"The Fifth Commandment: Protecting Human Life!" Genesis 50:15-21

July 10, 2022
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

The Lutheran Confessions Responsive Reading: Luther’s Small Catechism P: As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household. What is The Fifth Commandment C: You shall not murder. P: What does this mean? C: We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. P: How does this Commandment apply to those who refuse to speak up in defense of human life (Large Catechism)? C: It also applies to anyone who can do his neighbor good, prevent or resist evil, defend, and save his neighbor so that no bodily harm or hurt happen to him—yet does not do this [James 2:15–16].... if you see anyone innocently sentenced to death or in similar distress, and do not save him, although you know ways and means to do so, you have killed him. It will not work for you to make the excuse that you did not provide any help, counsel, or aid to harm him. For you have withheld your love from him and deprived him of the benefit by which his life would have been saved. P: How Does Jesus explain the Fifth Commandment? C: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will have to answer for it in court. Anyone who calls his brother a ‘numbskull’ will have to answer for it before the highest court. Anyone who calls him a ‘fool’ will have to answer for it in hellfire.” (Matthew 5:22 GWN) P: What is the summary of commandments 4-10 (Second Table)? C: ""And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"Mat 22:39

Episode Notes

The Fourth Sunday After Trinity                                           10-July-2022
Sermon Text: Genesis 50:15-21
Sermon Theme: 5th Commandment: Protecting Human Life! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert.

I.N.R.I. Joseph, second in command of Egypt - the world super power of his day, had honored his father Israel. He rescued his father and the rest of his family from the famine bringing them to Egypt to help and support them in every physical need. Joseph cherished his aged father Jacob by providing for him in his old age. He was honored to tend to his dying father. The Lord promised Jacob, Gen 46:4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes." The last service of love for Jacob, when he had breathed his last, would be performed by his beloved son for whom he had mourned for so many years. Joseph would close his dead father’s eyes and bury his body in the hope of its resurrection and the life of the world to come through the Redeemer Christ Jesus.
    Last week we learned from the 4th Commandment to honor our parents. In the Large Catechism Dr. Luther teaches us, 109 Learn, therefore, first, what is the honor towards parents required by this commandment, to wit, that they be held in distinction and esteem above all things, as the most precious treasure on earth. 110 Furthermore, that also in our words we observe modesty toward them, do not accost them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly, but yield to them and be silent, even though they go too far. 111 Thirdly, that we show them such honor also by works, that is, with our body and possessions, that we serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor, and all that not only gladly, but with humility and reverence, as doing it before God. For he who knows how to regard them in his heart will not allow them to suffer want or hunger, but will place them above him and at his side, and will share with them whatever he has and possesses.” Joseph models honoring of father for us. He also shows us how Christians in government serve to defend, protect, and preserve human life.
    Joseph’s wisdom reflects parents who grounded him in the truth and wisdom of God’s Word from infancy. The fourth commandment calls parents to be good stewards of the children entrusted to their care. Dr. Luther teaches, “For [God] He does not wish to have in this office and government knaves and tyrants; nor does He assign to them this honor, that is, power and authority to govern, that they should have themselves worshiped; but they should consider that they are under obligations of obedience to God; and that, first of all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge their office, not only to support and provide for the bodily necessities of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but, most of all, to train them to the honor and praise of God. “ Parents must educate and ground their children in God’s Word and Christ’s doctrine. They cannot shirk off this responsibility to the state. The home is to be a Christian university teaching and grounding all its members in Christ’s Word and living His doctrine in caring for each other. It is dangerous to entrust our children to institutions, devices, or entertainment where God’s Word doesn’t rule. Satan and his culture of death has taken captive many through His lie. The pro death mob rallies that the murderous destruction of a baby in the womb is health care.
    Repent and learn: “ The Fifth Commandment: Protecting Human Life!”
  Joseph’s brothers were afraid. (Genesis 50:15) The saying, “what goes around comes around,” wasn’t invented by us. Satan’s false teaching of karma appeals to our sin bound human reason. It seems reasonable that you get what you deserve. They seek to be proactive. (Gen. 50:16-17) They plead Joseph’s forgiveness for their father’s sake. Joseph weeps, for his brothers do not trust Christ’s love in him.
    (LSB pg. 321 5th Cmdt.W.D.T.M?) The Lord God protects human life. The Lord our God decrees to Noah after the flood, Gen 9:5-6 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. (6) "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” Human life isn’t an accident of evolution, nor is it a disease to be eradicated through abortion, euthanasia, or slaughter. (LSB pg. 322 1st Art. W.D.T.M? 1st para.) God made you. Knit you together in your mother’s womb. Your body is not your own - He gives you both body and soul. You are not one or the other - you are a body and soul person - called to be male or female from the moment of conception as the Lord God has written it in your chromosomes - it is the reality of being His creation - His creature - His child. Your ability to think, all your senses are His gifts to you. We cannot but sing with David, Psa 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
      Satan, the fallen angel, despises God’s creation of human beings in His image - for we are body and spirit creatures knit together as one whole being. This is why Jesus calls Satan a murderer from the beginning for he seeks to destroy human life in this world and forever in the torments of hell. Satan lies that our bodies hold us back from real life. Sadly many believe the lie - destroy their bodies in their pursuit of the lie of happiness. Satan convinced Cain to surrender to his hatred of his brother Abel, until he justified murdering him in the name of his self-chosen false worship.
        The Spirit of Truth rightly teaches us, 1Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.” Christians confess this truth boldly in these dark days and in this culture of death. Defend human life from the moment of conception to natural death. (LSB pg. 321 5th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?)
    The Lord God orders these commandments. The fifth commandment doesn’t bind parents or governments from punishing evil doers. In fact as we heard from Genesis 9, the Lord God commands that those who take an innocent human life are to be pushed by the forfeit of their lives. The Lord God exercises the sword through lawful government punishing murders with capital punishment and by waging just wars. Christians serving as soldiers on the battlefield are not murdering, but killing under God’s authority through the government. Still talk to any combat veteran the taking of another human life is costly on their psyche.
    The fifth commandment now takes us out into the world among other body/soul creatures of God. We are to fear God’s creation of all human life. He has a purpose for every human life He creates in a mother’s womb. None is an accident or a mistake. He even has a purpose for those born with disabilities. The disciples asked Jesus about a man who was born blind - Joh 9:2-3 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” Those born with disabilities call us to exercise our Christian faith in loving care. Loving Christ who loved us by taking our human flesh into His Godhead, suffering for our sin, dying the death we deserved, and rising to life eternal - we are freed to love one another. To be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful to us.
    We are not to hurt or harm or neighbor in his body. Joseph’s brothers hated him, embittering his life, they sold him into slavery. Lying to Jacob by handing him the bloodstained robe of many colors - they embittered their father’s life with sadness. A sadness that parents who have buried a child know all too well. Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of unwanted sexual advances - Joseph’s life was embittered in prison for nearly two decades of his life. Joseph and his father had been hurt and harmed in their bodies by hatred and lies. Beware of Satan using your lips to embitter the lives of others. Daily drown your old sinful self-righteous adam in your baptism. Daily clothe yourself with Christ. Live fully human in Jesus alone. Eph 4:25-27 Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another. (26) "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, (27) nor give place to the devil.
      Fear and love God. Repent of your sin. Confess the murderer within - He is faithful to His promise to save sinners. He is just and shoulders your punishment to Calvary. He who took the place of murderous Barabbas has taken your place and punishment also into His flesh - that He might heal you through His stripes. With the heart of Jesus - Joseph forgave his brothers. (Gen. 50:18-21) His brothers cower before him. Joseph will not take the place of God the Creator and Upholder of Life. He forgives - His brothers meant him evil, but the Author of Life was at work behind the scene - turning their evil for good - to preserve many human lives during the seven years of famine. Joseph promises to provide for them. Then we are told he comforts them speaking kindly to them. (LSB pg. 321 5th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?)
      Fearing and loving God who has created us by His Word within our mother’s wombs, redeemed us through the flesh and blood of our Brother Christ Jesus, and sanctified our bodies to be His temple - His home - by His Holy Spirit. We are freed from the prison of self, to help and support our neighbor in every physical need. Christianity gave rise to hospitals, orphanages, rest homes, and schools - why because they followed Christ’s command to care for every human being body and soul. Romans would discard unwanted female babies, or those born with deformities by the side of the roads to be eaten by dogs. Christians took these children into their homes raising them as their own. Cherish the sacredness of human life in these bodies - care for one another. Speak up for those who have no voice and defend their life. Care for the hurting, the sick, the dying. Let yours be the hand of Christ Jesus holding and caring for them within your vocation.
      Joseph was not bitter towards his brothers for selling him into slavery or towards the Egyptians for falsely imprisonment. He forgave and did good to those who had sinned against them. Helping and caring for them through his calling in the government of Egypt. Learn from Jesus through Joseph to live the 5th Commandment in your daily callings. The Lord and Giver of Life teaches, Rom 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. (18) If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (19) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. (20) Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.. Amen.

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