Q61. What does the fourth commandment forbid?
The fourth commandment forbids skipping or carelessly doing the duties it requires, and ruining the day through laziness or sinful behavior, or by giving unnecessary time to thoughts, words, or work about everyday things.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Ezekiel 22:26
“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
Amos 8:5
“Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?”
Malachi 1:13
“Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.”
Ezekiel 23:38
“Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.”
Jeremiah 17:24, 27
“And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; … But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”
Isaiah 58:13
“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does the fourth commandment forbid?
- 2
What does it look like to "carelessly" do the duties of the Sabbath?
- 3
Have you ever gone to church but not really paid attention?
Illustration
Going to church but thinking about what you want to do afterward is like sitting at the dinner table but never eating. You are there, but you are not really there. The fourth commandment forbids not only skipping worship but also doing it half-heartedly.
Application
This commandment is harder than it sounds. It convicts us of laziness, distraction, and half-hearted worship. Ask God to forgive the times you have gone through the motions, and ask him to give you a heart that wants to worship.