When Does the Sabbath Day Begin

 

When Does the Sabbath Day Start and End?

When I first began observing the 7^th day Sabbath I assumed the day began after midnight on Friday and went through to midnight that Saturday. However, when I came into contact with the Church of God they showed me from the bible that God’s way of reckoning time was different.

If you would like to learn more about the biblical 7th day Sabbath and its importance for you get our free bible study guide on the subject here: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/sunset-to-sunset-gods-sabbath-rest

In the Bible Days Begin and End With Sunset

The bible presents us with a very simple way of reckoning the beginning and end of each day. According to the bible each day of the week begins and ends with the setting of the sun. Using the sunset gives us a simple way of determining each day based on observation rather than advanced knowledge of the solar system available only to a learned few.  

Why Does Modern Society Begin the Day at Midnight?

The modern method of beginning a day at midnight is based on calculating the moment when our  sun is at its closest point to our location as earth rotates in   orbit. While astronomically accurate this humanly devised method is not one the average person is able to calculate without assistance. 

God’s way is one that is available and understandable to everyone. Even a young child can observe the setting of the sun and thereby determine that the old day has passed and a new day has begun.

By contrast, if you were standing outside looking at the sky between the hours of 10 pm and 2 pm, you would have no way of knowing when one day had passed and another begun. Only people with an advanced grasp of astronomy would be able to tell you the answer.

Scriptures That Tells Us Days Begin at Sunset

 Marking the passage of time from sunset to sunset is first presented to us in the first chapter of the bible Genesis 1:14. We see this indicated in the Genesis account Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31).

In the bible evening began when the sun went down Joshua 8:29, Nehemiah 13:19. God commands that His Sabbaths be observed “from evening to evening” Leviticus 23:32. This was the usual way of determining the beginning and ending of days Exodus 12:18.

The New Testament Uses Sunset Also

In new testament times, days were determined in the same way. Mark 1:32 records that, after the sun had set, marking the end of one Sabbath, crowds brought many ailing people to Jesus to be healed, having waited until after the Sabbath to come to Him. The Gospel accounts also record that Joseph of Arimathea entombed Jesus' body before evening to keep from working on an approaching annual high-day Sabbath which began that evening (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; compare to  John 19:31).

God the creator of the Sabbath, has given us a method for determining when a day begins and ends that is simple, understandable and available for all to use based on the power of observation. In God’s way of reckoning time a day begins and ends at sunset. The duration of a day was from sunset to sunset. Thus, the Sabbath begins Friday evening at sunset and ends Saturday evening at sunset.