The Importance of the Fourth Commandment

I have forgotten about the Ten Commandments since they are not preached about by my pastor or taught in other Christian ministries. They are still valid today but not practiced by many Christians. They remain active because the New Testament repeats them. Nine repeated commandments like the prohibitions against murder, stealing, lying, adultery, and honoring parents are all taught in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 8:6 and 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 John 5:21, 1 Timothy 6:1, Ephesians 6:1–2, Romans 13:9, Colossians 3:5).

In Exodus 20:1-17, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to establish a foundational moral framework and a community constitution for the ancient Israelites, guiding them how to love God and treat neighbors. The Fourth one of the Ten is for Christians to keep the Sabbath holy. They are to work and get everything done during the six days of the week, but on the seventh day is a day of rest. This day is also a day to honor the Lord. Exodus 20:10 says:

“On this day, no one may do any work: not you, your son or daughter, your male or female slaves, your animals, or the foreigners living in your cities.”

The reason is that in six days the Lord made everything—the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. On the seventh day He rested.

He blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. God commands a weekly pause from labor for the entire household and livestock. He wants His people to mirror the creation story of working six days and resting on the seventh. He is kind and merciful to create this commandment because as part of Adam’s punishment after disobeying God, He told Adam he was condemned to painful toil and sweat to grow food, facing thorns and thistles instead of an effortless harvest (Genesis 3:17-19). Most important is that we honor His Commandment and take one day of the week for worship and rest just as our heavenly Father did.

To learn more about honoring the Sabbath read the devotional, "The importance of Honoring the Sabbath"