Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments.
This Lent we are looking at the 6 chief parts of the Small
Catechism with a special emphasis on Luther’s Catechism hymns.
Last week, Ash Wednesday, we took up the 5th
chief part – Confession – as it fits the penitential emphasis of that day, and
is a good place to begin the season.
However, today, we are back to the beginning of the
Catechism, with the first chief part – the Ten Commandments.
You may have heard how Luther wrote the Small Catechism
after he completed a visitation of the parishes in Electoral Saxony. He made those visits over two years, from
1526 to 1528, and found that the education of the people was quite poor, and
also the financial support of the clergy was sorely lacking. One historian writes:
What he (Luther) and
the other visitors found there shocked them. Most preachers were sound
doctrinally, but others were not, nor were all provided for sufficiently. They
found a laity that was lacking in strong moral conviction. But what bothered
them the most was the absence of basic doctrinal knowledge, such the ability to
recite the Apostles’ Creed or the Lord’s Prayer. This gave impetus to Luther’s
drafting of the catechisms, modeled largely after a series of sermons delivered
in May 1528 and published in 1529.
And yet, you may be surprised to learn that this hymn of
Luther’s, written about the 10 Commandments, dates from 1524 – a couple of
years even before he discovered how bad the catechesis was! Which serves only to show just how important
it was for the reformer that people know and are familiar with the
commandments. Contrary to some who
accused Luther and his followers of teaching against the law – we have always
had a high regard for the law, and particularly, the 10 Commandments as a most
excellent summary of it.
The hymn specifies that Moses received these holy 10
commands “for our good”. And this is no
small statement.
Some seem to think that the law is bad. Certainly we can see why. It makes us feel bad. When God says “do this” and I see, clearly
that I do the opposite, my conscience kicks in and tells me I don’t measure
up. When the law says “the soul that
sins shall perish” and I observe that I, in fact, do sin, then I must conclude
that I, too, will perish (if that were the only word we hear from God).
The law also curbs sin – it keeps us from going too far off
the reservation, it keeps sin in check, it keeps it at least somewhat under
control. And so I know, that even though
I want to, there are things I can’t do.
I am limited. If not for the sake
of love, then out of fear of punishment.
And that, too, can make someone think the law is bad – because it’s a
kill-joy, a downer, it keeps us from doing whatever we want.
But the law is, indeed good.
The commands are good. It’s the
word of God, after all. It’s only bad in
the sense that it condemns us because we break it. But that’s not the fault of the law – it’s
our own sin that does that. The law is
good. And it would hold no terror for
us, if only we could keep it.
And even though we don’t keep it – it is still good in that
it offers a right and true diagnosis of our condition. It shows our sin. Like the doctor who sits you down to tell you
the bad news – but it’s good that he tells you – so that you can proceed to the
treatment! Similarly, the 10
commandments are an essential spiritual diagnostic, to prepare the sinner to
receive the medicine, that is, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For what good news is it, to know that Christ
died for your sins, if you don’t know your sins, or that you are a sinner? This is the chief function of the law.
So while it stings to hear it, we must give thanks to God
for the accusations of the law, the pointing finger, the spotlight it shines on
our own faults and failings. For only in
the light of day can we both see and deal with the problem. Only when sin is confessed does absolution
come, and the Spirit is renewed in Christ.
If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And look at this, even in a hymn about the law, rehearsing
each and every one of the Ten Commandments, we still see an expression of
Gospel with the refrain, “have mercy, Lord!”
Yes, we have a God of mercy, a God of lovingkindness, a God of grace –
who does not look at our sins or count them against us – all for the sake of
Christ. Indeed the hymn concludes,
“Forgive us, Lord! To Christ we flee,
Who pleads for us endlessly, have mercy, Lord!”
We Christians know that God does, indeed, have mercy on us
poor sinners. Of course we know That’s
what Jesus Christ is all about. We know
that Jesus died on the cross to procure forgiveness for all our breaking of the
commandments. Even the youngest little
Christians can confess it: Jesus died
for me.
But let’s not forget that just as much as Jesus died for us,
he also lived for us. “But when the fullness of time had come, God
sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were
under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
Jesus Christ, as true man, can stand as our substitute under
the law. He can fulfill the law,
perfectly, for us, and as true God make that righteousness count for us all. It’s like the smartest kid in the class who
takes the test, gets 100%, and then somehow gives you his grade! Jesus fulfills the law perfectly, he fulfills
all righteousness for us, he covers us in his own righteousness. So when God looks at us, he doesn’t see all
the law-breaking we do – but he sees all the law-keeping Christ has done.
And yet, while the law always accuses us, it does not only
accuse us. While it always shows us our
sin and failure, it also shows us the right way forward. It is a curb, a mirror and a guide. And it is this third use or function, as a
guide, that is particularly for Christians.
I know my sin, but I also know the forgiveness of Christ. Now, how do I live? What shall I do? What is the will of God in this or that
aspect of life? These questions the law
also answers. Yes, “You have this Law to
see therein that you have not been free from sin” (that’s the accusation, the
mirror function). “But also that you clearly
see, how pure toward God life should be” Yes, the law also shows us the way the
life of a believer should be.
And so we love God, and love our neighbor – for the sake of
Christ! We strive to keep the law, even
knowing we won’t do it perfectly, but in the confidence of Christ’s
forgiveness. The motivation is all
different for the Christian. We’re not
trying to keep the commandments because we HAVE to, but we joyfully respond to
God’s love by showing that love in our lives.
We’ve been made anew by the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. We have died to sin in our baptism. We have been adopted as sons and daughters of
the King. Why would we want to live any
other way, than according to his will?
Luther even wrote, in the section of the Catechism about
daily prayer, that after our morning prayers we should, “go joyfully to our work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten
Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest”. Maybe he even had
this hymn in mind.
And so, we love the law of God. We consider it as good and right and
true. It’s worth knowing and keeping in
our hearts and minds. It’s something to
live by. And we teach it to our
children. So that they too can learn by
heart the holy commands of God. The law
will always accuse us, and show us our failure.
But we have a God who always shows mercy in Christ, and has kept the law
for us. So live in his mercy, and
delight in his Holy Ten Commands. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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