Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8).
The fourth commandment is about the sabbath day. Not only is it about the sabbath day, but in the command also, we see something about work: “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.” (v.9). These words indicate the necessity of work. The first humans were mandated to work. Work is ordained by God and the Christians’ work ethics must be guided by God’s view about work (Genesis 2:5;15; 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ). As stated earlier, the fourth commandment is about the Sabbath day. The question then is, “what’s the sabbath day? To answer the question, there are three points to note.
- It Is A Day
- It Is A Day Of Rest
- It Is A Holy Day
It Is A Day
Christians are divided over which day is the sabbath day? Is it Sunday or Saturday? The sabbath day, as instituted and kept by the Jews was a Saturday; the seventh day of the week. In the New Testament, we see references to Saturday as the Sabbath day. One of the clearest places in the NT we deduce the Sabbath as Saturday is the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday; the first day of the week (Mark 16:1-7; Luke 23:53-56; 24:1; John 20:19).
How then has Sunday become the day of worship and sabbath for Christians? Again, when we consider the New Testament records, it points to Jesus’ disciples meeting regularly on the first day of the week. The believers began observing Jesus’ resurrection as a day of worship. For the Christian, Jesus’ resurrection ushered in the day of rest of the Sabbath. Christ is our sabbath rest. Thus Sunday began to be observed as The Lord’s Day; the Christian’s sabbath (Revelation 1:10).
As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath (WCF 11.6)
It Is A Day of Rest
Having noted that the Sabbath is a day, it is further clear that the sabbath is not just a day but a day of rest. It means that this day must not be used to engage in any work. It is a day of rest instituted for us to rest from work, just as God rested from his. The sabbath day of rest for the Christian is also a cessation from self-effort to please God. We have found rest in Christ and in a sense have ceased from our labour of works in finding salvation. Christ has given us rest and he calls on those who haven’t experienced this rest to come to him for rest (Matthew 11:28).
It Is A Holy Day
Of greater importance in the fourth commandment is that it is a holy day. What this means is that it is a day God himself has sanctified and set apart for himself and for communion with his people. We are not only to observe the day as rest, but it is a day we come before God in corporate worship. The sabbath day is unlike any other day because it is the day God’s people assemble together (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). As much as lies in our power, we must not hold this day like any other day where we engage in work and merchandise. That said, Reform theology does make a distinction between ordinary work and works of necessity. A summary of works of necessity can be gleaned from these words: “This absolute necessity hath relation to mans need, namely, that it is necessary that such and such things be done, or else some great damage or prejudice will come to man.”¹
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” is not a passé. Christians must obey it.
Notes:
1https://purelypresbyterian.com/2016/09/24/works-of-necessity-on-the-sabbath/
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