Visible Righteous Is Civil Righteousness

The 15^th Sunday after Pentecost–September 1, 2013

Proverbs 25:2-10

“It is the glory of God to conceal things…” Vs. 2

     Solomon has provided you with an important teaching in these verses.  The teaching is begun by the first verse and its contrasting statements:  “the glory of God…” vs. “the glory of kings…”  It declares a vital distinction between the glory of God in which he conceals things and the glory of kings which is to search things out.  Kings display their glory in majesty and might.  God conceals his glory in the weak and foolish. (1 Cor. 1:28)

      You also receive this teaching through other words from God such as “Truly, you are a God who hides himself…” (Is. 45:15) and “The secret things belong to the Lord…the things that are revealed belong to us.” (Dt. 29:29) and “How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Ro. 11:33)… as you hear these and similar passages, you find that Scripture teaches a distinction between God hidden in his majesty and God revealed in his Word.  It also teaches the distinction between your receiving the divine righteousness of eternal life and your achieving the civil righteousness of mortal life.

     Luther taught this distinction and maintained that kings and secular authorities had the duty to coerce those unwilling to be good so they’d behave well enough to benefit the neighbor and civil society.  This is called civil righteousness.  Secular (civil) authorities rule, then, as given by God for the maintenance of civil order.  God works good even as it is concealed within the ambiguous work of human agents:  “…the heart of kings is unsearchable.” (vs. 3)  Their true intentions are hidden from you even as they coerce and cajole some good from you by their promises and threats. 

     What joy, then, for you to receive the revelation of your Father in heaven’s heart through Jesus Christ your Lord!  “No one has ever seen God.  It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” (Jn. 1:18)  Jesus, the Word of God, comes straight from the heart of God so that you would know God’s true intention for you.  The glory of God’s salvation is concealed beneath Jesus’ death on the cross “for you.”

Table Talk:  Why must a civil/divine righteousness distinction be taught?
Pray:  Heavenly Father, show me your heart through your Word.  Amen

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