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This bible study refutes the idea that Pauls reference to "Days, months, times, and years" Galatians 4:10) has cancelled the Sabbath day . It is based rock solid on the word of God. Its purpose is only to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you notice any errors you may contact us.
GALATIANS 4:8-11 (Paul)
8 However then, when you did not know God, you did service to those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how do you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements,
to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Note: Here again we have a scripture that does not mention the Sabbath, being used to prove that the Sabbath has been done away with. This reasoning is not sound. What this scripture refers to depends on what we believe Paul meant by the word "days," (v10) (Gtr. hemeras). If we consider the context, there are two possibilities.
(1) In the immediate context (v8-11), it looks as if the Galatians may have gone back to observe "days, months, times, and years." (v10), from their previous religion, when they served false gods (v8). In which case, the days would refer to the days of their previous pagan religion, and would be nothing at all to do with the Sabbath day.
(2) Looking at the broader context of Paul's letter to the Galatians, he is rebuking them for going back under the law of Moses.
(Galatians 2:16) "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Galatians 3:2) "This only would I learn of you, Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith?"
(Galatians 3:5) "He therefore who ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
(Galatians 3:10-11) "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is
every one who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith."
(Galatians 3:18) "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is
no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise."
(Galatians 4:21) "Tell me, you who desire to be under the
law, do you not hear the law?"
(Galatians 5:4) "Christ is become of no effect to you,
whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace."
This is the more obvious interpretation, in which case we must accept that the "days" referred to could be Sabbath days or feast days. If we read these scriptures very carefully, and we see that Paul is talking about "the works of the law" as a means of justification (Galatians 2:16; 3:10-11; 5:4), which has already been dealt with (See #4.04), and being "under the law" (Galatians 4:21 See #4.14). The whole context of the letter to the Galatians, is concerned with urging them to be justified by the faith of Christ, and not trying to be justified by "works of the law". What was Paul saying then?
(Galatians 4:10) "You observe days, and months, and times, and years in order to be justified,"
The "days" could refer to weekly Sabbaths, "months" to the New moons, "times" to evening and morning, and
"years" to the yearly feast days.
In which case Paul is against the sacrifices which were made for sin on those days (See #4.24 below), and not against the days. Keeping the days without the
sacrifices would never justify anybody under the law, because all have sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). Paul himself observed the Sabbath and other Jewish
feasts (Acts 17:1-2; 17:10; 18:4; 18:19-21; 20:16), but not as a means of justification.
In conclusion, there is no case here for rejecting the Sabbath day.
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