Nehemiah Reinstituted Proper Sabbath-Keeping

Nehemiah 10:29, 31

They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His judgments and His statutes; . . . And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

Nehemiah 13:15-22  

In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day . . . .

Savior Kept Sabbath as Special Day of Service

The word "Sabbath" occurs over sixty times in the New Testament.

Jesus Taught In the Synagogue on the Sabbath

Mark 1:21-22

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 6:2, 5

And when the Sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? . . . . And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Luke 4:16, 31

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read . . . . And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.

Luke 13:10

And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

It is Lawful to Heal on Sabbaths

Matthew 12:10-13

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse Him. And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. Then saith He to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Mark 1:21-27

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 3:1-5

And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And He saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Luke 13:10-17

And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And He laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? And when He had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

And it came to pass, as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched Him. And, behold, there was a certain man before Him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? And they held their peace. And He took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day? And they could not answer Him again to these things.

John 5:5-18

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered Him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed Himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

This was a Sabbath, probably during the Feast of Tabernacles

Sabbath, Holy Days Focal Points of Messiah's Ministry

It is likely that the so-called "Sermon on the Mount," Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7, was given on a Sabbath, when Jesus escaped the multitudes and went up to a mountain with His disciples. Some few of the multitude followed Him up to the mountain, and were "astonished at His doctrine," Matthew 7:28. The rest would not travel a Sabbath day's journey and stayed behind.

There is no time break in the story flow into Matthew 8, where Jesus went into Capernaum and healed Peter's wife's mother, verses 14-15. At the end of the Sabbath, at evening, many brought to Him demoniacs to be healed, because they felt it wrong to heal on the Sabbath. Mark 1:21-34records the same event, and clearly shows it was on a Sabbath when Jesus entered into the synagogue in Capernaum and taught with such authority that the people were "astonished at His doctrine," verse 22. Also in verses 30-31, Mark records the healing of Peter's wife's mother. Finally, verse 32 records the deluge of people coming to be healed at even, at sunset as the Sabbath was ended.

Thus, the Sermon on the Mount, the heart and core of the New Testament gospel, was given on the Sabbath! The Messiah magnified the Sabbath and all of His laws. Later, He was to die on the annual Passover, and found His New Testament Church on the annual Holy Day of the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus' 3-1/2 year ministry ended on an annual Passover. There are six months between Passover and the fall Feast of Tabernacles. Therefore, the Savior's ministry must have begun around the Fall festival season!

We would be surprised to know just how many times in the Bible great and important events occurred on the weekly Sabbath or on one of the annual Sabbaths or Holy Days.

The Gospel of John, written late in the First Century, is centered around the Sabbaths and Holy Days that occurred during the Savior's ministry. This is unique, considering that some people think the Sabbath is done away! Writing some 60 years after the events transpired, the Apostle John remembered the major events of the Messiah in relation to the Sabbaths and Holy Days.

John 2:13-3:21 describes events at Jerusalem during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. John 4:35 alludes to Pentecost, which is four months before the fall harvest. Verse 45 shows that the Galileans had seen Jesus at the previous Feast.

John 5:1-47 describes Jesus' healing during a Sabbath at a Feast in Jerusalem, probably the Fall Feast. Chapter 6 shows another Passover Feast. In line with the meaning of the spring Holy Days, Jesus said He is the bread of life, verse 35. In verses 53-58, Jesus says you must symbolically eat His flesh and drink His blood or you have no life in you.

John chapters 7-10 cover events surrounding another Fall Feast of Tabernacles, with verses 37-39 giving the famous Last Great Day message of living waters. In chapter 9, on a Sabbath right afterwards, Jesus heals a man born blind. In John 10:22, Jesus taught in the Temple during the winter Feast of Dedication.

Finally, the third and last Passover of Jesus' ministry is covered from John 11:55 through chapter 19. Wavesheaf Sunday is given new meaning in chapter 20.

Thus, we have seen that the Sabbath and Holy Days were the very focal point of the Messiah's ministry. These days remain the center of the true believer's life. The Sabbath is mentioned sixty times in the New Testament, and never is there any hint it was abolished or done away!

The Sabbath is Made for Man

Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto Him, Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But He said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is One greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

Mark 2:23-28

And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto Him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful? And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

Do you obey the Lord of the Sabbath?

Pray That Our Fleeing Is Not on the Sabbath

Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:

Apostles and Gentile Christians Kept the Sabbath

Paul preached to both Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath at Antioch:

Acts 13:13-16, 42-44

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience . . . . And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabus: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Acts 16:13  

And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Acts 17:2  

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

It was Paul's custom to keep the Sabbath, as it was the Messiah's, Luke 4:16, 31.

Acts 18:4, 11  

And [at Corinth] he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks . . . . And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Paul worked on a job six days a week, then observed the Sabbath day resting and preaching. Paul commanded Gentile Christians at Corinth to follow him exactly as he followed Christ, I Corinthians 11:1. He commanded the Philippians to do likewise, Philippians 3:17.

Sabbath Will Be Kept in the Millennium

Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

The Sabbath is closely linked with the New Moon as a regular time of worship. See also II Kings 4:23, Hosea 2:11, Amos 8:5, Isaiah 1:13-14.

Ezekiel 44:15, 23-24  

But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister unto Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God . . . . And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to My judgments: and they shall keep My laws and My statutes in all Mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.

Isaiah 11:9-10  

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.

Matthew 11:28-30  

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Hebrews 4:1-11  

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it . . . . For we which have believed do enter into rest . . . . For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day . . . . There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief [of ancient Israel, verses 2, 6].

The Sabbath pictures the restful 1000-year Millennium, the Messianic Kingdom on this earth. Resting from our daily labors on the Creator's Holy Sabbath pictures our glorious future as spirit-born Sons in the Family of God. Sabbath-keeping pictures "rest" from our struggles against sin, which the Eternal promises to give His obedient children.

God has a seven thousand-year Master Time Plan, II Peter 3:8 (one day = 1,000 prophetic years):

God's Master Time Plan

|--Creation of ManMessiah | Returns1st Day2nd Day3rd Day4th Day5th Day6th Day7th Day1000 years1000 years1000 years1000 years1000 years1000 years1000 years...

6,000 years allowed for man to go his own way
Messiah's Rule
Creator's "Week" of 7,000 years

The Sabbath Is a Sign of God's People

Exodus 31:12-17

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

Ezekiel 20:20  

And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

The way we "show" to God the Sabbath is a "sign" is to do what He says on that day: restfrom our physical labors.

Hebrews 4:9  

There remaineth therefore a rest [Greek sabbatismos, "keeping of a Sabbath"] to the people of God.

Revelation 12:17  

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:12  

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 22:14  

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Keeping, or not keeping, God's Sabbath Days reveals an attitude! By keeping them, we demonstrate a childlike, simple, faithful obedience and a willingness to forsake our thoughts and to learn to develop Godlike character. "Sabbath-keeping plainly is a test of our attitude to reveal whether we really want to obey and depend on God and receive His Holy Spirit!"

"If you worship God every Sabbath by praying to Him and studying His Word and its applicationin your life, and put it into DAILY PRACTICE during the week, then you will have God's Sabbath 'sign' in the true and savingsense. You will be PREPARING to enter God's Kingdom as a priest and ruler! (Rev. 5:10).

"And if you continue to grow and overcome, at Christ's coming, God will CHANGE you by giving you an efficient spirit body capable of tremendous spiritual service in His eternal Kingdom!" (Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, Lesson 27, pages 6, 15.)

Romans 4:13  

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Galatians 3:29  

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Exodus 19:5-6  

Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.

Ancient Israel never did become the holy nation, the model nation for others that the Almighty intended them to be. Today, spirit-begotten New Testament believers are spiritual Israelites, Abraham's "seed." They are set apart for the Almighty's holy use. The Old Covenant Israelites refused to rest on the Holy Sabbath, Ezekiel 20 and Hebrews 4. With the Holy Spirit, we can keep the Sabbath and exercise the faith they lacked. Faith to step out in obedience to the Master is the key to Sabbath-keeping, and a true Christian life. The older generation of Israel who rebelled against God in the wilderness did not enter the promised land because of unbelief or lack of faith, Hebrews 3:19. Faith is the key element and without faith, we will not enter the millennial kingdom. It takes faith to keep the Sabbath and conquer our carnal human nature. We need to boldly ask the Almighty for faith to obey Him, Hebrews 4:14-16

The Bible Does Not Authorize Sunday-Keeping Eight Uses of Term, "First Day of the Week"

Matthew 28:1

In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:1-9

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.

Luke 23:53-56, 24:1

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 20:1

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:19

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Acts 20:7-13

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

I Corinthians 16:1-4

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

None of the above references to the first day of the week indicate that Sunday is a day of worship. After the crucifixion, holy women rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. The disciples assembled on the Sunday after the crucifixion for fear of the Jews, not for worship. Paul walked across a peninsula on the first day of the week. He asked the Corinthians to gather up food to send to Jerusalem on the first day of the week, a normal workday.

"Lord's Day" Does Not Refer to Sunday

Revelation 1:1, 7-10

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John . . . Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

In Old Testament prophecy, the term "Day of the Lord" refers to the prophetic time of the return of the Messiah as conquering king and world ruler. "Lord's Day" is the same as saying "Day of the Lord." John, in Revelation, was referring to the Day of the Lord, not the first day of the week. Mark 2:28 says that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the only "Lord's Day."

Jesus Was Not Resurrected on Sunday Morning

Matthew 12:38-40  

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

You cannot count three days and three nights from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, the Passover of 31 A.D., placed in the tomb just before sundown, and was in the grave until His resurrection near sundown Saturday evening, 72 hours later.

Pentecost is Not on Sunday

Leviticus 23:15-16 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

A supposed Sunday resurrection and a supposed Sunday Pentecost are the two pillars of evidence Sunday-keepers use to justify keeping the first day of the week holy. Both are false ideas. Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks, is on a Monday.

"Difficult" Scriptures Don't Do Away With Sabbath

Colossians 2:14-17  

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the New Moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

In the last sentence above, "is" is in italics in the KJV, showing that it is not part of the original Greek. Let the body of Christ, the Church, do the judging. Don't let the world judge you and say you are wrong in keeping the Holy Days, New Moons, or Sabbaths. Rather than do away with the Sabbath, these verses show that Gentile Colossians were admonished to let nothing dissuade them from faithfully keeping the times God has ordained.

Galatians 4:8-11

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

The days, months, times and years referred to here are not God's special times. Some Gentile Galatians were returning to the pagan times they had observed prior to becoming Christians. Paul was warning them not to do this.

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. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

This passage does not refer to the Sabbath, but to times of eating or not eating, i.e., fast days.