Not only is the Fourth Commandment by far the longest of the ten in number of verses and words, it is placed right in the center.  Reflecting ancient eastern peace treaties, two copies of the Ten Commandments were made—one for the people and one for their King.  In such peace treaties, the king would stamp his sovereign signature in the middle of the documents as an official sign of rule and relationship with his people.  In this case, the Fourth Commandment as central bears Christ’s covenant signature over His Church.

When I see the Ten Commandments summarized artistically and framed for purchase to hang on the walls of a Christian home, I often wonder if the Fourth Commandment, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8), ought not to be chiseled out.

Christians will for the most part acknowledge the binding nature of all other nine commandments.  But the fourth is so often discarded, severing God’s Law right through the middle and cutting out its heart.

Not only is the Fourth Commandment by far the longest of the ten in number of verses and words, it is placed right in the center.  Reflecting ancient eastern peace treaties, two copies of the Ten Commandments were made—one for the people and one for their King.  In such peace treaties, the king would stamp his sovereign signature in the middle of the documents as an official sign of rule and relationship with his people.  In this case, the Fourth Commandment as central bears Christ’s covenant signature over His Church.  What’s more, Exodus 31:13, 16-17 teaches us that keeping the Fourth Commandment is the very sign of being God’s covenant people:

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbathsye shall keep: for it is a signbetween me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you … Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

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