The Small Catechism – part 42
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Genesis 2:1–3
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Click for a recording of today's lesson.
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism, The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise his Word and the preaching of it, but acknowledge it as holy, and gladly hear and learn it.
Pulling It Together: The Sabbath is a day of rest, a miniature holiday or holyday. This day of rest is to be kept because God not only commanded it, he observed it. This is not a moral commandment like lying and hatred, which concern the inward life, but a commandment concerning the outward life. Yet, the principal of the holyday, or holiday, still applies. It should not be observed in the sense of what one cannot do, as the Pharisees tried to do with Jesus and his disciples (Matthew 12:1–8). Rather, we should focus on what we should do, how we ought to keep the day as holy. Therefore, Christians still keep a day of rest so they have space in a week to assemble for worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.
Prayer: Lord, increase in me a love for the study and preaching of your Word. Amen.
Click here for resources to learn the Ten Commandments.
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Author
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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