"The Word of God is the true holy thing above all holy things. Indeed, it is the only one we Christians acknowledge and have. Though we had the bones of all the saints or all the holy and consecrated vestments gathered together in one heap, they could not help us in the slightest degree, for they are all dead things that can sanctify no one. But God's Word is the treasure that sanctifies all things" (Large Catechism, paragraph 91).

When Luther expounds the Third Commandment, he presents everything as depending on the Word of God. He explains why the Word of God must remain central in our lives, so that nothing can be permitted to crowd the Word from our attention. "At whatever time God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or pondered, there the person, the day, and the work are sanctified by it, not on account of the external work but on account of the Word which makes us all saints" (LC:92).

The Third Commandment deals with the Sabbath Day, or Day of Rest. As far as the external details of the day are concerned, the New Testament tells us that we are no longer under the Old Testament regulations. "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ" (Col. 2:16-17). But the real purpose of the Sabbath Day in the Old Testament is still valid for us today. We rest from our work, so that God may do His work in us. God wishes to come to us in His Word so that through it He may sanctify us, that is, make us holy and acceptable in his sight.

Where this does not take place, we ourselves and everything we do remain unholy and unacceptable before God. "I constantly repeat that all our life and work must be guided by God's Word if they are to be God-pleasing or holy. Where that happens, the commandment is in force and is fulfilled. Conversely, any conduct or work done apart from God's Word is unholy in the sight of God, no matter how splendid and brilliant it may appear" (LC: 92,93).

Therefore, Luther tells us, "the power and force of this commandment consist not of the resting but of the sanctifying, so that this day should have its own particular holy work. Other trades and occupations are not properly called holy work unless the doer himself is first holy. But here a work must be performed by which the doer himself is made holy; this, as we have heard, takes place only through God's Word" (LC:94).

It is God's Word which comes to a person, who in himself is unholy from his birth and who is entirely under the dominion of Satan, and it shows to that person his sin and his condemnation, but then it proclaims to him the gracious work of Christ, his substitute, who lived a perfect life for him and then died to remove the guilt and punishment which he deserved. When that person hears and believes this message, God considers him or her innocent and acceptable before him for the sake of Christ, his Savior. Then, just as when Abel by faith was considered righteous, and so his work of presenting an offering was also considered righteous and acceptable before God (Hebrews 11:4), our works in our respective roles and offices will also be acceptable and holy in God's sight. When we ourselves are counted righteous before God through faith in the work of Christ, all our other activities of service done in faith are also acceptable before him, such as changing the baby's diapers, putting food on the table, working on the farm or in the factory, teaching, or any other occupation God may have given us. But where there is no faith-and faith comes only by hearing the Word-nothing at all that we can do will be acceptable before God (Hebrews 11:6).

For this reason Luther reminds us of the importance of the attitude we take toward the Word of God and preaching. "Since so much depends on God's Word that no holy day is sanctified without it, we must realize that God insists upon a strict observance of this commandment and will punish all who despise his Word and refuse to hear and learn it, especially at the times appointed" (LC:95). He reminds us the commandment is not kept simply by being present when the Word is preached.

The Word sanctifies when we listen with attention, retain it, meditate on it and apply it to our hearts and lives. The Lord warns us against seeking entertainment rather than edification when we go to church. He warns that the commandment is violated "by that multitude of others who listen to God's Word as they would to any other entertainment, who only from force of habit go to hear preaching and depart again with as little knowledge of the Word at the end of the year as at the beginning" (LC:96). He tells us: "Remember, then, that you must be concerned not only about hearing the Word but also about learning and retaining it. Do not regard it as an optional or unimportant matter. It is the commandment of God, and he will require of you an accounting of how you have heard and learned and honored his Word" (LC:98).

May all of us be kept from despising God's Word or listening with indifference, so that we may be sanctified by the Word and receive all the blessings for this life and the life to come that God wishes to give us through his work on the Day of Rest.

David Haeuser is an ELS missionary working in Lima, Peru.