GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
LUKE 2:19
19 But Mary committed all these things to memory, and she pondered them in her heart.
There are probably many ways of saying that Mary “kept” (KJV) these things. She “treasured them up” (NIV), she “kept them safe” (conservabat, Vulgate). As I have taught Bible Classes and Catechism classes over the past twenty years, I have found “treasured” to be somewhat misunderstood, so I have translated syntereo (συντηρέω) “committed to memory.”
Mary certainly thought about all of this over the years, and discussed it thoroughly with Luke. There are times when advancing age makes certain memories more vivid rather than less. As my wife and I took our two older sons off to college last week, I found myself remembering the details of those days, still so clear in my mind, when they were born. The eyes and voices of the doctors and nurses, the color of the hospital sheets, the song I had the local radio station play for Ben; the darkness and surprising fullness of their newborn hair. Most of all, there was my wife’s quiet strength and her respectful politeness with the physicians compared with the screams and blasphemies being shouted from the next room. Mary’s memories were at least as vivid, if not more so, thirty-five or forty years later when she spoke with Luke.
In doing these things, Mary was keeping the Third Commandment. It can be easy to neglect this commandment by being misled into thinking that going to church every week fulfills the command perfectly, but we know perfectly well that this isn’t the case. Luther summarized it by saying “that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.” Professor Chytraeus (one of Luther’s last students) summarize our obedience in six different points:
I . The hallowing of the Sabbath or the preservation of the ministry of the Gospel. We fall into sin in this regard when we profane the Sabbath through neglect or contempt of the ministry, by observing the Sabbath superstitiously, or by shifting the work of the ministry into the kingdom of this world.
II . The faithfulness of those who minister the Gospel. Pastors and teachers, whatever their titles (professors, ministers, etc.) must recognize their own modest skill in Christian doctrine, and carefully and energetically carry out the duties of their office as faithful dispensers of the mysteries of God, teaching, debating, comforting, and being an example of true devotion. We fall into sin when we fall into faithlessness, thoughtless teaching, failing to communicate the lessons properly, or negligence in office. This includes deserting the ministry because of excessive anxiety or concern over one’s own weakness.
III . The diligence of listeners. This means hearing and learning Bible history and Christian doctrine, and frequent use of the sacraments. We fall into sin here when we become negligent in them or treat the sacraments with contempt or superstition.
IV . Reverence and obedience to ministers. This is in matters which have to do with the ministry, as Jesus said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me” (Luke 10:16). Also, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17). We sin in this respect when we hold our pastors or teachers in contempt or treat them with insolence, and the hypocrisy “which burdens ministry by trickery,” and also when Christians sinfully hold to corrupt doctrine or to traditions that are impious or that do not serve the proclamation of the gospel.
V . Benevolent generosity (giving) which contributes to the preservation of the ministry. This applies to our churches and schools, as well as the synod and its many ministries. Christians sin in this respect when they give support to religious or quasi-religious groups which teach or embrace false doctrine, whether by direct contributions, or by giving to a group with denies the gospel such as the Salvation Army, or by withholding gifts to the church by which it supports its ministry and ministers. Another sin is when people withhold offerings because they dislike something said by their pastor, as if their support of the ministry of the gospel is contingent on the perfection of their shepherd rather than out of thanksgiving for the perfection and sacrifice of their Shepherd.
VI . The devout preservation of the ceremonies (e.g. sacraments, liturgy, hymns, etc.) of the Church. Some of these are mandated in the Scriptures, such as the sacraments and the weekly service (Hebrews 10:25), as well as collecting offerings (1 Cor. 16:2), training and calling pastors and teachers (Titus 1:5-9), using the arts—hymns, songs, artwork, and other means—to teach and comfort (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), and the regular, public reading and teaching of God’s word (Nehemiah 8:1-6, Acts 28:23). Other things may not be commanded in Scripture, but should continue while they have a useful purpose. These include such things as the robes, etc., of the clergy, social and service groups within churches, church constitutions, and the like. Some things are useless or worse, and lead people into superstition and sin such as processions with statues. Other things should not be given up because they serve an excellent purpose, so that if they were to drop away without being replaced, people would fall into confusion and false doctrine. This includes the liturgy which includes both a confession of sins and a confession of faith (creed), Christian funeral services, Christian marriage rites, and the like.
Something further should be said about this commandment, since it is partly ceremonial. As to which day of the week is meant, this was fulfilled by Christ. The ritual of the Sabbath day is no longer commanded, any more than the rituals of the new moons, Passover, Day of Atonement, Pentecost, etc., are commanded any longer. However, the command to remember the Sabbath day, that is, a day set aside for worship and rest, is still in place as part of the Moral Law. “The law concerning the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord, on which the Jews were to rest from all labor, was not changed by any human authority, but was abrogated by the Lord himself (Matt. 12:8; Col. 2:16; Rom. 14:5-6). Neither God nor the apostles appointed Sunday or any other day as the day of rest and worship, but of their own free choice the early Christians met on the first day of the week for worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2).” (Edward Koehler, A Summary of Christian Doctrine, p. 57).
May we always commit to memory, keep, guard, treasure and ponder the holy Word of God.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Archives by Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: http://www.wlchapel.org/worship/daily-devotion/
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota