Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: John 7:53–8:11
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From the Word: John 7:53–8:11
From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, The Ten Commandments
The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and your mother, (that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.)
The one who is obedient, willing and ready to serve, and cheerfully honors those to whom it is due, knows that he pleases God and will receive joy and happiness in reward. On the other hand, if he will not do so out of love, but despises and resists authority, or rebels, let him know that he will have no favor or blessing. If he hopes to gain a gold coin through his betrayal, he will lose ten times as much elsewhere. He will become quarry of the hangman, perish by war, pestilence, and famine, experience no good in his own children, or suffer injury, injustice, and violence at the hands of his employees, neighbors, or even strangers and tyrants. What we seek and deserve comes back home and repays us.
Pulling It Together: This section of John’s gospel is not in the earliest manuscripts. The story intrigues me, nonetheless. We wonder what Jesus wrote in the dirt. I like to imagine it was the name of a woman each of the accusers had secretly committed adultery with, if only in their lustful thoughts (Matt 5:28). There are two main points to the story. One, all of us are sinners. Two, God forgives our sins for Christ’s sake.
You may not have honored your parents the way you should have. Perhaps you are now paying the price for that dishonor. Confess it and be forgiven, then get on with your life and sin no more. Honor your parents now, if only their memories.
Prayer: Help me to honor my parents, Lord, and everyone else placed in authority over me. Amen.
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Rev. Mark E. Ryman serves as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC. Previously, Pastor Ryman has served other congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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