Again today I will be using portions of Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms and the book No Other Name by Pastor Arthur Graf. At the beginning of his chapter on the 3^rd Commandment, Pastor Graf writes: While visiting one of our members, one of our elders remarked, "We have been missing you in church." The member replied, "Yea, but I have to work six days a week. Even at that I can’t make ends meet. Sunday is the only day I have to rest." … recently (when I was) conversing with a woman in the hospital, she explained that she was Baptist. When I inquired whether she attended the 1^st Baptist Church, she replied that on Sundays they always visited relatives in the country. "Oh, you attend church out there," I remarked. "Oh, no," she replied. "By Sunday we are so tired, we just go out there to rest. We need rest much more than church." Unbelievers and some church members have repeated this line so often that they have not only convinced themselves that it’s true, they have almost convinced us.

But what does God say? Let’s read His 3^rd Commandment and Luther’s explanation (on the back of the bulletin). Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What Does This Mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

So God gave His command in the Old Testament. The 7^th day, Saturday, was to be a Sabbath – a time of rest or ceasing from work. It was to be a reminder that He was Creator – in 6 days making all things and on the 7^th day ceasing from His creating work. Almighty God was not tired and did not need rest for Himself, but He knew we humans would need physical rest. In His love, He set a pattern for us.

But the 3^rd Commandment is about more than rest for rest’s sake. The Sabbath Day was to be separate and different from the other days of the week, so that people could remember God as the Creator of all things. This purpose was quickly spoiled by sin. We read in Genesis 2 that God blessed the 7^th day, but until Exodus 20 there is no clear reference to regular rest and worship on the 7^th day.

In the Large Catechism, Luther states that the external observance of this commandment was for the people of Israel alone (BOC p.375.80-82). One Old Testament commentary (Keil-Delitsch) says that no other people around the world regularly had a weekly holy day or day of rest in Old Testament times. (V.1, p.121)

We say that God’s Law was written in all people’s hearts as a CURB or Fence to keep away disorder and danger. This Commandment was in people’s hearts to provide weekly rest and weekly remembrance of God. It seems that this knowledge was nearly wiped out. Yet most people around the world continued to worship some kind of god in some kind of way.

The externals of the 3^rd Commandment – a 7^th day, Saturday, for rest – we see this as part of the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. The ceremonial laws – the specifics of how and when to worship – were for the purpose of pointing forward to the coming Savior. The ceremonial laws were no longer needed once Christ had come. Luther said: According to its literal, outward sense, this commandment does not concern us Christians. It is an entirely external matter, like the other ordinances of the Old Testament connected with particular customs, persons, times, and places, from all of which we are now set free through Christ.(BOC p.376.82) This is about the 7^th day, Saturday, as holy.

The 3^rd Commandment was given to the people of God also as a mirror to show them their sin. This touches the externals – the 7^th day as a day of rest – but , more important, it has to do with the internal meaning of the commandment – true faith and worship of God. It may have been the case in Egypt, and even before that, that the descendants of Abraham were not worshipping God in public groups each week, not setting aside a day of rest dedicated to Him. Certainly after they left Egypt, throughout the rest of the Old Testament we see many times in the history of Israel when God – and the worship of God – was forgotten or twisted. The Temple fell into disrepair, or was filled with worship of false gods. The Northern Kingdom set up altars and idols so their people would not have to travel to Jerusalem in the Southern Kingdom. I imagine there were plenty of Israelites of long ago who gave similar excuses as we heard at the beginning of the sermon today: too tired or too busy to pay attention to God and His Word.

It’s still the same today. This congregation (like most others) on an average Sunday has attendance a little less than half of its Communicant Membership, and far less than half of its total Baptized members. How many excuses have you heard? "It’s my only day off." "We had company and they don’t go to church." "We don’t like the pastor." "We don’t like the hymns." "We are tired of the liturgy." "We have a grudge against some of the people." So many people seem to think they have a good reason to stay away. The only Scriptural reason I know of to stay away from a congregation is that false doctrine is being taught and practiced. Then you should stay away, or at least make every effort to correct the teaching before deciding to separate.

Yet there are other glaring reflections in this spiritual mirror. Remember the Pharisees of Jesus’ day? They seemed convinced that they knew how to keep the Sabbath and that they did it very well. Yet they were more concerned with listening to Jesus to find fault with His teaching instead of learning from it; they were more concerned with strict avoidance of work on the Sabbath than with joy over God’s work of giving healing to people on the Sabbath.

Those of us who are here every week, or nearly every week – sometimes we might see a Pharisee when we look into the mirror of the 3^rd Commandment. Luther says we break this commandment when we "listen to God’s Word as (we) would to any other entertainment, who only from force of habit go to hear preaching and depart again with as little knowledge of the Word at the end of the year as at the beginning." (BOC p.378.96) Or maybe the commandment reminds us of how easily our attention shifts away from God’s Word and focuses on someone’s clothes, or children’s antics, or the meal waiting to be prepared at home, or the job still to be done. Maybe this mirror shows us how often we mouth the words of the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed or the rest of the Liturgy without thinking about their meaning.

The Commandment as a mirror shows us that we cannot keep the Lord’s Day holy, no matter how many times we sit in the pew, or kneel before the altar, or fold our hands in prayer. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.(Rom.3:23) Since we desecrate God’s Holy Day we deserve His eternal anger. But thanks be to God – for the One who did keep the Sabbath perfectly for us:

-Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity and also true man.

-Jesus Christ, the Word who became Flesh for us and for our salvation.

-Jesus Christ, the Word who was the agent of Creation, making all things, including the 7^th day. This same Jesus perfectly devoted Himself to God’s Word and God’s work – a holy life from the cradle to the cross. This same Jesus sanctified the world by His sacrifice on the cross for all our sins, completing that work (like His Father) on the day before the Sabbath. He sanctified the Holy Day by His sacred rest in the tomb. Because of His resurrection on the 1^st day of the week, believers began to celebrate Sunday as a new Lord’s Day – not because it was commanded, but because they wanted to do so!

Now for us Christians, this Commandment serves as a guide, showing how we can offer our thanks to God. Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Again, listen to Dr. Luther: What is meant by keeping it holy? Nothing else than to devote it to holy words, holy works, holy life. … How does this sanctifying take place? … When we occupy ourselves with God’s Word and exercise ourselves in it. … The Word of God is the true holy thing above all holy things. … At whatever time God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or pondered, there the person, the day, and the work are sanctified by it, not on account of the external work but on account of the Word which makes us all saints." (BOC p.376-7 .87 .88 .91 .92)

Listen to how the early Christians were guided. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And Luke in Acts 17:11 commends the new believers at Berea for their eagerness to dig deeper into the Word of God: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

What would Jesus say? Listen to Him: John 5:39 Study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me! Remember His instruction to distracted Martha, as Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching: (Luke 10:41-42) Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her. That’s what Jesus said about setting aside time for the Word of God.

Once more back to Dr. Luther. Remember, then, that you must be concerned not only about hearing the Word but also about learning and retaining it. (BOC p.378.98) And he goes on to talk about those who think they already know enough: Even though you know the Word perfectly and have already mastered everything, still you are daily under the domination of the devil, who neither day nor night relaxes his effort to steal upon you unawares and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against all these commandments. Therefore you must continually keep God’s Word in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears. For where the heart stands idle and the Word is not heard, the devil breaks in and does his damage before we realize it. On the other hand, when we seriously ponder the Word, hear it, and put it to use, such is its power that it never departs without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, new pleasure, and a new spirit of devotion, and it constantly cleanses the heart and its meditations. For these words are not idle or dead, but effective and living. (BOC p.378-9 .100 .101)

The 3^rd Commandment, as a guide for thankful Christians, leads us to hold the Word of God and its preaching sacred – that means we give it top priority in our lives and schedules. As a guide, it leads us to gladly hear, learn, and meditate upon God’s Word in worship and study. As a guide, the commandment leads us to honor and support the preaching and teaching of God’s Word – both by personally being here and by our gifts that support the work of this congregation and all our LCMS cooperative works and missions. This commandment, as a guide, leads us to spread the Word of God in our daily lives – in our conversations at home, at work, at school, wherever we may be. We seek those opportunities to share His Word because we know the blessing we have received through His Word and Sacrament – and we want others to have it, too.

Pastor Graf includes this old story: A young man got to church late – in fact, so late, that as he came in the worshippers were coming out. Somewhat embarrassed he stammered: "Oh, is the sermon over already?" To which one of the elderly ladies responded: "No, son, we now hope to go out and live it." (p.110)

Let’s read again the commandment and its meaning. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What Does This Mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Now may the power of God’s Holy Spirit working through His Holy Word and Sacraments on this Holy Day enable us to go out and thankfully live it! Amen.