Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates: for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (Ex.20:8-11).
What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to himself. The Lord says, "You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD" (Lev. 19:30). Moses said, "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you" (Deut. 5:12).
Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath. In Genesis 2:3 we read, "So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." Although no New Testament passage explicitly describes the transition between the seventh day Sabbath and the first day Lord's Day, it is clear that this pattern emerged within the Church. John tells us that it was on the first day of the week that Jesus first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection (John 20:19). Luke tells us that the church was gathered on the first day of the week to break bread together, that is, to celebrate the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7). Celebrating the Lord's Supper was part of corporate worship. Paul mentions setting aside money on the first day of the week for a special collection for the saints in Jerusalem (1 Cor. 16:1-2). This implies that churches were worshiping on the first day of the week. In the book of Revelation, we find John worshiping in the Spirit on the "Lord's Day," (i.e. Sunday, see Rev. 1:10).
How is the Sabbath sanctified?
One day in seven should be especially devoted to corporate worship and other spiritual exercises that restore the soul's rest in God and zeal for His name. It should provide physical refreshment and fit one for a week of devoted service to Christ. The Lord compels his people,
If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isa. 58:13-14).Paul states, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God" (Rom. 14:5-6). In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus explains the how we should understand the Sabbath regulations. The regulations should not be seen as something to bind us, but as a blessing. Elsewhere Jesus explains, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
What is prohibited in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment prohibits dishonoring the Lord's Day by actions or thoughts that divert the soul from spiritual refreshment, or deprive the body of renewed energy or distract the mind from its special Sabbath focus on the Lord. The Scripture is clear that the Lord's Day is to be a day of worship and rest. Consider these verses: Ezekiel 22:26, 23:38; Jeremiah 17:21; Nehemiah 13:15-17; Acts 20:7; Mark 2:23-28; and Romans 14:5-6.
What are the reasons attached to the fourth commandment?
The reasons attached to the fourth commandment are, God's creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh and his blessing the Sabbath day. Exodus 31:16-17 states, "Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made the heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." See also, Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:9-11.
Summary
The fourth commandment calls us to set aside one day in seven, for corporate worship and personal rest. In honor of the resurrection, Christians observe the Lord's Day, Sunday, as their day of worship and rest. It should be a day of spiritual and physical renewal.
Next week, we tackle the question: "What is the fifth commandment?"
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