Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use · George Mezger
LESSON 11.
The Close of the Commandments. What does God say of all these Commandments? _He says thus: I, the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them, that love Me and keep My commandments._ What does this mean? _God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath, and not act contrary to them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and willingly do according to His commandments._ 1. Thus says the Lord of all His commandments: _"I, the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God."_ God reminds us that He who has given us His commandments is the _Lord._ He is our Lord, we are His servants. He, as our Lord, has the right to give us His commandments, and we are in duty bound to obey them.--He furthermore reminds us that He is _our God._ Through Christ, our Savior, God has become our God, our Father. A father will give only good gifts to His children. Our heavenly Father means well in giving His commandments. They are to be a blessing to us and will be a blessing, if we rightly use them. We should thank Him for His commandments.--God tells us that He is a _jealous God._ God is not like a weak father who gives his children commands, but does not see to it that his children obey. God is a strict, a very strict father. He watches over His children whether they fulfil His commandments or break them.--And do not forget: Our God is the _almighty_ God. He has the power to do what He says, to carry out His threats and to fulfil His promises. _"There is one Lawgiver_ [this lawgiver is God, who has given us His commandments], _who is able to save and to destroy."_ Jas. 4,12.
2. God is a _jealous_ God. This He shows by _"visiting the iniquity_ [the wickedness] _of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him."_ That means: _"God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments."_ Those who break the commandments of God surely deserve punishment. By breaking the Law of God they sin against Him, they show that they _hate_ God, who has created and preserved them, who gives them life and all they need, who wants to be their Father in Christ, that they may become His children. Instead of loving God, they hate Him, who is the Giver of all they have and enjoy.--What punishment does God threaten those who hate Him? This is what He threatens: _"Cursed be he that confirmeth_ [keeps] _not all the words of this Law to do them."_ God's displeasure, His curse, His anger and wrath, will be upon him that sins. How fearful is it to be cursed by the almighty God!--When God gave Adam the first command, He said: _"In the day that thou eatest thereof_ [of the tree] _thou shalt surely die."_ Gen. 2,17. God threatens _death_ to every sinner. _"The soul that sinneth, it shall die."_ Ezek. 18,20. _"The wages of sin is death,"_ God tells us in His Word. Rom. 6,23. And after death eternal damnation awaits the sinner. _Verily, we should fear God's wrath and terrible punishment and not act contrary to His commandments._ We should daily pray our heavenly Father for grace to help us shun and flee all sins, even every evil thought that would bring God's wrath and punishment upon us. Daily we will go to Christ, our only Savior, who has redeemed us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil.
3. Our God is a _merciful_ God. This He proves _"by showing mercy unto thousands that love Him and keep His commandments."_ God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments, but He also _"promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments."_ Our God is a gracious and loving God. He promises to reward those who keep His commandments. It is true, we do not deserve any reward, even if we fulfil His Law and live according to His will. It is our duty to do so. But so kind and loving is He to His children that He will reward them if they do what they owe Him.--What does our God promise us? He promises _grace and every blessing._ The grace of God will be upon us when in love of God we try to keep His commandments. He will be well pleased with us, His children. What a great thing it is to be assured of God's grace and good will! Who can harm us when the Lord is with us? He furthermore promises _every blessing_ to those who keep His commandments. God will bless His obedient children here on earth, in this life, but far more will He bless them in the life to come with eternal salvation. In heaven we shall see Him, our Father and Savior. _Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly do according to His commandments._
4. The Ten Commandments teach us the _holy will of our God,_ or, as we also call it, _His Law._ Here we learn what as God's children we should do and not do, in order to please Him. Gladly we should learn it. We desire to love Him who has loved us.--We learn also _that we have not kept the Law,_ that we cannot keep it, that we daily transgress the commandments of our Lord. We learn that we are sinners who have deserved death and damnation. This also we should learn willingly, for it teaches us _how much we need a savior._ And then we go to our only Savior, to our Lord, who has fulfilled the Law in our stead. _1. God is our Lord. He has a right to give us His commandments, and it is our duty to obey Him. He is a jealous God, who will see to it that His Law is fulfilled._ _2. God threatens to punish all who hate Him and transgress His commandments. Fear His wrath and do not act contrary to His holy will._ _3. God promises grace and every blessing to all who love Him and keep His commandments. Love and trust Him, and willingly do according to His will._ _There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy._ Jas. 4,12. _Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Law to do them._ Deut. 27,26. _The soul that sinneth, it shall die._ Ezek. 18,20. _The wages of sin is death._ Rom. 6,23. _This do, and thou shalt live._ Luke 10,28.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.