An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 13

Matt. 7:12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

READING.--Cain kills Abel. Gen. 4:1-16.

ILl.u.s.tRATIONS.--_Murder_: Cain; Joab, II Sam. 3:22, 29; Ahab and Jezebel, I Kings 21:1-19; Herod, Matt. 2:16-18. _Hatred_: Joseph's Brethren, Gen. 37. _Suicide_: Saul, I Sam. 31:5; Judas, Matt. 27:5.

_a.s.sisting and Comforting_: The Good Samaritan, Luke, 10:25-37.

CHAPTER X.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.

PURITY. MARRIAGE.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love G.o.d as to be chaste and pure in our words and deeds, each one also loving and honoring his wife or her husband.

This commandment is meant to preserve our personal purity, and to guard the holy estate of marriage. It _forbids_ adultery and all impurity. It _commands_ chast.i.ty and purity in thought, word, and deed.

I. PURITY.

We should be CHASTE AND PURE

_In Heart._ We should keep our heart free from impure thoughts and desires. [Matt. 5:8+, Prov. 4:23+, Ps. 51:10] G.o.d judges us by the state of our heart. [I Sam. 16:7] Unchaste thoughts must not be delighted in nor harbored, but subdued and stamped out. They poison the soul. They are themselves a transgression of this commandment, [Matt. 5:28+] and they lead to further transgressions of it by word and deed.

IN WORDS. We must avoid immodest conversation, unchaste words, vile stories, and shameless jests. [Eph. 5:3-4, Eph. 4:29+] Such things are not smart, as many think, but vile and despicable. We should never take part in nor listen to a conversation which we would be ashamed to have overheard by persons whom we respect.

IN DEEDS. We should carefully avoid every act which would bring the blush of shame to our cheeks if it were known to our parents or others whose opinion we cherish. Our bodies are to be G.o.d's temple, [I Cor.

6:19, 20+] and they dare not be given over to sin and impurity. [Rom.

6:13] We should remember that G.o.d sees even in secret, and knows all our actions. [Ps. 139:1-12]

_Impurity_ of heart and life will not go unpunished. [I Cor. 3:16, 17+, Gal. 5:19-21+] It is often followed by the most dreadful consequences: a ruined body, an enfeebled mind, a poisoned soul, a tortured conscience, public shame, dreadful disease and an untimely death.

_To Keep ourselves Pure_ we should watch and pray, [Matt. 26:41+] avoid idleness, evil company, bad books and papers, indecent songs and pictures, immoral plays, intemperance in eating and drinking, and all that would incite to impurity. We should keep our minds occupied with good thoughts and desires, so that we have no room for evil ones. [Rom.

13:14]

II. MARRIAGE.

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman for life in the bonds of love and faithfulness.

_A Holy Estate_. Marriage was inst.i.tuted by G.o.d in Eden [Gen. 2:13] and was sanctioned by Christ, who performed His first miracle at a wedding.

[John 2:1-11] It is a holy estate. Celibacy is not a holier estate than marriage, as the Roman Catholic Church maintains. [I Tim. 4:1-3]

_Indissoluble_. The marriage tie is binding until one of the married persons dies. [Matt. 19:6+] Except by death, the marriage relation cannot be broken or dissolved without sin against this sixth commandment. [Matt. 5:32+, Matt 19:9] If one party to the marriage is guilty of adultery, the innocent party may obtain a divorce. No other divorces are allowed by Christ.

_An Important Step_. Marriage is a most important step in life. It must not be entered into hastily or thoughtlessly. If a mistake is made in the choice of a partner for life, the mistake can never be remedied.

Those who contemplate such a step should pray for G.o.d's guidance.

Marriage should not be entered upon for money, social advantages, and the like, but for love. Parents should be consulted. While marriage by a civil magistrate is valid, Christians should seek G.o.d's blessing upon their union and be married by His ordained servant. The laws of the State must be carefully obeyed. Marriage between near relatives is forbidden by G.o.d's Word. [Lev. 18] Those who are married should, if possible, be of the same faith. Marriages between Protestants and Roman Catholics are seldom happy.

_Duty of Husband_ [Eph. 5:25+, Col. 3:19] _and Wife._ [Eph. 5:22+, Col.

3:18] EACH SHOULD LOVE AND HONOR HIS WIFE OR HER HUSBAND. The man is the head of the family, but he must not be a tyrant. The wife is not his slave, but his dearest companion. They are no longer two but one, with a common love, a common life, a common property, common children, common hopes and aspirations, and a common Saviour. [I Pet. 3:7, I Pet. 3:1]

They should be patient with one another's faults, just to one another's virtues, and should unselfishly seek one another's happiness. They should live together in mutual love and faithfulness till separated by death. Only when husband and wife continue to love and honor one another can they be happy. The breaking of the marriage covenant is followed by shame and misery.

QUESTIONS.--1. What is this commandment meant to preserve and guard? 2.

What does it forbid and command? 3. What is it to be said about purity of heart? 4. What is to be said about purity in words? 5. What is to be said about purity in deeds? 6. Mention some of the consequences which often follow upon impurity. 7. How may we keep ourselves pure? 8. What is marriage? 9. Why is marriage a holy estate? 10. How long is the marriage tie binding? 11. When only and by whom dare a divorce be obtained? 12. Why must marriage not be entered upon hastily or thoughtlessly? 13. What care should be exercised by those who think of being married? 14. What is the duty of husband and wife?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Matt. 5:8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see G.o.d.

Prov. 4:23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Matt. 5:28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to l.u.s.t after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Eph. 4:29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

I Cor. 6:19, 20. What I know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of G.o.d, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify G.o.d in your body and in your spirit, which are G.o.d's.

I Cor. 3:16, 17. Know ye not that ye are the temple of G.o.d, and that the Spirit of G.o.d dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of G.o.d, him shall G.o.d destroy: for the temple of G.o.d is holy; which temple ye are.

Gal. 5:19-21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which, do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d.

Matt. 26:41, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matt. 19: 6. What therefore G.o.d hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matt. 5:32. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Eph. 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

Eph. 5:22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

READING.--The Creation of Eve, Gen. 2:18-25; or, The Marriage at Cana, John 2:1-11.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

PROPERTY. HONESTY.