The Large Catechism – part 80
Scripture Text: Acts 10:43
The worst way to take God’s name in vain, is to say or believe that favor from God is received in one’s own name, his own reputation—in other words, by the merits of what he does.
The Large Catechism – part 79
Scripture Text: John 7:17
Jesus uses the Name in a doubly devout manner. Not only does he teach what his Father sent him to teach, he gives God the credit too. Jesus’ teaching depended on the reputation of the one who sent him.
The Large Catechism – part 78
Scripture Text: Job 7:21
Jesus taught us in the Fifth Petition of his prayer to trust in God for forgiveness of our sins. Human nature reasons that our suffering is caused by God no longer loving us, and that there must be a reason for the loss of his care.
The Large Catechism – part 77
Scripture Text: John 6:63
Why is it that God is so concerned with words, that we speak the truth and use his name, his reputation, with care? Words, true words, create life. They create faith in Christ Jesus, which leads to eternal life.
The Large Catechism – part 76
Scripture Text: Acts 9:31
Fear is a good thing. But we say that we do not want our children growing up, fearing the Lord. We want them to fear hot stoves, bad influences, and other harmful things, but not to fear taking the Lord’s name in vain.
The Large Catechism – part 75
Scripture Text: John 6:40
Everywhere one turns, there are lies and deception. In the modern age, we call it spinning the truth, and thereby, we even lie about lying. People claim to no longer lie, but to simply spin the truth.
The Large Catechism – part 74
Scripture Text: Job 1:20–22
Wickedness exists because people want things their way. They want what belongs to another, or they want but will not work. They want their own will be done, not, “Thy will be done.”
The Large Catechism – part 73
Scripture Text: Judges 18:20
Have you ever noticed in the Old Testament the convention of capitalizing the word “Lord,” or sometimes “God”? These indicate a place where the consonantal name of God, YHWH...
The Large Catechism – part 72
Scripture Text: Acts 8:1–3
Name-calling, threats, imprisonment, and murder are bad enough but when they are done under the cover of religion, these things are contemptible.
The Large Catechism – part 71
Scripture Text: Judges 17:6
Micah stole a great sum of money from his mother, then returned it because he feared her curse. She then dedicated it to the Lord, evidently hoping to amend the curse that ended up being upon her son.