The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q58. What is required in the Fourth Commandment?

A. The Fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times
as He hath appointed in His Word; expressly one whole day in seven,
to be a holy Sabbath to Himself.[1]

Proofs

[1] Deuteronomy 5:12–14.

Comments

Just as the Second Commandment is not only about the use of images, but about the manner of worship; so the Fourth Commandment is not only about the Sabbath but about “the keeping holy to God such set times as He hath appointed in His Word.” Under the Old Covenant, there was a number of annual feast days and religious days, such as the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Trumpets, and Pentecost. The church under-age was required to observe those days too and there were specific commands concerning them (e.g., in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29). But these days were ceremonial and civil in nature, and with the coming of Christ, they are abrogated. The Sabbath day on the other hand is given as part of the Ten Commandments, which indicates that it is moral, perpetual and universal. Moreover, the institution of the weekly Sabbath dates back to the creation week, so that we have no doubt that it is not only for the Jews but for all mankind. We read:

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made (Gen 2:2–3).

The fact that God ‘sanctified’ the day even before Adam fell suggests that it is not a shadow or type to be fulfilled and abrogated by Christ in His incarnation, for Christ came to redeem sinners. But Adam was not yet a sinner when the day was set apart by God. The Sabbath must therefore be made for the sake of all men that they may rest from their labours each week. God needs not rest, and neither does He need to take six days to create, but we are told in Scripture that He did so. Why? It must be to set a pattern for His highest creatures,—man,—to follow. This explains also why the Commandment requires that even non-Jews (strangers) must keep the Sabbath.

The Commandment to keep the Sabbath holy is a moral commandment; and a creation ordinance. It is not just for the Jews and it does not foreshadow Christ. With all these considerations, we have no doubt that today, “one whole day in seven” must continue to be kept “a holy Sabbath to Himself.” That is, one day in seven must be regarded,—by all men, but particularly by Christians who ought to know the Word of God,—as belonging to God.

As the Scriptures not only indicate the perpetuity of the Sabbath, and do not introduce any other feast days to be observed by Christians, we may deduce that all other holy days, such as those decreed by the Roman Catholic Church, ought not to be observed.