The fourth commandment is to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The seventh-day Sabbath is more than a day of rest; it is a day devoted entirely to God, serving as a regulator and barometer of our relationship with Him. The Sabbath was made by God on the seventh day of Creation, as described in Genesis 2:2-3, and it is intended for all mankind, not just the Jews, as stated in Mark 2:27. On the seventh day, God rested, setting an example for how we should observe the Sabbath, as mentioned in Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11. The Sabbath is different from the other six days because God blessed and made it holy, setting it apart for His use, as explained in the same verses. To keep the Sabbath holy, we are instructed to refrain from working, cooking, and carrying burdens, as outlined in Leviticus 23:3, Exodus 16:23, and Jeremiah 17:21-22. The Sabbath serves as a sign that identifies God's people, as indicated in Exodus 31:12-17 and Isaiah 56:1-7. Jesus, as the Creator and Lord of the Sabbath, showed its intent through His actions, as noted in Mark 2:28 and John 1:1-3, 14. Both Jesus and Paul, as well as the early church, observed the Sabbath, as recorded in Luke 4:16, Acts 17:1-2, Acts 13:42-44, and Acts 16:13. When kept properly, the Sabbath is not a burden but a delight, as described in Isaiah 58:13-14.

The Sabbath plays a vital role in God's continuing creation of His sons and daughters, as it is a day set apart for spiritual work and growth. God did not merely rest after the creation week; He continues to work, and this is exemplified in the weekly Sabbath meetings with His people. The Sabbath, as described in Leviticus 23, is a holy convocation, a day of solemn rest, emphasizing a cessation from regular activities to focus on worship and learning together. The Hebrew term "shabbaton" suggests a Sabbath of greater intensity and specialness, a day to stop and engage in something different from the ordinary. In Exodus 20, the Sabbath command is given in three parts: to keep it holy, to cease from work, and to remember that God hallowed it at creation, setting an example for His people to follow. Genesis 1:31 through chapter 2 shows that on the seventh day, God ceased from His labor, rested, and blessed and sanctified that day, marking it as distinct from the other six days. This difference is crucial; the Sabbath is not to be like other days but is a day devoted to God, reflecting a shift from physical to spiritual focus. The Sabbath is not primarily about physical rest due to fatigue, as God does not grow weary, but about a sense of completion and well-being, as He felt upon finishing His creation. It is a time for reflection and contemplation, to refocus on what is truly important after the busyness of the six days. God's rest on the seventh day signifies a transition to spiritual work, as seen in John 6:29, where His work is defined as building faith in Christ. On the Sabbath, God engages in creating and building faith in those He has called, and by joining Him in this work, His people grow in faith. Exodus 31 further establishes the Sabbath as a sign identifying God's covenant people, reminding them weekly that He is sanctifying them, making them holy. This ongoing spiritual creation is a primary focus of the Sabbath, a day carved out for God to work with His people, requiring their full attention to accomplish more in moving them toward holiness. Isaiah 58 promises joy and elevation above worldly cares to those who honor the Sabbath by restraining from their own activities and treating His holy time with respect. Keeping the Sabbath holy is thus a major key to spiritual growth and preparation for God's Kingdom.

Nowhere in the Bible is the Sabbath annulled by a command or example of Jesus Christ or the apostles. In the gospels, the controversy surrounding the Sabbath is always about how to keep it, not whether to keep it. Jesus never declares that it no longer matters or that we need not observe it. He obviously kept the Sabbath, as evidenced by the Jews attacking His manner of observance rather than accusing Him of neglecting it. Jesus states that the Sabbath was made for man and that He is Lord of it, setting an example for us to follow in keeping the same days He did. God gave the fourth commandment to enable worship of Him, the One True God, providing time to fellowship with Him and understand ourselves and our place in His purpose. Jesus magnifies the Sabbath, restoring it to its original God-given intent and freeing it from the perverted, bondage-producing approach of the Pharisees. His mission, as identified in His inaugural sermon, includes setting people free from bondage, tying His redemptive work to the liberating intent of the Sabbaths, both weekly and annual. The Sabbath was made to equip us to come out of spiritual slavery and to help us stay out of it. God blessed the Sabbath day, conferring a blessing upon the whole creation as the capstone of Creation week, promising to be man's benefactor through human history with both spiritual and physical benefits. Jesus clearly ties His ministry to the Sabbath concepts of blessing, deliverance, liberty, and redemption. The Sabbath serves as a memorial, reminding us that God is Creator and Liberator. Each Sabbath recalls that we were slaves and that God freed us, sustaining our liberty through its observance. When Israel rejected the Sabbath, they lost their freedom and went into captivity. God uses the Sabbath to perform acts of liberation, and it recurs weekly to renew our spiritual heritage and reorient us from any deviation. Jesus' healing on the Sabbath, such as the man with the withered hand, reveals His approach to doing good on this day, contrasting with the Pharisees' legalistic ritual. He shows that failing to do good when the opportunity arises implies evil, emphasizing that the Sabbath is for acts of salvation, both physical and spiritual. The commandment underscores showing compassion toward the needy and defenseless, reinforcing the idea of doing good on the Sabbath. Jesus demonstrates that the Sabbath is a day of mercy, as seen when His disciples plucked grain to eat due to hunger, highlighting that God does not intend His law to deprive but to ensure life. In unusual circumstances, mercy overrides the strict letter of the law, and loving service surpasses ritual fulfillment. The Sabbath, made for man, ensures physical and spiritual well-being, not passive idleness, but active, loving service as circumstances arise, following the patterns Jesus established through attending services, fellowshipping, teaching truth, and performing acts of kindness that bring liberty, joy, and peace.

The Sabbath holds a significant place in God's purpose for mankind, reflecting its importance to each of us. It is not merely a day for worship, but a specific day designated by God, for no other day will suffice. God, in His sovereignty, has the right to set such commands, and our role is to submit, recognizing that deviations from His design alter the intended outcome. The Sabbath was made for mankind, to serve humanity and align with God's purpose, not limited to any specific group but intended for all. God has designated the Sabbath as a sign between Him and His people, evidence that He, the Creator, is our God, and those who keep it are His children. It is not only the observance of the day but the manner of observance that marks it as this sign. The Bible emphasizes God's concern for how the Sabbath is kept, showing that improper observance contributed to Israel's captivity and divine separation. In Exodus 20, the commandment establishes the Sabbath as holy, belonging to God, a time set aside for His worship and service. It connects to creation, identifying God as the Creator who sanctified this day from the beginning. In Deuteronomy 5, the emphasis shifts slightly to include redemption, remembering servitude in Egypt, thus linking the Sabbath to God as both Creator and Savior, a day to memorialize liberty and maintain a relationship with the Redeemer. Isaiah 58 reveals God's expectation of respect and joy for the Sabbath, describing it as honorable, right, proper, and fitting compared to other days. It is a day to honor Him by pursuing His pleasure, will, and preferences rather than our own desires or usual activities. The focus is not on the energy expended but on the purpose and intent behind what is done on His holy time. God provides broad principles and examples for Sabbath observance rather than specific rules, expecting us to make righteous judgments in varying circumstances. Historical instances, such as the Israelites marching out of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, and circling Jericho on the Sabbath, demonstrate that actions aligned with God's pleasure are permissible, even if they involve significant effort. Similarly, priests performed required offerings on the Sabbath as part of God's will. Preparation for the Sabbath is emphasized in Exodus 16, with instructions to gather double provisions on Friday to avoid work on the Sabbath, a principle still relevant. God restricts ordinary weekday work on this day, distinguishing it from other holy days where certain labors, like meal preparation, may be allowed due to travel or unusual circumstances. The Sabbath commandment is more restrictive than most holy days, yet flexible enough to bend for specific situations, as shown in various biblical examples. Jesus magnified the Sabbath's intent, correcting distortions by emphasizing justice, compassion, and faithfulness over superficial or burdensome interpretations. He illustrated that the law can adapt in unusual situations, ensuring the Sabbath remains a liberating delight, fostering right relationships with God and fellow man.

The seventh-day Sabbath is God's original design for rest, sanctification, and ultimate restoration, both for individuals today and for the entire creation in the coming Kingdom of God. The Sabbath is grounded in creation itself (Genesis 2; Exodus 20), blessed and sanctified by God, not as a human tradition but as His divine pattern embedded into the rhythm of the universe. The seventh day, not merely one day in seven, bears God's signature of completeness and perfection, reflected throughout Scripture, music, time, and the feasts of Leviticus 23. In a world enslaved to speed, technology, and self-dependence, the Sabbath stands as a radical act of faith and simplification, a weekly declaration that God, not human effort, sustains life. Sabbath observance is a sign of sanctification and identity (Exodus 31; Ezekiel 20), distinguishing God's people as His own freed from the world's tyranny. The Sabbath is a prophetic symbol of the Millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ when the entire earth will experience rest and restoration. The Feast of Tabernacles, celebrated as a joyful preview, points to that impending era when resurrected saints will reign with Christ as priests and kings, guiding nations into holiness.