As one who has reached the age of seventy-three years, never have I seen a stoning! Now, it is clearly understood, in some parts of the world, people have been stoned to death. In fact, here is a report, dated: September 29, 2013, “Two months ago, a young mother of two was stoned to death by her relatives on the order of a tribal court in Pakistan. Her crime: possession of a mobile phone.” One report stated, “Stoning is legal or practiced in at least 15 countries or regions.” However, this is not the subject of this article.
No, the subject of this article is to address the punishment for violating “The Ten Commandments” of the Jewish laws. Many denominational churches; thus, members of such, teach that those living today must keep “The Ten Commandments” as given by Moses in Exodus chapter twenty. It should be one of the easier things to understand, if people today are not subject to the punishment of these laws, then, they are not under these laws!
First, it must be remembered, that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, Saturday; not Sunday, which is the first day of the week. This point is made because some appear to believe that Sunday is the “Christian Sabbath.” There is no evidence of such in the New Testament; as Luke reported the church of the New Testament assembled on “the first day of the week” in Troas. In fact, he reveals that Paul and company (which included Luke, notice the personal pronoun in verse 6, “we”) “abode seven days” in Troas,” “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (the Lord’s Supper, FRW). Never in the New Testament is the “Lord’s Supper” ever taken on any other day, than, “the first day of the week.” With the New Testament, came a new day of worship: “the first day of the week.” Therefore, there is no evidence that “the first day of the week” (Sunday) is referred to as the “Christian Sabbath!”
Second, what was the punishment for those who violated the Sabbath? Remember the commandment reads: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Ex. 20:8-11). Now, what was the punishment for violating the Sabbath commandment? Let Moses answer the question: “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death” (Ex. 3:15). However, it was not, just “put to death,” but the manner of such death is also revealed: “And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp” (Num. 15:32-35). Therefore, for those who work, even gathering “sticks upon the sabath day,” are to be put to death by stoning! To those who desire to be under the “Ten Commandments, are you obeying this part of the same law?
Third, the same punishment is revealed for violating other of the “Ten Commandments.” Notice the commandment: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land …” (Ex. 20:12). Now, what was the punishment for violating this law? Hear Moses: “And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death” (Ex. 21:15); but this is not all: “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death” (Ex. 21:17). To those who desire to be under the “Ten Commandments, are you obeying this part of the same law?
One last question: Where did the idea of the “Christian Sabbath” come from? The best information reveals it came from the Puritans of the 16th and 17th centuries. Nevertheless, those who claim we who are living today are under, subject to, the “Ten Commandments,” have to confess they, themselves, do not obey the Ten Commandments!
— Frank R. Williams