| Catechesis Notes for Week — The Fifth and Sixth Commandments—In the Second Table of the Law we see especially the gifts of creation that God wishes to protect and through which He brings many blessings to us. The Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” teaches us that human life is sacred. After the Flood, God instituted capital punishment for murder precisely because man was made in the image of God (Genesis 9:5-7). By the Fifth Commandment, God wishes to protect human life. Inflicting physical harm upon someone, abortion and euthanasia, as well as hatred and grudge-bearing, are all forms of murder forbidden under the Fifth Commandment. The Sixth Commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” teaches us that marriage and sexuality are gifts of God to be used and enjoyed in the way that God created them. According to God’s Word, marriage is only between one man and one woman for life. The physical attributes of being male or female are gifts of God that are to be used for the most intimate expression of love within the one flesh union of marriage and for the procreation of children. All forms of adultery, homosexuality, transgenderism, and divorce are forbidden under the Sixth Commandments. The sanctity of human life and marriage is taught by Jesus in this week’s Bible Verse. The Fifth and Sixth Commandments not only forbid murder and adultery, but they also teach how love is expressed according to these commandments. We are called to “help and be of service to our neighbor in every physical need” and “to lead a sexually pure (chaste) and decent life in what we say and do,” loving the spouse that God has given us in marriage. The Bible Stories for the week correspond to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments. Cain murders his brother Abel because his faith was not in the Lord’s grace but rather centered in his own works and his self-righteous attitude toward them. The Good Samaritan, as a picture of our Lord, loves and cares for the one who is His enemy, thereby fulfilling the Law of love. In Joseph fleeing from adultery, we see the Spirit of Christ that flees from every temptation to indulge the flesh in those things that God has not given. Even though Joseph did the right thing when he ran from Potiphar’s wife, he suffered for it; nevertheless, the Lord was with him and blessed him through his suffering and self-denial. In Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, He rebukes Satan and conquers his temptations with the only weapon any of us have: the Word of God. |
Peace Lutheran Church
Sussex, Wisconsin