Question 103 - What does God require in the fourth commandment?
Answer - First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained1 and that, especially on the day of rest, I diligently attend the church of God2 to hear God's Word,3 to use the sacraments,4 to call publicly upon the LORD,5 and to give Christian offerings for the poor.6 Second, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, let the LORD work in me through His Holy Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal sabbath.7
1 Deut. 6:4-9; 20-25; I Cor. 9:13, 14; II Tim. 2:2; 3:13-17; Tit. 1:5. 2 Deut. 12:5-12; Ps. 40:9, 10; 68:26; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25. 3 Rom. 10:14-17; I Cor. 14:26-33; I Tim. 4:13. 4 I Cor. 11:23, 24. 5 Col. 3:16; I Tim. 2:1. 6 Ps. 50:14; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 8 and 9. 7 Is. 66:23; Heb. 4:9-11.
