‘Remember the sabbath’: How one family lives the Fourth Commandment

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | November 8, 2019 | Mary Beth McCauley Correspondent

[Jagermonster]

Why We Wrote This

As Laura Nash and her husband raised their sons, they put a high value on family Sabbath traditions. Part 5 in a series looking at the Ten Commandments through modern lives.

The worshippers at Beth Judah Temple could be family. They arrive at dusk on a brisk autumn Friday with leisurely hugs, hellos, and a little something for the dinner table. It’s Shabbat – the Jewish Sabbath – at Laura Nash’s small jewel of a synagogue, nestled in a tired part of this beach town, where worshippers have gathered for more than a century. Dr. Nash and her husband, Jack Greenberg, who live in central New Jersey, often begin Shabbat here when visiting their vacation home nearby.

The couple feel a sense of “mission accomplished” once they arrive on Friday evening, having successfully dispensed with traffic, work, and the city pace. And having turned off their phones, finally, they step into the hushed 90-year-old sanctuary, its peaceful, glowing light enveloping. There they join two dozen fellow worshippers for an hour of psalms, chant, and prayer. Dr. Nash, a school psychologist, talked with the Monitor about the Fourth Commandment, which deals with the Sabbath, as part of our series examining the ways ancient religious ideas like the Ten Commandments continue to matter in today’s world.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the

[Ancesthntr]

Does free will really apply if the Law has been completely fulfilled? Aren’t we, under both Jewish and Christian theology, supposed to be cleansed of all sin and live in paradise for 1,000 years? I haven’t noticed much if that in the world in which we live.

[BipolarBob]

Agreed.

[Ancesthntr]

These are very long-standing principles of Jewish law, that long precede Jesus. I think that what is meant by them is that without for filling those two precepts, it is impossible to fulfill the law. However, they alone are not sufficient. There are many other laws that need to be followed to be the best person that you can possibly be. God does not expect any of us to be perfect, but He does expect us to strive toward perfection, with all of the handicaps of our intellectual and spiritual imperfection. This involves studying the law and all of its implications in the society when and where we live, so that we can properly strive toward perfection through our actions.

[Ancesthntr]

“for filling” should be “fulfilling “

[SkyDancer]

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

[SkyDancer]

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

[BipolarBob]

Here Jesus is clarifying which Law in case there was any doubt. He is obviously referring to the Ten Commandments (note: not the two Commandments). The first four tells of mans obligation to Go and the remaining six is mans obligation to his fellow man. This only strengthens the argument the Ten Commandments are very important in Gods eyes.

[Songcraft]

Or, Seventh Day Baptist.

       

[BipolarBob]

Go = God.

[SkyDancer]

What part of: All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." don't you understand?

[BipolarBob]

I understand it perfectly. They are the framework for the others that fill in the blanks.
The law is perfect Ps. 19:7
It lasts forever Ps. 111:7,8
Called the Law of God Ps.1:2, Ps.119:1
Spoken by God Deut. 4:12
Written "with the finger of God Ex 31:18
Faith establishes this Law Romans 3:31
Is holy, just and good Romans 7:12

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Some agreed with me about a religious question?

I must mark this day on my calender!

But which one of you agreed? You or You?

[BipolarBob]

Just pick one of us, you have a 50/50 chance of being right.

lol

[GBA]

Happy Sabbath!