The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Mark 10:17–22
We Are Saved Only By
Jesus
Proper 23B, 14 October 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
For an Elder to Read
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
17As [Jesus] was setting out
on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18And
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit
adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your
father and mother.’” 20And he said to him,
“Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21And
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,
follow me.” 22Disheartened by the
saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
The man went away sorrowful. He thought he had done everything
needed to earn heaven. So, Jesus taught him that gaining heaven by our actions
is impossible by giving something impossible for him to do. So, you think you
can get there by being a good person, huh? Go, sell everything you own and give
away the money. Then, come and follow Me. He couldn’t do it. His money was an
idol to him—an idol that broke the first commandment about having no other
gods. What is most sad is that the man missed the point of the Ten
Commandments. They don’t show us how holy we are. They show us how sinful we
are.
Lutherans
remember the days of memorizing them and their meanings in Confirmation class.
The Gospel Reading appointed for this Day is not intended for us to indulge in
nostalgia, however. “The Holy Ten Commands” have a practical application for
every Christian, every day: Self-Examination and Reflection. The Ten
Commandments preach Repentance; that is, by them God shows us our sin and how
much we need a Savior. The Catechism’s section on Confession urges a
Christian to prepare for Confession & Absolution using the commandments.
“What sins
do I have to confess?” you may be asking yourself. Just wait. Consider your
place in life according to the Ten Commandments.
You may
wish to turn to pages 264 or 321 in Lutheran Service Book.
You shall have no other gods. What
does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
My God is
that which I love, trust and fear most in my life. I [should] expect my
comfort, good and delight from my God. Do I look to God my heavenly Father, for
all love, good and joy? Is everything measured for me by what pleases me? In
all things am I self-centered and selfish? Do I see my worry and fretting as
sin against trusting God? Do I complain about the troubles, people, work and
suffering God lays on me? Do I love the things God gives me more than I love
Him? And do I cling to what God takes away, even though He gives me Himself?
You shall
not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie,
or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and
give thanks.
Do I curse?
Do I use God’s name cheaply for oaths that are frivolous or false? Do I stand
up and swear by God’s Name when it is for the truth of the Gospel or for the
benefit of my neighbor in need? Am I bored and indifferent in prayer? Am I bored
with God’s Word, neglect the study of the Catechism, doctrine and God’s Word?
Is my heart and life in the praise of God in worship? Is my life, marked with
the Name of God in Baptism, characterized by thanksgiving and praise?
You shall
sanctify the holy day / Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. What does
this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching
and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.
Do I strive
to make the day of rest holy? Do I care about holy living? Do I use the Word of
God and prayer to make my time, work, and study life holy day by day? Do I
honor the Word of God highly by studying it gladly, learning it by heart, and
living it? Do I despise the Word of God by neglect, paying no attention to it
when it is read or preached? Do I love my fellow Christians by being present
with them in worship to sustain them? Am I quick to make excuses for neglecting
worship because of what someone else has said or done, or to do other things I
like more? Do I spend time complaining about the worship, the pastor or other
people? Do I learn the Word gladly so that I may teach others?
You shall
honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you and you may
live long upon the earth. What does this mean? We should fear and love
God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them
honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
Has the
fear and love of God shaped my honor and obedience to parents and others in
authority? Have I trusted God to bless me and make my life good when I submit
to the authority of parents and those over me, or have I been angry with them? Have
I been insolent, sullen and disrespectful to my parents, teachers, employers or
other authorities over me? Have I been on good behavior when they are present
and mocking them when they are absent? Have I given honor and respect to the
pastoral office? Have I helped those who carry responsibilities in governing?
Do I pray for parents, leaders of the nations, schools and church? Do I grumble
about work given me to do? Have I helped make it easier for those who carry
responsibilities for governing?
You shall
not [murder]. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we
may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in
every bodily need.
Have I
treated my neighbor’s body and life as gifts of God to him? Have I injured my
neighbor with violent actions, or murdered him with thoughts of anger,
contempt, and hatred? Have I injured my neighbor by ridicule, by neglecting to
feed or clothe him, withholding compassion and comfort from him? Have I avoided
giving help to my neighbor, avoiding involvement with him in his difficulty? Do
I abuse my own body with neglect of health, care, excess use of food, drink,
tobacco, or drugs?
You shall
not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that
we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and
honor his spouse.
Have I
indulged my eyes with longing for my sexual satisfaction from a man or woman
who is not my spouse? Have I had intercourse with a man or woman who is not my
spouse? Have I dishonored my spouse by neglecting to care for the body, mind,
feelings, and needs of the other, withdrawing faithfulness from the spouse?
Have I failed to trust God to bless us in our marriage, even in times of
trouble? Have I neglected to pray for my spouse, to worship together, and to
live in the fear and love of God in times of sexual temptations? Have I given
support of homosexual activity, living together outside of holy matrimony, or
sexual activity outside of marriage?
You shall not
steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not
take our neighbor’s money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing,
but help him to improve and protect his property and business.
Have I been
lazy at work, doing poor work in school or at the job, or working hard only
when the teacher or boss is around? Have I been stingy in paying my workers?
Have I worked for myself rather than for Christ and for the benefit of my
neighbor? Have I cared for the property in the neighborhood, school, or church,
so that it was improved? Have I stolen from the office, school, or the church,
or stood silently by while others took what was not theirs? Have I stolen
information from another’s work? Have I wasted time? Have I been stingy when it
comes to giving the Lord a generous portion as thank-offering for what he has
given me? Have I stolen from my neighbor by not helping him in time of need?
You shall
not bear false witness against your neighbor. What does this mean? We
should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or
defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the
best construction on everything.
Have I told
the truth in court or in school before authorities or before my parents when I
knew the truth? Have I been afraid to bear witness when I knew the truth? Have
I gossiped, delighted to tell others about the faults or mistakes of another,
excusing myself especially by saying that I spoke only the truth? Have I gone
to others to make peace if I wronged them or they me, or to correct them if I
knew of their wrong? Have I flattered others, or put on a front to make them
think of me differently from what is true? Have I found ways gladly and
willingly to explain, in the best possible way, those words or actions of
others that hurt me? Have I defended my neighbor when things said about my
neighbor have made others think badly about him or her? Have I learned to hear
with the weaknesses and faults of others, covering their shame? Have I been
faithful in keeping the secrets of another’s heart entrusted to me in
confidence?
You shall
not covet your neighbor’s house. What does this mean? We should fear and
love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or
house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of
service to him in keeping it.
Have I
longed for the honor, wealth, happy life, or what seemed the ease of the lives
of others? Has my life been full of craving for these things? Have I been
stingy and self-indulgent with my money, trying to keep up with what others
had? Have I tried, by claims of various rights, to make the property of others
my own, saying they do not really deserve it and I do? Do I have to keep
wishing for and dreaming about things I do not have before I can work with a
diligent and glad heart? Have I lived in grudging discontent with whatever God
has given me, restless about what I do not have and neglectful of thankful
generosity with what I do have?
You shall
not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor
his cattle, nor anything that is his. What does this mean? We should
fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our
neighbor’s wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do
their duty.
Have I
wanted my neighbor’s spouse, his workers, or his property to be mine? Have I
tried to win the affections and loyalties of my neighbor’s spouse or children
or friends away from the neighbor to me? Have I urged friends and spouses and
workers to go back to their calling, holding their marriages, friendships,
families, and work together? Have I fostered discontent with the congregation,
its pastor or leaders, and failed to urge members to stay and do their duty in
worship, praying, giving and serving?
What
does God say of all these Commandments? I the LORD your 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
dread His wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. But He promises
grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we
should also love and trust in Him, and gladly do according to His commandments.
God demands
our hearts and minds, not merely our outward actions. Therefore, examine the
heart as well as the life, connecting the fear and love of God with each
commandment. Let the broken heart fear him. God loves, and does not despise,
the sacrifices of the broken heart. Rather, he joins the broken heart to his
mercy for forgiveness and healing, for peace and purity.U
What purposes does the law serve?
There are three. First, the Law helps to control violent outbursts of sins and
keeps order in the world. The Law acts as a curb.
Second, the
Law accuses us and shows us our sin. The Law is a mirror. Self-examination and
reflection, as we have done here today, makes use of the Law as mirror. A
mirror can show you that your hair is messed up, that your face is dirty, or
that you have a zit. The mirror cannot, however, comb you hair, clean your
face, or medicate your pimple. “What sins do I have to confess?” you may have
been asking yourself. Now you know, especially after considering your
place in life according to the Ten Commandments.
Now, the Gospel comes in and
forgives your sins. Your slate is wiped clean. Your sins are washed away. Your
relationship with God is restored by Christ. Confession is always for the sake
of absolution.
And then, you ask yourself, “What is
pleasing to God?” You ask by faith, not in the way of, “Lord, PLEASE forgive me
because of what I’ll do for you,” but instead, “THANK YOU, Lord for forgiving
me my sin.” The Third use of the Law teaches us Christians what we should and
should not do to lead a God-pleasing life. The Law here is a guide. The power
to live according to the Law comes only from the Gospel.
People today think you get to
heaven by being good. Just ask them. We’re not saved by being good. We’re saved
only by Jesus. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus
answered by bringing up the Ten Commandments. The man wrongly thought he had
kept them all. Don’t make his mistake. Use the Commandments to prepare for
confession, receive Jesus’ absolution, and put your faith in Christ, who kept
the Commandments perfectly in your place. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
U(Prepared by
Dr. Kenneth Korby, Zion
Lutheran Church,
St. Paul, Minnesota,
based on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.)
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