Sins Forbidden in the Fourth Commandment
The Fourth Commandment, as understood in various Christian traditions, prohibits not just the literal violation of the Sabbath but a broader category of sins related to the proper observance of God's law and the honoring of God. According to John Calvin, the design of the Fourth Commandment is "that, being dead to our own affections and works, we may meditate on the kingdom of God" [7].
The sins forbidden in the Fourth Commandment can be understood through the lens of biblical teachings on sin and righteousness. one commentary tradition on 1 John 3:8 notes that "He that committeth sin is of the devil" and that sinning is a characteristic of being a child of the devil, not by birth but by imitating him [2]. This understanding is rooted in the biblical narrative of the fall, where the first sin is described as a love of self, dishonor to God, and disobedience to God's command [3].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, interprets the Fourth Commandment as calling for a cessation from one's own works and a meditation on God's kingdom. This involves avoiding profanation of God's name through perjury, unnecessary oaths, and idolatrous rites [7]. The Patristic tradition, as seen in the writings of Tertullian, also emphasizes the importance of avoiding sin and notes that hatred towards brethren is considered impious [6].
In the context of the Fourth Commandment, sins are not limited to the literal breaking of the Sabbath but include a broader range of actions that dishonour God or distract from the proper worship and remembrance of Him. The Protestant academic commentary on Psalms highlights that deliberate sins are committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, characterizing them as rebellion against God [4].
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke's commentary on Acts 15:20, outlines specific prohibitions that can be related to the broader principle of the Fourth Commandment, including avoiding idolatry and uncleanness [8]. These prohibitions reflect a concern for maintaining purity in worship and life.
The understanding of sin in relation to the Fourth Commandment is thus multifaceted, encompassing not just the external actions but also the internal attitudes and dispositions that lead to sin. As noted in the commentary on Proverbs, sinful acts are a manifestation of a deeper sinful nature [1]. The call to observe the Fourth Commandment is, therefore, a call to a life of righteousness and holiness, characterized by a proper fear and reverence for God.
The early Christian fathers, such as Augustine, grappled with the issue of sin in the lives of the saints, arguing that even in the Old Testament, saints were freed from sins, not by their own power but through God's grace [5]. This understanding underscores the ongoing struggle with sin and the need for continual repentance and faith.
Sources
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 12.--THE FOURTH CALUMNY,--THAT THE SAINTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ARE SAID TO BE NOT FREE FROM SINS.: "They say," says he, "that the saints in the Old Testament were not without sins,--that is that they were not free from crimes even by amendment, but they were seized by death in their guilt." Nay, I say that either before the law, or in the time of the Old Testament, they were freed from sins,--not by their own power, because "cursed is every one that hath put his hope in man,"[1] and without any doubt those are under this curse whom also the sacred”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — XLVII. TO THE FAITHFUL.: I admonish the faithful not to hold their brethren in hatred. Hatreds are accounted impious by martyrs for the flame. The martyr is destroyed whose confession is of such kind; nor is it taught that the evil is expiated by the shedding of blood. A law is given to the unjust man that he may restrain himself. Thence he ought to be free from craft; so also oughtest thou. Twice dost thou sin against God, if thou extendest strifes to thy brother; whence thou shalt not avoid sin following thy former courses. Thou h”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 105: That we may not throw obloquy on his works, but may speak of them with commendatians of his Wisdom, Long-suffering, Power, Goodness, Justice. With these is contrasted a threefold profanation of the name of God, by perjury, unnecessary oaths, and idolatrous rites; that is, when we substitute in the place of God saints, or creatures animate or inanimate. 30. The design of the Fourth Commandment is, that, being dead to our own affections and works, we may meditate on the kingdom of God. Now there are three things here to be considere”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 15:20: But that we write unto them - Four things are prohibited in this decree: 1. Pollutions of idols; 2. fornication; 3. things strangled; 4. blood. By the first, Pollutions of Idols, or, as it is in Act 15:25, meats offered to idols, not only all idolatry was forbidden, but eating things offered in sacrifice to idols, knowing that they were thus offered, and joining with idolaters in their sacred feasts, which were always an incentive either to idolatry itself, or to the impure acts generally attendant on such festivals. By the second, Fornication, all uncleanness of eve”