Paul rebuked Galatians for observing days

How do you understand at World's Last Chance Paul's rebuke to the Galatians for their observance of "days, months, and times and years"? Could that be applicable to the weekly Sabbath of the Lord?

Let us try to understand the context of Paul's rebuke by first quoting the verses:

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years" Galatians 4:9-10.

Paul could not here be referring to the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment. There is no basis whatsoever for inferring that the "days" mentioned above refer to the seventh-day Sabbath. Nowhere in the Bible is the seventh-day referred to in the above manner. The Sabbath memorial was in fact established at creation (see Gen 2:1-3), before the existence of sin. Furthermore, there is not way that the Sabbath, which was instituted for benefit of man (see Mark 2:27), could be regarded by Paul as a "weak" and "beggarly element" that leads to "bondage." Paul honored and revered His Law (Romans 7:12, 14, 16). Importantly, the Sabbath is viewed in the Scriptures as a source of eternal blessings (see Isaiah 58:13-14 ) and is a joyous weekly event, and is never referred to as "bondage". Hence, the "days, and months, and times, and years" must be referring to other kind of festivals which the Galatians went back to observe after they have found the truth, which warranted Paul's rebuke.

Some have suggested that Paul is here rebuking the Galatians for observing the Jewish ceremonial feasts. That may have been, though not a strong likelihood. Galatia was a province in Asia Minor. Church membership was most likely made up of Gentiles, who had a history of worshipping pagan deities. The reaction of the healing of Paul of the crippled man in Lystra (see Acts 14:8-18 ), a Galatia city, is a point in case. The people were so astonished at this miracle that they regarded Paul and his companion as gods. This proves that Galatia people were mostly superstitious and highly attached to their pagan idols.

With this context in mind, it would seem that Paul's rebuke to the Galatians was aimed at their returning to their old habits of celebrating pagan festivals and seasons, which they had kept prior to their conversion. He was rebuking their turning back to their former heathen way of life; for observing pagan festivals, which they should have been freed from [one and for all] by their new-found faith.

Additional Reading:

• Institution of the Sabbath
• The Gentile Sabbath
• Reasons for Sabbathkeeping