Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use · George Mezger
LESSON 7.
The Sixth Commandment. Which is the Sixth Commandment? _Thou shalt not commit adultery._ What does this mean? _We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed, and each love and honor his spouse._ 1. _We should lead a chaste and decent life,_ that is the demand of our God and heavenly Father according to the Sixth Commandment. Our hearts must be chaste to make our lives chaste and decent. Our _hearts_ should be _chaste,_ that is, free from evil lusts, free from unclean and lewd thoughts and desires. When our hearts are chaste and pure, our lives will be decent and modest and clean. The chastity of our hearts will show itself in all the acts of our life. _"Keep thyself pure,"_ says the Word of God. 1 Tim. 5,22. Keep your heart pure and chaste. 2. _We should lead a chaste and decent life in word._ We should refrain from _all filthy words_ that prove our heart to be unclean, from all words, songs, jests, etc., of which we would be ashamed before God, or before parents if they would hear them. We should shun all those jests and verses which boy whispers to boy, or girl to girl, lest decent persons might overhear them. Only such words as are good and clean should pass our lips. Never use a word that you would be ashamed of in the presence of your parents and teachers! Always remember that God is with you, that He will hear every word you utter in secret. _"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good."_ Eph. 4,29.
3. _We should lead a chaste and decent life in deed._ We should shun all acts which are mostly done in secret, all deeds which we would be ashamed of in the presence of God, our parents, or other decent people. We should walk honestly as in the day. Rom. 13,13. We should keep all members of our body clean and pure. _Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost._ 1 Cor. 6,19. How could a child of God use a member of his body for filthy purposes and so defile God's temple, make it impure! We should be modest and decent in our behavior, manners, dress, etc. 4. _What must we do to lead such a chaste and decent life?_ Our hearts, by nature, are unclean and unchaste full of evil desires. We cannot hinder evil lusts from springing up in our hearts at times. But with the help of God we must try, and try earnestly, _to quench them, to put them down,_ lest they gain a place in our hearts. We can do this only _by means of God's Word and prayer._ Think of God's holy commandment, of the will of our heavenly Father according to which we should be pure in heart. God says: _"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."_ Matt. 5,8. Remember that God knows the secret thoughts of your heart, and you will say with Joseph: _"How, then, can I do this great wickedness and, sin against God?"_ Gen. 39,9. The fear and love of God will put down all evil lusts and lewd thoughts. And whenever filthy desires arise and tempt you, pray to God for His help, pray earnestly and fervently: _"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."_ Ps. 51,10.
5. In order to lead a chaste and decent life, _we should, as far as possible, shun all temptations and all places and occasions where such temptations will come upon us._ The world is an unclean place, full of evil lusts. Temptations meet us everywhere. Therefore we must always watch over ourselves. _"Flee youthful lusts,"_ 2 Tim 2,22, as Joseph fled when Potiphar's wife tempted him. We should not go to places where such temptations may be met; we should shun bad company, impure books or pictures, theaters, etc. where indecent talk or pictures may excite evil lusts in us. 6. _When we are alone and idle,_ the devil often comes to tempt us with impure thoughts and desires In order to lead a chaste and decent life, we should avoid idleness and work diligently and faithfully. Find something useful to do in work or innocent play, and Satan will find less time to tempt you with lustful thoughts. But above all, pray to your heavenly Father that He would guard you in all temptations, that you may overcome and obtain the victory. 7. We should fear and love God _that each may love and honor his spouse. Spouse_ is man or wife, persons who live in holy matrimony, as your parents do. _Matrimony_ is instituted by God, and it is His will that husband and wife should love and honor each other, that they should faithfully live together till death parts them. If one is unfaithful to the other, or leaves the other, he or she commits _adultery._
_1. God alone can make your heart chaste and keep it clean from sinful lust. Pray to Him: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."_ Ps. 51,10. _2. When temptation comes near you, when you feel in your heart the sinful lust, remember: God is with me, He sees and hears everything I do, even the innermost thoughts of my heart. "How, them, can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"_ Gen. 39,9. _3. Watch over yourself and keep away from all places where temptation is sure to come. "Flee youthful lusts."_ 2 Tim. 2,22. _Let us walk honestly as in the day._ Rom. 13,13. _Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good._ Eph. 4,29. _Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me._ Ps. 51,10. _Keep thyself pure._ 1 Tim. 5,22. _Flee youthful lusts._ 2 Tim. 2,22.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.