The Tenth Commandment The Decay Covetousness Brings Jeremiah 8:4-12

The Tenth Sunday After Trinity                                      24-August-2025
Sermon Text: Jeremiah 8:4-12/ The 10th Commandment
Sermon Theme: “The Tenth Commandment: The Decay Covetousness Brings!” I. Trust Your God Given Calling.(vs.4-6) II. Beware Of Coveting Your Neighbor’s Calling!(vs.7-9) III. Repent And Follow Jesus! (Vs.10-12) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Joh 1:46 "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" was the response of Nathaniel when Philip sought him out to report that they had found the Messiah of whom Moses and the Prophets had written. The long awaited Messiah was “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathaniel voiced his skeptical doubt, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth.” Instead of debating, Philip invited him, "Come and see." Learn from Philip to invite your friends to come and see Jesus in His Word and Sacraments in the Divine Service every Sunday.
      Christian, God the Holy Spirit calls you to live your baptism daily: 1Pe 2:9-12 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (11) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, (12) having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Baptism knits you into the holy nation - the True Israel of the Christian Church. You are knit into the very body of Christ Jesus as the Holy Spirit equips you with differing gifts for the common good confessing, “Jesus is Lord!”
       Christian you are in this world, but not of this world for you are born from above by water and the Word. St. Peter begs you as sojourners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts. Fleshly lusts another name for covetousness war against the soul. They are deadly. Coveting riches for security many wander away from the Faith. No longer gathering together for the Divine Service - their security is in amassing more mammon. What Jesus preaches is true you cannot serve God and money, property, stuff, toys, lusting after what’s been given to your neighbor.
       In Hebrews 13 the Holy Spirit instructs you: “Heb 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." (6) So we may boldly say: "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"” The ninth and tenth commandments aren’t meant for the blatant thief or prideful adulterer. They lay open the heart of all who imagine that they are good in and of themselves. They expose the inner thoughts and intents of all of our hearts. Sinful desire isn’t harmless fantasy. It isn’t a harmless reel or tic tock to garner a dopamine hit from your screen when you are bored. It is sin. Sin that damns and dooms to hell if not washed from us in the blood of Jesus.
         Today the Tenth Sunday after Trinity calls to our remembrance the destruction of Jerusalem and her Temple in August 586B.C. by the Babylonians - and in August 70A.D. by the Romans. Let us repentantly return to see Jesus as we learn “The Tenth Commandment: The Decay Covetousness Brings!” I. Trust Your God Given Calling.(vs.4-6) II. Beware Of Coveting Your Neighbor’s Calling!(vs.7-9) III. Repent And Follow Jesus! (Vs.10-12)
I. It was Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey. The disciples joyfully sang, Luk 19:38 saying: " 'BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Echoing the joyful song of the angels to Bethlehem shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. The pharisees demand silence, but is they didn’t sing the very stones would cry out in praise of their Creator. Topping the mount of Olives, seeing Jerusalem, Jesus breaks down weeping. He knows she will crucify Him by Friday. He knows that their rejection of Him spells their destruction in only four decades. Their grand temple would not save them - for they rejected the Word of the Lord - made flesh for the salvation of sinners.
     (LSB. Pg. 322 10th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?) Fear, love, and trust in God above all things. The first commandment lays claim to our heart - the center of our life, thinking, and strength. Jesus summarizes the first three commandments: Mat 22:37-38 , '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.” The 9th & 10th Commandments call you to sweep the old leaven of greed and covetousness from the deep recesses of your heart, soul, and mind. (Vs.4-6) The prophet Jeremiah is sent by the Lord to preach in Solomon’s Temple. Few wanted to hear the truth of God’s Word.
       Have you ever slipped and fallen in public? Unless you’re severely injured, you scramble to get back to your feet declaring, “I’m ok!” The nation of Israel slid backwards as they boasted of their progress. They clung to the lie. The deceit that what was popular was right. They lusted to be like their neighbors and mimic their highly entertaining worship of idols that could not save. God listened for them to repent, but they ran like a war horse into battle. Rebelling against God they chose to do things their own self-chosen way.
       Who was the first creature to rebel against the vocation God had created him for? Listen? Jud 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” Satan has been a murderer and a liar from his rebellion against his Creator. He wanted to de-throne the loving Triune God who had made all things very good. Satan choose evil rather than to remain in the calling given him. St. Peter warns, 2Pe 2:1-4 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2) And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (3) By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (4) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
     Beware of coveting vocations and callings that are not given to you! What are these? (LSB pg. 328; TOD) Our callings never stand alone. They bring us into community with one another. Never are they to be self serving, instead they are channels to pour ourselves out as we care for one another in Christ’s love. You become the very hands, voice, ears - the mask of God to care for your neighbor in the holy orders and positions in which the Triune God has called you to serve.
II. The nation of Judah followed the desire of their hearts. They were not content to be the people of God entrusted with His Word. They lusted to be like their pagan neighbors - freed from God’s Word to do whatever they desired. The Lord preached through Jeremiah: (vs.7-9) The Lord’s creatures know their appointed times. Biologists are still amazed that migration patterns remain the same from year to year. Birds are guided by their Creator in their flight paths every spring and fall. They submit themselves to God’s good and gracious will.
      Mankind, the pinnacle of God’s creation, have fallen lower than the swallow. We are willfully ignorant of God’s judgment and Word. We ignore His Law written upon our hearts deadening the voice of conscience. We boast that we know God’s will - following false teachers who turn us to trust our fallen feelings and desires. Rejecting God’s Word we are fools! (LSB. Pg. 322 10th Cmdt. W.D.T.M?)
     We are not to entice or force others out of their God given calling. Our nation has done the opposite. We shattered the family in the 60's legalizing “no-fault divorce.” We enticed husbands and wives to walk away from their life long commitment. We supported “un-wed mothers” enticing women to trash fathers are unnecessary. When that wasn’t enough we legalized the murder of unborn human beings in abortion - forcing women to murder their babies as a “right.” Can we really be surprised that now boys lust to be girls, and girls lust to be boys? It is a rebellion against what God has written upon our very chromosomes and calls us to be - “male and female, He created them.”  Teachers, consolers, friends, even physicians turn wives against husbands, husbands against wives, children against parents. Sinful desires trump reality as our nation crumbles into foolishness. Rejecting God’s Word - we have not wisdom.
     What happens when we worship created things over our True and Loving Creator? The Spirit of Truth teaches: Rom 1:24-32 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, (25) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (26) For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. (27) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. A nation under judgment proudly boasts of it’s perversion. It doesn’t see that its downfall nears.
III. Repent! Turn from making your god your belly! Stop trusting your desires and feelings! Hear the Truth - Jesus! He is the only Way. He is the only Life! “Urge them to stay and do their duty.” How? (LSB pg. 327. Daily Prayers. M.P.) Dress each day with baptismal armor - Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection are yours! Confess the Truth of reality - the Apostles’ Creed. Arm yourself with Jesus’ Prayer to defeat Satan, the world , and yes, your own sinful flesh!
    Forsaking their God given vocations meant the destruction of Judah. (Vs.10-12) They were not content to remain in their callings. They spoke lying words to fellow sinners of “peace” without repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. They forgot how to be ashamed and blush.
     Dear Christian stay and do your duty where God has placed you!1Th 5:9-11 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (11) Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
       Of Nathaniel history records, Joh 1:47-51 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (48) Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." (49) Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (50) Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." (51) And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." Jesus saw Nathanael under the tree praying. Pray for one another. Encourage one another to stay and do their duty within their marriage, family, congregation, and community.
      The other Gospels call Nathanael by his Hebrew name “Bartholomew.”
He was faithful to his calling as an apostle. Ancient tradition records that he carried the Gospel of Jesus to Armenia. Through his preaching the Gospel the Holy Spirit converted the Armenian king. The king’s brother wasn’t happy and on this day had Bartholomew executed by flaying. The apostle fixed his eyes upon Jesus as they stripped layer after layer of skin from his body. Heaven was opened to all sinners by the cross of Jesus! That is why the symbol for Nathanael is a flaying knife. Armenia became a Christian nation in 301A.D. and remains the same to this day.
        “Come and see Jesus!” this is your vocation dear Christian!
We close with prayer: Almighty God, Your Son Jesus Christ chose Bartholomew to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.