Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions

Scripture Text: Luke 9:20

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From the Word: And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” And answering, Peter said, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20)

From the ConfessionsThe 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.)

Thus far, we have learned the first three commandments, which relate to God. First, we should fear, love, and trust in him with our whole hearts throughout our lives. Second, we must not misuse his holy name as a prop for falsehood or any evil reason, but employ it in the praise of God and for the profit and salvation of our neighbor, as well as ourselves. Thirdly, when at rest on holy days, we should devote ourselves to God’s Word, so that our actions and entire lives are ordered according to it. The other seven follow and relate to our neighbor. The first and greatest is, “Honor your father and your mother.”

Pulling It Together: We have seen what Peter would do if left to his own reason. Religion (Matt 17:4) and abandonment (Luke 22:54-62) are the outcomes. Left to our own judgments, we would do the same. But Peter was saved from himself because he listened to the word of Jesus. Being led by the Spirit, his good confession rooted him again in the will of God instead of in his own reason. We too, must be grounded and ordered by the Word, and by daily trust in God. Our confession, one profession or another, tells us what we believe about God. We will see that through our faith in God and his Christ, we begin to learn an obedient fear, love, and trust of our heavenly Father by first honoring our earthly parents.

Prayer: Bless my parents, Lord, or their memory, in the living of my life for you. Amen.

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The Life of Martin Luther is written in honor of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. This nine-session adult study takes participants through the circumstances and events of the life of Martin Luther as it reflects on the biblical themes underlying the Lutheran Reformation.

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