Does it really matter what day the church gathers to worship God and break bread together? Could they not do it any day, as long as they are doing it? Would there be anything wrong with doing it on Saturday instead of Sunday? What is it that makes the first day of the week so special and so exclusive?
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the first day of the week. “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb…and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1). That which “declared [Jesus] to be the Son of God with power” (i.e., His resurrection, Rom. 1:4), happened on Sunday.
Jesus’ disciples were gathering together on the first day of the week even from His resurrection day. “Being the first day of the week…the disciples were assembled…And after eight days His disciples were again inside” (John 20:19, 26). Scripture specifies that they gathered two consecutive Sundays (the very first two).
Jesus’ church was established on the first day of the week. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come…the Lord added to the church” (Acts 2:1, 47). Pentecost was always on Sunday, 50 days after Passover (Lev. 23:15-16).
Jesus’ church in Troas assembled on the first day of the week. “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7). Breaking bread (the Lord’s Supper) was their purpose for gathering that day. In fact, Paul, in a hurry to make it to Jerusalem, waited seven days to meet with the church.
Jesus’ church in New Testament times was assembling every first day of the week. Paul commanded congregations in Galatia, Corinth and in every city (cf. 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17), “On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper” (1 Cor. 16:1-2, NASB).
As with all Scriptural matters, it comes down to a question of authority! If one turns to find Jesus’ authority for the day on which Jesus’ church is to assemble to worship and break bread (if there is such an emphasis on a single day), all of the evidence (not some) points to Jesus singling out the first day of the week (over and over). The law of specificity focuses on (includes) that day alone and thereby excludes all others.
In Revelation 1:10, John spoke of “the Lord’s day” (commonly accepted as the first day of the week). Jesus, our Lord, has all authority and He specified His day. May we respect, honor and emphasize our Lord and His day!