The Fourth Commandment: Remembering the Sabbath

I’ll be honest—rest doesn’t come naturally to me. Even on my day off, I find myself checking emails, running errands, or mentally planning Sunday’s sermon. But every time I push through exhaustion, God reminds me: rest isn’t weakness—it’s worship.

That’s the heart behind the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)

The Sabbath is more than a break in the week—it’s a reminder of who’s really in control. When we stop working, we’re declaring, “God, I trust You enough to rest.”

Understanding the Fourth Commandment

Among the Ten Commandments, this one stands out because it isn’t directly repeated by Jesus in the Gospels. But its heartbeat—rest, renewal, and reverence—is woven throughout His ministry. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was celebrated on the seventh day, Saturday, as a day of rest in honor of God’s rest after creation (Genesis 2:2–3). For Israel, the Sabbath was sacred—set apart as a sign of covenant relationship with God. But as followers of Jesus, we now see the Sabbath through the lens of the New Covenant.

Transition to the New Covenant

When Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, everything changed. The first believers began gathering on “the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10)—the day of resurrection—to worship and celebrate new life in Christ.

That shift wasn’t just about a calendar change. It was about covenant change. Under the Old Covenant, the Sabbath pointed backward to creation. Under the New Covenant, it points forward—to new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says it beautifully: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” The Sabbath is no longer about keeping rules—it’s about living in relationship. It’s not just physical rest; it’s spiritual rest in the finished work of Jesus.

The Sabbath in the New Testament

Jesus didn’t cancel the Sabbath—He clarified it. In Mark 2:27–28, He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

That statement flipped everything. The Sabbath was never meant to be a burden—it was meant to be a blessing. It’s God’s weekly invitation to rest, refocus, and realign. Paul reinforced this truth in Colossians 2:16–17, reminding believers not to let anyone judge them about Sabbath observance: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

The point isn’t which day we rest—it’s that we rest in Him.

Three Ways to Honor the Sabbath Today

Over the years, I’ve learned that Sabbath rest looks different for everyone—but the principles are the same. Here are three ways we can honor the Sabbath in our lives today:

1. Rest in Peace

This isn’t about physical rest—it’s about peace with God. Hebrews 4:9–10 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.”

When I rest in Christ, I’m reminded that salvation isn’t something I achieve—it’s something I receive. My striving ends because His grace is enough. True rest begins when I stop trying to earn what Jesus already finished.

2. Rest to Refuel

The Sabbath is also God’s way of protecting our well-being. I love the old story of two woodcutters who entered a competition. One chopped nonstop all day, never pausing. The other stopped every hour to rest and sharpen his axe. By sunset, the man who rested had cut twice as much wood.

When the first man asked how, the other smiled and said, “Every time I stopped, I sharpened my axe.”

That’s what the Sabbath does for us. When we pause to rest, pray, and reconnect with God, we sharpen our spiritual edge. Even Jesus withdrew often to rest and pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God needed rest, so do we.

3. Rest in Reverence

The Sabbath isn’t just about pausing—it’s about prioritizing. Hebrews 10:23–25 urges us not to give up meeting together, but to encourage one another. Weekly worship matters. Gathering with God’s people keeps our hearts soft and our perspective aligned.

When I make worship a priority, I’m saying, “God, You get the first part of my week, not the leftovers.”

Why This Matters

The Sabbath isn’t a rule—it’s a rhythm. In a culture that glorifies hustle and busyness, God’s command to rest feels almost rebellious. But that’s exactly the point. When we stop working, we’re declaring that God is our provider, not our performance.

We need the Sabbath because our souls get tired too. When we rest physically, refuel spiritually, and revere God weekly, we find balance again. We remember that life isn’t about constant production—it’s about connection with the One who created us.

Conclusion: Stop Striving, Start Trusting

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

That’s the invitation of the Sabbath. It’s not about rules—it’s about relationship. It’s not about legalism—it’s about life.

Every time we stop striving and start trusting, we step into the kind of rest only God can give. So this week, I encourage you—put down the phone, close the laptop, and breathe. Make space for stillness. Make time for worship.

Because when we align with God’s rhythm of rest, we don’t fall behind—we finally catch up to His presence.

-Greg