● July 2025 "The Mountain Top Messenger" Newsletter
(please click on above link to open current newsletter)
I'm running a little behind this month, I am writing this on the last day of June, sorry for the delay. I
find it difficult to believe that June is already behind us, we are rapidly approaching mid-summer,
and the days are already starting to get shorter. I thought I would dive straight into this month's
Commandment. This month we are looking at the fifth commandment. As it is written in the Large
Catechism, "You are not to kill". This is the one commandment that everyone says; "Oh that's easy!
I've never killed anyone, I'm good here!". To which I have to say, slow down, not so fast. Let's take
a deeper look. Jesus himself lets us know, there is really far more to this commandment, he tells us
in Matthew chapter five, verses 21 and 22:
"21You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be
liable to judgment.' 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to
judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will
be liable to the hell of fire".
There is definitely more to this commandment than what first appears. Dr. Luther states it this way:
"We must not kill, either by hand, heart, or word, by signs or gestures, or by aiding and abetting. It
forbids anger except, as we have said, to persons who function in God's stead, that is parents and
governing authorities. Anger, reproof, and punishment are the prerogatives of God and his representatives
and are to be meted out to those who transgress this and the other commandments".
Luther goes on the say that the reason we need this commandment is, that as God well knows, the
world is evil, and life is full of misery. Because of that God puts this and other commandments in
place to separate the good and evil. Further, Luther goes on to say that we not only break the commandment
when we do evil, but we also break the commandment when we knowingly fail to prevent or
protect our neighbor from suffering bodily harm or injury. I want you to understand this meaning
goes beyond just the infliction of bodily harm or injury, to include their mental wellbeing, reputation
and relationships.
The world today could really use a refresher lesson on commandment number five. Watch the evening news,
national or local, but in particular the national news. Watch it for the full half an hour, count
up how many times you see individuals or groups of individuals blasting this commandment. On the
national level you will see 85%-90% of the news is pretty much violence and evil, sometimes at the
very end they may have what they call good news. If you watch, what you may be fortunate enough
to see is someone actually following this commandment. People helping people, people watching
out for their neighbor, whether they know them or not, people doing the good things the Lord asks us
to do. Last week in our Epistle reading Paul said this;
"14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians. 5:14)
He also warns the following;
"25But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." (Galatians 5:25)
This fifth commandment is all about what we heard last week, we need to walk in the spirit. Remember
what that is? It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. In our sinful human nature, these things are hard for us, but through the grace of God
and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can do better, not by our will but by His.
It is really quite simple, when you see someone hungry, feed them, when you see someone in need
of clothing, clothe them, when in need of shelter, help. When the opportunity arises, and it will, help
those in need to the best of your ability. And then when one of my favorite pieces of scripture is fulfilled
you will be fulfilled.
Matthew 25:31-40: "31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He
will sit on His glorious throne. 32Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people
one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And He will place the
sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come,
you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a
stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I
was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘'Lord,
when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you in
stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in
prison and visit you?' 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to
one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to Me."
Please my friends, do your best to love your neighbor as yourself and the fifth commandment will be
taken care of.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto
you, the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Pastor Rick
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