The Sabbath in the Law of Moses #1

Driving home: The moral law doth forever bind all as well justified persons as others to the obedience thereof and that not only in regard to the matter contained in it but also in respect of the authority of God the creator who gave …

Martin quotes paragraphs from Chapter 19 of the church's confession of faith to establish the theological framework for understanding the Law of Moses, particularly the distinction between moral, ceremonial, and judicial laws, and the perpetual obligation of the moral law.

And the place to start, of course, is Exodus 20 with the fourth commandment. And here I ask that you turn with me in the Scriptures. The place to start is Exodus 20 with the ten commandments. But as you're turning and as we approach this text, I assume that the description of the law found in our confession of faith is accepted among us as an accurate description of the teaching of the Scriptures.

11:32 - 12:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I do not know how men can offer more hardship to a text than to insist that the fourth commandment is ceremonial and temporary while the other nine commandments are not are moral and perpetual

Martin quotes Daniel Wilson's 'The Lord's Day' to support the argument that the Fourth Commandment is an integral part of the moral law, sharing the same authority and obligation as the other nine commandments, and is not merely ceremonial.

and partial it is woven into the moral law there is no fundamental difference when you read the Ten Commandments there is no fundamental difference between this commandment and the other nine commandments that are contained in the Decalogue I do not know how men can offer more hardship to a text than to insist that the fourth commandment is ceremonial and temporary while the other nine commandments are not are moral and perpetual I do not know how you can make a text more difficult to interpret than to put that burden upon it to place that construction or that interpretation upon it there is n...

21:49 - 23:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Rulers are to regulate the conduct of strangers within their gates to ensure Sabbath observance.

The Israelites' experience as slaves in Egypt, where they were denied rest, is used as a motivation for them to show compassion to their own servants, ensuring they also receive Sabbath rest, illustrating the breadth of the commandment's application.

keep the Sabbath day holy but now that's not a difference in substance it's only a difference showing the breadth of application of the law I would have you note especially and we'll come to this when we come to our segment on application in coming studies but I would have you note especially in that Deuteronomy 5 passage how this fourth commandment extends to servants that your manservant there the record reads that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you that your manservant and maidservant may rest as well as you and you shall remember that you were a servant in the lan...

35:07 - 36:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Come to further studies on the Sabbath with an open heart and an open mind.

Martin quotes Chapter 22, paragraph 7 of the confession of faith to affirm that the Sabbath is a 'positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages,' reinforcing his central argument for its enduring validity.

is true then from what we have seen this morning we must say that the creation ordinance which is the same with it in substance is purely ceremonial as well now I am not aware that anyone has been willing to defend that proposition there are many who will say oh the fourth commandment given at Sinai that is ceremonial it is done away but when you ask the question well it is the same in substance with the creation ordinance shall we declare the creation ordinance ceremonial I am not aware of any willing to defend that proposition and indeed it is indefensible for it is given long millennia befo...

39:34 - 41:02 Read in full sermon