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The Small Catechism – part 74
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Matthew 5:23–24
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: The greatest need our neighbors have, whether they know it or not, is emotional. We must not cause them any anguish, as it is ongoing, causing stress that mounts on stress, a daily trauma to be withstood. Soon enough, this emotional suffering becomes spiritual in nature. As such, it is a tension that cannot be truly overcome without reconciliation. Because we cannot love God without caring for our neighbor, we must fear, love, and trust God to the degree that we risk personal humiliation by pressing for peace with neighbor and self. Only then can there be concord with both neighbor and God.
Prayer: Give me the courage, Lord, to be at peace with everyone, so much as it depends upon me. 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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