Question 64: What is required in the fourth commandment?

Answer: 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.

Question 65: Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

Answer: 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.

The more I look into this subject of the Sabbath, the more I am convinced of the seriousness and the mandate for keeping a Sabbath in the Church age, namely the first day of the week. My conscience at this point can be summed up in the words of Jonathon Edwards, “If men take it only upon trust, and keep the first day of the week because their parents taught them so, or because they see others do it, they will never be likely to keep it so conscientiously and strictly, as if they had been convinced by seeing for themselves that there are good grounds in the Word of God for their practice. Unless they do see thus for themselves, whenever they are negligent in sanctifying the Sabbath or are guilty of profaning it, their consciences will not have that advantage to smite them for it, as otherwise they would. - And those who have a sincere desire to obey God in all things, will keep the Sabbath more carefully and more cheerfully, if they have seen and been convinced that therein they do what is according to the will and command of God, and what is acceptable to him. [They] will also have a great deal more comfort in the reflection upon their having carefully and painfully kept the Sabbath.”

DAY 1: The emphasis on keeping the prescribed time of the Sabbath holy.

In Leviticus 19:30 we find that God is very serious about the keeping of His holy day, the Sabbath. All throughout the Old Testament we see that He warned against failing to observe the Sabbath. As a matter of fact, this was the one command that seems to stand out above all others that is constantly spoken of. Let us be reminded of the commandment itself that it did not specify a particular day, but rather set forth a principle of setting aside one day in seven. So the question I ask is, “How did the Israelites know which day to set aside? As we briefly looked at Exodus 16, we did not touch on the fact that the Lord did establish what day they were to set aside as the Sabbath, although we did mention that it was declared to them to observe a Sabbath. When we come to verse 23, the Lord is very specific as to which day is to be kept. Moses said that the Lord had commanded that the following day was to be the Sabbath. Therefore we can see that when the command was given, the institution of the Sabbath to the people was already in effect, though the principle was established at Creation.

You might have the question, “Well, wasn’t that day Saturday?” I think that is a valid question. I do believe it was Saturday. I believe that because it seems that generations would easily fall in to the habit, even if their worship was not from the heart, of knowing which day was to be the Sabbath. However, the point in all this, is that the commandment to keep the Sabbath did not specify Saturday. Again, there was a principle of 1 in 7 days of rest. Now this rest obviously was a reflection of what God had done at Creation (Ex. 20:11), but it was to be in observance of what God had accomplished with His people in redeeming them from the hand of the Egyptians. Deuteronomy 5:15, in reiterating the commandments add the portion about the people of Israel remembering their bondage in the land of Egypt. So we see how the Lord’s deliverance of the people becomes a picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ will do for His people. At this point, you may be asking, what does this have to do with us today? Your mind may be saying, “Well, we do remember how the Lord has redeemed us when we observe the Lord’s table”. I would like to point out that the Lord’s table was instituted to remember His death (1 Cor. 11:26). I think this is paralleled to the Passover feast which was to also take place about the same time. However, the Sabbath was a separate, but of equal value observance. In the same respect, how does the New Testament church apply the Sabbath, if at all?

Let me begin by pointing out that the commandment does have moral implications. Though there may be certain ceremonial aspects, it is a moral law in the fact that God decreed to the people that it should be observed and when it wasn’t, it brought death. Now, the Scripture is clear on the issue of sin. The soul that sins shall surely die (Ezek. 18:4) and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23) is the principle found in Scripture. So when someone was found picking up sticks on the Sabbath, and that evidently for some type of profit, he was commanded by the Lord to be stoned (Num. 15:32-36). I find that many teachers say that this is the only commandment that is not a moral commandment. Yet it seems clear that is not the case. Also, to bring the illustration of ceremonial observances into perspective, we could take a look at the occurrence that happened in Leviticus 10:1-3. For a full discussion of this I would recommend How God wants us to worship Him by John Morecraft. However, notice that in the ceremonial worship of God that begins back in chapter 9, they are following a prescribed method of worship that God had given to them. However, it seems that in chapter 10 Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire before the Lord. This was not something that God had told them to do, yet it was not something that he not told them to do. Maybe these guys were just caught up in the moment and though it may have been truly heart felt, it was profane before the Lord and fire came out from the Lord and devoured them. That’s pretty serious consequences for “sincerely” wanting to honor God but failing to do so properly. Therefore, just because we are sincere doesn’t mean that we are sincerely right, nor is God impressed with our sincerity. However, the point was that there were proper instructions regarding the ceremonial fashion of the worship of God and it was violated which brought sever consequences. I am becoming more convinced than ever, that for the Christian, there is a Sabbath rest. Not only spiritually and in the future that is to come, but also in the reality of the 7 day week. We are to set apart 1 day in seven that is to be wholly dedicated to the Lord for His worship and our rest.

This may be a good place to stop in this lesson and actually begin to prove some of the things I have asserted in the next lesson. You might want to go through some of these Scriptures where God emphasizes the observance of the Sabbath by the people of Israel. Remind your family that this was a big deal to the Jews. This will help us to understand some things we will look at later this week, namely the fact that many thing were not understood immediately following the resurrection of Christ, His ascension and the Day of Pentecost. Rather The same Christ who had been so patient with His disciples while they constantly misunderstood, was the same Christ who was gentle and patient it teaching His new church.

(Scriptures: Exodus 31:14-16; 35:2; Lev. 16:31; Deut. 5:12-15; Neh. 13:15-22; Isa. 56:2-6; 58:13; Jer. 27:21-27)

DAY 2: From Old Covenant to New Covenant

While we have seen that the Lord had set a principle in the fourth commandment, He was very precise in the day it was kept by Israel. I think the same is true concerning the church. I do come to this evaluation after much reading and meditation on what the Sabbath is to be, not what day it is to follow. However, in understanding what the Sabbath is to be, I do believe the Bible does give clear revelation about what day believers should observe as the Sabbath.

We recall that the Sabbath was after the pattern of the Creation and that for the Jews it was a remembrance of their deliverance out of bondage. As a matter of fact, if you looked at the Scriptures at the end of the previous day’s lesson, you would have noticed that in the Exodus 31 passage you see that the Sabbath was for a perpetual (everlasting covenant) between God and the children of Israel. For the Christian, it is a remembrance of the redemptive work of Christ and a looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. While the Jews observed the seventh day of the week in remembrance of their deliverance form their oppressors, the Christian observes the first day of the week in remembrance of our own deliverance from the oppressors of sin and death.

In Psalm 118:22-24 we see the Psalmist speaking of that which the Lord would accomplish in His death and resurrection. How do we know this is what this is speaking about? Well, the apostle in Acts 4:10-11 states that this speaks about Christ. And while He was on the cross and while He lay in the grave, He was the stone which the builders rejected. However, it was when the resurrection took place that the stone that was rejected became the chief cornerstone. Notice what the Psalmist declares after stating this. “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” The day spoken of seems to indicate the day in which all was accomplished, that is the resurrection. Therefore, we will rejoice in that day and be glad in it. It is true that every day is a day that the Lord has made, but what does the context seem to indicate in this passage in light of the way the apostle declared it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? It seems that there is a day in which we are to rejoice and be glad and that is in remembrance of the work of our Lord. Notice that Jesus did not rest from His work on the Jewish Sabbath, but rather still lay in the grave. No, it was after the Old Covenant Sabbath that He arose and rested from His labors.

Immediately someone may say, “Yes, but isn’t He still working?”. The answer is a resounding, “Yes.” His work of redemption is accomplished. However, Jesus was very clear that His Father and He both worked, even on the Sabbath (John 5:17). Again, the idea of rest is not necessarily the same as we think of today. For instance, Hebrews tells us that He is able to save us because “He always lives to make intercession for them.” Christ continues working today, just as the Father continues working. However, the work of redemption is accomplished. (You might want to go over Hebrews 7-8 with your family to get into more detail.)

Hebrews 4:10 also speaks to paralleling the rest of God in Creation to the rest provided by Christ. I do not think as some do that the passage is identifying Christ, but rather the rest provided by Him. As a matter of fact, that seems clear that we are to strive to enter His rest. I believe this speaks to the future rest that will be obtained by believers with Christ in eternity. However, I do not think this negates the observance of a Sabbath. For even in the days of the Old Covenant, the people were seeking to enter God’s rest (Promised Land), yet they observed a Sabbath. One of my favorite authors John MacArthur says, that the future rest is all that is in view of the Old Testament Sabbath and that there is no Sabbath for the New Testament church. Until this study I would have agreed with him. However, I would say that while that may be said with the mouth, I believe what is lived out is more biblical. For instance the term, “The Lord’s Day” is used by Dr. MacArthur and he uses it to speak to Sunday, or the first day of the week. Also I know that he would point to a pattern, which we will be looking at, that is found in the pages of the New Testament along with other references to early church fathers regarding the subject of The Lord’s Day versus the Sabbath. My point is that many might fall under this category and say that because the Sabbath is not referenced in the wordage of the Old Testament, namely using the term Sabbath and the regarding of it, that it is not longer binding on Christians. I find myself in disagreement and would simply point out that by their specifying a day as The Lord’s Day and the particular way they treat it that in fact they are observing and I think keeping a Sabbath unto the Lord, whether they would use the wordage or not.

Speaking of the term the Lord’s Day where does that come from and what is meant by it? I believe that John is not using it to speak in general terms such as the theory espoused by some that everyday is the Lord’s Day. No, I believe that he used this term to specifically tell us which particular day he received his visions. Some of these are referenced by early church fathers, which we will give some examples in the next lesson.

DAY 3: The pattern of the New Testament

Today I thought it would be good to finish with the pattern that we can see in the New Testament. Remember, we are leaving behind the particulars of the Old Covenant, but are still maintaining the principles of it. For instance, though we may leave behind the particulars of the ceremonial laws, we maintain the principle and that is found in the substance of Christ Himself. Though we may not have the particulars of coveting ones neighbor’s ox, we hold to the principle of not coveting. The same is true concerning the Sabbath. Though we will not hold to the particular of the specific day concerning the Jews, we will hold to the principle and see how the New Testament establishes the particular. One thing we need to keep in mind is that Judaism gave birth to Christianity, not the other way around. Therefore, Christianity does not embrace Judaism, rather Judaism must embrace Christianity, if it is to be pleasing unto God. Christianity has a great heritage in the Jewish tradition, but it is not bound by the covenant of works that they were bound under.

Concerning the matter of the first day of the week, we see that the first instance is in fact on the day of resurrection. In Matthew’s gospel, for instance, the ladies come to the grave to apply additional spices to the body and they are approaching the tomb at daybreak and already Jesus has risen. Notice that an earthquake happens around the time that the women are approaching the tomb and that the appearance of angels to move the stone away from the entrance to the tomb cause the Roman guards to pass out (appear as dead men). I don’t think anyone could clearly argue that Jesus rose on the Jewish Sabbath, nor could you give a clear argument for any other day of the week that the resurrection happened on. It appears from a Harmony of the Gospels that as the other women who came to the tomb left to get the disciples that Mary remained there and found Jesus there and thought He was the gardener until He called her by name.

We see in John’s Gospel (20:19) that Jesus appears to the disciples on the same first day of the week as His resurrection while they are locked in a room in unbelief and fear of the Jews. However, He is able to appear to them. At this appearance one of the disciples is not present, Thomas, and therefore does not believe the report of the other 10 (vss. 25-26). However, John records for us that Jesus does show back up again eight days later. John does not mean that Jesus showed up the following second day of the week. Rather he is including the first day of the week, the following days and counting the first day of the next week in with eight days (cf. Luke 9:28; Matt. 17:1). Jesus also appeared to the two on the road to Emamaus (Luke 24:13-32) on the day of His resurrection. Then on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, it just happened to be the first day of the week (Cf. Lev. 23:15-16).

We also see that there was a pattern established in the meeting of the New Testament church following the birth of the church. At first they were meeting daily in the temple (Acts 2:46). Later in the account given by Luke, they were meeting on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). And in one of the earliest epistles written, 1 Corinthians, the pattern of meeting together on the first day of the week has been established and they bring offerings for the saints, which was the collection that Paul was going to take back to the believers in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The question may come to mind, “Why wasn’t that established from the time of the resurrection?” Some people really do approach the issue of Christian doctrine simplistically in thinking that all of a sudden everthing just made sense and the apostles had nothing to learn after Pentecost. This is far from true. For example, Peter had to learn the lesson about all foods being clean (Acts 10:9-15), even though Jesus had already declared all foods to be clean (Mark 7:19). In the same passage, it became clear to Peter that Gentiles were to be beneficiaries of the New Covenant (Acts 10:17-48; 15:7-9). So I believe that Christ took great patience in the transitional period from the time of the resurrection till 70 A.D., which was the culmination of the Jewish age.

I think we can also see some of the things that the apostles rejected in many of the things they said in the epistles they wrote. One of the foremost things they had to confront was the Judaizers who were eager to come in and put bondage on the believers by claiming that faith alone was not enough, but that they had to also keep the law. Included in the law were the trappings of ceremony and external functions. Paul declared that to be another gospel (Gal. 1:8), which he declared to be damnable. So our question regarding the Sabbath is not whether it is necessary for salvation, but whether it is an act of obedience toward God. Sadly, we do not have a definitive answer from our fathers in early church history. Many of the things they wrote concerning the Sabbath were to refute the call of people from Christianity back into Judaism. And as we close this lesson, I will give you some of those quotations.

From the EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS:

“If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things

have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the

Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s Day, on which also

our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death — whom some

deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure,

that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master —

how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets

themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore

He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead.”

“Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner,

and rejoice in days of idleness; for “he that does not work, let him not eat.”

For say the [holy] oracles, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy

bread.” But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual

manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, not in relaxation of the body,

admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day

before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space,

nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them.

And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep

the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of

all the days [of the week]. Looking forward to this, the prophet declared,

“To the end, for the eighth day,” on which our life both sprang up again,

and the victory over death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of

perdition, the enemies of the Savior, deny, “whose God is their belly, who

mind earthly things,” who are “lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God,

having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

From the EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE TRALLIANS:

“At the dawning of the Lord’sday He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall

the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the Lord’s Day contains the resurrection.”

From THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS:

“Further, also, it is written concerning the Sabbath in the Decalogue which

[the Lord] spoke, face to face, to Moses on Mount Sinai, “And sanctify

ye the Sabbath of the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart.” And He

says in another place, “If my sons keep the Sabbath, then will I cause my

mercy to rest upon them.” The Sabbath is mentioned at the beginning of

the creation [thus]: “And God made in six days the works of His hands,

and made an end on the seventh day, and rested on it, and sanctified it.”

Attend, my children, to the meaning of this expression, “He finished in six

days.” This implieth that the Lord will finish all things in six thousand

years, for a day is with Him a thousand years. And He Himself testifieth,

saying, “Behold, to-day will be as a thousand years.” Therefore, my

children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will be

finished. “And He rested on the seventh day.” This meaneth: when His

Son, coming [again], shall destroy the time of the wicked man, and judge

the ungodly, and change the-sun, and the moon, and the stars, then shall

He truly rest on the seventh day. Moreover, He says, “Thou shalt

sanctify it with pure hands and a pure heart.” If, therefore, any one can

now sanctify the day which God hath sanctified, except he is pure in heart

in all things, we are deceived. Behold, therefore: certainly then one

properly resting sanctifies it, when we ourselves, having received the

promise, wickedness no longer existing, and all things having been made

new by the Lord, shall be able to work righteousness. Then we shall be

able to sanctify it, having been first sanctified ourselves. Further, He says

to them, “Your new moons and your Sabbath I cannot endure.” Ye

perceive how He speaks: Your present Sabbaths are not acceptable to Me,

but that is which I have made, [namely this,] when, giving rest to all

things, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day, that is, a beginning of

another world. Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness,

the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead. And when He had

manifested Himself, He ascended into the heavens.”

From DIALOGUE WITH JUSTIN, PHILOSOPHER & MARTYR in answering Trypho, a Judaizer:

“This same law you have despised, and His new holy covenant you have slighted; and now you neither receive it, nor repent of your evil deeds. ‘For your ears are closed,

your eyes are blinded, and the heart is hardened,’ Jeremiah has cried; yet

not even then do you listen. The Lawgiver is present, yet you do not see

Him; to the poor the Gospel is preached, the blind see, yet you do not

understand. You have now need of a second circumcision, though you

glory greatly in the flesh. The new law requires you to keep perpetual

sabbath, and you, because you are idle for one day, suppose you are

pious, not discerning why this has been commanded you: and if you eat

unleavened bread, you say the will of God has been fulfilled. The Lord our

God does not take pleasure in such observances: if there is any perjured

person or a thief among you, let him cease to be so; if any adulterer, let

him repent; then he has kept the sweet and true sabbaths of God. If any

one has impure hands, let him wash and be pure.”

“Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned,

though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them

Abraham with all his descendants until Moses, under whom your nation

appeared unrighteous and ungrateful to God, making a calf in the

wilderness: wherefore God, accommodating Himself to that nation,

enjoined them also to offer sacrifices, as if to His name, in order that you

might not serve idols. Which precept, however, you have not observed;

nay, you sacrificed your children to demons. And you were commanded to

keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word

makes this announcement, saying, ‘That ye may know that I am God who

redeemed you.’

“Moreover, that God enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and impose on

you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your

unrighteousness, and that of your fathers, — as He declares that for the

sake of the nations, lest His name be profaned among them, therefore He

permitted some of you to remain alive, — these words of His can prove to

you: they are narrated by Ezekiel thus: I am the Lord your God; walk in

My statutes, and keep My judgments, and take no part in the customs of

Egypt; and hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and

you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. Notwithstanding ye

rebelled against Me, and your children walked not in My statutes, neither

kept My judgments to do them: which if a man do, he shall live in them.

But they polluted My Sabbaths. And I said that I would pour out My

fury upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish My anger upon them; yet

I did it not; that My name might not be altogether profaned in the sight of

the heathen. I led them out before their eyes, and I lifted up Mine hand

unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen,

and disperse them through the countries; because they had not executed

My judgments, but had despised My statutes, and polluted My Sabbaths,

and their eyes were after the devices of their fathers. Wherefore I gave

them also statutes which were not good, and judgments whereby they shall

not live. And I shall pollute them in their own gifts, that I may destroy all

that openeth the womb, when I pass through them.’

These are a few quotations concerning the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day. Justin Martyr was definitely one that did not approve of keeping the Jewish Sabbath, but pointed toward the true Sabbath as being that of the eternal rest in Christ. I agree (Heb. 4:10). Ignatius, a disciple with Polycarp under the apostle John did distinguish between the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day. I agree as well. Therefore, in conclusion, I do believe that there is a day, which I believe we have seen in the Scriptures, history, and by our own practice, that the Lord’s Day is a Sabbath for the people of God in the church age. Do I believe that if you don’t understand this or don’t observe it that you are somehow sub-Christian or worse yet, not saved at all? By no means. I do believe my conscience has been spoken to though in light of this study and I hope it has been blessed of God for you as well.

Scripture: Leviticus 19:30; Deuteronomy 5:12.

Genesis 2:3; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Revelation 1:10.