What does Exodus 20:8 mean?

The first three commandments (Exodus 19:5–6; 20:1) prohibited Israel from worshipping other gods (Exodus 20:2–3), creating idols (Exodus 20:4–6), and disrespecting the name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7). The fourth commandment is probably the most misunderstood and misapplied of the initial ten. God instructs Israel to observe a one-day period of rest every seven days (Exodus 20:9–11) on the last day of the week. This is called a sabbāt or "Sabbath" day. On that day, the Israelites are to refrain from all non-necessary work. This general idea was introduced when God provided the people with manna (Exodus 16:14–16, 22–23).

One misinterpretation of this rule mistakes God's intent. His goal was not to enforce strict boundaries on physical actions for their own sake. Nor did He mean that common sense priorities (Matthew 12:11–12) or emergencies were less important than avoiding work. The Lord certainly never meant His rules to be applied blindly without good judgment (Matthew 12:3–5; John 7:24). The rest is for man's benefit (Mark 2:27), not punishment. Jesus' earthly critics took an intensely literal, harsh view of this commandment. Many of Jesus' conflicts with religious leaders were tied to their inaccurate view of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:2; Mark 2:24; John 5:10; Colossians 2:16).

Another common mistake is the belief that Christ moved the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day: from Saturday to Sunday. While Christians traditionally worship on the first day of the week (John 20:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2), this is not the Sabbath rest given to Israel. The biblical Sabbath begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown. This corresponds to the Lord creating over a period of six "days" (Genesis 2:1–3) and refraining from work on the seventh (Exodus 20:9–11).

Nor was Sabbath-keeping intended to be an instruction for the entire world. The old covenant was fulfilled by Christ (Galatians 4:4–5; Hebrews 8:8–13). That includes the Ten Commandments and other requirements in the law of Moses. These laws were only meant to apply to the nation of Israel. Modern-day believers are not under the old covenant. Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in Jesus' teachings; those ideas apply even if their original written form is no longer in effect. The only commandment Jesus does not repeat is the observation of the Sabbath.

Those who teach that Christians are obligated to worship on Saturdays are in error. So are those who insist that all forms of work on a Sabbath—or on a Sunday—are sinful. The concept of rest is still important, but believers are not obligated to keep the Sabbath in any sense (Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17).

Sabbath-keeping will feature in an infamous incident about an ancient Israelite gathering sticks (Numbers 15:32–36). The death penalty was warranted in his case because he broke the law with a deliberate intent to defy God's authority (Numbers 15:30–31).