The seventh-day Sabbath holds a central place among the Ten Commandments, flowing from the command to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. It is far more than a weekly day of rest; it is a day each week devoted entirely to God, serving as a vital measure of our relationship with Him. Disregarding the Sabbath is akin to discarding the key to a treasure chest, ignoring an essential area of understanding that opens our minds to God and His purpose. The Sabbath was made at Creation, as recorded in Genesis 2:2-3, and was intended for all mankind, not just a specific group, as affirmed in Mark 2:27. God rested on the seventh day of Creation, setting an example for us to follow, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. This day is a memorial of Creation, reminding us of both the physical creation and the ongoing spiritual creation within us. God blessed the seventh day, making it holy time, set apart for His use, and we are instructed to keep it holy. Keeping the Sabbath holy involves refraining from work, cooking, and carrying burdens, as outlined in Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 16:23, and Jeremiah 17:21-22. Rather than providing a detailed list of rules, God offers principles to guide proper and improper Sabbath behavior, requiring us to use His Spirit to make decisions. The Sabbath also serves as a sign, identifying God's people, and is bound as a perpetual covenant upon them, according to Exodus 31:12-17 and Isaiah 56:1-7. Jesus, as the Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, demonstrated its intent through His actions, as noted in Mark 2:28. When kept properly, with a focus on improving our relationship with God, the Sabbath becomes a precious time and a tremendous blessing each week, as described in Isaiah 58:13-14.

The fourth commandment, beginning with "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), stands distinct from the other commandments in its wording and intent. God charges His people to remember the Sabbath, implying not just a mental recollection but a call to observe it as holy. The Hebrew word zākar, meaning to remember, think of, or commemorate, blends internal reflection with external action, urging a response of reverence in keeping the day holy. This remembrance is tied to a covenantal light, as seen in various scriptural instances where God remembers His covenants and acts accordingly. In Exodus 31:12-17, God emphasizes the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant within the larger covenant, stating, "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant" (Exodus 31:16). The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people, ensuring they remain sanctified, as noted in Exodus 31:13: "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." Observing the Sabbath is a solemn duty under the covenant, distinguishing God's people from others and facilitating their growth in holiness through holy convocation with Him. Failing to meet with God on His day risks losing understanding of what is godly and slipping back into the world from which He called His chosen. As part of the New Covenant with Him, remembering and keeping the Sabbath holy remains essential for attaining the Kingdom of God.

God commands us to be holy as He is holy, using the Hebrew terms qadosh, meaning holy, and qadash, meaning to be cleaned, consecrated, and sanctified. In Genesis 2, God sanctified the Sabbath, making it holy like Himself. In Leviticus 23, we are commanded to keep God's Sabbath by refraining from physical work and treating it as a holy convocation, a day of assembly where God desires to be with His people. The Sabbath is a constant reminder that God is the one who sanctifies us, cleansing and purifying us to become holy like Him. It is a day set apart for qadash activity, dedicated to becoming pure and Godlike, distinct from the other six days due to the distractions of the world. The Sabbath is holy because God made it holy with His presence, just as He made the ground holy by the burning bush in Exodus 3. Profaning or polluting the Sabbath by engaging in personal work or activities not aligned with God's qadash purpose carries severe consequences, as warned in Scripture. In Luke 4, Jesus Christ demonstrates the importance of the Sabbath by starting His ministry on this day, assembling in the synagogue as a holy convocation, and clarifying His mission to spiritually heal and cleanse His chosen people. His ministry, beginning and ending on the Sabbath, underscores its significance in the plan of salvation. Jesus, as the Lord of the Sabbath, shows how to keep it through acts of mercy and good works, as seen in His seven recorded healings on the Sabbath and His teachings in Mark 2. The Sabbath is not a day of idleness but a time for great spiritual work, demonstrating God's lovingkindness and extending mercy, healing, and cleansing. As priests in training, our Sabbath work must focus on God's purpose, avoiding self-focused activities, which are strictly forbidden. Polluting the Sabbath through distractions or worldly thoughts, even during assembly, defiles this holy time, and we must strive to align our conversations and actions with the sanctification process. God warns against half-hearted observance or longing for the Sabbath to end, as seen in Amos 8 and Malachi 1, emphasizing that distracted or neglectful participation pollutes His holy day. Preparation on the day before the Sabbath is crucial to eliminate physical work and distractions, allowing full focus on God. The Sabbath, as a day without distraction, is vital for focusing on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work, as He uses this time to sanctify us, removing pollutants from our hearts and making us acceptable to God the Father. Blessed are those who keep from polluting God's holy Sabbath, using it as a special time for mercy, healing, cleansing, and doing good, in line with Christ's example.