Sermon for Lenten Midweek 5: "The Seventh and Eighth Commandments" (Exodus 20:15-16)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

God commands us to fear, love, and trust in Him. That is the foundation of each of His Ten Commandments. From perfect fear, love, and trust, we learned how to properly use God’s Name. From properly using God’s Name, we gladly hear and learn His Word.

 

From the First Table of the Law, God then goes into the Second Table as we not only love God, but we also love our neighbor. Tonight, we continue our Lenten journey studying God’s Law with the Seventh and Eighth Commandments.

 

Over the past couple years, the breaking of the Seventh Commandment “You shall not steal” has appeared to have been lifted. Remember especially the summer of 2020? During the rioting and looting along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, a Chicago Black Lives Matter organizer said: “I don’t care if somebody decides to loot a Gucci’s or a Macy’s or a Nike because that makes sure that person eats. That makes sure that that person has clothes. That’s a reparation. Anything they want to take, take it because these businesses have insurance.”[1]

 

Now, that is the opposite of this commandment. Unfortunately, that is what the sinful world, our culture, was promoting. If you want it, just take it. Afterall, that store has insurance. Insurance will cover it.

 

This evening, God teaches us through this commandment that He wants property protected. Here, He commands that no one shall take away from, or diminish, his neighbor’s possessions. For to steal is nothing else than to get possessions of another’s property wrongfully.

 

Once again, God is protecting your neighbor from you. You are tempted to look at your neighbor’s possessions and take them. Perhaps, you wouldn’t do it as a burglar or pickpocket. But there is more to this commandment.

 

Luther broadens this commandment by providing examples of what harming your neighbor by stealing looks like in various walks of life.

Whoever does not serve their neighbor faithfully and does damage or allows damage to be done when it could have been prevented is breaking this commandment. So, by permitting damage to your neighbor’s possessions or property, wasting things, or neglecting your neighbor’s goods is breaking this commandment. This also applies to being careless or lazy on the job or at school. This applies to stealing the boss’s or teacher’s time or materials. How many of us have glanced at your smartphone to search social media while on the job?

 

And what about those who choose the prices for merchandise? Well, this applies to any kind of business transaction that overcharges or is underhanded or passes off bad merchandise as premium merchandise. For those who have watched the movie or read the book “Matilda,” don’t be like her father Harry Wormwood who sells junker used cars at quality car prices.

 

So, this commandment applies when “one openly cheats another with bad merchandise; false measures, weights, and coins; and by nimbleness and strange finances” (LC 7:227).

 

And yes, this commandment also applies to stealing from God by withholding tithes and offerings. We must agree with Luther what he says about thievery: “To sum up, this is the most common trade and the largest union on earth” (LC 7:228).

 

Now, instead of stealing and conniving, God commands us to help your neighbor to improve and protect his possessions and income. Love looks out for your neighbor’s benefit and not your own. God is gracious enough to give every person the possessions they need – the possessions and wealth He wants them to manage. And whether these possessions are many or few, God gives each of you exactly what you need and what He wants you to manage. This, then, gives you the help to serve your neighbor as you are able.

 

God always gives us what we need, so we don’t have to worry about seizing and taking what is not ours from our neighbor. God is certainly sufficient with our needs, and He will not let you lack anything you need.

 

Now, onto another favorite commandment that the world tempts us to break: The Eighth Commandment – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This commandment deals with how you use your tongue regarding your neighbor.

 

“I heard it from a friend who/ Heard it from a friend who/ Heard it from another you been messin’ around/ They say you got a boyfriend/ You’re out late every weekend/ They’re talkin’ about you and it’s bringin’ me down.”

 

Those words may be familiar. Those are the lyrics from “Take It on the Run” by REO Speedwagon, or what I like to call “the hearsay song.” I heard it from my buddy, who heard it from this guy, who heard it from another guy. In other words, all you heard was a rumor.

 

We have often heard the saying: “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt me.” Yes, sticks and stones may cause bodily injury, but we cannot do without honor and a good reputation.

 

I say that breaking the Eighth Commandment is a favorite temptation, because have you ever turned on your television at midday, or in primetime? Do you ever look at the grocery checkout magazines while waiting in line?

 

In this commandment, God does not want the reputation, good name, and upright character of our neighbor to be taken away or diminished, just as with his money and possessions.

 

If you happen to watch soap operas or evening dramas, maybe try to keep a tally on how many times a person’s reputation, good name, or character is smeared. Or if those moments were eliminated from that program, how long would that program actually be?

 

You see, God wants you to preserve your neighbor’s good reputation. But that’s also precisely where you and I fail. Often your neighbor’s reputation is the last thing you think about. The tongue gets going and before you know it, you have injured your neighbor – either to his face or behind his back – and often without even realizing it. There is something about your neighbor that bothers you, so your tongue gets to work gossiping and slandering, to which the devil spurs you on.

 

To this, Luther says: “For [this] is a common evil plague that everyone prefers hearing evil more than hearing good about his neighbor” (LC 8:264). “Did you hear what Joe Schmoe did?” “What?” So often we get caught up in gossiping, slandering, and libeling. 

 

Libel is easy, all you have to do is send an anonymous letter or social media post defaming another person’s reputation. But by remaining anonymous you don’t have the guts to slander publicly. But if a person is not willing to stand by their words, they should be ignored, as if it were never said.

 

Have you ever wondered why the news tends to only report bad news? Well, it does seem that we prefer hearing evil more than hearing good about our neighbor. But at the same time, we don’t like to hear anything bad about us.

 

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. James wrote: “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:8-10).

 

You see, protecting someone’s reputation is one of the most important neighborly good works. Now, here are some tips on protecting a reputation. First, if your neighbor sins against you, don’t talk to others about it. Instead, go and talk to your neighbor who sinned against you. God wants you to win your neighbor back from sin. Second, when you hear gossip, no matter how true it may be, defend your neighbor, no matter what his faults are. Third, if you cannot make official charges before the proper authorities, then make your ears a tomb and bury your neighbor’s sin. Act as if it was never spoken and be like Sergeant Schulz and say “I hear nothing.”

 

Now, we are going to stumble in keeping this commandment. And when you do, run to Jesus. He is your Neighbor who was spoken against and slandered. He was the victim of false testimony. And because of that, He won your forgiveness. And His forgiveness for you means that God the Father does not speak against you, but for you. In fact, because of the crucified and risen Jesus, God the Father puts the best construction on you and your life – as well as your neighbor. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

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[1] https://nypost.com/2020/08/11/black-lives-matter-organizer-calls-chicago-looting-reparation/

Sermon for Lent 5: "Life Doesn't End in Death" (John 11:1-53)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

The world has an obsession with death. That is, until death becomes a personal reality.

 

So, what is this obsession? If you watch TV, or read the local newspaper, death is a major part of the news. But so often, political correctness is used to soften words by sugar-coating and destigmatizing the reality of death. “Reproductive healthcare” is said in the place of elective abortion. “Physician-assisted suicide” or “Medical Assistance in Dying” are said in the place of euthanasia. 

 

From politicians to ballot referendums, death is even on the ballot. When death doesn’t affect you, it may seem easy to make a choice. But you may recall, that not too long ago, seemingly everyone was thinking about their own mortality. 

 

As soon as those lockdowns began three years ago, I bet you were thinking about your own mortality. Television and print news gave us daily tallies on the infection rates and death count. We were told to social distance. We were told that just by being near others, we could cause their death. Schools were closed. Businesses shuttered. Playgrounds were covered in caution tape. As everyone was in need of hope, churches, too, closed under the abundance of caution. For so many, death seemed imminent. Through fear, the experts led many to believe that just catching Covid-19 was a death sentence. 

 

As Covid-19 came on the scene, so many people had to actually think about their own mortality. At that same time, there was the push to find a cure from death. The thing is, death was still a prospect before Covid-19. Funerals happened before Covid; obituaries, too.  

 

No one wants to die, even if some say that people have that right. Everyone fears death. If we could, we would rather avoid death altogether. But at some point, in our life, we will all have to experience death. But Jesus tells us something today that seems unreal, but it is very real. He says life does not end in death.

 

Now, there is certainly physical death. Lazarus experienced this death. Lazarus was dead. And when Jesus finally came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 

 

Today, we may think that four days doesn’t seem all that long. Afterall, you have likely been to a funeral for someone who died days to a week ago. But in the first century, embalming chemicals didn’t exist yet. So, within minutes of death, decomposition begins. Without life, death takes over. Internal organs begin to decompose within days. So, needless to say, a stench was filling the tomb of Lazarus.

 

This death that Lazarus experienced is the death that we will all one day experience. Death is inescapable unless Christ returns first. So, until that glorious day of Christ’s descent from heaven – with a cry of command, the voice of an archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) – death is your fate. You may experience a sickness, like Lazarus. Or your death may happen in an instant, like in a car accident. So, unless Christ returns first, we will all experience death, since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a).

 

Death is a basic human problem. It belongs to us because of Adam’s fall into sin. As far as we know, human beings are the only creatures on earth who know that death is in their future. Because of this, we are concerned about death. We are conscious that death stands at the end of our lives, and this fact affects us all. Death affects us here and now.

 

Physical death certainly affects those who are still living. The death of Lazarus affected Martha and Mary, and those in the community who came to console with them. And this sorrow even affected Jesus. When Jesus saw Mary and the community weeping, Jesus was deeply moved and He began to weep. The death of loved ones affects us all, but we all grieve in different ways.

 

For us who are still living, losing a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, other family members and friends affects us. We can’t visit them anymore. We can’t give them a call. We soon realize that there is a void. We can’t change the reality of physical death.

 

But death would soon become the reality for Jesus. His return to Bethany would result in His arrest and crucifixion. By returning to Judea, Jesus was putting His life at risk, since the Jewish authorities were seeking to arrest Him for equating Himself with God. Even His disciples were aware of this: “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and you are going there again?” (John 11:8) 

 

Jesus was in danger, but He knew He controlled His time on earth for He said: “No one takes [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18a). 

 

And upon the news of Lazarus’ resurrection, the Jewish authorities began plotting on ways to get rid of Jesus. Caiaphas, the High Priest, feared that the Romans would take away their authority, due to the popularity of Jesus. The Sanhedrin were at their wits end, since they have tried everything else, but without any success. “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:47-48).

 

The Sanhedrin feared the Romans more than they feared God. They feared losing their status. So, ironically, just as Jesus spoke of His death to His disciples before arriving in Bethany (John 11:13), Caiaphas prophesies: “It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50).

 

Now, Christ’s death was a real necessity. You see, God the Father’s anger over the sins of all mankind had to be appeased by the sacrificial death of Jesus. All our wrongs of thoughts, words, and deeds could only be forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

 

The effects surrounding the death of Lazarus were but a small picture of the effects of sin that Jesus would carry to His own death. Our sin saddens God. Jesus wept. Our sin demands atonement. Jesus’ death. 

 

Upon inspiration, Isaiah prophesies this: “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). This healing includes more than just forgiveness. This healing includes the resurrected life.

 

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. His proof for His claim is in raising Lazarus from the dead. Four days in the tomb were not match for the resurrection and the life Jesus claimed as His own and which He gave to Lazarus. Three days in the tomb were no match for the resurrection and the life Jesus claimed as His own following His own suffering and death on the cross.

 

Really, any time in the tomb can be no match for the resurrection and the life Jesus claims as His own and which He has given to us. You see, everyone who lives and believes in Jesus will never die! At once we believe that, we never die.

 

Now, we may not fully comprehend Christ’s complete power for us in the resurrected life we have now, but by faith in Him, we have eternal life now.

 

Jesus is the resurrected life. He has given us faith in Him through the waters of Holy Baptism. He strengthens this faith as we hear and read His Word. He strengthens this faith as we receive pardon and peace through absolution and in His Body and Blood under the bread and wine broken and shed for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Jesus has given us the blessing of resurrected life that we have now. For since we “were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:5) and “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36).

 

By faith in Jesus, though we die, we shall live! This is His promise to us!

 

So, in the midst of our weak and frail life on earth, we have the powerful Lord Jesus whose resurrected life affects us today. We still grieve when a loved one dies. But we don’t grieve in despair. We grieve in a sure and certain hope, since Christ fulfills each and every promise, including the promise of the resurrection from the dead.

 

So, life does not end in death. We will all rise again on the Last Day and forever celebrate the joy of life that we have now in Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Lent Midweek 4: "The Fifth and Sixth Commandments" (Exodus 20:13-14)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

On our Lenten journey, we first learned about the First Table of God’s Law in trusting God with our whole heart, properly using His Holy Name, and properly keeping the Sabbath Day holy by being guided by His Word. 

 

Last week, we began the Second Table of God’s Law where we learned how to properly honor our parents and other authorities to which we also learned that the only way to keep this commandment is to seek God’s forgiveness. Tonight, we continue with how we should live toward our neighbor with the next two commandments.

 

First, the Fifth Commandment: “You shall not murder.” Here, God is commanding us to protect life, since life is the most precious gift from God. The culture, however, values life less and less. But God says, without life, there is no liberty, and there is no happiness. God desires life protected in every possibly way.

 

Luther writes: “[God] would have this commandment placed as a wall, fortress, and refuge around our neighbor so that we do not hurt or harm him in his body” (LC 5, 185).

 

So, the first way to look at the Fifth Commandment is as protection for your neighbor. God says “You shall not murder” your neighbor, whoever that person is. What God is saying is that your neighbor needs protection from you. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts [and] murder” (Matthew 15:19). God is putting a protective wall around your neighbor’s body and life. 

 

You see, God knows how you can and do get angry and upset at other people. Jesus did not just include the physical act of murder as He said, “I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:22). So, God not only forbids harming your neighbor in his body; He also forbids the thoughts and passions and angry words that would lead to the fully-grown deed of taking the life of another.

 

God’s command is that you help and support your neighbor in every physical need. Yes, this sounds simple. We must harm no one. We must not use our tongue to instigate harm. We must never agree to use any means or methods by which another person may be injured. And our heart must not wish any ill be upon any other person. It is simple.

 

But so often, we face ethical and hotly-debated dilemmas such as abortion, euthanasia, and even gender-affirming surgeries. To such dilemmas, Luther writes: “It is just as if I saw someone navigating and laboring in deep water, or one fallen into a fire, and could extend to him the hand to pull him out and save him, and yet refused to do it. How would I look, even in the eyes of the world? Just like a murderer and a criminal. Therefore, it is God’s ultimate purpose that we let harm come to no one, but show him all good and love” (LC 5, 192-193).

 

Through it all, God cuts through all the tangled webs of our human rationalizations. God simply commands: “Help your neighbor in his body.”

 

The Fifth Commandment not only protects our neighbor from us, but it also protects you. God wants you to be protected from the anger and revenge of other people, so that there is no harm.

 

In the First Commandment, God says, “I am your God.” He wants to help and protect you and your neighbor. So, when you get angry, Jesus says, “I will protect you.” When you are harmed by another person, He says, “I will take care of you; trust Me. You don’t need to get even or get revenge. I am the final judge.” What a precious promise! It’s a promise made by the same Lord who was Himself counted among the murderers as He hung upon the cross for you! He hung in your place to die in your place, so that by trusting in Him, you are given life.

 

Just as God commands us to protect life, He also protects marriage. As with life, God protects marriage as He both approves and guards marriage. We heard last week that God approves marriage in the Fourth Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.” In the Sixth Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery,” God builds a hedge to protect every spouse so that no one trespasses against him or her.

 

Each person’s spouse is a gift from God. So, God’s command is that we live a chaste life, that is, sexually pure in thoughts, words, and actions. Now, a man may look at another woman, but he must no look at her in the way he should look only at his wife.

 

A few weeks ago, CNN published a story called “Can a monogamous couple happily become nonmonogamous? It’s possible but not easy, experts say.”[1] Yes, that’s a long headline, but that headline says a lot about today’s culture and what CNN appears to be encouraging.

 

So, what was this CNN article promoting? Adultery. Plain and simple. The article read: “No matter the reason, interest in nonmonogamy – participation in nonexclusive sexual relationships – is on the rise.” CNN interviewed Justin Lehmiller of Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, who said that of the people they researched in their 2020 study, “nearly one-third said that having an open relationship was their favorite sexual fantasy, and 80 percent wanted to act on it.”

 

For some of you, the name Kinsey Institute may sound familiar. If you have ever wondered where “sex education” in schools, look no further than the Kinsey Institute. Since its founding in 1947, the Kinsey Institute has been a strong advocate for legalizing and mainstreaming abnormal sexual behaviors in society, including homosexuality, pedophilia, and incest. So, of course, a news organization would seek their advice.

 

Instead of trusting what the news has to say, how about we listen to what Jesus has to say. He says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality” (Matthew 15:19). He also says: “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). God is putting here again a hedge to protect anyone who is simply an object of your sexual desire outside of marriage. 

 

From the Sixth Commandment, we see how highly God honors marriage. We can also see how much we fallen creatures despise it. Pre-marital sex and divorce may be widespread, but that does not make them God-pleasing or right. This commandment hits us right between the eyes even if we have never participated in such things. God wants husband and wife to love and honor each other. Yet, it’s often the person you love most who receives your harshest words. The person you are most committed to has to put up with your disrespect.

 

This commandment is also so vital and crucial in our culture where adultery is assumed, same sex “marriage” is viewed as a “right,” and matters of gender confusion and gender identity are welling up like a giant tidal wave.

 

In the face of sexual immorality and sexual confusion, what does God have to say? Married life is no joke for God for marriage has the highest importance to Him, so that people are raised up who may serve the world and promote the knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, to fight against wickedness and the devil.

 

Now, we don’t speak against sexual immorality to be mean or kill joys. We speak against sexual immorality because they actually do harm to our neighbor. Following God’s will, we have something better and this something is called marriage, between a biological male and a biological female in a loving, committed, trusting relationship that reflects God’s relationship with us.

 

The Sixth Commandment is also a protection for you. God highly honors marriage. He gives you marriage to protect you against your own sinful sexual desires. The proper place for passions and sex is in the trusting bond of marriage. When husband and wife love and honor each other, it is the best holy work that spouses can do. And when you fail in such love and honor, when you let your sinful desires and lusts control you, again run to the crucified and risen Jesus. Through confession and repentance, He welcomes the adulterers to receive His forgiveness. And His forgiveness heals and changes the lives of all of us. 

 

God gives the blessings of life and marriage for our good. He also desires that we also protect these gifts of life and marriage. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

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[1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/19/health/couples-explore-nonmonogamous-relationships-wellness/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_content=2023-02-19T18%3A31%3A06&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_term=link&fbclid=IwAR0oV8XiDJNObReccLjrGxxAzA34-igh_zWLd1VOPIvUyzjwDKOvTMBxNXA

Sermon for Lent 4: "Eyes Opened" (John 9:1-41)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

What goes around, comes around. Actions have consequences. As you sow, you shall also reap. The law of cause and effect. 

 

Actions do have consequences. That is true. But what if there was no logical action that led to a consequence? Often, we have questions, but they may not always have a logical answer.

 

And so it was one day as Jesus was walking along, and there at the street corner was a man born blind. The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) 

 

Maybe the account of Jacob and Esau struggling together within their mother’s womb came to mind in thinking that this man’s sin caused this (Genesis 25:22). Or could it be that this man’s parents, or even grandparents caused this, since the Lord visits iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Him (Exodus 20:5).

 

What was the cause? The disciples wanted to satisfy their curiosity. This is a question that many of us ask as we attempt to make sense of our world. Whose fault is it? Why did this have to happen?

 

A man is suffering lung cancer. Well, there has to be a cause! He must have smoked. But what if he never smoked?

 

Another person has kidney disease. It must have been caused by alcohol. But what if he never drank?

 

Heart attack, breast cancer. What if the person just died suddenly? We naturally desire to know why. What caused it? There must be a reason. 

 

We all have so many questions. Sometimes we have answers, but every so often, we don’t.

 

So, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his sin? Was it because of something he did or was going to do? Or perhaps, it wasn’t his fault, as he was receiving bad karma from his parents.

 

Why? Why do bad things happen? Well, the easy answer is sin. We do live in a fallen world. Now, for this particular man, Jesus says that there was no specific sin that caused him to be born blind. Yet, sin was the culprit. And certain sins have specific consequences. And ultimately death is going to get each and every one of us no matter how well we live, and no matter how righteous we think we may be. Due to Adam’s fall into sin, all creation suffers. Because of sin, the world is broken.

 

Sin is ultimately behind the cause of blindness since human beings were created to see. But since the Fall, the world has been out of whack. The world is disordered. However, for the man born blind, no particular sin caused his handicap. 

 

So, Jesus spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva. There, He forms new eyes from the dust of the ground as He anoints this man’s eyes with the mud and says to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing” (John 9:7).

 

He did as Jesus said. He walked to the pool of Siloam with mud caked over his eyes and there, he washed and for the first time he sees! He sees color! He sees the faces of his friends who led him to the pool of Siloam. He sees all the buildings around him. And he returns to where he used to sit and beg. He looks around and is now able to see. 

 

But this healing is soon met with criticism. “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” “No, but he only looks like him.” How could this be? How could some of his closest neighbors not recognize him?

 

Have you been out shopping and someone comes up to you, and even calls you by name, but you have no clue who you are talking to. He may look familiar, but you just can’t place where. Eventually, something jogs your memory. Ahh, you’re my neighbor down the street! 

 

All the while, the healed man says, “I am the man!” “Well, how do you now see?” “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So, I did, and now I see.”

 

Now, this caused much commotion. Some said this supposed man born blind was a fraud, others said this was a true miracle! Soon, the Pharisees heard about it and how Jesus was involved. If they could have any way to discredit Jesus, they were going to take it.

 

So, the Pharisees called in this man to ask him how he had received his sight. The man said, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Mud, eh. For according to the rabbinic rules concerning the Sabbath, this was forbidden. “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16).

 

So, “What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes?” “He is a prophet” (John 9:17).

 

Throughout all of this, this man never weakens in his witness. “He put mud on my eyes and I washed and now I see!” But now he is beginning to realize that this Jesus may be more than just a man.

 

After his testimony, they called in the man’s parents. Now, back in that day, the most severe penalty for any Jew was to be excommunicated from the synagogue. This was the most severe penalty short of death, because being cut off from the religious fellowship meant that they were no longer blessed and were without any hope. 

 

So, this man’s parents were being extra cautious. They didn’t want to get caught saying anything that could affirm this healing for they knew that anyone who had nice things to say about Jesus would be put out of the synagogue. So, they simply say, “Yes, he is our son, and he was born blind but if you want any more information, just ask him!”

 

This only further enraged the Pharisees, so they brought back in the man. The Pharisees say to him, “Just tell us the truth. What really happened?” The thing is, he already told them: “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” But they would not listen. And they would not see. They just thought this healing would be impossible. So, they cast him out of the synagogue.

 

All the while, throughout this interrogation, this man’s faith was growing, which is usually the case under religious persecution. First, he thought Jesus was just a man. Then he came to the realization that this Jesus must be a prophet. 

 

Is that it, is Jesus just a prophet? I’m sure that when he woke up that morning, he never expected any of these events to happen. Surely, he thought he would be without sight forever. But without any merit of his own, he now has sight. And even with sight, he still doesn’t fully know who this Jesus is who cured him. 

 

But the interrogation wasn’t quite over. Jesus comes up to him – and despite now having sight – he does not recognize Jesus. He likely thought this was just some man who heard about all the commotion. But Jesus began to speak – and he recognized his voice – and his faith was strengthened even more.

 

“‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him” (John 9:35-38).

 

His eyes are now fully opened. He not only had vision, but he also had faith in Jesus who gave him his sight. Even with the gift of sight, this second miracle gave him the ability to truly see what is invisible to the natural eye – the Messiah in His grace for sinners. In faith, he worshipped Him.

 

Today, we hear how Jesus gave physical and spiritual sight – faith – to a man born blind. His eyes were opened twice – first physically and then spiritually. He could not only see Jesus, but He also knew Him as his Lord.

 

Remember, Jesus sent this man to the pool of Siloam. He entered the water blind, but he came out seeing.

 

The man born blind never requested a healing. But out of pure love for him, Jesus healed him so that the works of God might be displayed in him. In pure love for us, Jesus opens our spiritually blind eyes through the washing of water and His Word, so that we can see Him. We can see Him as our Savior.

 

It was never God’s plan that man fall into sin. It was never God’s intention that there would be illness and death, or that men would be born blind.

 

And yet, in the mystery of His grace, in the Lamb that was slain, our Lord took a fallen creation and not only restored it, but made it better than it ever was. By the mystery of the incarnation and the glory of the cross, we have come to see God as we never could before: face-to-face, in full and sacrificial love.

 

The world is blind to what we see. The world is profoundly unhappy. It’s lonely, sad, scared, and angry. We may have some of those feelings, too. But when we look to Jesus, we have the peace that is beyond all human understanding. We have peace, because we know that whatever bothers us now is only temporary, since Jesus died for every sin, so that our sins don’t keep us away from God anymore.

 

Here, in the Divine Service, God restores us through His Word and Sacrament. He opens our eyes to joy. So, we rejoice in our sufferings. Instead of trying to make sense of this world, by asking what caused this or that to happen, we just ask, how will this glorify God? In Christ alone, He opens our eyes. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

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Sermon for Lenten Midweek 3: "The Fourth Commandment" (Exodus 20:1-2, 12)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

So far on our Lenten midweek journey, we have learned the first three commandments, which relate to God. On Ash Wednesday, we learned that we must trust in Him with our whole heart and fear and love Him throughout our life. The second week, we learned that we are not to misuse His Holy name in our hearts but confess His name with our lips. Then last week, we learned that we must remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy as we diligently use and encourage the use of God’s Word, so that all our actions in life are guided by it.

 

So, we live in the fear and love of God, which flows from faith in Him. Tonight, we begin the Second Table of the Ten Commandments where we see our relationship with our neighbor, which shows how we fear God. We begin with the Fourth Commandment, which holds all of the remaining commandments together, since our parents are our closest neighbors.

 

In the Fourth Commandment, God gives us a very unique word. He says, “Honor.” “Honor your father and your mother.” Now, “honor” is greater than “love.” God desires that we love all people – our siblings, our next-door neighbors, the people we meet at the grocery store, our classmates at school, and those people that we work with. But when it comes to parents and other authorities, God says that we must honor them. 

 

Luther writes in his Large Catechism: “We must, therefore, impress this truth upon the young that they should think of their parents as standing in God’s place. They should remember that however lowly, poor, frail, and strange their parents may be, nevertheless, they are the father and the mother given to them by God. Parents are not to be deprived of their honor because of their conduct or their failings.”

 

What Luther is saying is this: Your parents may not be the greatest parents. They may be strange sometimes, but they stand in His stead as God’s representatives for you.

 

From the world, we are told that people are to earn respect. But here, we learn the opposite. God says that the respect is held in the office – the office of parent. Through the office of the parent, God channels His blessings for us, because how often does bread and a new pair of shoes fall from the sky? They don’t. So, God sends you His representatives – our parents – to tend to our needs. You see, God works through the means of a father and a mother. And we respond by honoring and cherishing them.

 

Now, our parents may not have been the best, but we still honor them, despite their failings.

 

Luther continues: “Learn, therefore, what is the honor toward parents that this commandment requires: They must be held in distinction and esteem above all things, as the most precious treasure on earth. In our words, we must speak modestly toward them. Do not address them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly. But yield to them and be silent, even though they go too far. We must show them such honor also by works, that is, with our body and possessions. We must serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor.”

 

That’s what this commandment requires of each of us. Do you always speak honorably to your parents? Do you address them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly? Have you ever talked back to your parents, or done what you were told not to do? Now, we may dissent with our parents, but when we do, we must do it honorably.

 

Now, you may have caught something else by that last Luther quote. Did you catch “we must serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor”? You see, honoring our parents has no expiration date. When we become adults, we must not forget our parents. Since family is the foundation of society, we must return the favor to our parents. The world, however, says that we ought to care about ourselves more than others. It is difficult to be a parent or to have elderly parents, but this is what God has given you. So, if it comes to elderly care, we search out the best care, not just any place. And we continue to honor, love, and cherish our parents.

 

Essentially, God commands that we give our parents respect, address them in humility, and give them the highest place next to God. But why? Because God gives parents a certain majesty, a hidden majesty, what we could call a mask of God. On the surface, we see an ordinary human face, but beneath that outward appearance is God serving us through them.

 

But this commandment doesn’t just address honoring our biological parents. Included in the Fourth Commandment, God commands us to honor all civil authorities, since all authority flows and is born from the authority of parents. So, where your parent is unable to educate the child, your parent delegates that authority to a teacher. The same is true for discipline and safety: police officers and fire fighters. You see, the roles of all authorities – bosses, elected officials, judges, and even pastors – are to be honored by all, just as our own parents.

 

So, we have two kinds of parents in this commandment: parents in blood and parents in office. Those who care for the family and those who take care of the country. For both are given their authority from God.

 

But someone may ask, “What about the authorities? What’s their role in this commandment?” Well, all authorities are to have a paternal heart toward their subordinates. So, if the authority figure does not do his duty in love, but ignores his subordinates, he shall have no favor or blessing, because he is not loving God and his neighbor.

 

Now, how often do we have negative things to say about our authorities? How often do we give our leaders not-so-nice nicknames? To all that we think, say, and do that despises our authorities, God says to us: “You must honor them.” Yes, every authority – even evil ones – stand as God’s representative. This applies to parents and civil authorities, bosses and supervisors, and even spiritual fathers, those who govern and guide you by God’s Word.

 

Now, could there ever be a proper time to resist an authority? Yes, and that proper time is when that authority is compelling you to act contrary to God’s Word, since “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). But even when that is the case, we disagree honorably by giving them the respect they deserve as we bear witness by living as God intended.

 

But one area that deserves special attention is when Luther says: “impress this truth upon the young that they should think of their parents as standing in God’s place.” This is about the parent-child relationship. So, not only are children to honor and treasure their parents, but parents are to take responsibility for their children. 

 

Being a parent is an office given by God. This means that parents are to faithfully carry out the duties of that office. This means providing for your children, putting your children’s needs before your own desires. This means training your children in God’s Word, to the praise and honor of God. This means teaching the Scriptures and the Catechism. This means coming to the Divine Service regularly. 

 

Parents are the greatest influence on children. Family and friends, television shows, even pastors don’t come even close. The greatest influence upon children are always the parents – for good or for bad. So by one parent choosing to stay home, while the other parent brings their child to church is influencing their child. On the Last Day, God will not ask how fun the sports camp was, or how great it was sleeping in on that Sunday morning, but He will ask every parent: “How did you bring up your own children to fear, love, and trust in Me?”

 

Just so we don’t despair, God also gives us a gracious promise in this commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). God promises happiness and good days to all who keep this commandment. So, when you honor your parents and other authorities, God blesses you. But when you break this commandment, when you despise any authorities, when you fail in your tasks as parents, turn to the crucified and risen Jesus who was submissive to His earthly parents and to His heavenly Father. Through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, God promises to honor you with forgiveness. And His forgiveness is really the only way to learn and keep this commandment. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

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