The Small Catechism – part 23
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Exodus 20:4
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Click for a recording of today's lesson.
From the Confessions: The Small Catechism, The First Commandment
You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
Pulling It Together: If you knew what God looked like (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12) and made an image of that likeness, would you be able to fear the image? I suppose you could, but it would be irrational to do so. For example, imagine you had been bullied by some kid in elementary school, and forty years later, you saw a photograph of that kid on Facebook. Would you be afraid of the digital photo? While it may bring old feelings to memory, you would not actually fear the photo.
Could you love a statue of God, even if you did know what he looked like? Would you be able to place your total trust in a carving or painting of God? Is worship of representation of God acceptable practice? Of course not; no one goes into a church and worships a stained glass window of the Good Shepherd or of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane.
We are to fear, love and trust the Lord alone. This is faithful worship.
Prayer: Though I have not seen you, Lord, I believe with fear, love, and trust in you alone. 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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