Household Theology Press

Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 62 of 107

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

A.The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 62. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

  1. Exodus 20:9, 11

    9For six days you may labor and do all your work, 11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

Four reasons are attached to the fourth commandment. God allows us six days for our own work. He claims the seventh as specially his. He gave his own example of resting after creation. And he blessed the sabbath day. The rest God gives is generous and good.

What can we ask our children?

  1. How many days does God give us for our work?
  2. Whose example do we follow when we rest?
  3. What did God do to the sabbath day, according to this answer?

Can I print this question?

Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.

Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.

Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.

Printed from https://householdtheologypress.com/westminster-shorter-catechism/question-62/ · Household Theology Press · free to copy for home, church and co-op