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Lutheran Lens Commentary: Exodus 7:14-25

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Lutheran Lens Reading of Exodus 7:14-25

Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read Exodus 7:14-25 through the lens of Law and Gospel, recognizing the Law in the form of God's judgment upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians, revealing human inability to stand against God's demands. This passage is a clear manifestation of the Law's power to expose sin and bring about the realization of humanity's impotence before God. The hardness of Pharaoh's heart illustrates the bondage of the will, which can only be overcome by God's intervention. In the broader redemptive arc, this event points forward to Christ, who fulfills the Law and liberates us from sin's tyranny.

Key Language Decisions

The Hebrew term 'kaved' (כָּבֵד), often translated as 'hardened,' speaks to the weightiness or heaviness of Pharaoh's heart, underscoring the total depravity and bound will of humanity without God's grace. This tradition emphasizes that Pharaoh's hard heart is not merely a stubbornness but a demonstration of the innate human resistance to God's will, highlighting our need for divine intervention through Christ.

Where Traditions Diverge

Unlike Reformed traditions that may emphasize God's sovereignty in Pharaoh's hardening as a display of divine election, we focus on the Law's function to reveal sin and the need for the Gospel's promise of deliverance. Roman Catholic interpretations might emphasize cooperative grace, whereas we highlight that salvation is entirely God's work, requiring no human contribution.

Pastoral Application

A Lutheran pastor should emphasize the Law's work in this passage, exposing the congregation's own sinful nature and inability to meet God's demands, leading them to despair of their own efforts. This prepares the hearers to receive the Gospel joyfully, as Christ is the one who liberates us from sin's bondage. In preaching, we should remind the congregation of their baptismal identity, where they are made new in Christ. Our emphasis on the means of grace assures believers that their salvation is secure, not by their works, but by God's promise.

Cross-References: Romans 9:17-18; Ezekiel 36:26; John 12:40; Hebrews 3:15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

Doctrinal Connections: Law and Gospel; bondage of the will; the theology of the cross; original sin; justification by faith alone

Topics & Themes

Law and Gospelbondage of the willthe theology of the crossoriginal sinjustification by faith alone

Scripture References

Exodus 7:14-25

Best Used In

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Audience

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