Ash Wednesday - The 4th Commandment

Ash Wednesday

18 February 2015

Wyneken Memorial Lutheran School

4^th Commandment

Honor your Father and your Mother

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is the first day in the season of Lent. We come today with the ashes of repentance and faith. Today is a day we remember our sinfulness and the reason for which Jesus came into this world. Jesus came to make all things new.  At the cross, Jesus took your sins upon Himself. That great exchange – God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cost of His own son! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This year, throughout this special season, we will review the Ten Commandments. We will review the first three commandments at the end, during Holy Week. As we review each commandment, we will see that there were times when God’s people kept the commandment. And other times not.

– The rich man thought more of costly clothes and food than of God. The rich young man loved his possessions more than Christ. 1^{st Commandment.}

– Peter swore that he didn’t know Jesus after His arrest. Herod sword in an unknown and unimportant matter. 2^{nd Commandment.}

^– Jesus gladly heard and learned the Word of God. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Jesus’ mother pondered the Word of God in her heart. 3^{rd Commandment.}

– Abraham rescued Lot from his enemies. David protected the life of Saul. The good Samaritan helped the man who had fallen among thieves.   5^{th Commandment}

^– Herod took his brother’s wife while Joseph refused the advances of Potiphar’s wife. 6^{th Commandment.}

^–      Zacchaeus promised to restore four times what he had taken and gave half his goods to the poor. 7^{th Commandment}

– Jonathan spoke well of David. The people of Capernaum spoke well of the Centurion. 8^{th Commandment}

– Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard. 9^th Commandment.  Absalom estranged the hearts of the people away from his father David. 10^{th Commandment.}

Today, we begin with Commandment number 4. Honor your father and your mother. – Joseph provided for his father. From the cross, Jesus turned His mother over to John and provided for her care. More than half of the seven words from the cross concerned the needs of others.

Commandments 4-10 have to do with how we treat our neighbor. These last seven commandments apply to us in our relationship with our neighbor. Love for God will always show itself in love for our neighbor.  It is fitting that we review the 4^th commandment on Ash Wednesday. Just as God has given us eternal life. We look to those who gave us life. Our Father and our Mother.

The commandment reads, Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

Honor. To honor someone means that we regard him or her, with respect. When we honor someone, we will fulfill an obligation or keep an agreement we have made. Parents owe their children love and care for body and soul.  Children owe their parents love, respect, and obedience.

God is one of order – He exercises His rule over us through those whom He has placed over us. He extends His ruling arm through the following. Our parents, grandparents, our aunts and uncles in the home. Pastors and teachers in church and school. Police, officials, those who represent us in congress, the Governor, and our President through the Government. Ad our boss and all other supervisors when we are at work.

God reminds us to honor our superiors. They are His representatives. However, it one of these demands something, which God forbids, or forbids something, which God demands, we must always obey God.

This commandment follows us all our life. We are always under obligation. I’m 58. My Mom and Dad are 84. I owe them. As long as I’m working, I have an obligation to do my best towards those who are over me. I’m a citizen of my community, state, and nation. I owe respect and service to my country.  We are always under orders to serve and obey. May the Lord direct us to love and to do in a spirit of love, respect, and duty to those He has placed over us.

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Passive Sentences –2%

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Reading level -5.1

Children's talk - The 4th Commandment

The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and mother.

God wants us to be happy to help our parents and obey them.

God also wants us to obey the people who help take care of us when we are at home or at other places.

This is right.

Luke 2:41-52 - Jesus listened to grown ups in charge

When Jesus was 12 years old Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple in Jerusalem. They went with friends and family. Jerusalem was crowed. There were many people there. When it was time to go home Jesus stayed in Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was walking with His friends. That night they could not find Him. They were worried. Jesus was lost. After three days they found Jesus at the Temple. Jesus was listening and asking questions about God. Mary said, “We have been worried about you!” Jesus said, “I had to come to my Father’s house.” Jesus went home with Mary and Joseph. Jesus obeyed them. God blessed Jesus and He grew wise and strong.

“Children obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord” – Colossians 3:20

Dear God,
Thank You for giving me my parents. Help me to always love and obey them as Jesus did. Amen

And Jesus kept on growing in mind and body and God loved him more and more and so did the people who knew him. – Luke 2:52

A New Accurate Translation of the New Testament by Julian Anderson © 1984 Naples, FL Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.