Q. 57. Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is: Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a 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/stranger 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 seventh day and made it holy.[a]
[a]. Exo 20:8-11; Deu 5:12-15
Q. 58. 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, in particular, one whole day in seven.[a]
Q. 59. Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath,[a]but thereafter he appointed the first day of the week, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath /or Lord’s Day/.[b]
[a]. Gen 2:2-3; Exo 20:11
[b]. Mark 2:27-28; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2; Rev 1:10
Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
The sabbath /or Lord’s Day, which is given for man’s good and as a pointer to his eternal destiny,[a]/ is to be kept holy by resting all that day from our work and recreations,[b] and spending the whole time in the public and private worship,[c] except the time spent in works of necessity and mercy.[d]
[a]. Mark 2:27; Heb 4:4-5, 9-11
[b]. Exo 20:10; Neh 13:15-22; Isa 58:13-14
[c]. Exo 20:8; Lev 23:3; Luk 4:16; Acts 20:7
Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment forbids the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the misuse of the day by idleness, sinful acts, or unnecessary thoughts, words or works about our worldly affairs and recreations.[a]
[a]. Neh 13:15-22; Isa 58:13-14; Amos 8:4-6
Q. 62. What are the reasons attached to the fourth commandment?
The reasons attached to the fourth commandment are God’s allowance of six days for worldly tasks,[a] his claim to special ownership of the seventh, his own example, and his blessing of the sabbath day.[b]
[a]. Exo 20:9; Exo 31:15; Lev 23:3
[b]. Gen 2:2-3; Exo 20:11; Exo 31:17