Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 20:8

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." — Exodus 20:8 (ASV)

Remember the sabbath day. —It is relevant to note that this command is introduced differently from any other by the word “remember.” However, we cannot, therefore, conclude that the Sabbath was a primitive institution, which the Israelites were obligated to remember perpetually, since the reference may be merely to the instruction recently given in connection with the gathering of the manna (Exodus 16:23). The Sabbath had certainly been solemnly instituted at that time, if not earlier (See Note on Exodus 16:25).

To keep it holy. —It had already been noted that the rest of the Sabbath was to be a “holy rest” (Exodus 16:23), but it is not quite clear what was intended by this. For the most part, the Law insists on abstinence from labor as the main element of Sabbath observance (Exodus 16:23–30; Exodus 20:9–11; Exodus 23:12; Exodus 34:21; Exodus 35:2–3; Deuteronomy 5:12–15, etc.).

And it can scarcely be said to prescribe anything positive regarding the religious employment of the day. That the morning and evening sacrifice were to be doubled might indeed suggest to a religiously-minded Israelite that his own religious exercises and devotions should also be increased; however, the Law made no such requirement. His attendance at the morning and evening sacrifice was not required nor expected.

No provision was made for his receiving religious teaching on the day; no special offerings were required from him on it. The day became one of “languid bodily ease, relaxation, and luxury” for the majority of the later Jews (Augustine. Enarr. in Psalms 91:0); but probably there were always some whom natural piety taught that, in the absence of their ordinary occupations, it was intended that they should devote themselves to prayer and communion with God—to meditation on “high and holy themes,” such as His past mercies, His character, His attributes, His revelations of Himself, His government of the world, and His dealings with men and nations. Only in this way could the day be really “kept holy,” with a positive, and not merely a negative, holiness.