The First Table of the Law

Our series on the Small Catechism will now turn to Luther’s explanation of the First Table of the Law, regarding how we are to love God. (Recall that loving God and loving our neighbor constitute “all the law and the prophets”; the first commandments deal with the former and the rest deal with the latter. From THE SMALL CATECHISM:

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean?
We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.
 
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.
 
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
You shall keep the day of rest holy.
What does this mean?

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.

Notice how obeying these flows out of fearing, loving, and trusting God. That is, while these laws do accuse us, they are kept as the fruit of FAITH. As Luther says in the “Large Catechism” (also well worth reading and blogging about!), the first commandment is the key to fulfilling all of the others. To have a God means to have faith, which can either be in the true God or idols. “What is it to have a God?” Luther asks. His answer is brilliant: Who or what do you put your faith in?

Notice too how these explanations go to the heart. Taking God’s name in vain is not just “cussing.” There are so many other ways we misuse the holy name of God. The solution is to use God’s name in the right way, in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Notice also how Luther always gives, in so few words both a negative (what we should not do) and a positive (what we should do).

(I’ll let someone else explain why Luther numbers the commandments in this way, and why he really isn’t leaving out the part about graven images, which is considered part of the First Commandment. Someone, please do that. Thanks.)