Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 38

Last week we reflected on oaths and promises, seeing how the God of truth calls His people to speak with integrity and to honor His name in all their commitments. This week, the Catechism shifts from the words we speak to the time we keep. The fourth commandment is not merely about scheduling or even narrowly about Sunday morning worship services; it is about living with God at the center, in the rhythm of His grace.

Question 103

What does God require in the fourth commandment?

First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained, and that I diligently attend the assembly of God's people, to learn what God's Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.

Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through His Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.¹

¹ Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Isaiah 66:23; Acts 2:42–47; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 4:9–11

The Gift of Rest

In our culture, rest is often seen as an optional luxury, something earned after productivity. Scripture, however, presents rest as a divine gift and lawful requirement woven into creation itself (Genesis 2:2-3). God rested on the seventh day not because He was weary (Isaiah 40:28), but to set apart a rhythm of worship and refreshment for His creatures.

The fourth commandment is God's gracious reminder that we are not machines (Exodus 20:8-11). We were made for communion with Him, and that requires time consecrated to His presence (Psalm 46:10). Far from stealing productivity, Sabbath rest restores our souls (Psalm 23:3), refreshes our bodies, and reorients our lives around what matters most (Luke 10:38-42).

From Sabbath to Lord's Day

For Israel, the Sabbath was the seventh day (Saturday), a weekly reminder of both creation and redemption from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15). For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week (Sunday) transformed the pattern (Mark 16:2; Acts 20:7). The Lord's Day became the day of gathering, worship, and renewal. From the earliest centuries, believers assembled on Sunday not as a legalistic burden, but as a joyful celebration of the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).

Two Orthodox Views

Faithful Christians have understood the Lord's Day in two main ways, both seeking to honor God's command while applying it faithfully.

The Puritan (or "Christian Sabbath") View

This view, expressed in the Westminster Confession and championed by leaders like John Owen and the English Puritans, holds that the Sabbath command is moral and perpetual (Exodus 20:8). The day has shifted from the seventh to the first, but the principle remains binding. Therefore, believers are called to devote the entire day to worship and holy rest, setting aside ordinary work and recreation (Isaiah 58:13-14). This tradition emphasizes the seriousness and sanctity of Sunday, guarding it carefully as a day wholly consecrated to God.

The Continental View

This approach, reflected in the Heidelberg Catechism and embraced by many in the Reformed churches of Europe, takes a somewhat different emphasis. Thinkers like John Calvin highlighted the principle behind the Sabbath—weekly worship, rest in Christ, and anticipation of the eternal Sabbath—rather than prescribing detailed rules about the day's activities (Colossians 2:16-17). This tradition emphasizes the joy and liberty of resting in Christ, seeing the day less in terms of restriction and more as an invitation to delight in God (Isaiah 58:13).

Both views are within the pale of Christian orthodoxy, and both seek to honor Scripture faithfully. In the Evangelical Free Church of America, this is recognized as a secondary matter—important, but not essential to the gospel (Romans 14:5-6). We allow room for gracious divergence, while affirming that whichever view we hold, it must be formed by careful study of Scripture, not by the pull of competing allegiances to work, leisure, or cultural priorities. The Lord's Day is too precious a gift to be treated casually or neglected altogether.

Not Legalism, but Liberty

The danger in Sabbath observance has always been twofold: neglect on one side and legalism on the other. Jesus confronted those who burdened the Sabbath with endless regulations, reminding them that "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). He demonstrated that acts of mercy and necessity are entirely appropriate on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 14:1-6). True Sabbath is not about arbitrary rules but about genuine rest in the gospel and God's presence.

At the same time, neglect robs us of the joy God intends. To treat Sunday as just another workday, or merely a chance for personal leisure, is to miss the gift of a day set apart (Nehemiah 13:15-22). God invites His people to delight in Him (Psalm 37:4), to gather in worship (Hebrews 10:24-25), and to begin each week refreshed by His grace.

Christ: Our Eternal Rest

Ultimately, the fourth commandment points us to Christ. He is our Sabbath rest (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:9–10). In Him, the rest our souls crave is already secured. Every Lord's Day, as we gather in worship and lay aside our striving, we are reminded that salvation is by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our lives do not hang on what we accomplish, but on what Christ has finished (John 19:30).

The weekly rhythm of worship becomes a rehearsal for eternity (Hebrews 12:22-24). Each Lord's Day is a foretaste of the great Sabbath that will never end, when God's people from every nation will dwell in His presence, free from sin and toil, resting forever in His love (Revelation 7:9-17; 21:3-4).

A Closing Prayer

Lord of the Sabbath, thank You for the gift of rest and the joy of Your Day. Forgive me for the ways I have neglected Your worship or treated it lightly. Teach me to delight in gathering with Your people, to hear Your Word, to pray, and to share in Your table. By Your Spirit, help me rest not only one day a week but every day in the finished work of Christ (Hebrews 4:3). Keep my eyes fixed on the eternal Sabbath You have promised, when all striving will cease and Your glory will fill all in all. Through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, Amen.

Daily Bible Readings

New Testament in a Year

September 21 – John 10:1–21
September 22 – John 10:22–42
September 23 – John 11:1–27
September 24 – John 11:28–57
September 25 – John 12:1–26
September 26 – John 12:27–50
September 27 – John 13:1–20

The Bible in a Year

September 21 – Isaiah 9–10; John 10:1–21
September 22 – Isaiah 11–13; John 10:22–42
September 23 – Isaiah 14–16; John 11:1–27
September 24 – Isaiah 17–19; John 11:28–57
September 25 – Isaiah 20–22; John 12:1–26
September 26 – Isaiah 23–25; John 12:27–50
September 27 – Isaiah 26–27; John 13:1–20