The fourth commandment states: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11 KJV).
It is interesting the word ‘remember’ is used in this commandment. The Soncino commentary says this means we should always keep the Sabbath in mind during the week and prepare for the Sabbath. It is part of a proper, loving relationship with God, when we surrender one of our most precious possessions—our time—to build a right relationship with our Creator. When Israel came out of Egypt, God reinforced this commandment by providing a double portion of manna every week for 40 years (Exodus 16:26 and 35; Joshua 5:12)—a total of more than 2,000 miracles.
The Sabbath command is clearly important to God, and He expects us to obey it. Leviticus 23:3 says it is a holy convocation—also translated “a sacred assembly” (Leviticus 23:3, NIV). It is a summons to worship. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The Jews were convinced the Sabbath was the primary reason they went into captivity, so they made extreme rules about the Sabbath, developing 39 categories of activities that comprised “work“—everything from swatting a fly to helping an injured man. However Jesus Christ frequently criticized the Pharisees for their nitpicking, legalistic approach to the Sabbath. He condemned their focus on trivial technicalities, emphasizing the Sabbath was intended as a gift for humanity rather than a burden. (See Matthew 12:1-14 and 23:23-24. Also Mark 2:27-28.)
Jesus Christ showed by His example the proper way to observe the Sabbath. It’s a time to strengthen our relationship with God and share God’s Word and way of life. He made it clear there was nothing wrong with doing good on the Sabbath, with His actions on the Sabbath pointing towards the coming age of “the Kingdom of God,” when all humanity will experience God’s healing, joy and freedom (Matthew 4:23 and 9:35; Luke 4:16-19; 9:11 and 10:9).
On God’s Sabbath we are to rest from our normal work and employment, and set aside time to meet with other believers to worship God, to be instructed in His way of life and to perform good works. God’s Sabbath day is an ideal time for additional prayer, study of God’s Word and contact with Him as He instructs us through His Word.The Sabbath was designed to serve mankind. On it we learn about life’s purposes, why we’re here, where we’re headed.
When we are free to focus our minds and thoughts on God’s way and purpose, the Sabbath truly becomes the blessing and delight God intends it to be (Isaiah 58:13-14). Jesus Christ said that He was “Lord of the Sabbath” and that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27-28). He did not limit the Sabbath by teaching that it was made for any particular group of people at any specific time in history. Instead, it was made for all mankind for all time. It is enshrined in the Ten Commandments, the heart and core of God’s divine law.
