David Chanski
One of the first arguments brought against the Fourth Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), is that it was a commandment intended only for the Jews, but not for Christians. However, such reasoning overlooks the Bible’s plain teaching that the Sabbath institution has been around, literally, since the creation of the world. It was on the seventh day of the creation week that we read that “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:3). That He “blessed” and “sanctified” the day means that He made it a special day, a holy day, set apart for His own purpose. But that was not so that He could observe a day of worshipful rest every seven days, but that we might. As Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). So man’s obligation to keep the Sabbath has existed since the creation of the world.
But what about the objection that the Fourth Commandment was not written until the days of Moses? First, the very wording of the Commandment points back to its institution at creation: “Remember the Sabbath day”. This directs us back to Genesis 2:23, for there is no other statement regarding the institution of the Day in the Bible. Second, consider the reason given for obedience to the Commandment: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Exodus 20:11). This motive for keeping the command is as relevant for Adam and all mankind as for the Jews in the desert. Third, consider that the same objection could be raised against the rest of the commandments. But would anyone want to argue that Cain did not sin in murdering his brother, Abel, just because the Sixth Commandment had not been written yet? Or that idolatry or lying were not sins before Moses’ day?
Christian friend, don’t resist the ordinance of God. Instead, embrace the teaching of God’s word and find that the Lord’s Day was given to us for our good, as Jesus said. Remember, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
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