The importance of the Lord's Day

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In an age when the Christian Sabbath is increasingly ignored or even rejected as an outdated tradition, this booklet offers a biblical, historical, and pastoral defense of the Lord’s Day as a perpetual and vital commandment for Christian living.

Written by two respected 19th-century theologians and pastors—J.C. Ryle and A.A. Hodge —this small book clearly and deeply addresses both modern and ancient objections to Sabbath observance, demonstrating its ongoing relevance for the church of Jesus Christ.

Since apostolic times, the church has recognized the first day of the week as the Lord’s Day , the spiritual heir to the Old Testament Sabbath, yet renewed in the light of Christ’s resurrection. However, in recent years, voices have arisen that:

• Argue for Saturday (the seventh-day Sabbath) as binding on all Christians.
• Reduce Sunday rest to a mere cultural tradition with no biblical foundation.

This book responds firmly and balancedly to both extremes, showing that the Sabbath is neither an arbitrary rule nor a legalistic burden, but a gift from God for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of His people.

J.C. Ryle , in the first part, clearly establishes:

• The divine authority of the Sabbath.
• The spiritual purpose behind the commandment.
• How it should be kept holy and with joy.
• Common ways it is profaned.
• A pressing exhortation to truly sanctify it.

A.A. Hodge , in the second part, demonstrates:

• That weekly rest has roots from the very beginning of creation.
• That the change from the seventh to the first day of the week is biblical and apostolic.
• That the Lord’s Day maintains the spirit of the original commandment, though now filled with new meaning in Christ.

This short book is ideal for both personal study and use in small groups or pastoral counseling. It is a valuable resource for those who desire to understand and defend the importance of the Lord’s Day in a world that increasingly fails to see the value of divinely-ordered rest.

A necessary call to recover Christian rest—not as a burden, but as a blessing.

About the Authors:

J.C. Ryle (1816–1900): An Anglican bishop and one of the leading figures in the evangelical movement in England. Known for his clear writing style, biblical faithfulness, and love for the people of God.

A.A. Hodge (1823–1886): A Reformed theologian and professor at Princeton Theological Seminary; son of the famous Charles Hodge. He was noted for his commitment to biblical orthodoxy and the devotional life of the Christian.