been said） since we do not at all times have leisure； we must devote
several hours a week for the sake of the young； or at least a day for
the sake of the entire multitude； to being concerned about this alone；
and especially urge the Ten Commandments； the Creed； and the Lord's
Prayer； and thus direct our whole life and being according to God's
Word。 At whatever time； then； this is being observed and practiced；
there a true holy day is being kept； otherwise it shall not be called a
Christians' holy day。 For； indeed； non…Christians can also cease from
work and be idle； just as the entire swarm of our ecclesiastics； who
stand daily in the churches； singing； and ringing bells but keeping no
holy day holy； because they neither preach nor practices God's Word；
but teach and live contrary to it。
For the Word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries； yea； the
only one which we Christians know and have。 For though we had the bones
of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap；
still that would help us nothing； for all that is a dead thing which
can sanctify nobody。 But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies
everything； and by which even all the saints themselves were
sanctified。 At whatever hour then； God's Word is taught； preached；
heard； read or meditated upon； there the person； day； and work are
sanctified thereby； not because of the external work； but because of
the Word which makes saints of us all。 Therefore I constantly say that
all our life and work must be ordered according to God's Word； if it is
to be God…pleasing or holy。 Where this is done； this commandment is in
force and being fulfilled。
On the contrary； any observance or work that is practiced without
God's Word is unholy before God； no matter how brilliantly it may
shine！ even though it be covered with relics； such as the fictitious
spiritual orders which know nothing of God's Word and seek holiness in
their own works。 Note； therefore； that the force and power of this
commandment lies not in the resting but in the sanctifying so that to
this day belongs a special holy exercise。 For other works and
occupations are not properly called holy exercises； unless the man
himself be first holy。 But here a work is to be done by which man is
himself made holy； which is done （as we have heard ） alone through
God's Word。 For this； then； fixed places； times； persons； and the
entire external order of worship have been created and appointed； so
that it may be publicly in operation。
Since； therefore； so much depends upon God's Word that without it no
holy day can be sanctified； we must know that God insists upon a strict
observance of this commandment； and will punish all who despise His
Word and are not willing to hear and learn it； especially at the time
appointed for the purpose。
Therefore not only those sin against this commandment who grossly
misuse and desecrate the holy day； as those who on account of their
greed or frivolity neglect to hear God's Word or lie in taverns and are
dead drunk like swine； but also that other crowd； who listen to God's
Word as to any other trifle； and only from custom come to preaching；
and go away again； and at the end of the year know as little of it as
at the beginning。 For hitherto the opinion prevailed that you had
properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a mass or the Gospel read；
but no one cared for God's Word； as also no one taught it。 Now； while
we have God's Word we nevertheless do not correct the abuse； we suffer
ourselves to be preached to and admonished； but we listen without
seriousness and care。
Know； therefore； that you must be concerned not only about hearing； but
also about learning and retaining it in memory； and do not think that
it is optional with you or of no great importance； but that it is God's
commandment； who will require of you how you have heard； learned； and
honored His Word。
Likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who； when they
have heard a sermon or two； find it tedious and dull； thinking that
they know all that well enough； and need no more instruction。 For just
that is the sin which has been hitherto reckoned among mortal sins； and
is called _achedia_； i。e。； torpor or satiety； a malignant； dangerous
plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many；
that he may surprise us and secretly withdraw God's Word from us。
For let me tell you this； even though you know it perfectly and be
already master in all things； still you are daily in the dominion of
the devil； who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you；
to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the
foregoing and all the commandments。 Therefore you must always have
God's Word in your heart； upon your lips； and in your ears。 But where
the heart is idle； and the Word does not sound； he breaks in and has
done the damage before we are aware。 On the other hand； such is the
efficacy of the Word； whenever it is seriously contemplated heard； and
used； that it is bound never to be without fruit； but always awakens
new understanding； pleasure； and devoutness； and produces a pure heart
and pure thoughts。 For these words are not inoperative or dead； but
creative； living words。 And even though no other interest or necessity
impel us； yet this ought to urge every one thereunto； because thereby
the devil is put to flight and driven away； and； besides； this
commandment is fulfilled； and ＇this exercise in the Word＇ is more
pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy； however brilliant。
The Fourth Commandment。
Thus far we have learned the first three commandments； which relate to
God。 First that with our whole heart we trust in Him； and fear and love
Him throughout all our life。 Secondly； that we do not misuse His holy
name in the support of falsehood or any bad work； but employ it to the
praise of God and the profit and salvation of our neighbor and
ourselves。 Thirdly； that on holidays and when at rest we diligently
treat and urge God's Word； so that all our actions and our entire life
be ordered according to it。 Now follow the other seven； which relate to
our neighbor among which the first and greatest is：
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother。
To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special
distinction above all estates that are beneath it that He not simply
commands us to love our parents； but to honor them。 For with respect to
brothers； sisters； and our neighbors in general He commands nothing
higher than that we love them； so that He separates and distinguishes
father and mother above all other persons upon earth； and places them
at His side。 For it is a far higher thing to honor than to love one；
inasmuch as it comprehends not only love； but also modesty； humility；
and deference as to a majesty there hidden； and requires not only that
they be addressed kindly and with reverence； but； most of all that both
in heart and with the body we so act as to show that we esteem them
very highly； and that； next to God； we regard them as the very highest。
For one whom we are to honor from the heart we must truly regard as
high and great。
We must； therefore impress it upon the young that they should regard
their parents as in God's stead； and remember that however lowly； poor；
frail； and queer they may be； nevertheless they are father and mother
given them by God。 They are not to be deprived of their honor because
of their conduct or their failings。 Therefore we are not to regard
their persons； how they may be； but the will of God who has thus
created and ordained。 In other respects we are； indeed； all alike in
the eyes of God； but among us there must necessarily be such inequality
and ordered difference； and therefore God commands it to be observed；
that you obey me as your father； and that I have the supremacy。
Learn； therefore； first； what is the honor towards parents required by
this commandment to wit； that they be held in distinction and esteem
above all things； as the most precious treasure on earth。 Furthermore；
that also in our words we observe modesty toward them； do not accost
them roughly； haughtily； and defiantly； but yield to them and be silent
even though they go too far。 Thirdly； that we show them such honor also
by works； that is； with our body and possessions； that we serve them；
help them； and provide for them when they are old； sick； infirm； or
poor； and all that not only gladly； but with humility and reverence； as
doing it before God。 For he who knows how to regard them in his heart
will not allow them to suffer want or hunger； but will place them above
him and at his side； and will share with them whatever he has and
possesses。
Secondly； notice how great； good； and holy a work is here assigned
children； which is alas！ utterly neglected and disregarded； and no one
perceives that God has commanded it or that it is a holy； divine Word
and doctrine。 For if it had been regarded as such； every one could have
inferred that they must be holy men who live according to these words。
Thus there would have been no need of inventing monasticism nor
spiritual orders； but every child would have abided by this
commandment； and could have directed his conscience to God and said：
〃If I am to do good and holy works； I know of none better than to
render all honor and obedience to my parents； because God has Himself
commanded it。 For what God commands must be much and far nobler than
everything that we may devise ourselves； and since there is no higher
or better teacher to be found than God； there can be no better
doctrine； indeed； than He gives forth。 Now； He teaches fully what we
should do if we wish to perform truly good works； and by commanding
them； He shows that they please Him。 If； then； it is God who commands
this； and who knows not how to appoint anything better； I will never
improve upon it。〃
Behold； in this manner we would have had a godly child properly
taught； reared in true blessedness； and kept at home in obedience to
his parents and in their service； so that men should have had blessing
and joy from the spectacle。 However； God's commandment was not
permitted to be thus ＇