. Hebrews 10:1 explains that the law “can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” These sacrifices anticipated Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross. After offering one sacrifice for sins forever, Christ sat down at the right hand of God «but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; », (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus rested after completing the ultimate sacrifice—He ceased His atonement labor because it was finished. Thanks to His sacrifice, we no longer need to strive to keep the Law to be justified before God, including observing the Sabbath. Jesus came so we could rest in God and His provision.

When Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” «And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: », (Mark 2:27), He reiterated that the Sabbath rest was meant to relieve humans of their toil, just as He came to free us from trying to earn salvation through our deeds. We now rest not just for a day but forever, ceasing our efforts to earn God’s favor. Jesus is our rest from works now and the gateway to eternal rest in heaven with Him. Jesus is the only true Sabbath rest. He alone fulfills the Law’s demands and provides the sacrifice for sin. He is God.

It is God’s plan for us to stop our own labor.

In Colossians 2:16–17, the apostle Paul states, “Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or in regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of things to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” We are no longer required to stop working on the Sabbath, nor is Sunday now considered the “Christian Sabbath.” While many Christians choose to rest on Sunday and dedicate part of it to corporate worship, working on Sunday is not a sin. Many Christians, such as doctors and nurses, have no option but to work on Sunday, and as a society, we should be very appreciative of them. However, Christians who work on Sunday should do so understanding that worship is not confined to any single day of the week but is meant to be a continual part of their lives.