Lent Midweek 5 March 24, 2021
Exodus 20:1-2, 5b-6 – The Close of the Commandments
Exodus 20:1-2, 5b-6 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery… 5b for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."
LSC What does God say about all these commandments? He says, “I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)
Finally, dear friends in Christ, we have come to the end of our series on the holy commandments of our God. We have heard time and again what our Father in heaven demands and expects of us—strict and perfect obedience. And though the words of our text are closely joined with the First Commandment, yet they speak to us about God’s promises concerning all His commandments. For all His righteous decrees flow from the First—proper fear, love, and trust in God. Fail to keep this one—and you fail to keep them all. For He will not share with idols the love and honour that we owe to Him. Indeed, we see here that He bluntly promises to punish all those who hate Him—so much so that if the descendants of the haters of God also hate Him then they will be punished for their ancestor’s sins as well.
We can readily get bogged down by the threats and punishments that God promises to those who oppose Him, but we must remember that He speaks so harshly out of love for us—that we might rightly fear His anger and so not act against His commandments. Furthermore, we must not forget a very important distinction that is before us—between the purposes and demands of the Law with the purposes and gifts of the Gospel. For He also graciously promises His constant love and good gifts to those who believe in Him and keep His commandments.
What is important for all of God’s people to realize when looking at the Ten Commandments—or any part of God’s Word—is that there are two great doctrines or teachings in all Holy Scripture—Law and Gospel. These must be carefully distinct from one another that we might better understand what God says to us in His Word. For He gives both words of warning and promises of comfort.
Unfortunately, God’s holy Word is no longer held in high regard by most. The unbelieving world has long disparaged it as unimportant—a book of myth and fantasy at best. However, now, even in the church herself, the Word of God is increasingly mocked, ridiculed, and ignored—or twisted and changed to suit mankind’s own purposes. We have different church bodies advocating sexual immorality, abortion, etc. as perfectly fine and natural, while at the same time forgetting to proclaim Christ Jesus crucified for sinners—the heart and soul of the Gospel itself.
Why? Because the Bible is no longer viewed as authoritative—as the holy, inspired, inerrant Word of God Himself. Therefore, they believe they are free to change its meaning and even its very content to suit their own misguided and perverse notions flowing from their sinful hearts and minds. This is a danger to all Christians because God’s Word is offensive to us. Especially the Commandments. They teach us what we are to do and not do—and we don’t like being told what to do—by anyone—even God Himself! So we try to find wriggle room and loopholes in order that we may continue in our sin and live the way we want to live. So we water down the Law in order to make the Christian life easier
But we forget that without the full force of God’s Law upon our hearts and minds, His Gospel (the sweet Word of Christ sacrificed for the sins of the world) loses its significance and importance for us. So the Gospel gets preached less and less—and Christians’ faith grows weaker and weaker
God demands all our works proceed from a heart that fears and trusts in God alone. From such fear the heart avoids all that is contrary to His will, lest it move Him to wrath. Yet, the heart also trusts in Him alone and from love for Him does all that He wants—for he speaks to us as a friendly father and offers us all grace and every good.
So in this final section that we identify as the Close of the Commandments we find a beautiful summary of the whole counsel of God. For herein we learn of both His Law and His Gospel. His Law, of which the Commandments are a part, always accuses us—indeed, it is the chief purpose and use of the Law—to S.O.S—Show Our Sin. It also serves as a curb against gross sin and as a guide from which flow all good works—but even in those uses—the Law still accuses. For when we honestly examine ourselves in the light of the Word of God’s Law we find that we are lacking—and that we are completely guilty of breaking each and every single one of God’s commandments to us—no matter how hard we try not to. We continually sin and disobey—thereby bringing down God’s just and awful punishment upon our unworthy heads.
Yet the Law is not all God has to say to us. The Bible is not primarily a rulebook for the Christian, or anyone else for that matter, to follow. Indeed, the primary purpose—the most important Word—that God has to say to us is Gospel—Good News—not of ourselves—but of His Son—the promised One who came to take away our sin. For it is true that God takes His commandments seriously and must punish those who disobey Him—but in His grace and mercy He has punished His own beloved Son in our place. This is the heart of the Gospel, which also S.O.S.—Shows Our Saviour—Jesus. That Jesus Christ, though fully God, also took on human flesh and became fully man that by His obedience we might receive the riches of the kingdom of heaven and all the blessings and promises that God has to offer to the thousandth generation of those who love Him.
Yes, it is true that you and I have not loved God rightly. Nor have we properly feared or trusted in Him, leading us to sin greatly and break every commandment of God repeatedly by thought, word, and deed. Yet Jesus has! Jesus has loved, feared, and trusted in God perfectly for us. Jesus has kept each and every commandment of God in its entirety. Jesus has, with His perfect life, earned heaven and peace with God for us. For in innocent blessedness He gave Himself over to the full wrath of God for our sin. On the cross Jesus bore the punishment for your sin, my sin, for the sin of the whole world for all time! He suffered not just physical death, but eternal damnation—not just once—but for each and every sin—for each and every sinner.
That is the Word that we cling to for comfort and hope. That is the Word that brings peace and joy. For the Gospel is the sweetest and best news for those who are guilty before God. It is the only hope that we have when feeling the crushing weight and despair of our sin before a holy and righteous God. Knowing that His love motivated Him to sacrifice His only-begotten Son, so that by His shed blood we might be forgiven for all our sin and given life eternal and salvation.
Beloved, that is what Christianity is all about. It’s not just a set of rules for living a good life. It’s not just about doing this and not doing that—though it rightly includes these things. Yet, even more so, it's about Jesus Christ—God’s only Son—who died in our place on the cross—suffered cruelly and endured the full and mighty wrath of God for our sin—all so that He might earn for us the forgiveness of all our sin and bestow on all those who believe His good gifts of eternal life and salvation. This He accomplished—with utmost distinction. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Exodus 20:1-2, 5b-6 – The Close of the Commandments
Exodus 20:1-2, 5b-6 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery… 5b for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."
LSC What does God say about all these commandments? He says, “I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)
Finally, dear friends in Christ, we have come to the end of our series on the holy commandments of our God. We have heard time and again what our Father in heaven demands and expects of us—strict and perfect obedience. And though the words of our text are closely joined with the First Commandment, yet they speak to us about God’s promises concerning all His commandments. For all His righteous decrees flow from the First—proper fear, love, and trust in God. Fail to keep this one—and you fail to keep them all. For He will not share with idols the love and honour that we owe to Him. Indeed, we see here that He bluntly promises to punish all those who hate Him—so much so that if the descendants of the haters of God also hate Him then they will be punished for their ancestor’s sins as well.
We can readily get bogged down by the threats and punishments that God promises to those who oppose Him, but we must remember that He speaks so harshly out of love for us—that we might rightly fear His anger and so not act against His commandments. Furthermore, we must not forget a very important distinction that is before us—between the purposes and demands of the Law with the purposes and gifts of the Gospel. For He also graciously promises His constant love and good gifts to those who believe in Him and keep His commandments.
What is important for all of God’s people to realize when looking at the Ten Commandments—or any part of God’s Word—is that there are two great doctrines or teachings in all Holy Scripture—Law and Gospel. These must be carefully distinct from one another that we might better understand what God says to us in His Word. For He gives both words of warning and promises of comfort.
Unfortunately, God’s holy Word is no longer held in high regard by most. The unbelieving world has long disparaged it as unimportant—a book of myth and fantasy at best. However, now, even in the church herself, the Word of God is increasingly mocked, ridiculed, and ignored—or twisted and changed to suit mankind’s own purposes. We have different church bodies advocating sexual immorality, abortion, etc. as perfectly fine and natural, while at the same time forgetting to proclaim Christ Jesus crucified for sinners—the heart and soul of the Gospel itself.
Why? Because the Bible is no longer viewed as authoritative—as the holy, inspired, inerrant Word of God Himself. Therefore, they believe they are free to change its meaning and even its very content to suit their own misguided and perverse notions flowing from their sinful hearts and minds. This is a danger to all Christians because God’s Word is offensive to us. Especially the Commandments. They teach us what we are to do and not do—and we don’t like being told what to do—by anyone—even God Himself! So we try to find wriggle room and loopholes in order that we may continue in our sin and live the way we want to live. So we water down the Law in order to make the Christian life easier
But we forget that without the full force of God’s Law upon our hearts and minds, His Gospel (the sweet Word of Christ sacrificed for the sins of the world) loses its significance and importance for us. So the Gospel gets preached less and less—and Christians’ faith grows weaker and weaker
God demands all our works proceed from a heart that fears and trusts in God alone. From such fear the heart avoids all that is contrary to His will, lest it move Him to wrath. Yet, the heart also trusts in Him alone and from love for Him does all that He wants—for he speaks to us as a friendly father and offers us all grace and every good.
So in this final section that we identify as the Close of the Commandments we find a beautiful summary of the whole counsel of God. For herein we learn of both His Law and His Gospel. His Law, of which the Commandments are a part, always accuses us—indeed, it is the chief purpose and use of the Law—to S.O.S—Show Our Sin. It also serves as a curb against gross sin and as a guide from which flow all good works—but even in those uses—the Law still accuses. For when we honestly examine ourselves in the light of the Word of God’s Law we find that we are lacking—and that we are completely guilty of breaking each and every single one of God’s commandments to us—no matter how hard we try not to. We continually sin and disobey—thereby bringing down God’s just and awful punishment upon our unworthy heads.
Yet the Law is not all God has to say to us. The Bible is not primarily a rulebook for the Christian, or anyone else for that matter, to follow. Indeed, the primary purpose—the most important Word—that God has to say to us is Gospel—Good News—not of ourselves—but of His Son—the promised One who came to take away our sin. For it is true that God takes His commandments seriously and must punish those who disobey Him—but in His grace and mercy He has punished His own beloved Son in our place. This is the heart of the Gospel, which also S.O.S.—Shows Our Saviour—Jesus. That Jesus Christ, though fully God, also took on human flesh and became fully man that by His obedience we might receive the riches of the kingdom of heaven and all the blessings and promises that God has to offer to the thousandth generation of those who love Him.
Yes, it is true that you and I have not loved God rightly. Nor have we properly feared or trusted in Him, leading us to sin greatly and break every commandment of God repeatedly by thought, word, and deed. Yet Jesus has! Jesus has loved, feared, and trusted in God perfectly for us. Jesus has kept each and every commandment of God in its entirety. Jesus has, with His perfect life, earned heaven and peace with God for us. For in innocent blessedness He gave Himself over to the full wrath of God for our sin. On the cross Jesus bore the punishment for your sin, my sin, for the sin of the whole world for all time! He suffered not just physical death, but eternal damnation—not just once—but for each and every sin—for each and every sinner.
That is the Word that we cling to for comfort and hope. That is the Word that brings peace and joy. For the Gospel is the sweetest and best news for those who are guilty before God. It is the only hope that we have when feeling the crushing weight and despair of our sin before a holy and righteous God. Knowing that His love motivated Him to sacrifice His only-begotten Son, so that by His shed blood we might be forgiven for all our sin and given life eternal and salvation.
Beloved, that is what Christianity is all about. It’s not just a set of rules for living a good life. It’s not just about doing this and not doing that—though it rightly includes these things. Yet, even more so, it's about Jesus Christ—God’s only Son—who died in our place on the cross—suffered cruelly and endured the full and mighty wrath of God for our sin—all so that He might earn for us the forgiveness of all our sin and bestow on all those who believe His good gifts of eternal life and salvation. This He accomplished—with utmost distinction. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.