WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.825 --> 00:00:03.525 In the name of our Lord, Jesus. 2 00:00:04.025 --> 00:00:04.525 Amen. 3 00:00:05.525 --> 00:00:06.325 May be seated. 4 00:00:10.125 --> 00:00:15.425 Today we continue our Friday morning series of sermons based on the 5 00:00:15.425 --> 00:00:21.825 catechism and our focus is on the Fourth Commandment and to help us 6 00:00:21.825 --> 00:00:24.325 reflect upon that commandment. 7 00:00:24.525 --> 00:00:29.825 We will reflect upon the reading from John chapter 19, but also a 8 00:00:29.825 --> 00:00:32.925 reading from First Timothy chapter 5 9 00:00:33.725 --> 00:00:39.525 Paul writes, but if a widow has children or grandchildren, these 10 00:00:39.525 --> 00:00:40.125 should learn 11 00:00:40.125 --> 00:00:44.825 first of all, to put their religion into practice by caring for their 12 00:00:44.825 --> 00:00:49.625 own family, and so repaying, their parents and grandparents for this 13 00:00:49.625 --> 00:00:51.125 is pleasing to God. 14 00:00:51.925 --> 00:00:55.925 If anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for his 15 00:00:55.925 --> 00:00:57.225 immediate family. 16 00:00:57.525 --> 00:00:58.525 He has denied 17 00:00:58.525 --> 00:01:01.525 the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 18 00:01:04.125 --> 00:01:05.025 Several years ago 19 00:01:05.025 --> 00:01:09.625 I was teaching confirmation class to some junior high students and I 20 00:01:09.625 --> 00:01:14.725 had one particular student who was a bit of a contrarian in spirit bit 21 00:01:14.725 --> 00:01:20.325 of a rebel. And we were focusing on the Fourth Commandment and 22 00:01:20.325 --> 00:01:26.625 emphasizing obedience to parents and he was pushing back against that. 23 00:01:27.525 --> 00:01:31.025 And he retorted to me saying pastor 24 00:01:31.825 --> 00:01:33.725 it's easy for you to say obey 25 00:01:34.525 --> 00:01:39.425 parents because you don't have to anymore as an adult. 26 00:01:39.925 --> 00:01:42.425 This commandment doesn't apply to you. 27 00:01:44.625 --> 00:01:48.425 And actually, I think that, that attitude is fairly common among many 28 00:01:48.425 --> 00:01:53.925 people that the Fourth Commandment is just for little children under 29 00:01:53.925 --> 00:01:56.425 the custody of their parents. 30 00:01:57.325 --> 00:02:00.625 That's who it applies to, they obey their parents. 31 00:02:02.225 --> 00:02:03.925 But what about adults? 32 00:02:04.125 --> 00:02:09.825 Like me and like you. The vast majority of us gathered here today, are 33 00:02:09.825 --> 00:02:14.125 adults no longer in the custodial care of our parents. 34 00:02:14.625 --> 00:02:18.225 Does the Fourth Commandment still apply to us? 35 00:02:19.825 --> 00:02:24.825 Well, Luther's explanation makes it very clear that yes, it does. 36 00:02:25.525 --> 00:02:31.925 It applies to us in that we continue to respect and honor parents and 37 00:02:31.925 --> 00:02:37.525 others in authority and we are always under authority. 38 00:02:39.525 --> 00:02:44.025 But I would like to focus specifically in a way in which we, as 39 00:02:44.025 --> 00:02:44.825 adults 40 00:02:45.625 --> 00:02:49.225 keep this commandment honor our parents, 41 00:02:50.325 --> 00:02:52.225 as adults. 42 00:02:53.525 --> 00:03:01.825 And that is what Paul gets to here in this text of honoring them in 43 00:03:01.825 --> 00:03:07.225 their time of need. Caring for them in their time of need. 44 00:03:08.925 --> 00:03:14.525 Paul says, if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should 45 00:03:15.025 --> 00:03:15.525 learn 46 00:03:15.525 --> 00:03:19.925 first of all, to put their religion into practice by caring for their 47 00:03:19.925 --> 00:03:21.025 own family. 48 00:03:22.825 --> 00:03:23.525 A widow. 49 00:03:24.525 --> 00:03:28.525 Now in the first century in the Mediterranean World widows were 50 00:03:28.525 --> 00:03:33.825 vulnerable economically, socially, financially certainly. 51 00:03:34.625 --> 00:03:39.525 And so the church would often times step in and care for the destitute 52 00:03:39.525 --> 00:03:41.325 widows in its midst. 53 00:03:41.825 --> 00:03:47.525 That's what Paul is writing about here in this chapter of chapter 5 of 54 00:03:47.525 --> 00:03:48.525 First Timothy. 55 00:03:49.725 --> 00:03:55.025 But Paul instructs, Pastor Timothy that the first responsibility for 56 00:03:55.025 --> 00:04:00.725 caring for elderly widows should be with the children and then the 57 00:04:00.725 --> 00:04:01.825 grandchildren. 58 00:04:03.025 --> 00:04:07.825 And he says that these should put their religion into practice. 59 00:04:08.825 --> 00:04:15.325 First and foremost, by doing this, and by doing that, they are 60 00:04:15.325 --> 00:04:17.125 honoring their parents. 61 00:04:18.925 --> 00:04:22.725 Often times when we think of putting our religion into practice, at 62 00:04:22.725 --> 00:04:29.125 least in the common mindset, it is well you do that on the premises of 63 00:04:29.125 --> 00:04:34.525 the church, you do it by going to a church service to a worship 64 00:04:34.525 --> 00:04:35.225 service. 65 00:04:35.325 --> 00:04:41.525 You do it by activities at the church or being a board member of a 66 00:04:41.525 --> 00:04:42.825 church committee. 67 00:04:43.025 --> 00:04:43.725 So forth. 68 00:04:43.725 --> 00:04:46.825 Now those are putting religion into practice. 69 00:04:48.225 --> 00:04:56.025 But Paul says here that the primary and foremost context for putting 70 00:04:56.025 --> 00:04:59.625 our religion into practice is the home. 71 00:05:01.125 --> 00:05:04.925 In the relationships between children and parents. 72 00:05:06.125 --> 00:05:10.625 And especially for caring for needy parents. 73 00:05:12.725 --> 00:05:15.225 Paul says, this is pleasing to God. 74 00:05:16.525 --> 00:05:22.425 And he says in so doing, you will be repaying your parents. 75 00:05:24.625 --> 00:05:29.925 Those of you who are parents know how much it costs to raise children. 76 00:05:31.325 --> 00:05:35.925 You're paying for their food, their shelter, their clothing, their 77 00:05:35.925 --> 00:05:38.825 education, their Health Care on and on and on. 78 00:05:39.525 --> 00:05:43.025 In fact, the government tells us that on average 79 00:05:43.025 --> 00:05:48.125 it costs about a quarter of a million dollars to raise a typical 80 00:05:48.125 --> 00:05:53.925 American child up to age 18, that doesn't even include College costs. 81 00:05:54.825 --> 00:05:56.025 It is costly. 82 00:05:56.225 --> 00:06:02.625 But then there's also the time and the attention that parents invest 83 00:06:02.625 --> 00:06:05.625 in their children when those children are younger. 84 00:06:07.325 --> 00:06:08.125 Paul says. 85 00:06:10.125 --> 00:06:11.625 At another stage in life 86 00:06:11.625 --> 00:06:14.125 it's time to repay the parents. 87 00:06:15.225 --> 00:06:21.725 When the times are turned, when the parents become dependent needy, 88 00:06:22.425 --> 00:06:25.025 that's when the children step in. 89 00:06:26.925 --> 00:06:29.725 And he has some very, very severe words here. 90 00:06:29.725 --> 00:06:35.125 He says, if anyone doesn't provide for immediate family like this, 91 00:06:35.425 --> 00:06:40.425 he's denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 92 00:06:41.725 --> 00:06:50.125 Strong words of condemnation for those who will neglect this practice 93 00:06:50.125 --> 00:06:52.125 of putting into practice 94 00:06:52.525 --> 00:06:57.725 one's faith, neglect the fourth Commandment in this regard. 95 00:07:00.125 --> 00:07:02.725 Well, I have an elderly 96 00:07:02.725 --> 00:07:03.325 father 97 00:07:03.325 --> 00:07:06.325 I have an elderly father-in-law. 98 00:07:07.425 --> 00:07:11.325 My mother is deceased and just last year 99 00:07:11.825 --> 00:07:18.825 my mother-in-law went to be with the Lord. And my wife and I sometimes 100 00:07:18.825 --> 00:07:25.125 ask did we really give Mom the kind of attention and care that we 101 00:07:25.125 --> 00:07:30.625 should have? Were we there for her, like we should have in there 102 00:07:30.625 --> 00:07:33.225 sometimes are these tinges of guilt? 103 00:07:35.025 --> 00:07:40.325 And I think again, even for my living father, am I doing all that I 104 00:07:40.325 --> 00:07:41.025 should? 105 00:07:42.325 --> 00:07:44.325 And there's a sense that often times 106 00:07:44.325 --> 00:07:46.725 I am not, I'm failing. 107 00:07:47.525 --> 00:07:53.725 And maybe you also share that sense of guilt appropriately for 108 00:07:53.725 --> 00:07:56.625 neglecting this Fourth Commandment. 109 00:07:57.525 --> 00:08:00.025 Do we have to carry that guilt forever? 110 00:08:01.525 --> 00:08:05.025 Well, not for one more day or minute. 111 00:08:06.125 --> 00:08:09.925 Because you can look to the cross 112 00:08:10.925 --> 00:08:16.125 Aad see the one who bore that guilt for you of breaking, every 113 00:08:16.125 --> 00:08:21.525 commandment, including the Fourth Commandment, including as an adult. 114 00:08:22.725 --> 00:08:28.825 And in our reading, from John chapter 19, we saw this scene of Christ 115 00:08:28.825 --> 00:08:30.025 on the cross. 116 00:08:30.425 --> 00:08:32.825 Paying the penalty for our guilt. 117 00:08:32.825 --> 00:08:37.125 Burying it for us in his suffering and death. 118 00:08:37.825 --> 00:08:45.225 That you through repentant Faith may be forgiven relieved, absolved of 119 00:08:45.225 --> 00:08:46.225 that guilt. 120 00:08:48.325 --> 00:08:51.725 But there's more to that scene than simply Christ 121 00:08:51.725 --> 00:08:57.325 taking our guilt for breaking the Commandment. Because not only did 122 00:08:57.325 --> 00:09:02.225 Christ bear the penalty for our sin. 123 00:09:03.525 --> 00:09:10.925 But in his life, and even here in his dying, he kept the law for us. 124 00:09:11.025 --> 00:09:15.925 He kept the Commandments for us, and that includes the Fourth 125 00:09:15.925 --> 00:09:19.725 Commandment. As he hangs from the cross 126 00:09:19.725 --> 00:09:24.225 He looks down at his mother a widow. 127 00:09:25.925 --> 00:09:34.125 And he attends to her needs her care and trusting her to the Beloved 128 00:09:34.125 --> 00:09:34.925 disciple. 129 00:09:35.125 --> 00:09:36.025 Dear woman 130 00:09:36.325 --> 00:09:40.725 here is your son and to the disciple dear son 131 00:09:40.925 --> 00:09:42.825 here is your mother. 132 00:09:44.425 --> 00:09:47.725 He sees to her continued care. 133 00:09:48.425 --> 00:09:51.525 Even as he hangs from the cross dying. 134 00:09:53.025 --> 00:09:59.025 He keeps the law to the very end for you. 135 00:10:00.325 --> 00:10:07.425 And as a result, he imputes his righteousness to you, through faith. 136 00:10:10.025 --> 00:10:12.225 But that imputed righteousness 137 00:10:12.225 --> 00:10:14.625 now, bears fruit. 138 00:10:14.925 --> 00:10:19.325 It's not just his righteousness to you and for you, which it certainly 139 00:10:19.325 --> 00:10:22.725 is, but now it's his righteousness through you. 140 00:10:23.825 --> 00:10:29.325 He empowers you to live, according to God's will God's law, God's 141 00:10:29.325 --> 00:10:33.425 Commandments and that includes the 10th commandment. 142 00:10:34.925 --> 00:10:40.825 So that now, we are motivated to care for our needy ailing parents. 143 00:10:41.925 --> 00:10:45.825 Not only because of the sacrifice that they gave to us. 144 00:10:47.425 --> 00:10:51.325 But because of the sacrifice that God has given to us. 145 00:10:55.925 --> 00:11:00.525 An elderly widow woman no longer could care for herself at her home 146 00:11:00.525 --> 00:11:06.625 and so her daughter took her into the daughters home to care for and 147 00:11:06.625 --> 00:11:13.325 provide for. And one night the daughter, assisted her mother into bed, 148 00:11:13.725 --> 00:11:18.325 helping her, get into her pajamas and then assisting her as she 149 00:11:18.325 --> 00:11:23.625 reclined in the bed and pulled the covers over here. The daughter bent 150 00:11:24.225 --> 00:11:29.625 down and kissed her mother on the forehead and said a prayer for her. 151 00:11:31.325 --> 00:11:35.125 And when the daughter looked at her mother's face, she saw tears 152 00:11:35.125 --> 00:11:37.825 coming down her cheeks. 153 00:11:39.425 --> 00:11:43.025 And the mothers shook her head and said, oh my dear daughter. 154 00:11:44.525 --> 00:11:50.525 I remember the time in which I did that for you when you were a little 155 00:11:50.525 --> 00:11:51.125 girl. 156 00:11:52.725 --> 00:11:54.425 I tuck you in. 157 00:11:54.825 --> 00:11:56.725 I kissed you in bed. 158 00:11:56.825 --> 00:11:59.825 I said your bedtime prayers for you. 159 00:12:00.025 --> 00:12:03.125 And now the role is reversed. 160 00:12:03.125 --> 00:12:06.025 Oh this just shouldn't be. 161 00:12:06.225 --> 00:12:08.225 This isn't the way it should be. 162 00:12:10.925 --> 00:12:12.925 The daughter smiled at her mother 163 00:12:14.625 --> 00:12:16.925 bent down and kissed her on the forehead 164 00:12:16.925 --> 00:12:17.725 once again. 165 00:12:19.225 --> 00:12:20.825 And whispered in her ear. 166 00:12:22.325 --> 00:12:23.625 It's okay, Mom. 167 00:12:24.825 --> 00:12:26.025 We take turns. 168 00:12:27.225 --> 00:12:28.425 We take turns. 169 00:12:33.425 --> 00:12:34.525 We take turns. 170 00:12:36.925 --> 00:12:41.325 Parents care for their children in time of need. 171 00:12:43.125 --> 00:12:49.125 Children honor their parents by caring for them in their time of need. 172 00:12:51.425 --> 00:12:54.625 All because God has cared for us 173 00:12:54.625 --> 00:12:58.625 supremely in our great need. 174 00:13:01.725 --> 00:13:03.725 Through the righteousness of Christ. 175 00:13:05.325 --> 00:13:08.225 We take turns. 176 00:13:11.525 --> 00:13:14.425 The name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.