Sabbath

Lutheran theology teaches that the Mosaic Sabbath commandment (Saturday rest) belongs to the ceremonial law of Israel, which has been abrogated by the coming of Christ. Christians are therefore not bound by the Fourth Commandment as a legal obligation to worship on any particular day. The Augsburg Confession Article XXVIII explicitly states that the church may not bind consciences with ceremonial observations such as Sabbath days, since such regulations are human traditions.

Sunday worship is practiced by Lutheranism as an evangelical custom — a freedom established by the church for good order, to gather for Word and Sacrament. Luther's Large Catechism interprets the Sabbath commandment as requiring that Christians set aside time for the hearing of God's Word, which is the spiritual intent of the commandment. The particular day is a matter of Christian freedom. Lutheranism therefore clearly distinguishes itself from Seventh-day Adventism and other groups that treat Saturday worship as a moral obligation.