July 19, 2024
In the Garden -- Part 5
Genesis 2:15-17
07/19/2024
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the
garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ``You
may surely eat of every tree of the garden,
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of
it you shall surely die.'' (ESV)
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of
Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, ``You may surely eat of
every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in
the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.''
Martin Luther wrote:
But this is a matter of theology that here this
statement about the tree is put before Adam in order
that he may also have some outward physical way of
indicating his worship of God and demonstrating his
obedience by an outward work. ...
Therefore let us learn that some external form of
worship and definite work of obedience were necessary
for man, who was created to have all the other living
creatures under his control, to know his Creator, and
to thank Him.[2]
In this we are not greater than our first ancestor. God has
blessed us with everything we need to sustain this body and life.
Even as we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, our
heavenly Father gave His only-begotten Son to pay the price of
our sin, giving to us the gift of eternal life.
It is fitting, therefore, that we gather together at God's
invitation to receive from Him His good gifts of grace, mercy,
and love. One such opportunity is on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
at Trinity Lutheran Church. May your ears be open to our Lord's
invitation to receive from Him the assurance of His love. Amen.
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2. Luther, M., J. Pelikan, ed. (1958). Luther's works: Lectures
on Genesis, chapters 1-5. (AE vol. 1). St. Louis: CPH, p.
94.