The Third Commandment
The Second Sunday after Trinity
Wisdom has issued an invitation to the divine feast: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:5–6). This is the call of the Spirit of Christ to believe the Gospel and to receive His saving gifts in the Holy Supper. Many make excuses and reject this invitation, even as the Jews did in the days of Jesus, yet the Master’s house will be filled. The Gospel call therefore goes out to the lowly and despised, into the highways, even to all the Gentiles (Luke 14:15–24). For “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13–22). In Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles are no longer strangers but fellow members of the household of God. The enmity of class and race is put to death through the cross. Having been reconciled in the one Body of Christ, we are enabled to love one another (1 John 3:13–18) as we await the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which will have no end.
Introit: (Psalm 18:1-2a, 27, 30a, 49; antiphon: 18:18b-19)
Pastor: The Lord was my support in the day of my calamity.
Congregation: He also brought me out into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
P: I love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.
C: For You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down.
P: This God—His way is perfect; The word of the Lord proves true.
C: For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing to your name.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, Is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P: The Lord was my support in the day of my calamity.
C: He also brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
Collect of the Day
O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
- Proverbs 9:1-10 +
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. (2) She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. (3) She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, (4) “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, (5) “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. (6) Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (7) Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. (8) Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. (9) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (10) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Gradual: (Psalm 120:1-2)
In my distress I called | to the Lord, *
and he | answered me.
Deliver me, O Lord, from | lying lips, *
from a de- | ceitful tongue.+ 1 John 3:13-18 + (13) Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. (14) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. (15) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (16) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (17) But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (18) Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
The Lutheran Confessions Responsive Reading: The Small Catechism
P: As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
What is The 3rd Commandment?
C: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
P: What does this mean?
C: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word,
but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
P: What is The Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
C: Thy kingdom come.
P: What does this mean?
C: The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer,
but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
P: How does God’s kingdom come?
C: God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.
Verse: (Psalm 7:17)
P: Alleluia. I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
C: and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Alleluia
- Luke 14:15-24 +
(15) When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (16) But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. (17) And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ (18) But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ (19) And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ (20) And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ (21) So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ (22) And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ (23) And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. (24) For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”