The Close of the Commandments

Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions

James 4:12 There is only one…Rom 6:23 The wages…Mt 10:28 Do not be…1 Tim 4:8 Godliness has…

Memorization Verses:

10 Commandments Hangman

I am part of the sinful, fallen world. I deserve….

You graciously and mercifully…

True Lies

LSB 513D|GGAA|Bb.AGG|CCBbBb|A-.1. The clouds of judgment gather,The time is growing late;Be sober and be watchful;Our Judge is at the gate:The Judge Who comes in mercy,The Judge Who comes in mightTo put an end to evilAnd diadem the right.2. Arise, O true disciples,Let wrong give way to right,And penitential shadowTo Jesus’ blessèd light:The light that has no evening,That knows no moon or sun,The light so new and golden,The light that is but one.

3. The home of fadeless splendor,Of blooms that bear no thorn,Where they shall dwell as childrenWho here as exiles mourn;The peace of all the faithful,The calm of all the blest,Inviolate, unfading,Divinest, sweetest, best.4. Oh, happy, holy portion,Relief for all distressed,True vision of true beauty,Refreshment for the blest!Strive now to win that glory;Toil now to gain that light;Send hope ahead to grasp it,Till hope be lost in sight.

Discussion QuoteThe God of the Old Testament is

arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.

Discussion Quote

God is indeed a jealous God

He cannot bear to see

That we had rather not with Him

But with each other play.

Discussion QuoteChrist makes a terrible statement when He says: "The children of this

world are in their generation wiser than the children of light" (Luke 16:8). The world is giving an obvious illustration by the way in which it carefully considers a matter in which it sees its advantage and begrudges no difficulty, no labor. How much difficulty, care, risk, and danger does a prowling thief experience? Neither by day nor by night does he have rest, and yet he loves that sort of life and does not tire of it. Thus a thief, a lover, an adulterer, one and all, lead a laborious life, use all sorts of tricks and schemes, and have an immeasurable amount of trouble before they have discharged their service to the devil. On the other hand, one sees that even the true Christians are idle, disgusted, careless, and lazy in the affairs of God. They do not want to suffer for His sake. Whereas the world goes to such painful expense to go to hell and suffers everything for the sake of the devil, our Lord God must drag and pull Christians by the hair, as it were, before they do what they ought to do.

Closing of the Law: Exegesis I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the

fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

I, Yahweh, am the “God Jealous” (the one God whom you MUST worship exclusively), visiting in my imminent power judgment upon those who teach and develop a culture of hatred towards me, but will visit love/blessing forever for those who love and walk in this covenant (Law/Gospel).

)nq (Quanna): JealousEqn (Naqam): Vengence dqp (Paqad): Visitingbh) (‘ahab): Love

Closing of the Law: JealousyIn God “jealousy” is not a passing or petty

passion. It is more of an action than a feeling. It is an aspect of his very essence. It is his holiness in action against sin, his

hatred of evil (Ps 5), his desire that his glory not be shared with another (Is 42:8).

It is his possessive protectiveness of his own flock, so that no one can pluck them out of his hand.

Closing of the Law: Vengence

Vengence is a word of many meanings. The basic meaning “is come upon, meet, or strike against.”

The verb dqp usually refers to a visit made in an official capacity, for example, to make an inspection, to enroll people on the draft rolls or the tax rolls.

When used of God, this verb, often translated “visit,” refers to occasions when God manifests his presence, either in mercy or in judgment. God is, of course always present and active at every time and place, but the verb dqp refers to a decisive intervention by God to bless or punish

Closing of the Law: Wrath The vigorous and welfare-motivated intervention by the

Royal God, in breaking oppression and delivering His "dependents", by forceful removal of the aggressively treacherous from their lives, and by a re-structured reality, characterized by blessing and peace for the good.

The hope of the abused, the exploited, the victimized, the violated...

"I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land"...

Closing of the Law: LoveGod’s love for His people is not dependant

on the conditional covenant promise who has executed with Israel

Rather, many argue that the best translation of ‘ahab is “mercy,” not necessarily “steadfast love” so as to emphasize the importance of God’s internal character which stems into steadfastness

Ultimately, the full firm, and eternal basis of the law derives meaning within God’s love, mercy, and blessing in salvation (complete gospel)

Closing of the Law: Law/GospelAlways consider gospel before law, unless

you need a bit of humility

Fulfilled in Christ:The Father is jealous for the Son, yet gave him for

us in accordance with His willHe is afflicted under the vengeful wrath of God in

conjunction with his mercy for us.He secures the blessings unto the nth generation

for all mankind generally, and specifically for the elect and to whom he has called, given faith, and produced every kind of good work in them.

Questions: Why does God call himself a jealous God? What does God threaten to do to all who

hate Him and break His commandments? What does God mean when He threatens

to punish the children for the sin of the fathers?

Why does God threaten such punishment?

How does God bless those who love Him and keep His commandments?

Teams: SS: Jealous God M: God’s Threats T: Punishing Generations W: Why punishment? Th: Blessings

The Close of the CommandmentsWhat does God say about all these commandments? He says: 1, the Lord your God,am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third andfourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generationsof those who love Me and keep My commandments." [Ex. 20:5-6]What does this mean?God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we shouldfear His wrath and not do anything against them. But He promises grace and everyblessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love andtrust in Him and gladly do what He commands.

We believe God is holy. He hates sin and insists on strict and perfect obedience; He will not share with idols the love and honor we owe Him; He will punish those who hate Him.

Ps. 5:4-5 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with You the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all who do wrong.

Is. 42:8 I am the Lord; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.

Ezek. 6:9 I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from Me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols.

James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save

and destroy. Pray: O God, so jealous are You of

Your Word that You have allowed it to cost the blood of Your beloved Son. And yet, men smile when they hear it condemned and persecuted. Heavenly Father, Your judgments are right. You are a witness that I have fear and anxiety in my heart that if this sacrilege does not soon end, You will take away Your Word and will send our nation such blindness and so harden it that I shudder to think of it. Lord, heavenly Father, if we cannot help falling into other sins, keep us from turning away from You. Keep us near and in Christ. Amen. (Luther).

SS Why does God call Himself a jealous God?

We believe: God threatens earthly punishment, physical death, and eternal damnation.

Lev. 26:18 If after all this you will not listen to Me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over.

Rom. 6:23 The wages of sin is death.Gal. 3:10 Cursed is everyone who

does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.

Pray: You, O Lord, are a righteous and a jealous God, who did threaten to punish all transgressors of Your commandments even unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate You. But You are

also a gracious and merciful God, who did pardon transgressions and sin, and did promise grace and every blessing to those that love You and keep Your commandments. Grant that I may evermore fear, love, and trust in You, so that my heart may be set to obey Your commandments and I at last be found faithful, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Paul Bente, 1886-1957).

M What does God threaten to do to all who hate Him and break His commandments?

We believe: If the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren also hate God and follow in the evil ways of their parents, then God will during their earthly lives punish them for the sins of their ancestors.

Ezek. 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.

The family of wicked Ahab and Jezebel were destroyed (2 Kings 9:7-8; 10:11).

Israel was led into captivity for its disobedience and wickedness (2 Chron. 36:17-21).

Pray: Lord Jesus, though I am conscious within myself of great sin, yet will I say, “I have not denied You may pardon the infirmity of my flesh. My transgression I confess. My sins I do not deny. If You are willing, You can make me clean. In saying this, the leper obtained his request. Enter not, I pray, into judgment with Your servant. I ask, not that You may judge, but that you may forgive. Amen. (Ambrose of Milan, c. 339-97).

T What does God mean when He threatens to punish the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Him?

We believe God threatens such punishment to make us fear His anger, so that we do not act against His commandments.

Eccl. 12:13-14 Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Matt. 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Pray: My Lord and Savior, here am I, a poor sinner, who ahs deserved nothing but wrath and punishment. But bestow upon me that grace which You have procured for me and promised unto me. Forgive me my sins. Let me be a child of God. Teach me by Your Holy Spirit to walk, though ever so feebly, in the paths of god’s commandments. And be pleased with it according to Your tender mercy, and bless me, and do good unto me, O Jesus! Amen. (C.M. Zorn, 1846-1928).

W Why does God threaten such punishment?

We believe He showers those who believe in Him and their God-fearing descendants with His constant love and good gifts. If you are suffering that does not necessarily mean that God is punishing you (Jn. 9:1-3).

1 Tim. 4:8 Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Bible narrative: God blessed Job for his faithfulness (Job 42:10-17).

Pray: Heed Your people, O Lord, with Your grace, and deliver our souls from the death of sin; so that, being filled with Your mercy, we may be united with the joys of the righteous, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Sarum Breviary, c. 13th c.).

Th How does God bless those who love Him and keep His commandments?

Questions: Why does God call himself a jealous

God? What does God threaten to do to all who

hate Him and break His commandments? What does God mean when He threatens

to punish the children for the sin of the fathers?

Why does God threaten such punishment?

How does God bless those who love Him and keep His commandments?

Answers: SS: God is holy. He hates sin and insists

on strict and perfect obedience; He will not share with idols the love and honor we owe Him; He will punish those who hate Him.

M: God threatens earthly punishment, physical death, and eternal damnation.

T: If the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren also hate God and follow in the evil ways of their parents, then God will during their earthly lives punish them for the sins of their ancestors.

W: believe God threatens such punishment to make us fear His anger, so that we do not act against His commandments.

Th: We believe He showers those who believe in Him and their God-fearing descendants with His constant love and good gifts.

Conclusion

Fulfillment & Purpose of the Law (3 uses)

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