Esteeming Every Day Alike

Romans 14:5, 6  This passage mentions nothing about the Sabbath. A careful reading of the context reveals that the discussion has to do with eating versus fasting. The fourth commandment says nothing about eating or fasting. This is a totally different issue.

Fasting was a common practice in Bible times. Mark records that “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast.” Mark 2:18. The Pharisee in Luke 18:12 fasted twice a week. An ancient Jewish treatise on fasting, Megillath Ta’anith, mentions Jews who at that time regularly fasted on the second and fifth days of the week, that is, Monday and Thursday. The Didache, written later, warns Christians not to fast with the hypocrites on the second and fifth days of the week, but rather on the fourth and sixth days (Didache 8:1).

Paul says, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Notice carefully verse 6. “He that regardeth the day” would be “he that eateth not.” And “he that regardeth not the day” would be “he that eateth.” It’s all about which day to fast on. Paul here was not addressing the issue of the Sabbath at all.