Nothing Must Hinder Us from Hearing the Word of God. (Pasche)

"Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." Psalms 26:8

Luther says in his Large Catechism: “Whatever be the hour when God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or meditated upon, person, day, and work are then sanctified thereby, not be­ cause of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. . . . God will punish all who despise His Word and are not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for the purpose.” Here Luther says that it is the duty of every Christian to hear and learn the Word of God at the time appointed for that purpose. We should observe Sunday as a day of worship by using the Word of God. We should not let our work keep us from hearing the Word of God. When we are to hear God’s Word, we must quit our work.

All Christians should of their own free will quit their work on Sunday, at the time appointed for public worship. There are un­ believers who do not work all week, but Sundays they must work. Why ? To show their unbelief. Christians quit their work on Sun­ days. Why? Hot because God has prohibited every work on that day, — for He has not, — but in order that they may have time and opportunity to hear the Word of God in the house of worship. For the main thing is the preaching of the Word of God. To those,

therefore, who work on Sundays from habit or anxious concern about their daily bread we say: Rest and go to church; seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things shall be added unto you.

Nothing Must Hinder Us from Hearing the Word of God.