Paul never mentions the Sabbath commandment because it was part of the Law given to Israel, not something repeated for believers under grace.
Les Feldick shows that of the Ten Commandments, Paul refers to nine throughout his letters, but the Sabbath is the only one he never repeats. The Sabbath was incorporated into the Law and separated believers from the legal system. Since love is the fulfilling of the Law and every day is alike for the believer, Paul does not reimpose a seventh-day rest.
Romans 13:8-10 — Paul lists several commandments without mentioning the Sabbath, showing that love fulfills the Law.
Romans 14:5 — Paul tells believers that one esteems every day alike, which fits his silence on Sabbath observance.
Ephesians 6:2 — Paul calls the command to honor parents the first commandment with promise, one of the nine he references.
1 Corinthians 16:2 — Paul instructs giving on the first day of the week rather than on the Sabbath.
Exodus 20:8-11 — This is the Sabbath commandment given to Israel under the Law, the one Paul never repeats.
In Romans 13:8-10, Paul writes that love is the fulfillment of the law and lists several commandments—against adultery, killing, stealing, and coveting—but he does not mention the Sabbath. In Romans 14:5, Paul says one man esteems one day above another and another esteems every day alike. In Ephesians 6:2, he references the commandment to honor parents, calling it the first commandment with promise. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, he directs believers to give on the first day of the week. The Sabbath commandment itself was given to Israel in Exodus 20:8-11, where the seventh day was set apart as a sabbath to the Lord.
Les Feldick explains that the Sabbath was given under the Law and was incorporated into the Law, even though it existed before the Law. He points out that Paul makes reference to nine of the Ten Commandments throughout his letters, but the Sabbath is glaringly absent. For Les, this absence separates believers from the legal system. Under grace, love is the dominant force, and love fulfills the Law, so the believer automatically adheres to the moral commands without being under the Law's penalty. Les also teaches that Sunday should not be called the Sabbath and is not a special holy day; every day is alike for the believer, as Paul said in Romans 14.
Yes. Les shows that Paul refers to nine of the Ten Commandments, including honoring parents (Ephesians 6:2), not committing adultery, not killing, not stealing, not bearing false witness, and not coveting (Romans 13:9). Paul also tells believers not to have idols. The only commandment he does not reiterate is the Sabbath.
No. Les Feldick says the book doesn't teach setting Sunday apart as a holy day above the other six days. Paul said in Romans 14, 'Regard every day alike.' While Les accepts the first day of the week as the day believers gathered for offerings (1 Corinthians 16:2), he explains that Sunday is not taught as the Sabbath.
No. Les emphasizes that grace is not license. Paul asks, 'Shall we sin because we are not under the law?' and answers, 'God forbid' (Romans 6:2). The Ten Commandments are still the perfect law of a holy God. When love is operating, believers don't commit adultery, kill, bear false witness, or covet. Paul never forsook the morality of the Law even though he was free from its legal system.
According to Les, the Sabbath's absence in Paul's writings is deliberate. It shows that the Sabbath was tied to Israel's legal system and is not part of the believer's life in the age of grace. The Law required death by stoning for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, but believers today live under grace and are not under that penalty.
Grace Is Not License
Les explains that being under grace does not give permission to sin; when love operates, believers do not commit adultery, kill, bear false witness, or covet.
Paul Never Mentions the Sabbath
Les points out that of all the Ten Commandments Paul refers to, the only one he makes no mention of is the Sabbath, showing it was part of the Law rather than a moral requirement for believers.
Paul Repeats Nine Commandments
Les shows that Paul reiterates all the other commandments, such as honoring parents, but leaves the Sabbath out, confirming the Sabbath is not reiterated for the church.
Nine Commandments, One Missing
Les notes that Paul refers to nine of the commandments and that the Sabbath is glaringly absent, which separates believers from the legal system. He also cites 1 Corinthians 16:2 where Paul tells believers to give on the first day of the week.
The Law Is Still Perfect
Les says the Ten Commandments are still the perfect law of a holy God, and Paul references them throughout his letters, but he does not teach that grace allows license.
Law's Sabbath Penalty
Les contrasts the Law's penalty—death by stoning for Sabbath violation—with the believer's position of liberty under grace, showing the Sabbath was part of the legal system.
Every Day Alike
Les teaches that Christians should not regard one day higher than another; Sunday is not a holy day above the other six, and the book does not teach a Sabbath-like Sunday.
Moral Law Retained
Les says Paul never forsook the morality of the Law of God, but he was not under the Law's legal system; freedom from Law is not freedom to sin.
Exodus 20:8-11: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
This is the Sabbath commandment given to Israel under the Law, the one Paul never repeats.
Romans 13:8-10: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul lists commandments for believers but omits the Sabbath, showing love fulfills the Law.
Romans 14:5-6: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
Paul teaches that every day is alike, supporting the absence of Sabbath observance for believers.
Ephesians 6:2-3: Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Paul references the commandment to honor parents, one of the nine he repeats while omitting the Sabbath.
1 Corinthians 16:2: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Paul directs believers to give on the first day of the week, not on the seventh-day Sabbath.
No. Les Feldick notes that Paul refers to nine of the Ten Commandments in his letters, but the Sabbath is the only one he never mentions. It was part of the Law given to Israel, not repeated for believers under grace.
No. Les teaches that Sunday is not taught in Scripture as a holy day above the other six. Paul said to regard every day alike. The Sabbath was the seventh day and belonged to Israel's legal system.
No. Les emphasizes that grace is not license. The Ten Commandments still express God's mind on sin, but believers are not under the Law's penalty. When love is operating, believers do not steal, kill, commit adultery, bear false witness, or covet.
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