The Large Catechism – part 139
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Revelation 21:9–11
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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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.)
You have everything good here: protection and defense in the Lord, a joyful conscience, and still more, a gracious God who will reward you a hundredfold. If you are devout and obedient, you are a true nobleman. But if you are not, you will have nothing but the wrath and displeasure of God. There will be no peace in your heart, and sooner or later, you will suffer all kinds of trouble and hardship.
Pulling It Together: One must walk in God’s light; you cannot invent your own well lit pathway. God is the way, so we must walk in his truth. Many would spin God’s truth into their own brand of truth. But we are not interested in what amounts to a lie, for that leads to darkness, or is itself darkness. So, we must focus on what God says, and be careful to do that. We must not twist his words and say that for this reason or another we do not need to honor our parents, or for that matter, anyone set above us. We cannot expect God to bless us with peace in the heart and a good conscience, let alone the other good things that come from his hand, if we skew or altogether ignore the commands that establish his blessings. If we are walking in darkness along these lines, we must confess it and walk back into his light.
Prayer: Give me the courage and strength, Lord, to walk in your light. Amen.
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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