What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 61. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

1. Ezekiel 22:26

   Her priests abuse my law and have desecrated my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the profane or recognize any distinction between the unclean and the clean. They ignore my Sabbaths, and I am profaned in their midst. (NET)

2. Amos 8:5

   You say, “When will the new moon festival be over, so we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, so we can open up the grain bins? We’re eager to sell less for a higher price, and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales! (NET)

3. Malachi 1:13

   You also say, ‘How tiresome it is.’ You turn up your nose at it,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and instead bring what is stolen, lame, or sick. You bring these things for an offering! Should I accept this from you?” asks the Lord. (NET)

4. Acts 20:7, 9

   ⁷On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. ⁹A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. (NET)

5. Ezekiel 23:38

   Moreover, they have done this to me: In the very same day they desecrated my sanctuary and profaned my Sabbaths. (NET)

6. Jeremiah 17:24-26

   ²⁴The Lord says, ‘You must make sure to obey me. You must not bring any loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day. You must set the Sabbath day apart to me. You must not do any work on that day. ²⁵If you do this, then the kings and princes who follow in David’s succession and ride in chariots or on horses will continue to enter through these gates, as well as their officials and the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. This city will always be filled with people. ²⁶Then people will come here from the towns in Judah, from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the foothills, from the southern hill country, and from the southern part of Judah. They will come bringing offerings to the temple of the Lord: burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense along with their thank offerings. (NET)

7. Isaiah 58:13

   You must observe the Sabbath rather than doing anything you please on my holy day. You must look forward to the Sabbath and treat the Lord’s holy day with respect. You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

The fourth commandment forbids neglecting the duties of the day or doing them carelessly. It also forbids profaning the day by idleness, by doing what is sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words or works about our ordinary work and recreations. The catechism sees the day as rest for worship, and laziness is not rest.

What can we ask our children?

1. Can we break this commandment by being lazy?
2. What does it mean to do worship carelessly?
3. How can we keep our thoughts on God on the Lord's Day?