From: "Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Trinity 6 BOC Reading Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:02 PM TRINITY 6 - Jesus speaks in this Gospel lesson against murder, and helps us to understand that when we murder by thought, word and deed, we are acting outside love for the neighbor. From the Large Catechism on the Fifth Commandment: Now this commandment is easy enough, and has been often treated, because we hear it annually in the Gospel of St. Matthew, 5, 21ff, where Christ Himself explains and sums it up, namely, that we must not kill, neither with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor counsel. Therefore it is here forbidden to every one to be angry, except those (as we said) who are in the place of God, that is, parents and the government. For it is proper for God and for every one who is in a divine estate to be angry, to reprove and punish, namely, on account of those very persons who transgress this and the other commandments. 183] But the cause and need of this commandment is that God well knows that the world is evil, and that this life has much unhappiness; therefore He has placed this and the other commandments between the good and the evil. Now, as there are many assaults upon all commandments, so it happens also in this commandment that we must live among many people who do us harm, so that we have cause to be hostile to them. 184] As when your neighbor sees that you have a better house and home [a larger family and more fertile fields], greater possessions and fortune from God than he, he is sulky, envies you, and speaks no good of you. Thus by the devil's incitement you will get many enemies who cannot bear to see you have any good, either bodily or spiritual. When we see such people, our hearts, in turn, would rage and bleed and take vengeance. Then there arise cursing and blows, from which follow finally misery and murder. Here, now, God like a kind father steps in ahead of us, interposes and wishes to have the quarrel settled, that no misfortune come of it, nor one destroy another. And briefly, He would hereby protect, set free, and keep in peace every one against the crime and violence of every one else; and would have this commandment placed as a wall, fortress, and refuge about our neighbor, that we do him no hurt nor harm in his body. All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain. Book of Concord Reading for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn, Pastor Messiah Lutheran Church 2026 22nd Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140 (262) 551-8182 Church (262) 551-9081 Parsonage ICQ: 41323985 TPeperkorn@worldnet.att.net http://www.yahoogroups.com/community/MessiahNews http://messiah-lcms.gatheringspot.com/ HIGHER THINGS: www.higherthings.org E-MAIL: info@higherthings.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +