Sabbath not observed; the Mosaic Law including Sabbath was abolished at Christ's death
Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe the Sabbath (Saturday) or any weekly day of rest as a religious obligation. They teach that the Mosaic Law—including the Sabbath commandment—was a covenant given specifically to Israel and was abolished at Christ's death (Colossians 2:14-17). Christians under the 'law of the Christ' (Galatians 6:2) are not required to observe the Sabbath or any other element of the Mosaic Law.
Jehovah's Witnesses typically hold their main weekly meeting on Sunday (theocratic meeting) and on midweek evenings (Bible study and ministry school), but these are not observed as Sabbath rest days—they are meeting days determined by practical convenience. They work on Saturdays and Sundays without religious restriction. The Governing Body has not designated any particular day as a day of rest. This teaching distinguishes them clearly from Seventh-day Adventists, who maintain Saturday Sabbath observance.
Key Distinctions
- Day observed:
- no specific weekly Sabbath required; meetings on weekdays and weekends
- Observance theology:
- the Mosaic Sabbath is part of the Old Covenant not binding on Christians; rest in Christ
- Binding on christians:
- not binding — the Sabbath law was part of the Mosaic Law given to Israel
Scripture References
Sources
- What Does the Bible Really Teach? (Watch Tower, 2005), Chapter 12
- Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 (Watch Tower, 1988), 'Sabbath'
- The Watchtower, 'Was the Sabbath Made Perpetual?' (1985)