Question 267: What does the Fourth Commandment teach you?

Answer:

The Fourth Commandment teaches me to set apart one day each week for rest and worship. It reminds me to cease from ordinary work, to remember God’s creation and redemption, to gather with His people, and to delight in His presence. It teaches me to trust God’s provision and to find true rest in Christ. (Exodus 20:8–11, Deuteronomy 5:15, Leviticus 23:3, Isaiah 58:13–14, Matthew 11:28)

Full Scripture References

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work…” – Exodus 20:8–10 (BSB)

“Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out… Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” – Deuteronomy 5:15 (BSB)

“For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.” – Leviticus 23:3 (BSB)

“If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath… then you will delight yourself in the LORD.” – Isaiah 58:13–14 (BSB)

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

The Fourth Commandment teaches me to keep a weekly rhythm of worship and rest, following God’s example and command. It is not only a day off from work, but a sacred day to remember who God is and who I am in Him. Fr. Allen Hughes (AMiA, Church of the Redeemer, GA) explains, “The Sabbath is not merely about stopping; it’s about turning toward God. It is a holy invitation to rest in His presence, to delight in His Word, and to be refreshed by His grace.” (Living the Commandments, 2017)

This commandment helps me resist the idol of productivity and reminds me that my worth is not in my labor, but in the love of God. Bishop Stephen Wood (ACNA, Diocese of the Carolinas) teaches, “In keeping the Sabbath, I proclaim that God is my provider, not my performance. I lay down my tools to lift up my heart.” (Catechesis for Holy Living, 2020)

The Lord’s Day, Sunday, is the Christian fulfillment of the Sabbath, commemorating Christ’s resurrection. It is the Church’s day of worship, gathering, Word, and Eucharist. Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) notes, “The Fourth Commandment teaches me to make Sunday a delight, not a duty—to center my life each week on what matters eternally.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

Gerald Bray (ACNA-affiliated, Beeson Divinity School) emphasizes that this command forms the soul: “Sabbath rest is about formation. It trains me to remember that the world is not mine to carry, and that Christ is my true rest.” (God Is Love, 2012)

Fr. William Beasley (AMiA, Anglican Awakening) adds, “When I honor the Sabbath, I join the Church across time in confessing that my life is not my own. The rhythm of rest and worship is the heartbeat of faith.” (Teach Us to Rest, 2016)

Early Church Fathers on Catechism Question

“The Sabbath is given not for idleness but for contemplation. On this day we ascend from earthly toil to heavenly things.” – Origen, Homilies on Genesis, c. 240 AD

“By resting, we imitate our Creator. By worshiping, we acknowledge our Redeemer. The Sabbath joins both truths in one holy day.” – Augustine of Hippo, City of God, c. 426 AD

“Christ did not abolish the Sabbath, but fulfilled it. In Him we find our true rest, and the Lord’s Day is now the Christian Sabbath.” – Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians, c. 110 AD

“Let the Lord’s Day be honored in joy, for it is the day of resurrection and the pledge of eternal rest.” – Justin Martyr, First Apology, c. 155 AD