Concord Matters from KFUO Radio

There is nothing in a person that can do greater and more extensive good or harm in spiritual health and temporal matters than the tongue. The Christian is called to keep control of his tongue, no matter what kind of opportunity arises to slander a friend or foe. We pray for those in offices needing to call out sins for the sake of good order (judges, police, doctors) and people’s spiritual welfar...

The LORD desires that our neighbor’s honor and good reputation be upheld. Therefore, He gives the 8th commandment so that everyone would be able to stand with integrity before others. Unfortunately, our tongues do not need a training program on how to lie, slander, or hurt the reputation of others. The Old Adam is naturally able to do these things and needs to be put to death by contrition and rep...

The Lord wants people’s possessions to be protected. Not only are we not to take someone’s property, but we are not to cheat our employers, customers, or neighbors. Luther rightly speaks of the world as a “vast, wide sales booth, full of great thieves” and warns us that we are unable to hide our sins from God. This commandment is not a joke, but God’s will. We seek the Lord’s forgiveness by the bl...

Marriage is an institution created by God for the enjoyment of a husband and wife, the raising of children, and the edification of society. After being married for four years, Luther teaches the honor of this commandment and clearly confesses the trauma that occurs when it is broken. May the Lord help us to uplift the union of husband and wife while providing robust, Christ-centered care when this...

The 5th commandment not only forbids taking the life of another human being but also condemns anger and hatred toward our neighbor. God knows that the world is evil and desires to restrain violence before it occurs. This commandment addresses more than sinful actions—it also calls out our failure to help the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46). God desires hands that are full of good works, dependin...

Obedience to the 4th commandment would bring abundant provision for all. Yet, we esteem His Word as if a simple peddler had spoken it. The Lord gives us both fathers by blood and spiritual fathers. Spiritual fathers, that is, pastors, are given the least amount of honor, despite the clear words of Scripture (1 Timothy 5:17-18). The following of this command is dependent upon families faithfully ca...

If we obey the LORD by offering love and service to our parents and others in authority, there will be blessings. However, if we offend the LORD and do not follow His will, there will be anarchy. This honor is to be extended to civil government, where the LORD has placed officials into their respective offices. Although there may not be agreement on the policies these officials establish, we still...

The 4th commandment begins the second table of the law. The first three commandments deal with our relationship with the Triune God, while commandments 4-10 focus our attention on our neighbor. The 4th commandment is the only commandment with a promise. “You shall honor your father and your mother that it may go well with you and that you may live long upon the earth.” We are reminded that the voc...

To make the Sabbath holy is to keep God’s Word at the center of it. Without the Word, all well-intentioned work or observances cannot be holy. God’s Word is the treasure that sanctifies everything, especially God’s people (1 Timothy 4:5, 1 Corinthians 6:11). As we live in the devil’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13-14), we must keep the Sabbath by always having the Word in our hearts, upon our lips, and...

Luther reminds us that people must have a holiday, that is, to “cease from labor.” Yet, while the Sabbath is meant for rest, it is not just rest from work, but rest in Christ. The Sabbath is to be made holy by occupation with holy words, works, and life. This Sabbath is not restricted to a particular day or time but is grounded in Christ who is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Rev. John Ple...

We do not misuse the name of the LORD, rather, we are to pray, praise, and give thanks to His name. This is not only for us, but for the next generation. Each day we are to commend ourselves to Him, that we may live in faith and fend off the devil. “O LORD, help us to glorify Your name in Word and deed, not only for ourselves but for our young people. Lord have mercy. Amen. Rev. Dr. Jason Lane, pr...

The 2nd commandment directs our mouths and tongues toward God. It does not take long to see how the Lord’s name is misused, but the biggest offense is when false preachers offer lies in place of God’s Word. The Christian is called to not only deny such offensive words, but to call upon the LORD in the day of trouble and pray, praise, and give thanks. We pray for our pastors, teachers, and workers,...

God is merciful, even if the world does not see it. Luther highlights the explanation as a reminder that the consequences of following other gods are eternal. Although it may seem that the world is prospering without faith in the Triune God, God is working good for His people according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We are to expect only what God promises to give and know that as the tomb is empty...

A god is whatever we depend on for all good and seek for refuge in distress. One can believe that such good comes from the Triune God, or one could seek it elsewhere. What is your god? Luther warns of mammon, people, skill, power, friendship, and pride. Each of these can easily become a god. However, we know from Scripture that all that is good is from God (Mark 10:18). He is the One who gives us...

Short, concise, teachable, and robust in theology. This is the essence of Martin Luther’s catechisms. Luther was committed to ensuring that the Christian faith was taught in homes, which would then edify the life of the Church in the body of Christ. Every Christian should be able to recite by heart the ten commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer before receiving the Lord’s Supper, along wit...

Martin Luther wrote the Large Catechism for the sake of families teaching the faith in the home and for pastors to faithfully preach the Word. While reading and reciting the small catechism is beneficial to learn the basics of the faith, it is also edifying for as we receive the Holy Spirit by God’s Word, protection against Satan, and following the will of God. Dr. Ryan Macpherson, Academic Dean o...

Our hope is in Christ alone. Any promotion of works for salvation is blasphemy. No matter how impressive the music, smells, bells, or works, no one can find their final comfort in these things. When Luther completed the Smalcald Articles, there were forty-two other confessors of the faith who subscribed to his teachings. We continue to confess the same words because they are in accordance with God...

The Church is simple: believers gathered to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. The holiness of those who gather is fully dependent on the Word by faith in Christ’s forgiveness, not on ceremonies. Although our salvation is not dependent on works, faith in Christ has a natural outflow of good works. The Church, that is, believers in Christ, are to make their boast in the Lord and follow His will....

The qualifications for an overseer in Christ’s Church are very clear (see 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). He is to be above reproach, soberminded, self-controlled, gentle, well-thought-of, and the husband of one wife. Therefore, we believe that pastors are allowed to marry. The distinction between a pastor and bishop is not one of hierarchical power, but of servanthood to God’s people. The Roman Church...

The Office of the Keys is an aid to all believers in the battle against sin and provides consolation for those with a guilty conscience. The Roman Church taught that those who confessed all their sins to a confessor would find comfort. Enthusiasts looked within for a good conscience, apart from the Word of God. However, we know that God does not deal with us in any way other than through His spoke...

The Sacrament of the Altar and the Office of the Keys were sticking points for many in the Church during the 1530s and still are today. In addressing these doctrines, the Concordians made sure their words were very clear: Christ has given us these gifts to be faithfully given to sinners. Misunderstandings about Christ’s presence in the Sacrament, overly sophisticated thought on how the Sacrament i...

The Gospel is God’s work through Christ’s death and resurrection for the sake of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. This Gospel is lavishly generous with His gifts: spoken Word, Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Office of the Keys, and the mutual consolation of the saints. By His grace, God provides these gifts, so that His people might receive this undeserved salvation. Rev. Joshua Will...

Repentance apart from Christ leads only to death. The Roman church had a very detailed system of repentance: contrition, confession, and satisfaction. Although the system was well defined, the premise for it began with the misunderstanding that a person could make their own satisfaction for sins. Yet we know that only Christ makes satisfaction for our sins, and, in faith, we confess, knowing that...

Repentance has two parts: first, contrition—sorrow for sin—and second, faith in the Gospel. The Lord delivers His Law as a thunderbolt and hammer, striking the heart and stirring it toward newness of life. True contrition is not merely sorrow for sin but the realization that we deserve death because of it. In faith, we repent, knowing that there is One who will save us from this body of death. The...

The chief power of the Law is to reveal original sin with all its fruit. We know how low our human nature has fallen in that we need the Law to increase our trespass (Romans 5:20), so as not to harden our hearts. The Law shows us our sin, restrains us from sin, and in Christ by the help of the Holy Spirit, enables us to live a holy life. “Lord God, show us our sin that we may bear fruit of repenta...