This past Wednesday a group of about 10 met to begin a 6 week study on The Six Chief Parts of the catechism. This first night was on the first part: The Ten Commandments.
[note: This Wednesday (Sept. 15) at 7 PM we’ll meet again to study the Creed. Consider joining us if you’re free!]
First, we made a point of reciting the catechism, each of the commandments and also Luther’s meanings. A few members remarked how long it had been since they had done this, but it was familiar for most. Simply the act of speaking the language out loud together has a wonderful effect for learning compared to silent reading.
Rather than spending time on each specific commandment, we then regarded their purpose as a whole. Why do we value these commandments? Why are they worth studying and committing to heart?
JESUS ON THE COMMANDMENTS
To answer that, we first considered our Lord Jesus’ words about them. A few passages come to mind. In Matthew: 36-40, someone asked Jesus about which commandment was greatest. To answer, Jesus quoted God’s word in Deuteronomy 6 “ “‘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.”
As difficult and complex as God’s commandments may seem, they are not arbitrarily given to us for us to prove our love. These commands help remind us to love our God and love one another. To do either of these things, we cannot love ourselves first, something which we sinners naturally do. If we turn the commandments into a way to prove ourselves righteous, then we are just like the Pharisees who thought themselves truly capable of keeping them. This selfishly makes the commandments all about us!
We might also think of Jesus’ words in his sermon on the mount. He quotes both the commandments to not murder or commit adultery. He says if we even look at someone with lustful thoughts, or with anger, than we have already committed adultery or murder. How easily we are all condemned then if we expand this thought to all the commandments!
DO WE REMEMBER NOT TO COVET?
We also drew special attention to the commands that we should not covet. These commandments are broken all the time, but rarely do we stop and consider how bad they can be. Just as Jesus said with murder or lust, we should recognize that being jealous of other’s relationships or belongings is sinful! Not only is it sinful, but covetting inwardly is often the first step toward outward sins. An item is usually coveted before it is stolen, schemed for, or taken in any other wrong way. The same might be said to be true of sexual sin.
David and Bathsheba is a great example of how covetting only leads to further sin. First he coveted her, then David used his royal influence to take her. This lead to having to deal with her husband, and even after multiple failed attempts where David could have turned away from this awfuls sin, he still found a way to have Bathseba’s husband killed. This all began from coveting.
Let us all call out coveting for what it is: a sin! And a sin that will lead only to further outward sins.
JESUS SATISFIED THE COMMANDMENTS
Since we all end up being condemned by the 10 Commandments as sinners (see James 2:10), no matter how much we struggle to keep them, thanks goodness someone came who kept them for all of us. Jesus reminds us he came not to abolish or get rid of the law and God’s commandments, but to fulfill and complete them when we failed (Matthew 5:17). He takes our place dying like a sinner, even though he was sinless, so that he could count us all as righteous, even though we are still sinners! (2 Corinthians 5:21).
How should we continue to regard the commandments knowing we are made righteous not by our own works, but by Jesus? Shall we sin to make grace abound? By No means, someone who has received the Holy Spirit could never have this attitude. We recognize God’s commandments are good and strive to follow them for that reason. By keeping these commandments, we help our neighbor and give glory to God. The Law then is a guide for us, not to justify ourselves, but to live in a way pleasing to God and each other.
prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the Law you gave us as we know well in the 10 Commandments. Grant that they would curb us from sin, remind us of our sin when we think we are great, and help guide us to love you and our neighbor. Thank you for your Son, who in keeping them flawlessly could then take our place in death, that he could share his place with us in your eternal kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.