The Fourth Commandment Honoring God in His Representatives
Series: The Ten Commandments
July 06, 2025
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
The Third Sunday After Trinity 6-July-2025 Sermon Text: Micah 7:18-20/ The Fourth Commandment Sermon Theme: The Fourth Commandment: Honoring God In His Representatives. I. Fear His Mercy Blessing You With Parents to Honor! (Vs.18) II. Love His Compassion Subduing Your Iniquities Through Obeying Authority (vs.19). III. Trust His Truth Loving and Cherishing Parents and Other Authorities.(vs.20) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
The Third Sunday After Trinity 6-July-2025
Sermon Text: Micah 7:18-20/ The Fourth Commandment
Sermon Theme: The Fourth Commandment: Honoring God In His Representatives. I. Fear His Mercy Blessing You With Parents to Honor! (Vs.18) II. Love His Compassion Subduing Your Iniquities Through Obeying Authority (vs.19). III. Trust His Truth Loving and Cherishing Parents and Other Authorities.(vs.20) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. He was on trial for what he believed, taught, and confessed. The government promised him safe conduct to stand trial in another country and safely to come back to his own. The man’s crime- he preached Christ Jesus crucified for sinners and raised again to declare us sinners reconciled to our heavenly Father by grace through faith alone. He prayed directly to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He appealed to Jesus as his Judge not to the government or religious authorities of his day. He was honest enough to call the church to repent for corrupting the truth of the Gospel and n’t a, a political force, or wield the worldly power of the sword to enrich itself. He labeled the three popes anti-christs. He communed his congregations with both the host and the cup - bread and wine - as Jesus instituted the sacrament. He preached and taught his congregation in their own language and not in Latin.
He was brought to stand before the church and state in Constance, Germany. Immediately the government went back on their promise and had him imprisoned. At his trial he wasn’t allowed to offer a defense. He pleaded to be shown from the Holy Bible where his teaching and practice were in error. Instead the assembled cardinals mocked and silenced him. They had predetermined to condemn him for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember the name of this reformer? July 6th 1415 he was sentenced to die by being burned alive at the stake. History recounts: John Huss, the Bohemian reformer, was burned at the stake in 1415. Before his accusers lit the fire, they placed on his head a crown of paper with painted devils on it. He answered this mockery by saying, “My Lord, Jesus Christ, for my sake, wore a crown of thorns; why should not I then, for His sake, wear this light crown, be it ever so ignominious? Truly I will do it willingly.”
After the wood was stacked up to Huss’ neck, the Duke of Bavaria asked him to renounce his preaching. Trusting completely in God’s Word, Huss replied, “In the truth of the gospel which I preached, I die willingly and joyfully today.” The wood was ignited, and Huss died while singing, “Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, have mercy on me.”
Huss died trusting in the Father’s mercy in His only begotten Son’s cross as the Holy Spirit comforted him. The prophet Micah was one of the Old Testament prophets called to preach to the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. His name means, “Who Is Like Yahweh.” He called the north to repent for their idolatry and perversion. He likewise called the south to repent of idolizing riches, power, and perverting justice for the poor. He preached in the days of Isaiah in Jerusalem, and Hosea in Israel. He warns the people that the “Day of the Lord” “Judgment Day” is coming, they need to repent of their idolatry and lust for money and power. Their only hope is in God’s mercy in the Coming Redeemer - Christ Jesus.
Therefore learn from the prophet’s closing words of hope in Christ Jesus - The Fourth Commandment: Honoring God In His Representatives. I. Fear His Mercy Blessing You With Parents to Honor! (Vs.18) II. Love His Compassion Subduing Your Iniquities Through Obeying Authority (vs.19). III. Trust His Truth Loving and Cherishing Parents and Other Authorities.(vs.20)
I. Today we enter the second table of the Law. On Tuesday of holy week Jesus was teaching in the temple, a lawyer asked Him: Mat 22:36-39 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (37) Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' The first table, or first three commandments, deal with God’s love towards us as He calls us back to Himself by giving us His Name and preaching His Word into our ears - that we may fear, love, and trust in Him from the very core of our being. Seeing our Father through Christ Jesus by His Spirit we cannot but exclaim with Micah. (Vs.18) God is the merciful forgiving restoring Father in the parable of the lost sons that Jesus teaches us in Luke 15. True Fatherhood is found and known only in God the Father through His Son by His Spirit in His written Word - the Holy Bible. (LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?) The fourth commandment stands as a bridge between the first and second table of the Law. The only true God is the God of order. From Him alone all lawful authority flows into the world.
On the sixth 24 hour day of the existence of all matter and life. God created human life ordaining marriage and the family. He blessed the married man and woman to be fruitful and multiply - to bear and raise children within their household. Adam was called to be the head of the household, entrusted with God’s Word to evangelize his wife and their children. The woman was called to stand by Adam’s side under his authority in humble service as Christ Jesus came to serve not to be served. She alone was give the privilege to receive from her husband and bear new life through her womb. God creates all human life through parents - a man and a woman - a father and a mother - according to God’s design hardwired into humanity - through a husband committed for life to the wife God has given him.
God is mercy! He gives us what we have not earned or deserved. We are creatures - we aren’t self-created. We are called to serve God by caring from one another in the family. The estates of Church and the Family existed from the sixth day of creation. They are blessings from God by which we are created and preserved by the hands of our Creator through others - father and mother.
Satan attacked God’s order, authority, and word when he slithered into paradise. He engages the woman instead of Adam to whom God entrusted His Word as preacher. Adam forsakes his office by remaining silent. Satan’s lies that we are self-autonomous creatures and can choose our own way, wisdom, knowledge, and spirituality by ignoring God’s clear Word. Cast our world into sin and disorder. Instead of the promised freedom came shame. Instead of liberty captivity to guilt and the devil ensued. Like the younger son in Jesus’ parable we squandered our heavenly Father’s blessings with wild living - we yearn to eat pig slop - garbage - still we starve.
Fear God’s mercy! He didn’t leave our first parents to go to hell. He humbled Himself and strove into the Garden as the Good Shepherd seeking His lost little lambs. He called them by name to repent and return to Him. He restored their marriage through the promised Jesus. Adam honors his wife as “Eve” “the mother of all living.” In spite of Satan’s plan to bring death, the Lord God still would bless their marriage and family with many children - sons and daughters.
You too were born of your father and mother. Don’t despise or anger them! Learn to view them in the light of God’s Word - they are His instruments to give you life - to nurture and care for you as you grew. (LSB pg. 322 - A.C. 1st Art, W.D.T.M? 1&2nd para.) All that you are and have is a gift from your heavenly Father through the authority He has established in your home - Honor your Father and your Mother.
II. Our foolish fallen reason thinks that we know better than our God. Twice the wise father warns his son in Proverbs: Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. The Fourth commandment teaches you that God doesn’t want you to have your way! He doesn’t want you to die of starvation in the pig sty of our fallen self-deluded world! The Apostle Peter calls you to humble yourself under the loving mighty hand of God. The fallen angel Satan parades in pride bringing mutilation, rebellion, death, and destruction to humanity. Repent from following his rebellious lies! Be honest with yourself - the pig slop of this world never fills your stomach - it only bloats you with starvation. Come Home to your loving Father’s House as His beloved son! Hear Jesus’ promise through Micah(vs.19). He has compassion - His love comes by our side in our struggles to free us from the prison of self. How? (LSB pg.324 3rd Pet. W.D.T.M? etc.)
God’s good and gracious will protects us from the evil of the fallen angel the devil, our fallen rebellious world, and especially our fallen thinking and feeling. He does it through the authority He sets in place still in our fallen world.(LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?)
It is only after the flood that the Lord God gives earthly government the right to bear the sword in His Name. 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.. The Holy Spirit teaches us, Rom 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Civil government is a gift from God. It’s authority flows from God through the home to keep order in this world. Love God’s compassion as He subdues iniquity through lawful order in this world. Note well that the fourth commandment doesn’t supercede the first three commandments. Civil authority cannot rule conscience, demand to be worshiped as God, outlaw calling on God’s Name, or ban gathering together to hear His Word preached and receive His saving gifts in Christ Jesus. If civil authority seeks to usurp this authority we must stand with the apostles confessing: Act 5:29 : "We ought to obey God rather than men.
We are to pray for our parents, our pastor, and our government. They are the hands of God by which He breaks our fallen will. The home has the greatest authority over our lives - we remain children for life. The Church rules us with grace speaking the Word of forgiveness. The State rules with the sword - power to punish those who break the law - for the sake of order in this fallen world.
III. Looking unto Jesus we can trust authority over us is a blessing not a curse. On trial Jesus submitted to Pilate - for his authority to condemn Jesus was from the Father in heaven - it was the only way to save us from our sin. Rejoice that Jesus was obedient to His Father even to the point of dying on the cross that you might be saved! (Vs.20)
Jesus is the Way, The Truth, The Life - He alone reconciles us sinners to God the Father by His Spirit through the gospel preached, poured, spoken, and fed us within His Church. (LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?) Love and cherish your parents - they are God’s hands. Forgiven sinners like you - who in the light of God’s Word did the best to raise you.
Parents rejoice in your calling. Today we thank God for our nation - the freedom of religion - the government has no jurisdiction in your home or our sanctuary. No one will burn you at the stake for speaking the Gospel - evangelize your children. Be like faithful Joseph and Mary teaching Jesus from childhood the Word of God - so as He grew He longed to be in His Father’s House about His Father’s business. He was willing to be obedient to His parents as He grew taller and wiser - our Savior and Brother. He rejoiced to see us welcomed Home by our merciful Father - wrapped in the robe of His righteousness - invited to the feast of forgiveness, life and salvation! Amen.
Sermon Text: Micah 7:18-20/ The Fourth Commandment
Sermon Theme: The Fourth Commandment: Honoring God In His Representatives. I. Fear His Mercy Blessing You With Parents to Honor! (Vs.18) II. Love His Compassion Subduing Your Iniquities Through Obeying Authority (vs.19). III. Trust His Truth Loving and Cherishing Parents and Other Authorities.(vs.20) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. He was on trial for what he believed, taught, and confessed. The government promised him safe conduct to stand trial in another country and safely to come back to his own. The man’s crime- he preached Christ Jesus crucified for sinners and raised again to declare us sinners reconciled to our heavenly Father by grace through faith alone. He prayed directly to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He appealed to Jesus as his Judge not to the government or religious authorities of his day. He was honest enough to call the church to repent for corrupting the truth of the Gospel and n’t a, a political force, or wield the worldly power of the sword to enrich itself. He labeled the three popes anti-christs. He communed his congregations with both the host and the cup - bread and wine - as Jesus instituted the sacrament. He preached and taught his congregation in their own language and not in Latin.
He was brought to stand before the church and state in Constance, Germany. Immediately the government went back on their promise and had him imprisoned. At his trial he wasn’t allowed to offer a defense. He pleaded to be shown from the Holy Bible where his teaching and practice were in error. Instead the assembled cardinals mocked and silenced him. They had predetermined to condemn him for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember the name of this reformer? July 6th 1415 he was sentenced to die by being burned alive at the stake. History recounts: John Huss, the Bohemian reformer, was burned at the stake in 1415. Before his accusers lit the fire, they placed on his head a crown of paper with painted devils on it. He answered this mockery by saying, “My Lord, Jesus Christ, for my sake, wore a crown of thorns; why should not I then, for His sake, wear this light crown, be it ever so ignominious? Truly I will do it willingly.”
After the wood was stacked up to Huss’ neck, the Duke of Bavaria asked him to renounce his preaching. Trusting completely in God’s Word, Huss replied, “In the truth of the gospel which I preached, I die willingly and joyfully today.” The wood was ignited, and Huss died while singing, “Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, have mercy on me.”
Huss died trusting in the Father’s mercy in His only begotten Son’s cross as the Holy Spirit comforted him. The prophet Micah was one of the Old Testament prophets called to preach to the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. His name means, “Who Is Like Yahweh.” He called the north to repent for their idolatry and perversion. He likewise called the south to repent of idolizing riches, power, and perverting justice for the poor. He preached in the days of Isaiah in Jerusalem, and Hosea in Israel. He warns the people that the “Day of the Lord” “Judgment Day” is coming, they need to repent of their idolatry and lust for money and power. Their only hope is in God’s mercy in the Coming Redeemer - Christ Jesus.
Therefore learn from the prophet’s closing words of hope in Christ Jesus - The Fourth Commandment: Honoring God In His Representatives. I. Fear His Mercy Blessing You With Parents to Honor! (Vs.18) II. Love His Compassion Subduing Your Iniquities Through Obeying Authority (vs.19). III. Trust His Truth Loving and Cherishing Parents and Other Authorities.(vs.20)
I. Today we enter the second table of the Law. On Tuesday of holy week Jesus was teaching in the temple, a lawyer asked Him: Mat 22:36-39 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (37) Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' The first table, or first three commandments, deal with God’s love towards us as He calls us back to Himself by giving us His Name and preaching His Word into our ears - that we may fear, love, and trust in Him from the very core of our being. Seeing our Father through Christ Jesus by His Spirit we cannot but exclaim with Micah. (Vs.18) God is the merciful forgiving restoring Father in the parable of the lost sons that Jesus teaches us in Luke 15. True Fatherhood is found and known only in God the Father through His Son by His Spirit in His written Word - the Holy Bible. (LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?) The fourth commandment stands as a bridge between the first and second table of the Law. The only true God is the God of order. From Him alone all lawful authority flows into the world.
On the sixth 24 hour day of the existence of all matter and life. God created human life ordaining marriage and the family. He blessed the married man and woman to be fruitful and multiply - to bear and raise children within their household. Adam was called to be the head of the household, entrusted with God’s Word to evangelize his wife and their children. The woman was called to stand by Adam’s side under his authority in humble service as Christ Jesus came to serve not to be served. She alone was give the privilege to receive from her husband and bear new life through her womb. God creates all human life through parents - a man and a woman - a father and a mother - according to God’s design hardwired into humanity - through a husband committed for life to the wife God has given him.
God is mercy! He gives us what we have not earned or deserved. We are creatures - we aren’t self-created. We are called to serve God by caring from one another in the family. The estates of Church and the Family existed from the sixth day of creation. They are blessings from God by which we are created and preserved by the hands of our Creator through others - father and mother.
Satan attacked God’s order, authority, and word when he slithered into paradise. He engages the woman instead of Adam to whom God entrusted His Word as preacher. Adam forsakes his office by remaining silent. Satan’s lies that we are self-autonomous creatures and can choose our own way, wisdom, knowledge, and spirituality by ignoring God’s clear Word. Cast our world into sin and disorder. Instead of the promised freedom came shame. Instead of liberty captivity to guilt and the devil ensued. Like the younger son in Jesus’ parable we squandered our heavenly Father’s blessings with wild living - we yearn to eat pig slop - garbage - still we starve.
Fear God’s mercy! He didn’t leave our first parents to go to hell. He humbled Himself and strove into the Garden as the Good Shepherd seeking His lost little lambs. He called them by name to repent and return to Him. He restored their marriage through the promised Jesus. Adam honors his wife as “Eve” “the mother of all living.” In spite of Satan’s plan to bring death, the Lord God still would bless their marriage and family with many children - sons and daughters.
You too were born of your father and mother. Don’t despise or anger them! Learn to view them in the light of God’s Word - they are His instruments to give you life - to nurture and care for you as you grew. (LSB pg. 322 - A.C. 1st Art, W.D.T.M? 1&2nd para.) All that you are and have is a gift from your heavenly Father through the authority He has established in your home - Honor your Father and your Mother.
II. Our foolish fallen reason thinks that we know better than our God. Twice the wise father warns his son in Proverbs: Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. The Fourth commandment teaches you that God doesn’t want you to have your way! He doesn’t want you to die of starvation in the pig sty of our fallen self-deluded world! The Apostle Peter calls you to humble yourself under the loving mighty hand of God. The fallen angel Satan parades in pride bringing mutilation, rebellion, death, and destruction to humanity. Repent from following his rebellious lies! Be honest with yourself - the pig slop of this world never fills your stomach - it only bloats you with starvation. Come Home to your loving Father’s House as His beloved son! Hear Jesus’ promise through Micah(vs.19). He has compassion - His love comes by our side in our struggles to free us from the prison of self. How? (LSB pg.324 3rd Pet. W.D.T.M? etc.)
God’s good and gracious will protects us from the evil of the fallen angel the devil, our fallen rebellious world, and especially our fallen thinking and feeling. He does it through the authority He sets in place still in our fallen world.(LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?)
It is only after the flood that the Lord God gives earthly government the right to bear the sword in His Name. 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.. The Holy Spirit teaches us, Rom 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Civil government is a gift from God. It’s authority flows from God through the home to keep order in this world. Love God’s compassion as He subdues iniquity through lawful order in this world. Note well that the fourth commandment doesn’t supercede the first three commandments. Civil authority cannot rule conscience, demand to be worshiped as God, outlaw calling on God’s Name, or ban gathering together to hear His Word preached and receive His saving gifts in Christ Jesus. If civil authority seeks to usurp this authority we must stand with the apostles confessing: Act 5:29 : "We ought to obey God rather than men.
We are to pray for our parents, our pastor, and our government. They are the hands of God by which He breaks our fallen will. The home has the greatest authority over our lives - we remain children for life. The Church rules us with grace speaking the Word of forgiveness. The State rules with the sword - power to punish those who break the law - for the sake of order in this fallen world.
III. Looking unto Jesus we can trust authority over us is a blessing not a curse. On trial Jesus submitted to Pilate - for his authority to condemn Jesus was from the Father in heaven - it was the only way to save us from our sin. Rejoice that Jesus was obedient to His Father even to the point of dying on the cross that you might be saved! (Vs.20)
Jesus is the Way, The Truth, The Life - He alone reconciles us sinners to God the Father by His Spirit through the gospel preached, poured, spoken, and fed us within His Church. (LSB pg. 321, 4th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?) Love and cherish your parents - they are God’s hands. Forgiven sinners like you - who in the light of God’s Word did the best to raise you.
Parents rejoice in your calling. Today we thank God for our nation - the freedom of religion - the government has no jurisdiction in your home or our sanctuary. No one will burn you at the stake for speaking the Gospel - evangelize your children. Be like faithful Joseph and Mary teaching Jesus from childhood the Word of God - so as He grew He longed to be in His Father’s House about His Father’s business. He was willing to be obedient to His parents as He grew taller and wiser - our Savior and Brother. He rejoiced to see us welcomed Home by our merciful Father - wrapped in the robe of His righteousness - invited to the feast of forgiveness, life and salvation! Amen.
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