Much is written in the New Testament about the fourth Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.” (Exodus 20:8-10a NKJV).
Some argue that this Commandment became obsolete with the New Covenant in Christ, or that it was rendered inoperable as a result of Jesus performing miracles (working) on the Sabbath.
This thinking is flawed. Jesus, a Jew, recognized and honored the Shabbat. Hear the Lord:
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27 NASB), and
“But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 13:7-8 NKJV)
Essentially Jesus declared, I am the Lord of the Sabbath. You will not interpret the Sabbath to me. I will interpret the Sabbath for all.
The Sabbath was made for us. It is first to honor God, the God who likewise rested from His work of the creation. Secondarily, it provides time to focus and build our walk of sanctification, and to conform to the rhythm of life, refreshing and preparing us to work “as unto the Lord” the other six days.
The Sabbath has fallen into decay, if not disrepute. As Christians, part of connecting with the absolute majesty of God is remembering and observing the Sabbath.