The Sixth Commandment.
You shall not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
Answer - We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and
decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse.
Notice how Luther speaks positively when he explains this
commandment. God desires from us to live chase and decent lives in our actions
as well as our words. Specifically, we honor God when we each love and honor
our spouse. Adam, when he first met his wife Eve in the garden said literally,
“she completes me!” “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23) Every time you attend a wedding you witness a
new creation, a new family is being created. “Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
From our LSB hymnal we hear these encouraging words from the
order of service for Holy Matrimony, “In marriage we see a picture of the
communion between Christ and his bride, the Church. Our Lord blessed and
honored marriage with His presence and first miracle at Cana in Galilee. This
estate is also commanded to us by the apostle Paul as good and honorable.
Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but
reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was
instituted by God.”
May the Lord continue to strengthen our marriages and
families as we look to Christ to be the center of our lives.
Most gracious God, we give thanks for the joy and blessings
that You grant to husbands and wives. Assist them always by Your grace that
with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep their marriage
vows, grow in love toward You and for each other, and come at last to the
eternal joys that You have promised, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Holy Matrimony, Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
Collect for those who are married, Lutheran Service Book ©
2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld ©WELS
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