Grant us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are pleasing in your sight that we, who without you cannot do anything that is good, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Pentecost 9, Lutheran Worship, p. 70)

The Fourth Commandment

The Gift of Authority

Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

Ephesians 6:1-4; Romans 13:1-7; Hebrews 13:17

A.  Authorities are God's representatives in His various orders: household, society, church.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God.. Romans 13:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Hebrews 13:17

B.   Forbidden: Despising authority, provoking to anger, breaking temporal laws

C.   Commanded: Honor, serve, obey, love and cherish all God-given authority

Honor your father and mother" - which is the first commandment with a promise - "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life the earth." Ephesians 6:2-3

Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:7

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

The Fifth Commandment

The Gift of Life

You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:11-18; Luke 10:25-37

A.  Forbidden: Murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, revenge, neglect, indifference, hatred, prejudice.

B.   Commanded: Help and support one's neighbor in every physical need

Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. Genesis 9:6

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Matthew 5:22

Anyone who hates his brothers is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 1 John 3:15

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

The Sixth Commandment

The Gift of Marriage

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

2 Samuel 11; Matthew 5:27-28; 19:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 7:1-28; Proverbs 7

A.  Forbidden: Whatever "adulterates" marriage (that is, removes sexuality from the context of marriage: adultery, fornication, homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:26-27), pornography

B.   Commanded: Lead sexual pure and decent lives in thoughts, words and actions; uphold and honor the gift of sex and marriage; help and encourage others to do the same.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Mark 10:6-9

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4

Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery. Matthew 19:9

Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4

The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:4

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Seventh Commandment

The Gift of Property

You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

Joshua 7:20-22; Luke 19:1-10

A.  Forbidden: Theft (grand to petty), fraud, cheating, dishonest business practices, defrauding the poor

B.   Commanded: Help neighbor improve and protect his property and business

Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Leviticus 19:35

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28

Give to one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 1 John 3:17

The Eighth Commandment

The Gift of Reputation

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

A.  Forbidden: Perjury, lies, betrayal, slander, defamation of character, gossip.

B.   Commanded: Defend our neighbor, speak well, apply the best construction to everything.

Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. Ephesians 4:25

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free. Proverbs 19:5

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13

Brothers, do not slander one another. James 4:11

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

The Ninth and Tenth Commandments

The Gift of a Contented Heart

Ninth Commandment:

You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

Tenth Commandment:

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not entice or force away our neighbor's wife, workers, or animals, or turn them against him, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

A.  Forbidden: Scheming, jealousy, dissatisfaction, greed, materialism

B.   Commanded: Contentment, service and support, thankfulness

If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:8-10

[Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

The Summary of the Commandments

What does God say about all these commandments? He says: "I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments." Exodus 20:5-6

What does this mean?

God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them. But he promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands.

A.  God's commands and His promises are always together. We should fear and love God..

B.   Fear, love and trust in God are always together in the life of the believer.

1.     The Law commands and creates the fear of God (Exodus 20:20).

2.     The Law commands but cannot create love of and trust in God.

C.   The Law has three basic impacts on the hearer:

1.     to curb against anarchy and lawlessness (1 Timothy 1:9)

2.     to mirror sin (Romans 3:20)

3.     to instruct and guide the life of holiness (Psalm 119:35)

I should think that we would have our hands full trying to keep these commandments and to practice gentleness, patience and love toward enemies, chastity, kindness, and so on, together with everything else connected with these virtues. In the eyes of the world, however, works of this kind do not count for much and make little impression. For they lack novelty and pomp and are not bound to special times, places, rites and ceremonies. They are rather common, everyday domestic duties that one neighbor can render to another; for this reason they are given no recognition. (Large Catechism, 63)

Praying the Catechism

The Small Catechism instructs us to pray the Ten Commandments as our morning hymn while we joyfully go about our work. The Commandments are not only God's diagnosis of our sin, they are a guide to the holy works of God's priestly people. Occasionally one commandment and its application may strike you. Stop there and pray it. The Ten Commandments are the holy orders of God's royal priesthood, in which all Christians are made priests through Holy Baptism (1 Peter 2:9-10).