Exodus 20:9,10

Six days shalt thou labour, &c.— See note on Genesis 2:3. The plain meaning of these verses is, that men should dedicate six days of the week to the common and ordinary business of life; but should wholly abstain from such business on the seventh day, and consecrate it to the nobler employment of serving and honouring the great GOD their Creator. Our Saviour has clearly determined, that the precept is not to be understood so rigidly as to prevent men from performing the ever-acceptable works of mercy and charity on this day; Mark 2:27. Luke 6:1; Luke 13:15. The prohibition, thus excepted, was to extend to the whole of every family; nay, even to the cattle, according to that amiable principle of humanity which characterises the true religion. See Proverbs 12:10. Nor was the stranger to be excepted—nor thy stranger within thy gates; including all strangers of whatever rank or sort who sojourned among the Jews. See Nehemiah 13:16 whence it is very plain, that strangers of every degree were obliged to an observance of the sabbath.