The Sunday Sermon

The Ten Commandments Part 3a

By Martin Luther

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy

Exodus 20:8

In the Old Testament, God separated the seventh day, and appointed it for rest, and commanded that it should be regarded as holy above all others. As regards this external observance, this commandment was given to the Jews alone, that they should abstain from toilsome work, and rest, so that both man and beast might recuperate, and not be weakened by unremitting labor. Although they afterwards restricted this too closely, and grossly abused it, so that they traduced and could not endure in Christ those works which they themselves were accustomed to do on that day, as we read in the Gospel just as though the commandment were fulfilled by doing no external [manual] work whatever, which, however, was not the meaning, but, as we shall hear, that they sanctify the holy day or day of rest.

This commandment, therefore, according to its gross sense, does not concern us Christians; for it is altogether an external matter, like other ordinances of the Old Testament, which were attached to particular customs, persons, times, and places, and now have been made free through Christ.

But to grasp a Christian meaning for the simple as to what God requires in this commandment, note that we keep holy days not for the sake of intelligent and learned Christians (for they have no need of it [holy days]), but first of all for bodily causes and necessities, which nature teaches and requires; for the common people, man-servants and maid-servants, who have been attending to their work and trade the whole week, that for a day they may retire in order to rest and be refreshed.

Secondly, and most especially, that on such day of rest (since we can get no other opportunity) freedom and time be taken to attend divine service, so that we come together to hear and treat of God's and then to praise God, to sing and pray. (Psalm 22:25-26; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 33:2; Psalm 69:30; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 107:32;)

However, this, I say, is not so restricted to any time, as with the Jews, that it must be just on this or that day; for in itself no one day is better than another; but this should indeed be done daily; however, since the masses cannot give such attendance, there must be at least one day in the week set apart. But since from of old Sunday [the Lord's Day] has been appointed for this purpose, we also should continue the same, in order that everything be done in harmonious order, and no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation.

Therefore this is the simple meaning of the commandment: since holidays are observed anyhow, such observance should be devoted to hearing God's Word, so that the special function of this day should be the ministry of the Word for the young and the mass of poor people, yet that the resting be not so strictly interpreted as to forbid (Luke 6:7-9; Luke 13:10-15;) any other incidental work that cannot be avoided.

Accordingly, when asked, What is meant by the commandment: Thou shalt sanctify the holy day? answer: To sanctify the holy day is the same as to keep it holy. But what is meant by keeping it holy? Nothing else than to be occupied in holy words, works, and life.(Leviticus 19:2; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 5:27;) For the day needs no sanctification for itself; for in itself it has been created holy [from the beginning of the creation it was sanctified by its Creator].(Genesis 2:2); But God desires it to be holy to you. Therefore it becomes holy or unholy on your account, according as you are occupied on the same with things that are holy or unholy.

The Daily Meditation

1 Corinthians 3:18-21

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seem to be wise in this

world, let him be a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He

catcheth the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord knoweth that the thoughts of the wise be vain.

21 Therefore let no man rejoice in men. For all things are yours.

Related Scriptures

1 Chronicles 16:10, 29;

Job 5:13;

Job 11:11;

Psalm 60:11;

Psalm 94:11;

Psalm 105:3;

Proverbs 3:7;

Proverbs 21:2;

Jeremiah 9:23-24;

2 Corinthians 4:5;

2 Corinthians 10:17;

The Daily Meditation

1 Corinthians 3:9, 16-17

9 For we together are God’s laborers; ye are God’s husbandry, and God’s

building.

16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?

17 If any man destroy the Temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the Temple

of God is holy, which ye are.

Related Scripture

Exodus 3:5;

Ezekiel 36:26-27;

Matthew 23:21;

Mark 16:20;

John 14:10, 17;

Acts 15:4;

Romans 8:9, 11;

1 Corinthians 6:19;

2 Corinthians 6:1, 16;

Ephesians 2:20-22;

Colossians 2:7;

Hebrews 3:3;

1 Peter 2:5;

The Daily Meditation

1 Corinthians 3:3-4

3 For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and
divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For when one saith, I am Paul’s, and another, I am Apollos’, are ye not carnal?

Related Scripture

Proverbs 14:30;
Proverbs 15:18;
Proverbs 16:28;
Proverbs 17:1;
Jeremiah 15:10;
Romans 1:29;
Romans 8:7;
Romans 13:13;
Galatians 5:19-26;
1 Timothy 6:3-5;
Titus 3:3;
James 3:14-18;
James 4:5;

The Daily Meditation

1 Corinthians 2:14, 16

14 But the natural man
perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God, for they are
foolishness unto him;
neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually
discerned
16 For who hath known the
mind of the Lord, that he might
instruct him? But
we have the mind
of Christ

Related Scriptures

Job 15:8;
Isaiah 40:13;
Matthew 16:23;
John 10:11;
John 15:13;
Romans 11:34;
Philippians 2:2-8;
1 John 3:16;

The Daily Meditation

1 Corinthians 2:7-10

7 But we speak the wisdom of God
in a mystery, even the hid wisdom,
which God had determined
before the world, unto our glory.
8 Which none of the princes of
this world hath known; for had they
known it, they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written,
The things which eye hath not seen,
neither ear hath heard,
neither came into man’s heart, are,
which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them
unto us by his Spirit; for the
Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God.

Related Scriptures

1 Chronicles 28:9;
Psalm 7:9;
Proverbs 20:27;
Matthew 11:25;
Matthew 13:11;
Matthew 16:13; 17;
Matthew 27:33-50;
Mark 8:27, 29;
Luke 10:21-24;
Luke 23:34;
Romans 8:27;
2 Corinthians 4:18;
Galatians 1:12;
Ephesians 3:3, 5;
Hebrews 11:1, 7;

The Sunday Sermon

The Ten Commandments Part 2c
By Martin Luther

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain
Exodus 20:7

Therefore I advise and exhort as before that by means of warning and threatening, restraint and punishment, the children be trained betimes to shun falsehood, and especially to avoid the use of God's name in its support.( Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 29:15;) For where they are allowed to do as they please, no good will result, as is even now evident that the world is worse than it has ever been and that there is no government, no obedience, no fidelity, no faith, but only daring, unbridled men, whom no teaching or reproof helps; all of which is God's wrath and punishment for such wanton contempt of this commandment.

On the other hand, they should be constantly urged and incited to honor God's name, and to have it always upon their lips in everything that may happen to them or come to their notice: For that is the true honor of His Name, to look to it and implore it for all consolation, so that (as we have heard above) first the heart by faith gives God the honor due Him, and afterwards the lips by confession. (Proverbs 22:6; Romans 10:8-9; Isaiah 45:23;)

This is also a blessed and useful habit and very effectual against the devil, who is ever about us, and lies in wait to bring us into sin and shame, calamity and trouble,(1 Peter 5:8;) but who is very loath to hear God's name, and cannot remain long where it is uttered and called upon from the heart. And, indeed, many a terrible and shocking calamity would befall us if, by our calling upon His name, God did not preserve us. I have myself tried it, and learned by experience that often sudden great calamity was immediately averted and removed during such invocation. To vex the devil, I say, we should always have this holy name in our mouth, so that he may not be able to injure us as he wishes.(Zechariah 3:8; Jude 1:9; Mark 8:33; Luke 4:8; Mark 1:34;)

For this end it is also of service that we form the habit of daily commending ourselves to God, with soul and body, wife, children, servants, and all that we have, against every need that may occur; whence also the blessing and thanksgiving at meals, and other prayers, morning and evening, have originated and remain in use. This would be more pleasing and acceptable to God than all false sanctity. (Psalm 9:10; Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 27:8; Proverbs 7:15; Mark 1:37;)

Behold, thus we might train our youth in a childlike way and playfully in the fear and honor of God, so that the First and Second Commandments might be well observed and in constant practice. Then some good might take root, spring up and bear fruit, and men grow up whom an entire land might relish and enjoy. Moreover, this would be the true way to bring Up children well as long as they can become trained with kindness and delight. For what must be enforced with rods and blows only will not develop into a good breed and at best they will remain godly under such treatment no longer than while the rod is upon their back.

But this [manner of training] so spreads its roots in the heart that they fear God more than rods and clubs. This I say with such simplicity for the sake of the young, that it may penetrate their minds. For since we are preaching to children, we must also prattle with them. Thus we have prevented the abuse and have taught the right use of the divine name, which should consist not only in words, but also in practices and life, so that we may know that God is well pleased with this and will as richly reward it as He will terribly punish the abuse.