“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

With this commandment, the LORD God forbids us to take or desire that which rightfully belongs to another. Thus, we are not to rob, steal or take the property of another by any dishonest means, including fraud, deception, unjust lawsuits, gambling, unrighteous labor or wages, unfair pricing and the like. Instead of seeking dishonest gain, God urges us to work and earn our own property and goods and to share with those in need.

The Bible teaches: “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Eph. 4:28). God also tells us: “You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:35-36).

Psalm 37:21 says: “The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.” Jeremiah 22:13 warns: “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor’s service without wages and gives him nothing for his work….” Expressing these same principles, Leviticus 19:13 says, “You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.” (Cf. Deut. 24:14-15.)

God warns against taking advantage of the poor and lending for personal gain when He says: “If you lend money to any of my people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest” (Ex. 22:25). God even forbids us to be lazy and dependent upon the charity of others when His Word commands: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10).

What does God require of us when He forbids us to steal? He would have us love our neighbor and do all in our power to help him protect and keep his property and business.

We see this from the principle established by this command: “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again” (Ex. 23:4). While it may not be an ox or a donkey, we are to return to our neighbor any property which he has lost and help him to keep what God has given him. Jesus Himself says: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

The Scriptures require us to treat our neighbor in the same way we would want to be treated. Thus, instead of taking away our neighbor’s property and business, we should be of service to him in keeping it.

Finally, instead of seeking to obtain the property of others for ourselves, God would have us share what He has given us and help others in their need. The Bible says, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Heb. 13:16).

Have we kept this commandment as the LORD God requires? Again, we must admit our shortcomings and sins and repent, turning to the LORD God to deal with us in His grace and mercy for Jesus’ sake and imploring His help and strength to amend our ways and live for Him!

When we look in faith to Jesus, and to His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of all, we find pardon, forgiveness and life everlasting!

Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for my selfishness and greed. Forgive me for not loving and caring for others in need. Cleanse my heart and renew my mind that I might live for You and seek to keep Your holy commandments. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79

In these prophetic words, Zacharias the priest, being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke of the ministry of his son, John the Baptist. He would be the prophet of the Highest, going before the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah God Himself in human flesh, to prepare His ways.

And how was John to prepare the people for the coming of their Lord? He was to give them knowledge of salvation “by the remission of their sins.” He was to teach them of God’s mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the innocent sufferings and death of God’s Son, the Dayspring from on high who would visit them. By calling on people to repent of their sins and trust in Messiah Jesus, he would give light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death and guide their feet into the way of peace with the Lord their God.

It is much like the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It is the same message pastors are commanded to preach today: “It behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations…” (Luke 24:46,47).

People today are still sitting in spiritual darkness and the shadow of death. They do not know the LORD God and His mercy in Christ Jesus and are headed for an eternity of suffering and punishment apart from Him and His lovingkindness.

Thus, the ministry of God’s people today, as we prepare for the second coming of the Lord Jesus from heaven, is to give to those around us knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins through faith in Christ Jesus. The church is to call people to repentance and faith in the Messiah and Savior Jesus, God’s own dear Son come into this world to redeem us by suffering and dying upon the cross for all sins and rising again on the third day.

We are to proclaim the law of God that people might see their sinfulness and the error of their ways, and we are to make known the good news of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus that people might trust in Him alone for eternal salvation.

In this way, we too give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and we guide their feet into the way of peace.

O gracious and merciful God, bring us to repent of all our sinful and erring ways and grant to us mercy and forgiveness for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ, that Dayspring from on High who has come to visit and redeem us. And, dear Lord Jesus, move us to give to others, sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins through faith in You and Your innocent sufferings and death in our stead. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-3

Are you ever troubled by doubts concerning your faith? Have you ever doubted that Jesus really is God the Son in human flesh come into this world to save us from sin and everlasting punishment? Or, are you ever troubled by doubts about God’s mercy and forgiveness for you in Jesus Christ? Are my sins really forgiven? Will Christ come and receive me into the eternal joys of heaven?

John the Baptist boldly prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah and Savior by calling upon all to repent of their sinful and self-centered ways and pointing them to Jesus, God’s Son and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Luke 3:1ff.; John 1:29,34).

He was even so bold as to call upon King Herod to repent of his sinful ways, pointing out that he was sinning by having his brother Philip’s wife (Luke 3:19-20; Lev. 18:6,16).

But now, he was watching and hearing of Jesus from a dark prison cell. Jesus had not yet fulfilled those ancient prophecies which spoke of the Messiah judging the wicked and unbelieving world and establishing an everlasting kingdom in which righteousness dwells (cf. Ps. 96:13; 145:13; Dan. 2:44). Though he had been faithful, now he was awaiting his execution and Jesus seemingly was doing nothing about it.

Perhaps this is why John sent two of his disciples to Jesus. Or, perhaps, he was directing his disciples to Jesus for their own sakes. But coming to Jesus with our doubts and fears is a good place to bring them.

“Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” they asked.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Matt. 11:4-6; cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:3ff.; 61:1ff.; 28:16; 8:14f.).

Is Jesus the promised Messiah? Yes, He is the one promised — the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14); the Son of David (Luke 1:30-35; Isa. 9:6-7); the Redeemer of mankind (Gal. 4:4-5).

Why do we go on suffering in this world? Why has He not come to judge the living and the dead and to establish His everlasting kingdom? He “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

And so we see, through the preaching of the Gospel, the spiritually blind seeing their sin and seeing in Christ Jesus their Savior, the spiritually lame walking and living for their God, those with incurable sins cleansed in the blood of Jesus, those who could not hear and understand the Word of God hearing and believing, those dead in their trespasses and sins raised to new life through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Eph. 2:1ff.).

“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true” (Luther’s Small Catechism, Apostles’ Creed, Art. III).

And, when Jesus comes back on the Last Day, we and all believers will “be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity“ (Luther’s Small Catechism, Apostles’ Creed, Art. II).

O gracious and merciful Savior, grant that we not doubt but take comfort in Your gracious working to establish Your kingdom and make us Your own. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:30-35

Who is Jesus? The announcement of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary leaves no doubt. Jesus is Jehovah God in the flesh! He is the “Son of the Highest” and also the promised Son of David who would rule over God’s people forever and ever.

How can this be? The Holy Spirit caused Mary, a virgin, to conceive; the power of the Highest overshadowed her. It is in this way and for this reason that the Holy Child born to her would be called the Son of God. Jesus is Immanuel [God with us] and Jehovah our Savior as His name itself tells us.

It is as Isaiah prophesied some seven hundred years before Christ: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14); and, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 9:6-7).

In the Person of Jesus, and by means of the virgin birth, Jehovah God Himself took on human flesh and blood and became true man and lived among us that He might fulfill the righteous demands of God’s law for us and then bear the full punishment for our sins by going to the cross and suffering and dying in our stead. This Jesus did; and because He is the very Son of God, His innocent sufferings and death are accepted of God the Father as a propitiating sacrifice, full atonement, for the sins of the whole world. Jesus’ resurrection is proof (cf. Rom. 1:3-4; 4:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2).

God sent His Son that we who stand condemned by God’s holy law might flee to Christ Jesus and place our faith and trust in His perfect life in our stead and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of the world. And when we do, God graciously forgives our sins and accepts us as His own dear children for Jesus’ sake (cf. Gal. 4:4-5; 2:16; 3:26ff.; Eph. 1:3ff.; John 3:16; 5:24).

What a miracle for a virgin to conceive and bear a Son! And, what a miracle of grace for God Himself to become true man and go to the cross to redeem you and me and then send His Holy Spirit to bring us to faith and keep us in faith in the Son through the preaching of the Gospel!

O, gracious Father, we thank You for so loving the world that You sent Your only-begotten Son to be born a true man of the Virgin Mary that He might redeem us from sin and death and grant us life everlasting through faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

While we might commonly think of adultery only in the narrowest sense of being unfaithful to the marriage vow by engaging in a sexual relationship outside of marriage, this commandment of the LORD God really applies to all perversions of – all adulterating of – God’s original design and intent for the marriage relationship described for us in Genesis 2.

Thus, a person commits adultery when he or she is unfaithful to the marriage vow and has a sexual relationship outside of marriage; but a person also commits adultery through divorce, evil thoughts, pornography, fornication, sexual immorality, homosexuality, and any other sexual perversion. Even a refusal to fulfill one’s duties in marriage is contrary to God’s intent and design (cf. 1 Cor. 7:1ff.). And, whatever is not in accord with God’s intent and design at creation – the lifelong commitment and union of a man and a woman in marriage – is adultery.

This is why Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). He also says, “Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32; cf. Mark 10:12; Matthew 19:3ff.). The Bible clearly teaches: “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).

When we consider this commandment, we again see our sins and failures to live up to God’s holy intent and design in creation. In fact, our whole culture is in rebellion against God’s will and design for marriage and a sexual union within marriage; and we, as individuals, have also disobeyed and rebelled in our thoughts, desires, words and actions.

Our only hope is in Messiah Jesus, who kept this commandment perfectly in our stead and then bore our full punishment and won our pardon and release when He suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world and rose again on the third day. He calls us to repent of our evil ways and turn unto Him in faith for forgiveness and life everlasting. Only in Him and His blood shed for us upon the cross can we sinners find pardon, forgiveness and peace!

O dearest Jesus, forgive me for my sins in thought, word and deed. Change my heart to be like Yours. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]