The Small Catechism – part 73
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Psalm 4:4–5
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Click for a recording of today's lesson.
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism, The Fifth Commandment
You shall not kill.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do our neighbors no bodily harm nor cause them any suffering, but help and befriend them in every need.
Pulling It Together: So, are Christians not expected to get angry? Of course, Christians get angry; but they are not supposed to be angry. Followers of Christ do not carry their anger with them day after day, nor are they to act on their anger in a way that wounds another, especially those “of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We should instead, “do good” (ibid.), but this presumes we have put our anger to bed. When we are angered, it is time to go somewhere quiet and meditate on our own hearts, so that we may remember that we too are sinners who annoy and even infuriate people, then turn our anger over to the Lord. We must fear, love, and trust God enough to offer him our rage before it consumes us. When we leave our anger on the pillow, we have sacrificed a private treasure and made a righteous offering.
Prayer: Lord, take my anger and replace it with your peace. Amen.
Click here for resources to learn the Ten Commandments.
Share this post
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.
Click Here For Content Archives