The Fourth Commandment (Keep Seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday))
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. (Ex 20:8-11)
"Remember"
The Sabbath commandment is the only one that includes a special admonition to remember it.
In spite of this warning, the Sabbath commandment is now widely misunderstood and abandoned.
"keep it holy"
The Sabbath is kept holy by setting aside the usual secular activites.
We are to set aside work. (Ex 16:4,5,19-30,35, Ex 20:10, Ps 46:10, Jer 17:21,22)
We are to set aside buying and selling. (Ne 10:29-31, Ne 13:15-22)
We are to set aside worldly pleasure. (Isa 58:13)
The Sabbath is kept holy by focusing on spiritual activites.
We are to focus on our relationship with Jesus. (Mt 11:28,29)
We are to worship together with our family and other believers. (Lev 23:3)
Note on Lev 23:3: Convocation - "An assembly." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Doing good deeds is OK, this is not considered work. (Mt 12:9-12, Mk 1:21,29-31, Mk 3:1-5, Lk 13:10-16, Lk 14:1-6)
Work that is absolutely necessary is OK. (Mt 12:11, Mk 2:23-27, Lk 13:15, Lk 14:5, Jn 5:8-11)
As much as possible, we are to prepare ahead of time so that Sabbath work is avoided. (Ex 16:22,23, Lk 23:54, Mk 15:42)
"the seventh day"
The Sabbath is the seventh day (Saturday).
There has never been a change to the calendar that has altered which day is the seventh day of the week.
There is no command in the Bible to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
God intended the Sabbath to be an eternal memorial of the creation. (Ex 31:16,17)
The Sabbath will continue to be kept in Heaven. (Isa 66:22,23)
Biblical Days Go from Sundown to Sundown
Biblical days go from sundown to sundown. (Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31, Lev 23:27,32, Nu 19:16,19 compare Lev 22:6,7, Ne 13:19, Mk 1:21,29,32 compare Mt 12:10)
The Sabbath begins at sundown Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.
Jesus Kept the Sabbath
Jesus kept the Sabbath. (Lk 4:16)
Jesus was crucified on Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath. (Lk 23:52-54)
Jesus "rested" in the grave on the Sabbath. (Lk 23:55,56)
Jesus rose to work on Sunday, the first day of the week. (Mk 16:9, Lk 24:1,2)
The Apostles Kept the Sabbath
The apostles kept the Sabbath while Jesus was on the earth, since they followed Jesus.
The apostles continued to keep the Sabbath after the resurrection. (Ac 13:13,14,42,44, Ac 16:13-15, Ac 17:2, Ac 18:4,11)
Jesus indicated that the Sabbath would still be kept after His resurrection. (Mt 24:7,8,20)
The Early Church Kept the Sabbath
Upon being threatened by the Jewish leaders, the early church quoted in unison from the 4th commandment. (Ac 4:21-24)
The controversy over circumcision is mentioned in the new testament. (see Ac 15:1-31)
No controversy, whatsoever, is reported about Sabbath observance in the new testament.
"blessed the sabbath day"
God made the Sabbath day a unique day of blessing and joy. (Isa 56:2, Isa 58:13,14, Jer 17:24,25)
"hallowed the sabbath day"
God made the Sabbath day a unique holy day, to be different from the other days. (Lev 10:10, Eze 22:26, Eze 44:23,24)
The Punishment for Disobedience is Death
The punishment for disobedience is death. (Ex 31:14,15, Ex 35:2, Nu 15:32-36, Ro 6:23, Jas 2:10)
As our substitute, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. (Isa 53:6, Jn 1:29, Eph 5:2, Heb 7:27, Heb 10:5-10)
The Sabbath Commandment Proclaims God as the Creator
The Sabbath commandment proclaims God as the Creator. (Ex 20:11, Ps 19:1, Ps 97:6, Rev 14:6,7)
The Sabbath Commandment Builds our Relationship with Jesus
The Sabbath commandment builds our relationship with Jesus. (Mt 11:28,29, Mk 2:27, Jn 17:3)
God prescribed two extra sacrificial lambs, representing a double gift of Jesus, on each Sabbath. (Nu 28:1-10)
The Sabbath Commandment Identifies God's Remnant People
The Sabbath commandment identifies God's remnant people. (Eze 20:12,20, Ex 31:13,16,17, Jn 14:15, 1Jn 2:3,4, 1Jn 5:3, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12, Rev 22:14)
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.