What is the first day of the week?

The First Day

“Upon the first day of (every) week . . . .” (1 Cor. 16:2.) “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week . . . .” (Matt. 28:1.) “And when the day of Pentecost (always on the first day of the week) was fully come . . . .” (Acts 2:1.) “So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” (1 Cor. 11:33.)

Christians have called this first day of the week the Lord’s Day since the first century. John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. (Rev. 1:10.)

Craig Harline wrote a book titled Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Super Bowl, 2011. He described how the world has changed from generation to generation; and as the world changes, Sunday changes. He spoke of something he called “Sunday neurosis,” a sense of profound sadness that comes over some people on Sunday. Kris Kristofferson wrote a popular song, “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.” There is a certain sad note of melancholy in the song. I would dare say that many, even devoted Christians, know something of that feeling for one reason or another. (Russell Moore, president of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, “Moore to the Point,” July 3, 2007.)

I could wish that the feeling was more intense, especially for those who abuse the Lord’s Day and treat it with disdain and disregard. No, I do not think that Sunday is the Christian’s Sabbath Day. However, there is something wrong when Jews show more respect for their rest day than Christians do for the day of our assembly to remember the sacrifice of our Lord on our behalf! I have known some Christians who berated modern Sabbatarians for keeping the old Jewish Sabbath; and yet they went to ball fields, left for vacations, stayed home, slept, or prepared school work and many other such things during the Lord’s Day assembly.

Jews, according to their traditions, limited how far one could travel on the Sabbath Day. See the reference in Acts 1:12. From Jerusalem to Mount Olivet was about a Sabbath Day’s journey. We criticize their rules and traditions, and yet, what they wanted to do was to respect the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Christians have no such limitations or keen respect for the Lord’s Day. If they want to do it, they do it. They do not keep the memorial feast. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Yet, we are too busy; we have places to go and things to do. Why do Christians not travel on Saturday or Monday, instead of Sunday?? Monday is a work day. We must be at work. Saturday and Sunday make up what we style the “weekend.” Saturday is the real week’s end; Sunday is the first day of the new week. The first fruits ought to be given to the Lord.

Muslims often show greater respect for Fridays than many Christians show toward the Lord’s Day. Mohammad said, “There is no day more virtuous than Friday.” Muslims say, The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. It is the day that Adam was created. It is the day when the resurrection will take place, they claim. It was the day on which one of the greatest verses in the Quran was written. “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.” (Quran 5:3.)

Christians denounce Jews and Muslims, yet they often show greater reverence on their day of assembly than Christians do. On the first day of the week, Jesus arose victoriously over the grave. The Church of our Lord was established upon this day, the Day of Pentecost. Christians have met for 2000 years on the first day of the week. Multitudes of Christians dishonor the Lord on His day. Many will not assemble for weeks and even months. We are careless and indifferent about the things that belong to the Lord. We cannot disregard the Lord and forsake the Lord’s Day with impunity.

Mural Worthey

Hopewell, Virginia