April 26, 2023

Today's Reading: Luther's Small Catechism, Table of Duties: Fifth Commandment

Daily Lectionary:Exodus 34:29-35:21, Luke 7:36-50

The Fifth Commandment.:  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. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. At first glance this commandment would seem pretty easy to obey. It is not difficult to live your day to day life without having to resort to the act of murder.  Many of the other commandments, particularly the eighth, are much more difficult to keep.  Luther’s teaching on this commandment shows that its meaning goes far beyond the simple prohibition to not murder. In fact, this commandment is not so much about avoiding the act of murder as it is about acting to protect your neighbor from harm and danger. 

In helping to care for your neighbor you become part of the wall that God has erected around them to protect their bodily life.  Much of what we would call acts of mercy are actually fulfillments of the command not to murder. The command not to murder cannot be obeyed passively; it carries with it the expectation that you will act on behalf of your neighbors needs.  

For Luther these actions are the product of meekness. Not the meekness that we might practice before our friends and family but the meekness that is shown to our enemies. The meekness that does not seek revenge. The meekness that prays for those who do evil to us. This kind of meekness can only be the product of faith. The keeping of this commandment does not earn or create faith–it is the product of faith. You can only act on behalf of others because someone has already acted on behalf of you. You can only protect another's life because you have been given life. 

You can only act with this kind of meekness because Jesus became meek for you. While you were still His enemy he acted on your behalf and gave His life on the cross. He did all that was necessary to protect your bodily life. He moved you from death to life and has made you an agent of life not a bringer of death. Your care of  the life of your neighbor has its genesis in the Gospel because that is the source of your life with Christ. It is because He is with you that you can act to protect the life of your neighbor.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

You shall not murder, hurt, nor hate; Your anger dare not dominate. Be kind and patient; help, defend, And treat your foe as your friend. Have mercy, Lord. “These Are the Holy Ten Commands” LSB 581, st 6.

-Pastor Grant A Knepper is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Modesto, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.