Lesson 6 - 4th & 5th Commandment

Question 1

Compare and contrast the Continental and Westminster views of the 4th Commandment.

Answer 1

1. ) Continental
   - - Part Ceremonial/Part Moral Law
   - - No requirement of one day in 7, but just regularity (Dort - sunday is a holy Day)
   - - Primarily about worship; rest follows from that worship
2. ) Westminster
   - - Creation ordinance
   - - One day in 7 for worship and rest
   - - Primary focus is worship
   - - Lord’s Day = NT Sabbath
   - - Devoted wholly to public and private worship

Question 2

Discuss whether or not the 4th Commandment forbids all recreational activities on the Sabbath, as per Westminster Confession of Faith 21.8.

Answer 2

1. ) Rest
   - -The 4th Commandment is primarily concerned with rest from regular daily work and other arduous activities (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-10, 35:3; Numbers 15:32-36; Nehemiah 13:15-18; Jeremiah 17:22)
   - - rest invites worship
2. ) Pattern of God
   - - 7th day wasn’t ceasing from work, but ceasing from creating activity; about enjoyment, delight, satisfaction
3. ) Qualifications
   - - works of necessity
   - - works of mercy
4. ) Recreation - isaiah 58:13
   - - problem is not pleasure, but selfish pleasure

Question 3

What are the arguments against the continuance of Sabbath observance in the New Covenant? How would you respond to such arguments? Be sure to support your answer from Scripture.

Answer 3

1. ) The early Christians did not identify the Lord’s Day with the Sabbath; they observed both simultaneously
   - - Christ was raised on the first day of the week
   - - This was the day that the early church met for worship.
2. ) Hebrews 3:7-4:10 indicates Christians have entered into “God’s rest”, therefore the Sabbath is no longer needed because the eschatological rest toward which it pointed is now a reality in Christ.
   - - This passage does not teach that believers have entered into that rest. There is something else to be entered into in the New Heavens and New Earth.
   - - Hebrews 4:11 - let us strive to enter that rest
   - - NT makes our experience more like sojourners in the wilderness, not as though they have reached into the promised land.
3. ) Paul indicates that in the New Covenant believers are not required to observe particular days, including the Sabbath (Romans 14:5; Galatians 4:9-11; Colossians 2:16-17)
   - - Paul is concerned with observance of days as means to salvation.

Question 4

What works are permitted on the Sabbath?

Answer 4

1. ) Works of Necessity - works that have be carried out to sustain/preserve life and maintain quality of life
   - - Joshua 6:12 - military conquest
   - - Matthew 12:1,5 - Jesus and disciples pick grain
   - - Luke 13:15, 14:5 - farming, water for animals
2. ) Works of Mercy
   - - Matthew 12:9-13, Mark 3:1-5; Luke 6:6-10; John 5:1-17, 9:13-16
   - - Jesus heals on the Sabbath many times

Question 5

Discuss what “honor” means in the 5th Commandment.

Answer 5

Honor =The appropriate attitude and behavior toward superiors

3 aspects:

1. ) Reverence (Exodus 21:15-17)
2. ) Submission (Eph 6:1-3)
3. ) Gratitude (Matthew 15:4-6)

Question 6

How does the 5th Commandment apply to the issue of church and state?

Answer 6

The church and the state are best understood as two extensions of the family

• • Church – worshipping body
• • State – governing/ruling body

Dual Citizenship

1. ) Citizens of an earthly nation (Acts 16:37-38, 21:39, 22:25-29)
2. ) Citizens of a heavenly nation (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:9)
3. ) Heavenly nation takes priority

Question 7

Should churches stay out of politics?

Answer 7

3God does not prohibit the church from entering even the most specific areas of political debate, but wisdom should often lead to restraint (not endorsing a specific candidate, prioritizing love for each other over party)

Question 8

Can civil disobedience ever be morally justified?

Answer 8

Civil Disobedience – general stance should be of obedient submission, even to unjust and cruel rulers (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17)

• • Except when the rulers require us to sin
• • The goal of civil disobedience if appropriate should always be the establishment of a stable government that can honor the 5th commandment.

Question 9

Discuss the 5th Commandment’s implications for gender roles.

Answer 9

The fifth commandment applies to relations between superiors and inferiors, but also equals (WLC 131, 132)

Gender roles in the home and the church

1. ) Men have primary leadership and authority in the home (Genesis 2:15-23; Proverbs 31:23; Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
2. ) Men have primary leadership and authority in the church (Matthew 10:1-4; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:12-15, 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)
3. ) Differences between men and women should be seen as differences of blessings

2 Views:

1. ) Complementarian View: Men and women are equal in dignity and worth, but are different in authority and role
2. ) Egalitarian: Men and women are equal in dignity and worth, as well as authority

Question 10

How does the 5th Commandment relate to the issues of slavery, sexism, racism, and those with disabilities?

Answer 10

The 5th Commandment requires that we treat equals as equals and unequals as unequals, in the same respects
Special Issues
1.) Slavery
2.) Sexism
3.) Racism
4.) Disabilities