Doesn’t Romans 14:5 teach that it really doesn’t matter which day we keep holy?

Some people assume that the apostle Paul is talking about the Sabbath day in this passage. But nowhere in this verse or the entire chapter does he ever use that term. He only speaks of “one day above another.” The context makes it clear that the discussion was over ceremonial laws, which were raising questions in the minds of Jews who converted to Christianity. Notice how Paul sets the tone for this chapter by stating, “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things” (Romans 14:1, my emphasis).

When we study the life and practices of Paul, we notice that he was a Sabbath-keeper. There is no doubt that he kept the seventh-day holy (see Acts 13:42–44). The Sabbath was not part of the ceremonial law; it’s found in the unchanging moral law of the Ten Commandments.

Read Exodus 20:8–10. The very next verse reminds us, “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (v. 11). That means the Sabbath was established at creation, before sin, and before there was ever a Jew. The Sabbath commandment is not something to doubt.

The context to Romans 14:5 is really about fasting. “He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks” (Romans 14:6). This is a clear reference to “fast” days, not Sabbath days. Some Jewish Christians believed there was merit in fasting on specific days and so were tempted to criticize others who didn’t follow suit.

The reason Paul wrote this was to encourage people to be tolerant toward those who sincerely believed they must continue to observe certain ceremonial days.

Key Bible Texts

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Romans 14:5 KJV)