Grace and peace to you from God our Father the Lord Jesus Christ (Php 1:2). Amen.
If you planted a garden in spring and there are still potatoes in the ground right now, you might want to dig them up soon. If that is the case, it might fit under the category of “procrastination” rather than “patience.” Not to mention, we are not going to have many more 70 degree weeks in October. And even less in November and December. You may have to use the shovel to remove the snow before the produce.
But God is patient. We stand in awe of that as Jesus relates a pointed parable about it. Marvel at God’s patience in dispatching his Son and in delivering his salvation. We read from …
Matthew 21:33-43
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the solid and sure foundation of our faith,
Patience is the problem for me when it comes to gardening. (My lack of love for that hobby has been well documented.) It takes too long to put a brown russet in the soil before it becomes a French fry on my plate. I would rather order off the dollar menu and move on. The only delay that I tolerate is the time in the fryer. I can be patient for that.
For God, patience is not an issue. Jesus takes us to a vineyard, not a potato farm, to demonstrate that. And as we gaze at it, we are glad about it.
Marvel at God’s Patience
1. In dispatching his Son (33-40)
2. In delivering his salvation (41-43)
1. In dispatching his Son (33-40)
It sounds official, doesn’t it? To dispatch. I suppose because it is. Think of a 911 operator who directs a police car to the scene of an accident or a fire truck to the site of a fire. Those individuals don’t go on their own. God did that with Jesus. Marvel at God’s patience in dispatching his Son.
It is Tuesday of Holy Week. By Friday Jesus will be hung on a cross. So Jesus’ teaching becomes more and more emphatic because the time is shorter and shorter. Maybe it is like a college professor who drills some facts because a test is quickly approaching. Jesus is the master teacher. “Listen to another parable” (Mt 21:33). His enemies are gathered around him, trying to trick him and trap him, so that they could use something against him. But Jesus has something for them—a parable, an illustration to instruct. He takes a familiar situation to communicate a spiritual truth.
We don’t live near Napa Valley or wine country. (Our hearts and prayers go out to the people there affected by the raging flames.) But we get the picture as Jesus paints it. “There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower” (Mt 21:33). This was no small task. It was back-breaking work to stick the shoots in the earth and hew out of stone where the grapes would be stomped and the juice collected. There was a wall around it to keep animals out and a watchtower to make sure no one helped himself to the grapes. That didn’t happen overnight. He spared no effort or expense. Perhaps Jesus had Isaiah’s words in mind when he preached. The answer to the question is obvious: “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?” (Is 5:4). Nothing. Not one thing.
The landowner is God the Father. The vineyard is his people. Out of grace, he chose Israel to be his own, the nation from which the Savior would come. He provided for them. He protected them. He showed his concern and showered his care on them throughout their history—bringing them out of Egypt, restoring the Promised Land to them, keeping them safe and separate from others.
We certainly have experienced that in our lives. God has brought us to faith with some water on our forehead or some words on a page. He has not stopped bolstering that trust to this very day. Marvel at that.
Jesus continued: “Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey” (Mt 21:33). The man entrusted his farm to some tenants. They would tend to the vines and hand over a portion of the crops each year for rent. That is the way it works with every shop or store in the Mall of America—not grapes, but money. God had entrusted religious leaders to watch over the spiritual welfare of the people like pastors today.
So it was not unreasonable to read: “When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit” (Mt 21:34). So far so good.
But not for long. “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third” (Mt 21:35). But the landlord remained patient. “Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way” (Mt 21:36). The numbers didn’t translate into success. So it was in history. Prophet after prophet—Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist—all faithful men who met defiance, if not death (Lk 13:34; Acts 7:52; He 11:35-38). All of them God patiently sent with his authority to get individuals to realize their constant sin and rely on the coming Messiah.
That is when the parable takes a strange turn or twist. “Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said” (Mt 21:37). It is mindboggling, if not mind-blowing. Who would do that? God would. God did. This is the One about whom he declared: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). But God gave his one and only Son because he loved the world (Jn 3:16).
It didn’t go well. Instead it got ugly. “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’” (Mt 21:38). It is hard to understand that logic. “So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him” (Mt 21:39).
Can you see it? Jesus knew what they were thinking and planning. They wanted to capture him and kill him. It was the high priest, Caiaphas, who counseled the Sanhedrin earlier: “It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (Jn 11:50). That would go down in three days when they would make sure that Jesus was nailed to the cross outside of the city of Jerusalem with their shouts of “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Lk 23:31; He 13:12).
But that is why the Father dispatched his Son. To bear our sin. And he did. That was God’s plan. To be our Substitute. And he was. That was Jesus’ purpose.
But it is worthwhile to pause to consider how we are receiving God’s messengers—from parents to pastors, from friends to family. Do we turn our backs or do we take to heart? God patiently dispatches them so that we produce fruit. So that we look to Jesus, God’s Son, our Savior. Marvel at the patience of God in dispatching his Son for us.
2. In delivering his salvation (41-43)
The lights flash and sirens blare to get to offer help when there is a crash or water when there is a blaze. God dispatched Jesus for a reason. Marvel at God’s patience in delivering his salvation.
Jesus brings the parable home to his hearers. “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” (Mt 21:40). You don’t have to be a professional judge in a black gown to come to a decision. “‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time’” (Mt 21:41). They were right. It would end badly for them. He would destroy them. His patience would run short and run out. The Pharisees actually condemned themselves with their response.
But there is more—other tenants. Gentiles—like us—would stream into the church. (Not at the exclusion of the Jews.) Jesus directs them to Psalm 118: “Have you never read in the Scriptures [Of course they had. They even heard parts of that song chanted two days prior when Jesus rode into the holy city on a borrowed donkey: “O LORD, save us. [We are more familiar with “Hosanna.”] … Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD” (Ps 118:25,25).]: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Mt 21:42). That takes us to the world of masonry. When a contractor puts up a wall, there is a testing process. He studies the bricks. He discards the ones he considers to be worthless. He uses the ones that pass. The chief priests, elders, and the Pharisees rejected Jesus as of no value.
But God has made him the capstone—the most important part that holds up an arch, without which it will fall. Jesus is that Stone (1 Pe 2:4), the head of the Church (Eph 4:15), the only sure One on whom the church builds. This is wonderful in our judgment. We are the ones that Jesus referenced: “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (Mt 21:43). God rules in our hearts as we turn from our sin and turn to our Savior. Jesus has taken hold of us (Php 3:12). And with the apostle Paul, we strain toward the goal of heaven (Php 3:14). “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Php 3:20). One day Jesus will return for us to take us there when he “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Php 3:21). Marvel at God’s patience in delivering his salvation of us.
Maybe you have afternoon gardening to do. (I am hoping for some afternoon napping—better by far.) But working in a field or in a vineyard requires patience. More than I have. But God has more than I have. Marvel at God’s patience in dispatching his Son to us. He came for us. Marvel at God’s patience in delivering his salvation to us. He will come for us. Thank you, Father, for such incredible patience. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23).
October 22, 2017
St. John Lutheran Church Sermons
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Sunday, October 15, 2017
The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 21:28-32)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Php 1:2). Amen.
“What do you think?” That is the kind of a question that causes you to stop for a moment and mull over an answer.
Sometimes it comes down to a choice between two opposites. It could be …
Yes or no. “What do you think? Does this tie make me look skinny?” (You can’t see it so you can’t comment.)
This one or that one. “What do you think? Which tie looks better with this shirt?” (Anything matches white, correct?)
That was the situation on the Tuesday of Holy Week—two days after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that requisitioned donkey and 5 days before he would head out of a borrowed tomb. It was a busy day for Jesus. He spent the day answering his enemies when they attacked and teaching his listeners when they gathered (Mt 21:23-27).
Jesus wanted them to make a consideration and then come to a conclusion. So he begins, “What do you think?” (Mt 21:28). And he proceeds with a parable—another one of his illustrations to instruct. He would like us to contemplate too. Jesus makes us think about being a good son.
And so it is that a dad has two boys. Note that he approaches them, not the other way around. That is the same way with God to us. He draws near to us. “He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’” (Mt 21:28). None of us would take exception with that. He had some vines to be pruned or some grapes to be picked that day as well as an able-bodied family member. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a father requests that his son mow the lawn in summer or rake the leaves in fall or shovel snow in the winter. (I guess that means that he can take spring off.)
But that was not going to happen. “I will not” (Mt 21:29). There was no hesitation and it was harsh, full of disrespect and defiance: “I don’t want to.” There was no missing his point. It was short, but not sweet. It was a flat out “No.”
But then came the regret with a touch of remorse. “But later he changed his mind and went” (Mt 21:29). He grabbed a shears from the shed or a basket from the barn and got busy. That is son #1. A good son?
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing” (Mt 21:30). There was no difference in the appeal. “I will, sir” (Mt 21:30). That’s more like it. He was so respectful. “At your service, my Lord.” But yet, he was not responsible. “He did not go” (Mt 21:30). His emphatic enthusiasm did not match his pathetic actions. Politeness didn’t translate into productivity. Apparently his mother never taught him the adage: “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” In a sense, there was no filling up the riding mower with gas or finding a rake or shovel in the garage. The lazy-boy is too cozy or the bed is too comfortable. That is son #2. A good son?
Then comes the one question test. If it were multiple choice, it would be a or b: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (Mt 21:31). That is obvious to them (Mt 21:31). “The first” (Mt 21:31). They passed because they chose correctly, but really condemned themselves. Jesus desired that they diagnose their hearts. But their pride in themselves blinded them to what Jesus wanted them to grasp.
Jesus stresses a reality as he leads off with his formula of affirming something certain. “I tell you the truth” (Mt 21:31). And what is that? “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Mt 21:31).
“Tax collectors and the prostitutes” (Mt 21:31). You didn’t get any lower than that in society—taking money and turning tricks. The one ruined IRAs and the other wrecked marriages. They were to be looked down on like an embezzler or a drug dealer, not looked up to.
And yet Jesus holds them out as an example of a good son. Why? “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did” (Mt 21:32). It came down to faith in John’s message. He pointed out to the tax collectors and prostitutes that they were not right with God. They recognized that when he preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 3:2). But as John pointed out their sin, he pointed them to their Savior: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes assay the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29). He picks them up and he carries them off. They were son #1. To do the work of the Father is to believe in his Son, the One he has sent (Jn 6:29). Those two groups did.
I don’t know if you enjoy looking in the mirror. Perhaps not first thing in the morning before you shower or shave—with your bedhead or rough stubble. But Jesus holds one up to our heart. Am I son #1? (That doesn’t exclude women. Jesus uses two boys.) Yes. You too. But there is an admission that goes with that acknowledgment. Do I spot my sin like a section of hair standing straight up or a whisker sticking out? Possibly we are like those children of Israel. They wanted to blame someone else when they cited that saying: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Eze 18:2). In other words, “My daddy sucked on a lemon and my lips pucker up. I am being punished for his problem.”
But that is not true. Each one of us is accountable to our God. The Lord can’t state it any more simply: “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Eze 18:4). But that is not what God wishes. Instead, as he pleaded through the prophet: “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses. … Repent and live!” (Eze 18:30,32). That is what God wants for all (2 Pe 3:9). And so we pray with the psalmist David who had firsthand experience with a sin or 2047 of them: “Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways” (Ps 25:7). We could certainly add the sins of my middle age and old age. “Remember not the times I said “I will not” or the times I said “I will, sir,” and then failed to do what I promised—holding on to a grudge or giving in to hate.
But like David we continue: “According to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD” (Ps 25:7). So good that he sent his Son, true God becoming true man, who always said “yes” to his Father in order to serve us—all the way to a wooden instrument of torture. “[He] became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Php 2:8). He is the One before whom we bend our knees in praise as our Lord and Savior (Php 2:11). And now faith in him is “a living, busy, active, mighty thing” (Martin Luther).
Am I son #2? Yes. You too. He stands for the Pharisees and others like them who wanted nothing to do with John’s proclamation—like the chief priests and leaders of the people. They came to God with their goodness or greatness. “Look at me and what I do.” But on another occasion, Jesus contended: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21). Notice Jesus’ observation: “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Mt 21:31). He is holding the door open for them. They can go in too with repentance—turning from sin and turning to God. And so it is that we are not just to go through the motions. But we understand our unworthiness before him and appreciate our worthiness from him. He is faithful and he forgives (1 Jn 1:9).
Instead of the first “no/yes” son or the second “yes/no” son, we are “yes/yes” son. Jesus makes us think of being a good son. And we are—through him, the best Son. I confess my sin against God and God comforts my soul with Jesus. We repent and we believe (Mt 21:32). What do you think (with or without a tie on)? “Go in peace. You are forgiven. You are family.”
We read from Matthew 21:28-32:
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23).
October 15, 2017
“What do you think?” That is the kind of a question that causes you to stop for a moment and mull over an answer.
Sometimes it comes down to a choice between two opposites. It could be …
Yes or no. “What do you think? Does this tie make me look skinny?” (You can’t see it so you can’t comment.)
This one or that one. “What do you think? Which tie looks better with this shirt?” (Anything matches white, correct?)
That was the situation on the Tuesday of Holy Week—two days after Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that requisitioned donkey and 5 days before he would head out of a borrowed tomb. It was a busy day for Jesus. He spent the day answering his enemies when they attacked and teaching his listeners when they gathered (Mt 21:23-27).
Jesus wanted them to make a consideration and then come to a conclusion. So he begins, “What do you think?” (Mt 21:28). And he proceeds with a parable—another one of his illustrations to instruct. He would like us to contemplate too. Jesus makes us think about being a good son.
And so it is that a dad has two boys. Note that he approaches them, not the other way around. That is the same way with God to us. He draws near to us. “He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’” (Mt 21:28). None of us would take exception with that. He had some vines to be pruned or some grapes to be picked that day as well as an able-bodied family member. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a father requests that his son mow the lawn in summer or rake the leaves in fall or shovel snow in the winter. (I guess that means that he can take spring off.)
But that was not going to happen. “I will not” (Mt 21:29). There was no hesitation and it was harsh, full of disrespect and defiance: “I don’t want to.” There was no missing his point. It was short, but not sweet. It was a flat out “No.”
But then came the regret with a touch of remorse. “But later he changed his mind and went” (Mt 21:29). He grabbed a shears from the shed or a basket from the barn and got busy. That is son #1. A good son?
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing” (Mt 21:30). There was no difference in the appeal. “I will, sir” (Mt 21:30). That’s more like it. He was so respectful. “At your service, my Lord.” But yet, he was not responsible. “He did not go” (Mt 21:30). His emphatic enthusiasm did not match his pathetic actions. Politeness didn’t translate into productivity. Apparently his mother never taught him the adage: “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” In a sense, there was no filling up the riding mower with gas or finding a rake or shovel in the garage. The lazy-boy is too cozy or the bed is too comfortable. That is son #2. A good son?
Then comes the one question test. If it were multiple choice, it would be a or b: “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (Mt 21:31). That is obvious to them (Mt 21:31). “The first” (Mt 21:31). They passed because they chose correctly, but really condemned themselves. Jesus desired that they diagnose their hearts. But their pride in themselves blinded them to what Jesus wanted them to grasp.
Jesus stresses a reality as he leads off with his formula of affirming something certain. “I tell you the truth” (Mt 21:31). And what is that? “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Mt 21:31).
“Tax collectors and the prostitutes” (Mt 21:31). You didn’t get any lower than that in society—taking money and turning tricks. The one ruined IRAs and the other wrecked marriages. They were to be looked down on like an embezzler or a drug dealer, not looked up to.
And yet Jesus holds them out as an example of a good son. Why? “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did” (Mt 21:32). It came down to faith in John’s message. He pointed out to the tax collectors and prostitutes that they were not right with God. They recognized that when he preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Mt 3:2). But as John pointed out their sin, he pointed them to their Savior: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes assay the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29). He picks them up and he carries them off. They were son #1. To do the work of the Father is to believe in his Son, the One he has sent (Jn 6:29). Those two groups did.
I don’t know if you enjoy looking in the mirror. Perhaps not first thing in the morning before you shower or shave—with your bedhead or rough stubble. But Jesus holds one up to our heart. Am I son #1? (That doesn’t exclude women. Jesus uses two boys.) Yes. You too. But there is an admission that goes with that acknowledgment. Do I spot my sin like a section of hair standing straight up or a whisker sticking out? Possibly we are like those children of Israel. They wanted to blame someone else when they cited that saying: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Eze 18:2). In other words, “My daddy sucked on a lemon and my lips pucker up. I am being punished for his problem.”
But that is not true. Each one of us is accountable to our God. The Lord can’t state it any more simply: “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Eze 18:4). But that is not what God wishes. Instead, as he pleaded through the prophet: “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses. … Repent and live!” (Eze 18:30,32). That is what God wants for all (2 Pe 3:9). And so we pray with the psalmist David who had firsthand experience with a sin or 2047 of them: “Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways” (Ps 25:7). We could certainly add the sins of my middle age and old age. “Remember not the times I said “I will not” or the times I said “I will, sir,” and then failed to do what I promised—holding on to a grudge or giving in to hate.
But like David we continue: “According to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD” (Ps 25:7). So good that he sent his Son, true God becoming true man, who always said “yes” to his Father in order to serve us—all the way to a wooden instrument of torture. “[He] became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Php 2:8). He is the One before whom we bend our knees in praise as our Lord and Savior (Php 2:11). And now faith in him is “a living, busy, active, mighty thing” (Martin Luther).
Am I son #2? Yes. You too. He stands for the Pharisees and others like them who wanted nothing to do with John’s proclamation—like the chief priests and leaders of the people. They came to God with their goodness or greatness. “Look at me and what I do.” But on another occasion, Jesus contended: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21). Notice Jesus’ observation: “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Mt 21:31). He is holding the door open for them. They can go in too with repentance—turning from sin and turning to God. And so it is that we are not just to go through the motions. But we understand our unworthiness before him and appreciate our worthiness from him. He is faithful and he forgives (1 Jn 1:9).
Instead of the first “no/yes” son or the second “yes/no” son, we are “yes/yes” son. Jesus makes us think of being a good son. And we are—through him, the best Son. I confess my sin against God and God comforts my soul with Jesus. We repent and we believe (Mt 21:32). What do you think (with or without a tie on)? “Go in peace. You are forgiven. You are family.”
We read from Matthew 21:28-32:
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23).
October 15, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 20:1-16)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Php 1:2). Amen.
Tell me if you have heard this: “It’s not fair.” It might not have been that long ago. Perhaps already today. Possibly only yesterday.
Someone pointed it out that it begins at a young age. A toddler has this incredible ability to spot when a sibling has one more goldfish cracker in his pile than he does on his plate—from across the room even. “It’s not fair.”
Do we grow out of that pattern?
The teenager complains. “She has two new outfits for every day of the year. I have nothing to wear. It’s not fair.”
The worker criticizes. “He gets every promotion. I do all the work. It’s not fair.”
The retiree comments. “They get to travel the world. I just get to see the doctor. It’s not fair.”
“It’s not fair” easily becomes our mantra.
And then maybe we think that way about how God deals with us. Jesus uses a parable to change our chant. It is fair because God is gracious and God is generous. We read from …
Matthew 20:1-16
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, who brings us into God’s kingdom,
Tell me if you have heard this: “It is fair.”
“9:00 bedtime on a school night. I concur that I need 8-9 hours of sleep to feel refreshed and ready for a new day. It is fair.”
“A red checkmark on my test. I didn’t study my notes as much as I checked my phone last night. It is fair.”
“A few extra pounds on the scale. I do spend a lot of time in front of the TV with potato chips. It is fair.”
We will let those be what they may. But what about God? He is just (2 Thess 1:5). That is, he is fair. And that includes what he does. And so it is:
It Is Fair!
1. Because God is gracious (1-14)
2. Because God is generous (15,16)
1. Because God is gracious (1-14)
Do you know someone who is gracious? Usually we think that means he is nice because he holds the door open for you or she is kind because she cares for her kids. That is a delightful characteristic. God is gracious. But it goes deeper than that. His love is profound and perfect. It is fair because God is gracious.
It really was in response to a concern, or better, a question. Peter was curious. Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Lk 19:27). The thought may have crossed our minds a time or two. “It’s not quite fair.” There should be something.
Jesus’ reply was a parable. It was another one of his illustrations to instruct. Jesus again teaches about “the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 20:1). That is God’s rule in our hearts. And it is gracious.
The setting is simple: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard” (Mt 20:1). That still happens in some areas—people go at sunrise and stand waiting for someone to bring them to their fields. We might be more familiar with temp agencies than that practice. But cultivating a vineyard was a common occupation in Israel. So it was a familiar sight for Jesus’ listeners.
And it was determined: “He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard” (Mt 20:2). They would pick grapes. And he would provide compensation. A denarius was the normal salary for 12 hours’ worth of work, even this labor-intensive job. The decision between the two parties was like a symphony playing in harmony. Both were on the same page of the contract.
And that procedure of finding those who were unemployed went on the rest of the day: the third hour (Mt 20:3), the sixth hour (Mt 20:5), and the ninth hour (Mt 20:5). Or 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Note that there was no bargain this go around. “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right” (Mt 20:4). The remuneration would be right. He would be fair. “So they went” (Mt 20:5).
That is where it gets a bit strange. He headed out at the “eleventh hour” (Mt 20:6)—5:00 PM. There were others around and others utilized. That seems a bit unusual since there were only 60 more minutes to tend the vines. That is not much time. It is hard to fire up your computer and scroll through social media in such a short span, let along pour a second cup of coffee. But the command was the same: “You also go and work in my vineyard” (Mt 20:7).
It is important to see that the landowner found the workers. They didn’t find him. And there was no lengthy interview or long application. That is how it is in God’s kingdom. He draws near to us because we can’t come close to him. And it is fair because he is gracious. It doesn’t matter if he comes early in life or calls later in life. That is grace. Arrow pointing down from God to us.
Closing time came and the pay window opened. The owner established the order of how: “[He] said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first’” (Mt 20:8). So it was. The one hour laborers received one denarius (Mt 20:9). When that was the case, the others got denarii signs in their eyes. “If they received so much for so little, we should be in line for a big payday” (Mt 20:10). At least, that was their assumption or expectation. But when they opened their envelope, the pay stub read “one denarius.” What? You can guess: “That’s not fair.” “They began to grumble against the landowner” (Mt 20:11). You can come up with the objections (Mt 20:12): “They hardly broke a sweat with any heavy lifting of wicker baskets. They didn’t even have to apply sunscreen because of no harmful UV rays.”
But he was fair. “Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?” (Mt 20:13). Yes. If your neighbor agrees to pay you $20 for mowing his lawn, how much does he give you when you are done? Hint: $20. That was the arrangement. That is fair. There would be no negotiating. “Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you” (Mt 20:14). It doesn’t take much for that “give and get” mentality sneaks into our heads. I give to God—be it some time or some money—then I should get from God. In our opinion, that would be fair. And then pride settles in. “Look at the effort or the amount. But in a way, we get what we want with that attitude—the approval or amazement of others of how much we accomplish or achieve. But in another sense, we don’t want God to be fair with us. There is a wage that sin pays. And it is ugly. It is death (Ro 6:23).
But God gives us the opposite of what we deserve. It is a gift (Ro 6:23). That is grace. To be fair, God still had to punish sin. And he did. On Jesus. He put our guilt on him and he paid for it all. He gives and forgives us in Jesus. The Lord is correct when he reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD” (Is 55:8). In fact, they are worlds apart: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:9). God’s ways and thoughts are different than ours. He wants to hand us his undeserved kindness without cost. And he does. Why? God’s grace is the only answer.
And we now go and work, not to get things, but to give thanks. And we echo what the apostle Paul penned: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Php 1:21). That is fair because God is gracious.
2. Because God is generous (15,16)
It could be that it is easier for you to name a gracious individual faster than a generous one. That is certainly a desirable quality. God is generous. That might be almost an understatement. It is fair because God is generous.
Those first hired might not have been aware of the man’s generosity to the last hired if they had not been lined up and paid up in reverse order. And the vineyard owner makes a valid point: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?” (Mt 20:15). Absolutely he does. What I do with that Andrew Jackson for clipping the lawn is up to me. That is proper. We refer to someone who is jealous as having an “evil eye.” Their eyesight was bad. “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:15). He was good to all. And “so the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Mt 20:16). The first ones will be out of the kingdom and the last ones will be in it.
God enjoys giving his grace—to all and all the same. To us. He wipes away our sins gladly. He holds out heaven happily. To us. We can be just as sure as the psalmist: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13). So we listen to David’s encouragement: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps 27:14). Instead of getting upset, we get excited that it God’s generosity is for all—equally and eternally, from a dying thief to a life-long Christian. His ways and thoughts are right. That is fair because God is generous.
Young and old alike often scream, “It’s not fair.” That is just code for “I don’t like it.” That is not our reaction to our Lord. Instead we can state: “It is fair.” Because God is gracious and generous to us. He gives his incredible love to us freely and fully. We do like it. It is fair. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23)!
October 8, 2017
Tell me if you have heard this: “It’s not fair.” It might not have been that long ago. Perhaps already today. Possibly only yesterday.
Someone pointed it out that it begins at a young age. A toddler has this incredible ability to spot when a sibling has one more goldfish cracker in his pile than he does on his plate—from across the room even. “It’s not fair.”
Do we grow out of that pattern?
The teenager complains. “She has two new outfits for every day of the year. I have nothing to wear. It’s not fair.”
The worker criticizes. “He gets every promotion. I do all the work. It’s not fair.”
The retiree comments. “They get to travel the world. I just get to see the doctor. It’s not fair.”
“It’s not fair” easily becomes our mantra.
And then maybe we think that way about how God deals with us. Jesus uses a parable to change our chant. It is fair because God is gracious and God is generous. We read from …
Matthew 20:1-16
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, who brings us into God’s kingdom,
Tell me if you have heard this: “It is fair.”
“9:00 bedtime on a school night. I concur that I need 8-9 hours of sleep to feel refreshed and ready for a new day. It is fair.”
“A red checkmark on my test. I didn’t study my notes as much as I checked my phone last night. It is fair.”
“A few extra pounds on the scale. I do spend a lot of time in front of the TV with potato chips. It is fair.”
We will let those be what they may. But what about God? He is just (2 Thess 1:5). That is, he is fair. And that includes what he does. And so it is:
It Is Fair!
1. Because God is gracious (1-14)
2. Because God is generous (15,16)
1. Because God is gracious (1-14)
Do you know someone who is gracious? Usually we think that means he is nice because he holds the door open for you or she is kind because she cares for her kids. That is a delightful characteristic. God is gracious. But it goes deeper than that. His love is profound and perfect. It is fair because God is gracious.
It really was in response to a concern, or better, a question. Peter was curious. Jesus, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Lk 19:27). The thought may have crossed our minds a time or two. “It’s not quite fair.” There should be something.
Jesus’ reply was a parable. It was another one of his illustrations to instruct. Jesus again teaches about “the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 20:1). That is God’s rule in our hearts. And it is gracious.
The setting is simple: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard” (Mt 20:1). That still happens in some areas—people go at sunrise and stand waiting for someone to bring them to their fields. We might be more familiar with temp agencies than that practice. But cultivating a vineyard was a common occupation in Israel. So it was a familiar sight for Jesus’ listeners.
And it was determined: “He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard” (Mt 20:2). They would pick grapes. And he would provide compensation. A denarius was the normal salary for 12 hours’ worth of work, even this labor-intensive job. The decision between the two parties was like a symphony playing in harmony. Both were on the same page of the contract.
And that procedure of finding those who were unemployed went on the rest of the day: the third hour (Mt 20:3), the sixth hour (Mt 20:5), and the ninth hour (Mt 20:5). Or 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Note that there was no bargain this go around. “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right” (Mt 20:4). The remuneration would be right. He would be fair. “So they went” (Mt 20:5).
That is where it gets a bit strange. He headed out at the “eleventh hour” (Mt 20:6)—5:00 PM. There were others around and others utilized. That seems a bit unusual since there were only 60 more minutes to tend the vines. That is not much time. It is hard to fire up your computer and scroll through social media in such a short span, let along pour a second cup of coffee. But the command was the same: “You also go and work in my vineyard” (Mt 20:7).
It is important to see that the landowner found the workers. They didn’t find him. And there was no lengthy interview or long application. That is how it is in God’s kingdom. He draws near to us because we can’t come close to him. And it is fair because he is gracious. It doesn’t matter if he comes early in life or calls later in life. That is grace. Arrow pointing down from God to us.
Closing time came and the pay window opened. The owner established the order of how: “[He] said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first’” (Mt 20:8). So it was. The one hour laborers received one denarius (Mt 20:9). When that was the case, the others got denarii signs in their eyes. “If they received so much for so little, we should be in line for a big payday” (Mt 20:10). At least, that was their assumption or expectation. But when they opened their envelope, the pay stub read “one denarius.” What? You can guess: “That’s not fair.” “They began to grumble against the landowner” (Mt 20:11). You can come up with the objections (Mt 20:12): “They hardly broke a sweat with any heavy lifting of wicker baskets. They didn’t even have to apply sunscreen because of no harmful UV rays.”
But he was fair. “Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?” (Mt 20:13). Yes. If your neighbor agrees to pay you $20 for mowing his lawn, how much does he give you when you are done? Hint: $20. That was the arrangement. That is fair. There would be no negotiating. “Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you” (Mt 20:14). It doesn’t take much for that “give and get” mentality sneaks into our heads. I give to God—be it some time or some money—then I should get from God. In our opinion, that would be fair. And then pride settles in. “Look at the effort or the amount. But in a way, we get what we want with that attitude—the approval or amazement of others of how much we accomplish or achieve. But in another sense, we don’t want God to be fair with us. There is a wage that sin pays. And it is ugly. It is death (Ro 6:23).
But God gives us the opposite of what we deserve. It is a gift (Ro 6:23). That is grace. To be fair, God still had to punish sin. And he did. On Jesus. He put our guilt on him and he paid for it all. He gives and forgives us in Jesus. The Lord is correct when he reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD” (Is 55:8). In fact, they are worlds apart: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:9). God’s ways and thoughts are different than ours. He wants to hand us his undeserved kindness without cost. And he does. Why? God’s grace is the only answer.
And we now go and work, not to get things, but to give thanks. And we echo what the apostle Paul penned: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Php 1:21). That is fair because God is gracious.
2. Because God is generous (15,16)
It could be that it is easier for you to name a gracious individual faster than a generous one. That is certainly a desirable quality. God is generous. That might be almost an understatement. It is fair because God is generous.
Those first hired might not have been aware of the man’s generosity to the last hired if they had not been lined up and paid up in reverse order. And the vineyard owner makes a valid point: “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?” (Mt 20:15). Absolutely he does. What I do with that Andrew Jackson for clipping the lawn is up to me. That is proper. We refer to someone who is jealous as having an “evil eye.” Their eyesight was bad. “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:15). He was good to all. And “so the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Mt 20:16). The first ones will be out of the kingdom and the last ones will be in it.
God enjoys giving his grace—to all and all the same. To us. He wipes away our sins gladly. He holds out heaven happily. To us. We can be just as sure as the psalmist: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Ps 27:13). So we listen to David’s encouragement: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps 27:14). Instead of getting upset, we get excited that it God’s generosity is for all—equally and eternally, from a dying thief to a life-long Christian. His ways and thoughts are right. That is fair because God is generous.
Young and old alike often scream, “It’s not fair.” That is just code for “I don’t like it.” That is not our reaction to our Lord. Instead we can state: “It is fair.” Because God is gracious and generous to us. He gives his incredible love to us freely and fully. We do like it. It is fair. Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Php 4:23)!
October 8, 2017
Monday, October 2, 2017
The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Romans 14:5-9)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Emotions are real. You know that because you have them. Or better, you feel them—from the highs to the lows, and everywhere in between.
Emotions are also raw. Let’s take one as an example. Loneliness. Just mentioning that one probably hits your heart or strikes your stomach as you think of a time you have faced or are facing it. Or will. I read about an interesting study that found out that the part of our brain that becomes active when we contend with loneliness is the same place as when we deal with physical pain. Interesting.
But we are not alone. Our God is with us. And our God gives us family and friends. And we have each other. And as we go from day to day with that reminder, the apostle Paul also recalls that for us. We live to the Lord in Christian liberty and in Christian love. We read from …
Romans 14:5-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, who gives freedom from sin and freedom to serve,
The saying goes, “No man is an island.” I guess that is true. Look around. We are not by ourselves.
And since that is the case, I suppose that there are two ways to live:
For myself. It is all about me, me, me.
For my Savior. It is all about him, him, him.
Paul is clear on which one it is.
We Live to the Lord
1. In Christian liberty (5-9)
2. In Christian love (7)
1. In Christian liberty (5-9)
Now that it is the 1st of October, the 4th of July seems a distant memory. But the freedoms that we remember then are still relevant now. That is true not just as citizens of the United States, but also as citizens of the Christian church. The blessings of both are ongoing as make our way through life. We live to the Lord in Christian liberty.
As Paul takes up his pen in this section of his letter to the believers in Rome—a gathering of both Jews and Gentiles, he takes up the topic of “middle things”—that which God has not commanded nor forbidden in his Word. We usually refer to that as “adiaphora.” And then a choice between two things is not wrong (like what color of robe for the pastor or kind of car in the parking lot). Then we are free. Either one is acceptable—like deciding between two delicious entrees on a menu at a restaurant. You can’t go wrong. Paul cites two examples as it pertains to conscience.
The one area was about timing. “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike” (Ro 14:5). Perhaps we don’t get the tension. There were cultural differences. Think of it. For centuries, the Jews have worshipped on Saturday, the Sabbath Day, as God decreed (Ex 20:8). But that day of rest pointed ahead to Jesus (Col 2:16,17), the “Rest-giver” (Mt 11:28). That is no longer binding since Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law. But they couldn’t give that custom up overnight.
The Gentiles had no ties to a specific day so they choose Sunday as a day for worship. One was as good as another, as valuable as the other.
The other subject was about dining. “He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God” (Ro 14:6). Again, there was a rub. The Jews lived for a long time with dietary restrictions.
Not the Gentiles. A prime rib was as good as a pig’s tongue. (You may have your opinion on one or both of those. I do having tasted both.) Or some couldn’t eat meat because it passed through the pagan temple on the way to the supermarket. So they didn’t.
So what is? Saturday or Sunday? Kosher meat or any kind of meat? Vegan or vegetarian? Paul gives two principles:
First: “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Ro 14:5). There has to be a careful thought process about the issue. Maybe it is good to repeat why we worship on Sunday (Acts 20:7). It takes us back to when Jesus came out of the grave, a “mini-Easter,” if you will, or a weekly anniversary of that event. We also happen to have settled on 9:30 AM as the starting time. That seems to work right now. Others have an earlier time. Others a later time. As long as we are certain that it makes sense. We can have special midweek services for Thanksgiving or Lent. When it comes to our nutrition, it can be free of gluten or full of it.
Second: He “does so to the Lord” (Ro 14:6) or he “gives thanks to God” (Ro 14:6). God gets the honor and appreciation for all that we do. And not just in here, but at home. Whatever we do, the spotlight shines on him (Mt. 5:16; 1 Co 10:31; Col 3:17). We express our gratitude to him for his grace to us.
No matter what and no matter when, we are the Lord’s. “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Ro 14:8). God bought us with the blood of his Son. God brought us into his family through baptism. And now, with every breath, we belong to the Lord. He allows us to inhale and exhale. And in every death, we belong to the Lord. It is not as Job’s wife proposed to her suffering spouse boldly and defiantly: “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). But as Stephen prayed quietly and confidently: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). There and then we will be with Jesus in Paradise (Lk 23:43)—just like here and now. Living or dying does not change our relationship with Jesus.
Paul takes us to Jesus’ empty tomb: “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living” (Ro 14:9). Jesus is above all and over all. His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave are proof that his sacrifice was sufficient to pay for our sins and rule in our lives.
We live to the Lord then in Christian liberty. We can eat what we want and drink what we want. That is, as long as it is not harmful to my body or my neighbor. We want to be sensitive to that. And as long as we are sure that God gets the praise.
2. In Christian love (7)
While not perfect, we have a country that is good. We can show respect to it in different ways. So it is in our church community. We live to the Lord in Christian love.
We are not loners. “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone” (Ro 14:7). Believers belong to the Lord and belong with one another.
This discussion is not theoretical, but practical. It doesn’t take too much convincing that we are sinners living with sinners. We sin against others and vice versa. God has forgiven that in Jesus. The psalmist David had us sing about that: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, … as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps 103:1,12).
Then the forgiven forgive. We can be like Joseph who did that with his brothers for selling him into slavery. (I have two brothers, doing that was not an option—at least not a possibility.) When they needed comfort, “he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” (Ge 50:21). He directed that to their suffering souls. “I forgive you as God forgives you.” And not one time, but again and again. In Jesus’ words: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22). And then with Jesus’ parable—the master who canceled billions of dollars in debt out of mercy. And then the opposite when the man couldn’t do that with an obligation of thousands. We live to the Lord in Christian love, imitating him as we send away sin as he does.
Some of us may be more emotional than others, at least outwardly as we wear it on our sleeves. And even at times we flirt with loneliness, we are not by ourselves. We have our faithful God and our fellow man. As we pass our time, we live to the Lord in Christian liberty—free to do what is pleasing to God—and in Christian love—forgiving as we have been forgiven. That is our life to our Savior. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
October 1, 2017
Emotions are real. You know that because you have them. Or better, you feel them—from the highs to the lows, and everywhere in between.
Emotions are also raw. Let’s take one as an example. Loneliness. Just mentioning that one probably hits your heart or strikes your stomach as you think of a time you have faced or are facing it. Or will. I read about an interesting study that found out that the part of our brain that becomes active when we contend with loneliness is the same place as when we deal with physical pain. Interesting.
But we are not alone. Our God is with us. And our God gives us family and friends. And we have each other. And as we go from day to day with that reminder, the apostle Paul also recalls that for us. We live to the Lord in Christian liberty and in Christian love. We read from …
Romans 14:5-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, who gives freedom from sin and freedom to serve,
The saying goes, “No man is an island.” I guess that is true. Look around. We are not by ourselves.
And since that is the case, I suppose that there are two ways to live:
For myself. It is all about me, me, me.
For my Savior. It is all about him, him, him.
Paul is clear on which one it is.
We Live to the Lord
1. In Christian liberty (5-9)
2. In Christian love (7)
1. In Christian liberty (5-9)
Now that it is the 1st of October, the 4th of July seems a distant memory. But the freedoms that we remember then are still relevant now. That is true not just as citizens of the United States, but also as citizens of the Christian church. The blessings of both are ongoing as make our way through life. We live to the Lord in Christian liberty.
As Paul takes up his pen in this section of his letter to the believers in Rome—a gathering of both Jews and Gentiles, he takes up the topic of “middle things”—that which God has not commanded nor forbidden in his Word. We usually refer to that as “adiaphora.” And then a choice between two things is not wrong (like what color of robe for the pastor or kind of car in the parking lot). Then we are free. Either one is acceptable—like deciding between two delicious entrees on a menu at a restaurant. You can’t go wrong. Paul cites two examples as it pertains to conscience.
The one area was about timing. “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike” (Ro 14:5). Perhaps we don’t get the tension. There were cultural differences. Think of it. For centuries, the Jews have worshipped on Saturday, the Sabbath Day, as God decreed (Ex 20:8). But that day of rest pointed ahead to Jesus (Col 2:16,17), the “Rest-giver” (Mt 11:28). That is no longer binding since Christ fulfilled the ceremonial law. But they couldn’t give that custom up overnight.
The Gentiles had no ties to a specific day so they choose Sunday as a day for worship. One was as good as another, as valuable as the other.
The other subject was about dining. “He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God” (Ro 14:6). Again, there was a rub. The Jews lived for a long time with dietary restrictions.
Not the Gentiles. A prime rib was as good as a pig’s tongue. (You may have your opinion on one or both of those. I do having tasted both.) Or some couldn’t eat meat because it passed through the pagan temple on the way to the supermarket. So they didn’t.
So what is? Saturday or Sunday? Kosher meat or any kind of meat? Vegan or vegetarian? Paul gives two principles:
First: “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Ro 14:5). There has to be a careful thought process about the issue. Maybe it is good to repeat why we worship on Sunday (Acts 20:7). It takes us back to when Jesus came out of the grave, a “mini-Easter,” if you will, or a weekly anniversary of that event. We also happen to have settled on 9:30 AM as the starting time. That seems to work right now. Others have an earlier time. Others a later time. As long as we are certain that it makes sense. We can have special midweek services for Thanksgiving or Lent. When it comes to our nutrition, it can be free of gluten or full of it.
Second: He “does so to the Lord” (Ro 14:6) or he “gives thanks to God” (Ro 14:6). God gets the honor and appreciation for all that we do. And not just in here, but at home. Whatever we do, the spotlight shines on him (Mt. 5:16; 1 Co 10:31; Col 3:17). We express our gratitude to him for his grace to us.
No matter what and no matter when, we are the Lord’s. “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Ro 14:8). God bought us with the blood of his Son. God brought us into his family through baptism. And now, with every breath, we belong to the Lord. He allows us to inhale and exhale. And in every death, we belong to the Lord. It is not as Job’s wife proposed to her suffering spouse boldly and defiantly: “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). But as Stephen prayed quietly and confidently: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). There and then we will be with Jesus in Paradise (Lk 23:43)—just like here and now. Living or dying does not change our relationship with Jesus.
Paul takes us to Jesus’ empty tomb: “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living” (Ro 14:9). Jesus is above all and over all. His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave are proof that his sacrifice was sufficient to pay for our sins and rule in our lives.
We live to the Lord then in Christian liberty. We can eat what we want and drink what we want. That is, as long as it is not harmful to my body or my neighbor. We want to be sensitive to that. And as long as we are sure that God gets the praise.
2. In Christian love (7)
While not perfect, we have a country that is good. We can show respect to it in different ways. So it is in our church community. We live to the Lord in Christian love.
We are not loners. “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone” (Ro 14:7). Believers belong to the Lord and belong with one another.
This discussion is not theoretical, but practical. It doesn’t take too much convincing that we are sinners living with sinners. We sin against others and vice versa. God has forgiven that in Jesus. The psalmist David had us sing about that: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, … as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Ps 103:1,12).
Then the forgiven forgive. We can be like Joseph who did that with his brothers for selling him into slavery. (I have two brothers, doing that was not an option—at least not a possibility.) When they needed comfort, “he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” (Ge 50:21). He directed that to their suffering souls. “I forgive you as God forgives you.” And not one time, but again and again. In Jesus’ words: “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22). And then with Jesus’ parable—the master who canceled billions of dollars in debt out of mercy. And then the opposite when the man couldn’t do that with an obligation of thousands. We live to the Lord in Christian love, imitating him as we send away sin as he does.
Some of us may be more emotional than others, at least outwardly as we wear it on our sleeves. And even at times we flirt with loneliness, we are not by ourselves. We have our faithful God and our fellow man. As we pass our time, we live to the Lord in Christian liberty—free to do what is pleasing to God—and in Christian love—forgiving as we have been forgiven. That is our life to our Savior. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
October 1, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Psalm 121)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
We use comparisons to make concepts clear. Take life, for example. How do you define it or how do describe it? Life is …? There is more to it than inhaling and exhaling—breathing air in and blowing it out (although certainly part of it as well as essential to it).
So we use a picture. Life is a marathon. That makes sense as we make our way from our earthly home to our eternal one. It is not a short burst like a sprint, but a long haul like a 26.2 mile race. And how often don’t we feel out of shape and out of breath? So we call, “Lord, save me!” (Mt 14:30). And he stretches out his hand. Or we cry, “Lord, help me!” (Mt 15:25). And he sends us healing. We turn to the Lord for our strength and support.
Or we could take a cue from the psalmist. Life is a pilgrimage. That may not be as common and might require some explanation. A pilgrimage is a trip that a pilgrim undertakes.
That fits with Psalm 121. It has the heading “A song of ascents” (Ps 121). It is one of a collection of songs that carries that title (Ps 120-134). The Israelites may have used these hymns as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of the great festivals on their calendar—Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles (Ex 34:24; Dt 16:16). That city was significant as they went there to worship. The temple was there—the visible presence of God among his people.
Obviously in the days before planes, trains, and automobiles, they did a lot of walking. And that could be hazardous. As they chanted, they were cheered. The Lord protects the pilgrim. That is true for us as we make our trek through life.
You go up to Jerusalem because it is like Denver, the mile high city. It is set on a high slope. It is not so strange that the psalmist starts by directing us to an elevation. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” (Ps 121:1). But that question is ambiguous as far as assistance is concerned. We might take that in two ways:
Mountains could be a source of danger—the home of wild animals or cruel robbers.
Mountains could be a symbol of security. Think of a fortress standing tall on a peak. That sounds like the assurance that the Lord extended to his struggling prophet: “I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD” (Je 15:20).
Which is it—concern or comfort?
We are not left guessing. “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He supplies what is needed. And note who he is.
He is “the LORD” (Ps 121:2) [5x in these verses]. His power does not crumble. His love does not erode. He does not change.
He is “the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He brought the world into existence. If he can create it, he can care for it. That goes for all he has made. You. Me.
That is helpful to remember on our pilgrimage. He is present. And he is not just willing, but able to provide and protect. I might want to fix your car, but I don’t have the capability. There is nothing above and beyond “the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). Not even our sin as he sends the guilt away.
The rest of the verses are an ascending promise of protection for the pilgrim.
“He will not let your foot slip” (Ps 121:3). We have all tripped. That can be embarrassing. Especially when it is on a smooth surface like the living room carpet. That does not mean that the Lord has tripped up. How can we be so confident? “He who watches over you will not slumber” (Ps 121:3). Sleep is a blessing for us. It refreshes us and restores us. We require it, even request it. But not God. There is no power nap. There is no nodding off. He never stops watching. (That verb comes up 6x in this section. [It is translated either “watch” or “keep.”]) The Lord has his attention on us always and in all ways. And not as a casual spectator like when you watch a TV like a person getting supper ready, but as a concerned protector like a mother bending over the crib of her newborn to see if he is hungry or why he is hurting. And he is not some internet hacker trying to get your personal information or tracker who wants to extend your customer loyalty with pop up ads. But he is an intense guardian and guide.
The psalmist emphasizes that. It is almost as if he says, “Hey, look at this:” “Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps 121:4). There is no quick siesta. There are no eyes closing for the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. He is taking care of us carefully, intently, and diligently.
“The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Ps 121:5,6). Israel is hot and sunny (kind of like Minnesota the second week of September this year). Cover is crucial when that fiery orb is in the sky. Exposure to the UV waves is not safe. Those who struggle with skin cancer because of pasty white skin instead of golden brown thus keeping dermatologists in business are very aware of that. So they put on sunscreen that is the consistency of mud. All to be sheltered from the harmful rays from the sun. But there is something worse—sin cancer. And it is deadly. But Jesus put himself between us and God to spare us the fatal reality our offences. That is why Jesus was so specific about his work as the Christ. “Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt 16:21). The Father caused our sin to strike his Son in our place. He endured the intense heat of punishment for us on the cross. Jesus has taken the awful affects away. He came out of the grave to prove it. Through Jesus we are protected from more than the real damage of sunburn or imagined threat from moonbeams.
“The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (Ps 121:7). Maybe we have a question about that, specifically when we consider the recent natural disasters in the form of hurricanes. There has been devastation, if not death. What about that?, we wonder. But just because we don’t see the truth of that doesn’t mean it is not true. I may not understand that it is September 17th today. That doesn’t change the reality of the calendar. It is important for us to recall that the Lord can hold off evil or hold us up in evil (Ps 91: 9,10; Ro 8:28). But keep in mind that when we frequently pray, “Deliver us from evil,” he will ultimately answer that as he welcomes us to the place prepared at his side in heaven.
In the meantime, we now use our moments and our days as the apostle Paul encouraged us to serve him. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Ro 12:1).
And he is by us to bless us. “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Ps 121:8). The Jew had come to Jerusalem and now was returning home. How special that thought was as he left the capital behind. Only one day to revisit. The Lord observes every step we take, perhaps going back all the way to our baptism when he adopted us into his family through baptism like he did with Stetson this morning, until we step into the perfect dwelling in paradise. The Lord watches over our coming and going both now and forevermore. That is because the Lord protects the pilgrim, even if life is a marathon.
We read from Psalm 121:1-8:
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (Ro 16:20). Amen.
September 17, 2017
We use comparisons to make concepts clear. Take life, for example. How do you define it or how do describe it? Life is …? There is more to it than inhaling and exhaling—breathing air in and blowing it out (although certainly part of it as well as essential to it).
So we use a picture. Life is a marathon. That makes sense as we make our way from our earthly home to our eternal one. It is not a short burst like a sprint, but a long haul like a 26.2 mile race. And how often don’t we feel out of shape and out of breath? So we call, “Lord, save me!” (Mt 14:30). And he stretches out his hand. Or we cry, “Lord, help me!” (Mt 15:25). And he sends us healing. We turn to the Lord for our strength and support.
Or we could take a cue from the psalmist. Life is a pilgrimage. That may not be as common and might require some explanation. A pilgrimage is a trip that a pilgrim undertakes.
That fits with Psalm 121. It has the heading “A song of ascents” (Ps 121). It is one of a collection of songs that carries that title (Ps 120-134). The Israelites may have used these hymns as they journeyed to Jerusalem for one of the great festivals on their calendar—Passover, Pentecost, or Tabernacles (Ex 34:24; Dt 16:16). That city was significant as they went there to worship. The temple was there—the visible presence of God among his people.
Obviously in the days before planes, trains, and automobiles, they did a lot of walking. And that could be hazardous. As they chanted, they were cheered. The Lord protects the pilgrim. That is true for us as we make our trek through life.
You go up to Jerusalem because it is like Denver, the mile high city. It is set on a high slope. It is not so strange that the psalmist starts by directing us to an elevation. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?” (Ps 121:1). But that question is ambiguous as far as assistance is concerned. We might take that in two ways:
Mountains could be a source of danger—the home of wild animals or cruel robbers.
Mountains could be a symbol of security. Think of a fortress standing tall on a peak. That sounds like the assurance that the Lord extended to his struggling prophet: “I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD” (Je 15:20).
Which is it—concern or comfort?
We are not left guessing. “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He supplies what is needed. And note who he is.
He is “the LORD” (Ps 121:2) [5x in these verses]. His power does not crumble. His love does not erode. He does not change.
He is “the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). He brought the world into existence. If he can create it, he can care for it. That goes for all he has made. You. Me.
That is helpful to remember on our pilgrimage. He is present. And he is not just willing, but able to provide and protect. I might want to fix your car, but I don’t have the capability. There is nothing above and beyond “the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:2). Not even our sin as he sends the guilt away.
The rest of the verses are an ascending promise of protection for the pilgrim.
“He will not let your foot slip” (Ps 121:3). We have all tripped. That can be embarrassing. Especially when it is on a smooth surface like the living room carpet. That does not mean that the Lord has tripped up. How can we be so confident? “He who watches over you will not slumber” (Ps 121:3). Sleep is a blessing for us. It refreshes us and restores us. We require it, even request it. But not God. There is no power nap. There is no nodding off. He never stops watching. (That verb comes up 6x in this section. [It is translated either “watch” or “keep.”]) The Lord has his attention on us always and in all ways. And not as a casual spectator like when you watch a TV like a person getting supper ready, but as a concerned protector like a mother bending over the crib of her newborn to see if he is hungry or why he is hurting. And he is not some internet hacker trying to get your personal information or tracker who wants to extend your customer loyalty with pop up ads. But he is an intense guardian and guide.
The psalmist emphasizes that. It is almost as if he says, “Hey, look at this:” “Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps 121:4). There is no quick siesta. There are no eyes closing for the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. He is taking care of us carefully, intently, and diligently.
“The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Ps 121:5,6). Israel is hot and sunny (kind of like Minnesota the second week of September this year). Cover is crucial when that fiery orb is in the sky. Exposure to the UV waves is not safe. Those who struggle with skin cancer because of pasty white skin instead of golden brown thus keeping dermatologists in business are very aware of that. So they put on sunscreen that is the consistency of mud. All to be sheltered from the harmful rays from the sun. But there is something worse—sin cancer. And it is deadly. But Jesus put himself between us and God to spare us the fatal reality our offences. That is why Jesus was so specific about his work as the Christ. “Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt 16:21). The Father caused our sin to strike his Son in our place. He endured the intense heat of punishment for us on the cross. Jesus has taken the awful affects away. He came out of the grave to prove it. Through Jesus we are protected from more than the real damage of sunburn or imagined threat from moonbeams.
“The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (Ps 121:7). Maybe we have a question about that, specifically when we consider the recent natural disasters in the form of hurricanes. There has been devastation, if not death. What about that?, we wonder. But just because we don’t see the truth of that doesn’t mean it is not true. I may not understand that it is September 17th today. That doesn’t change the reality of the calendar. It is important for us to recall that the Lord can hold off evil or hold us up in evil (Ps 91: 9,10; Ro 8:28). But keep in mind that when we frequently pray, “Deliver us from evil,” he will ultimately answer that as he welcomes us to the place prepared at his side in heaven.
In the meantime, we now use our moments and our days as the apostle Paul encouraged us to serve him. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Ro 12:1).
And he is by us to bless us. “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Ps 121:8). The Jew had come to Jerusalem and now was returning home. How special that thought was as he left the capital behind. Only one day to revisit. The Lord observes every step we take, perhaps going back all the way to our baptism when he adopted us into his family through baptism like he did with Stetson this morning, until we step into the perfect dwelling in paradise. The Lord watches over our coming and going both now and forevermore. That is because the Lord protects the pilgrim, even if life is a marathon.
We read from Psalm 121:1-8:
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (Ro 16:20). Amen.
September 17, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 16:13-20)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Like it or not (and it is usually not), the fact of back to school soon sets in. All too quickly the eagerness to see old friends and the excitement to sport new clothes gives way to the reality of academics and the rigors of homework. Mix in some late nights and lost sleep and it gets old fast. And then, sooner or later, there are tests.
But here is the thing. Tests are not bad. There might be those who want to argue that point—specifically when they have one scheduled. But it is good to review notes and to reflect knowledge. Especially when you know the right answers.
It was test time for the disciples. Jesus and company were in northern Israel near the headwaters of the Jordan River (kind of like Lake Itasca is to the Mississippi River). They were away from the crowds—not for recreation, but for education. When they arrived at “the region of Caesarea Philippi” (Mt 15:13), Jesus quizzed them.
There were two questions. The first was: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). Jesus isn’t panicking as if he cared about his approval rating. He isn’t going through a mid-ministry crisis as if he is concerned about failure. He was open about who he was—“the Son of Man.” That was his favorite designation for himself. He was true man, identifying with those he came to save—living under the law and one day dying on the cross. But he was also true God, indicated by the Scriptures (Da 7:13). He was affirming that fact—God in flesh.
Jesus was probing. Did others get it? Did his faithful band grasp it? He wanted the 12 to do some comparing, or really some contrasting.
It doesn’t appear that they had to think for long because folks were talking. The responses came immediately. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Mt 16:14). That sounds like a multiple choice offering on an exam. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) John the Baptist (cf. Mt 14:2)
b) Elijah
c) Jeremiah
d) one of the prophets
At first glance, that is not a bad list. If you are an aspiring pro athlete, you don’t mind being mentioned in the same sentence as a LeBron James or a Tom Brady. But Jesus was more, much more, than another man. The interesting thing about those possibilities is that it would have required someone coming back from the dead.
And while they are flattering, they are still faulty. Those men were not the Christ.
a) John the Baptist made clear that was not the case (Jn 1:20). But he made known who was, Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
b) Elijah turned the people back to God so that they could cry, “The LORD—he is God. The LORD—he is God” (1 Ki 18:39).
c) Jeremiah wrote about the “The LORD Our Righteousness” (Je 23:6). The One who would come would cover all with his perfection, his holiness.
d) The same is the case for prophet after prophet, spokesmen for and from God, who predicted the One who was to come.
In other words, we would have to choose e—none of the above. Of course, we have to add that letter to the list. (You can’t do that in school.) This is a pass/fail question. There is no grading scale of A-F, with some plusses and minuses in between. The people got an “F.”
Many do not fare much better today when they consider who Jesus is. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) a good teacher who spoke about compassion
b) a grand philosopher who talked about issues
c) a merciful humanitarian who pushed for kindness
d) a magnificent physician who cared about illnesses
Those might be examples of individuals thinking well of Jesus or highly of him. But not well enough or highly enough. “F.”
Then question number two, the critical one. It comes down to this: “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). They had been with Jesus for two years. What had they observed as he preached sermons? What had they absorbed as he performed miracles?
Peter was ready. He rose to the occasion. There was no mistaken identity like when you think you recognize someone at the store, but when you greet them, you get embarrassed because you have tapped on the shoulder of a complete stranger. And you have to apologize. Not so with Peter. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). And he was right. (Every once in a while he had a shining moment when shooting off his mouth.) That can only be the result of being around Jesus. Like a familiar meal, the psalmist encouraged us as we spend time with God: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps 34:8).
The Apostle Peter’s Creed was straightforward and spot-on as much as it was elegant and essential.
“You are the Christ” (Mt 16:16). That is, the Messiah, the Anointed One—the One who would be the Prophet to herald God’s Word in truth, the Priest to shed his blood in death, the King to establish his rule of peace. That was his work. The LORD held to his covenant, his agreement, to Moses and the Children of Israel: “I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Ex 6:8). That is where ultimately the Messiah would call home.
“The Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). That is, true God. That is his person. He is alive and active, who gives physical and spiritual life. He fulfilled the law perfectly and his death counts universally.
If that was what Peter would have scribbled on a piece of paper for a short answer question, he would have gotten an “A.”
But Jesus reminds him that Peter did come up with that on his own, figuring it out after some careful and concentrated study. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Mt 16:17). That kind of knowledge was above him and beyond him. Flesh and blood cannot impart that. But the Father can instill that. He uncovers that like a teacher unveils new math facts to his students. He has done the same as the Holy Spirit allows us to call Jesus “Lord” (1 Co 12:3; Explanation of Third Article). That is completely and entirely a gift of God.
Matthew records this assessment, intending for us to stand beside those men. “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). We don’t have to sweat or squirm. As Jesus inquires, we echo Peter. It is short and simple admission: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). “You are the promised Savior who hung on the cross and headed out of the grave. For me.” The faith that God carefully created in our hearts confidently comes out of our mouths (Ro 10:10). Know the right answer about the Christ—true God, true man, who took on our sin to take away our guilt. We get an “A.”
There was more to Jesus’ lesson plan. The rest is lecture. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus uses a play on word in the original. The name “Peter” does mean “rock,” like a stone. But Jesus isn’t planning on constructing his church on a person, but on his profession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the rock, like bedrock (Mt 16:16), something solid that will support a foundation like a family home or a downtown skyscraper (Mt 7:24,25).
Peter did not always live up to his name. He could be more sandy than sturdy like when he failed to see why Jesus had to go to the cross or when he fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 16:22; 26:40). But the strength was in his confession. And note two important words—“I” and “my.” “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Know the right answer about the church. It belongs to Jesus and he blesses it.
Jesus brought the church into existence. He will be with it for eternity. So much so that Jesus could contend: “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). Hell itself will not be powerful enough to withstand such an acknowledgment. Despite what it seemed then or now as enemies launch their attacks, those called out of darkness will defeat the devil. And with thrilling success. We can march out and march on to free those who are held captive by Satan. And the church will not fail. “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). That is Jesus’ promise.
That is because of the message that Jesus mentions: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Jesus uses an illustration that is easy to understand as we proclaim the good news about him. A key locks and unlocks, or “binds” or “looses.”
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who hold on to their sin, they are not forgiven. They retain their sin. That is the law. Heaven is bolted shut.
“Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who come clean about their sin, they are forgiven. Jesus removes their sin. That is the gospel. Heaven is blocked open.
That is a right that a pastor has and a responsibility that we all have (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:21,22). By Jesus’ authority we declare God’s judgment or dispense God’s grace. We speak in his place. Know the right answer about the church. It announces what comes from Jesus—not forgiven or forgiven.
At first Jesus’ strict warning strikes us as strange: “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ” (Mt 16:20). But there was reason for it. People certainly had definite misunderstandings and the disciples occasionally had different ideas about who the Christ was.
Jesus was not an earthly King, but a heavenly One. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that these men go out as true witnesses of the Christ to spread the message about him (Acts 1:8).
We now join the disciples now as the Christian Church broadcasts the Christ (Acts 11:26)—the one and only Savior—to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Know the right answer about the Church. It points to Christ who hands us freedom from sin.
At times there is anxiousness or anxiety when it comes to tests in school. Did I catch enough from the day before? Did I cram enough the night before? There is no need for that because we know the right answer about the Christ—he is the Son of the living God. And we know the right answer about the church. It will not falter because Christ will not let it fall as it publicizes free forgiveness in him. See, tests are not bad when you have the right answers. And you do. “To him be the glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:36).
We read from Matthew 16:13-20:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 10, 2017
Like it or not (and it is usually not), the fact of back to school soon sets in. All too quickly the eagerness to see old friends and the excitement to sport new clothes gives way to the reality of academics and the rigors of homework. Mix in some late nights and lost sleep and it gets old fast. And then, sooner or later, there are tests.
But here is the thing. Tests are not bad. There might be those who want to argue that point—specifically when they have one scheduled. But it is good to review notes and to reflect knowledge. Especially when you know the right answers.
It was test time for the disciples. Jesus and company were in northern Israel near the headwaters of the Jordan River (kind of like Lake Itasca is to the Mississippi River). They were away from the crowds—not for recreation, but for education. When they arrived at “the region of Caesarea Philippi” (Mt 15:13), Jesus quizzed them.
There were two questions. The first was: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). Jesus isn’t panicking as if he cared about his approval rating. He isn’t going through a mid-ministry crisis as if he is concerned about failure. He was open about who he was—“the Son of Man.” That was his favorite designation for himself. He was true man, identifying with those he came to save—living under the law and one day dying on the cross. But he was also true God, indicated by the Scriptures (Da 7:13). He was affirming that fact—God in flesh.
Jesus was probing. Did others get it? Did his faithful band grasp it? He wanted the 12 to do some comparing, or really some contrasting.
It doesn’t appear that they had to think for long because folks were talking. The responses came immediately. “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Mt 16:14). That sounds like a multiple choice offering on an exam. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) John the Baptist (cf. Mt 14:2)
b) Elijah
c) Jeremiah
d) one of the prophets
At first glance, that is not a bad list. If you are an aspiring pro athlete, you don’t mind being mentioned in the same sentence as a LeBron James or a Tom Brady. But Jesus was more, much more, than another man. The interesting thing about those possibilities is that it would have required someone coming back from the dead.
And while they are flattering, they are still faulty. Those men were not the Christ.
a) John the Baptist made clear that was not the case (Jn 1:20). But he made known who was, Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
b) Elijah turned the people back to God so that they could cry, “The LORD—he is God. The LORD—he is God” (1 Ki 18:39).
c) Jeremiah wrote about the “The LORD Our Righteousness” (Je 23:6). The One who would come would cover all with his perfection, his holiness.
d) The same is the case for prophet after prophet, spokesmen for and from God, who predicted the One who was to come.
In other words, we would have to choose e—none of the above. Of course, we have to add that letter to the list. (You can’t do that in school.) This is a pass/fail question. There is no grading scale of A-F, with some plusses and minuses in between. The people got an “F.”
Many do not fare much better today when they consider who Jesus is. Jesus, the Son of Man, is …
a) a good teacher who spoke about compassion
b) a grand philosopher who talked about issues
c) a merciful humanitarian who pushed for kindness
d) a magnificent physician who cared about illnesses
Those might be examples of individuals thinking well of Jesus or highly of him. But not well enough or highly enough. “F.”
Then question number two, the critical one. It comes down to this: “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). They had been with Jesus for two years. What had they observed as he preached sermons? What had they absorbed as he performed miracles?
Peter was ready. He rose to the occasion. There was no mistaken identity like when you think you recognize someone at the store, but when you greet them, you get embarrassed because you have tapped on the shoulder of a complete stranger. And you have to apologize. Not so with Peter. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). And he was right. (Every once in a while he had a shining moment when shooting off his mouth.) That can only be the result of being around Jesus. Like a familiar meal, the psalmist encouraged us as we spend time with God: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps 34:8).
The Apostle Peter’s Creed was straightforward and spot-on as much as it was elegant and essential.
“You are the Christ” (Mt 16:16). That is, the Messiah, the Anointed One—the One who would be the Prophet to herald God’s Word in truth, the Priest to shed his blood in death, the King to establish his rule of peace. That was his work. The LORD held to his covenant, his agreement, to Moses and the Children of Israel: “I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Ex 6:8). That is where ultimately the Messiah would call home.
“The Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). That is, true God. That is his person. He is alive and active, who gives physical and spiritual life. He fulfilled the law perfectly and his death counts universally.
If that was what Peter would have scribbled on a piece of paper for a short answer question, he would have gotten an “A.”
But Jesus reminds him that Peter did come up with that on his own, figuring it out after some careful and concentrated study. “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Mt 16:17). That kind of knowledge was above him and beyond him. Flesh and blood cannot impart that. But the Father can instill that. He uncovers that like a teacher unveils new math facts to his students. He has done the same as the Holy Spirit allows us to call Jesus “Lord” (1 Co 12:3; Explanation of Third Article). That is completely and entirely a gift of God.
Matthew records this assessment, intending for us to stand beside those men. “But what about you? … Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15). We don’t have to sweat or squirm. As Jesus inquires, we echo Peter. It is short and simple admission: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). “You are the promised Savior who hung on the cross and headed out of the grave. For me.” The faith that God carefully created in our hearts confidently comes out of our mouths (Ro 10:10). Know the right answer about the Christ—true God, true man, who took on our sin to take away our guilt. We get an “A.”
There was more to Jesus’ lesson plan. The rest is lecture. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Jesus uses a play on word in the original. The name “Peter” does mean “rock,” like a stone. But Jesus isn’t planning on constructing his church on a person, but on his profession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” is the rock, like bedrock (Mt 16:16), something solid that will support a foundation like a family home or a downtown skyscraper (Mt 7:24,25).
Peter did not always live up to his name. He could be more sandy than sturdy like when he failed to see why Jesus had to go to the cross or when he fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 16:22; 26:40). But the strength was in his confession. And note two important words—“I” and “my.” “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). Know the right answer about the church. It belongs to Jesus and he blesses it.
Jesus brought the church into existence. He will be with it for eternity. So much so that Jesus could contend: “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). Hell itself will not be powerful enough to withstand such an acknowledgment. Despite what it seemed then or now as enemies launch their attacks, those called out of darkness will defeat the devil. And with thrilling success. We can march out and march on to free those who are held captive by Satan. And the church will not fail. “And the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Mt 16:18). That is Jesus’ promise.
That is because of the message that Jesus mentions: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Jesus uses an illustration that is easy to understand as we proclaim the good news about him. A key locks and unlocks, or “binds” or “looses.”
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who hold on to their sin, they are not forgiven. They retain their sin. That is the law. Heaven is bolted shut.
“Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19). Those who come clean about their sin, they are forgiven. Jesus removes their sin. That is the gospel. Heaven is blocked open.
That is a right that a pastor has and a responsibility that we all have (Mt 18:18; Jn 20:21,22). By Jesus’ authority we declare God’s judgment or dispense God’s grace. We speak in his place. Know the right answer about the church. It announces what comes from Jesus—not forgiven or forgiven.
At first Jesus’ strict warning strikes us as strange: “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ” (Mt 16:20). But there was reason for it. People certainly had definite misunderstandings and the disciples occasionally had different ideas about who the Christ was.
Jesus was not an earthly King, but a heavenly One. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that these men go out as true witnesses of the Christ to spread the message about him (Acts 1:8).
We now join the disciples now as the Christian Church broadcasts the Christ (Acts 11:26)—the one and only Savior—to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Know the right answer about the Church. It points to Christ who hands us freedom from sin.
At times there is anxiousness or anxiety when it comes to tests in school. Did I catch enough from the day before? Did I cram enough the night before? There is no need for that because we know the right answer about the Christ—he is the Son of the living God. And we know the right answer about the church. It will not falter because Christ will not let it fall as it publicizes free forgiveness in him. See, tests are not bad when you have the right answers. And you do. “To him be the glory forever! Amen (Ro 11:36).
We read from Matthew 16:13-20:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 10, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 15:21-28)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Tomorrow is Labor Day. It is more than the unofficial end of summer. (That is usually when school starts. For some of you that has already happened.) The holiday was set up to celebrate the accomplishments of American workers. We are certainly grateful for the contributions that employers and employees have made to the strength and well-being of our country. But we are also thankful to God for the abilities and talents that he gives us to earn a living and to make an impact—whether great or small (Explanation to First Article). We work together for the benefit of society.
But what about the things that we can’t do? And the list is long. What then? We turn to someone else. That is what the Canaanite woman did. And so do we. Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might. We read from …
Matthew 15:21-28
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our merciful and mighty Savior,
I am sure that you have seen some footage of the damage, if not the destruction, of Hurricane Harvey. It is hard to imagine a deluge of 40 to 50 inches of rain in such a short time. We are not talking about looking at a light rain from your living room. But sitting on your roof staring at the high water.
If you were to find yourself perched on top of your home, I would guess that it would be a horrible feeling. What could you do but wait for help—from a helicopter flying overhead or boat passing by? That is the only way you are getting to safety.
Perhaps that what that woman in the area of north of Israel felt like—hopeless. We probably can identify with her. When it is critical, like her, we cry out with a short prayer:
Lord, Help Me!
1. In your mercy (21-25)
2. With your might (26-28)
1. In your mercy (21-25)
When in trouble, we want someone to be concerned. If we are sick, a doctor can have a cold stethoscope as long as he has a warm heart. That is mercy—seeing a need and being moved to help. That is how Jesus deals with us when we say, “Lord, help me in your mercy.”
Jesus’ enemies were relentless with their attacks. Responding to them prevented Jesus from teaching his disciples. So he took action: “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Mt 15:21). Those cities were located a bit north and west of Israel. It wasn’t for a quick vacation, but for some quiet instruction.
But it didn’t last long. Matthew draws our attention to an interesting individual. “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him” (Mt 15:22). It wasn’t just the unbelieving area she was from, but the unexpected address from her mouth. This Gentile was calling out, and not in a whisper: “Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). Jesus was the Lord—all-powerful, yet all-loving. In spite of the idolatry of her neighbors, she knew the identity of Jesus as the promised descendant of David who was to come to release the world from sin (2 Sa 7:11ff.). She certainly fits the description of the ones whom Isaiah described: “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him” (Is 56:6). God had gathered her to himself (Is 56:8).
She explained what she wanted. “Have mercy on me!” (Mt 15:22). She pleads for pity. And she expressed why she wanted that. “My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” (Mt 15:22). The devil had a cruel hold on this girl—in whatever form it took. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with this woman. No mom and no dad like to see their child suffer even a skinned knee. It breaks their hearts. How much more this?
And that is how we approach Jesus. It is not to brag about something, but to beg for everything. We echoed her words earlier, “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us” (CW p. 15). And we didn’t have to wait for it or wonder about it. “God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us” (CW p. 16). And then we heard of how God sends away our sin because Jesus satisfied God’s anger and sacrificed himself. Lord, help me in your mercy because of my sin. And he does through his Son.
But it didn’t appear to be the case with this Canaanite. “Jesus did not answer a word” (Mt 15:23). Not one syllable. That strikes us as strange. Silence. That would be like a person who keeps rowing in his canoe past a person sitting up on his shingles who yells, “Hey, I’m up here. Over here.” That is cold and calloused. But Jesus knew what he was doing.
The twelve couldn’t take her persistence any longer. (She is worthy of our admiration and imitation.) “So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us’” (Mt 15:23). She was not going to take “no.” They were tired of her being behind them, going after them and groveling. It is hard to tell if they wanted to get rid of the demon or just the distraction. This was getting annoying.
Then Jesus replied with this statement—not even to her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Mt 15:24). That was a summary of Jesus’ personal ministry even though he came to save the whole world. Salvation for the Jews then would go from the Jews. It was never at the expense of the Gentiles. As the apostle Paul reminded the Romans that God’s mercy is on all (Ro 9:32). But in a sense it seemed as if Jesus didn’t care. We could compare it to the mommy who chases down a doctor in the parking lot and he replies to his buddies with him: “I only care for those who have an appointment.”
The Canaanite woman did not come back with a “how dare you talk to me and treat me that way.” Instead of being insulted, she was insistent: “The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt 15:25).
Have you been there? You pour out your heart and Jesus puts you off? He is more of a stranger than a shepherd. It may look like that but it is not like that. Instead of lashing out at him in anger, we can look to him in humility. We head to the cross to remember his love and his mercy. We return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Pe 2:25). The One who takes away our guilt turns his attention to us. Lord, help me with your mercy. And it is there. We hang on to him like that Canaanite in trust. He is not against us, but for us (Ro 8:31).
2. With your might (26-28)
When in turmoil, we want someone to be competent. The doctor is to write the correct prescription or recommend some physical therapy to get us back among the healthy. Jesus is there with his muscle when we state, “Lord, help me with your might.”
Finally Jesus speaks to this woman on her face at his feet. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (Mt 15:26). Some definitely spoil their four-legged friends. But not at the expense of their kids. It would be out of line to feed the family pet what is intended for the rest of the family. That is not proper or appropriate.
This is not an insult but an invitation. Jesus is not thinking of a dog roaming in the streets, but one staying in the house. And she picked up on it. His comment was correct. It is true that children sit at the table and dogs under it.
But it can happen that a tidbit or two may accidentally be dropped or intentionally be tossed. “Yes, Lord, … but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Mt 15:27). She understood her position. And she wanted just the scraps. Those who have a furry animal know that they can be relentless in their quest for a potato chip or French fry at supper. They stand and stare and stare and stare until something makes its way to the floor (but not for long). The woman was persistent too. She reminds us of Jacob who wrestled with the Lord and refused to let him go until God blessed him (Ge 32:26). And he did with him.
And with her. “‘Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Mt 15:28). Jesus demonstrated his immediate and immense power to help and to heal. At once the girl was cured of her demon possession. “Help me, Lord, with your might.” And he did from a distance.
Our plea is the same. Far too often we accuse Jesus of a “crumby” deal instead of appreciating his total control. As the psalmist reminded us, the Lord is “Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 134:3). If he can call it into existence, he can care for it. And for us. Jesus may remove our problem in a situation or he may refresh our strength along our path. He is aware of how and when to bless us—even under the table.
And then the Lord can compliment the very thing that he has created just like that lady, “You have great faith!” (Mt 15:28). It reaches a high level because of the object of the confidence—Jesus. “Lord, help me with your might.” And he is there. We hold on to him like the Canaanite woman. And he gives us his ear and gives us a hand in his way and according to his will.
The first Monday in September is a reminder of the contributions of the workforce to our nation no matter what the occupation or profession. We especially think of the rescue workers in southern Texas toiling long and hard, battling the floodwaters. As we commemorate Labor Day, we don’t work for one day and take the rest of the year off. In fact, most people don’t have to punch in tomorrow. We labor for the Lord and that is never in vain (Col 3:23; 1 Co 15:58). And he is by us to benefit us in anything and with everything. So we pray boldly, “Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might.” It shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 3, 2017
Tomorrow is Labor Day. It is more than the unofficial end of summer. (That is usually when school starts. For some of you that has already happened.) The holiday was set up to celebrate the accomplishments of American workers. We are certainly grateful for the contributions that employers and employees have made to the strength and well-being of our country. But we are also thankful to God for the abilities and talents that he gives us to earn a living and to make an impact—whether great or small (Explanation to First Article). We work together for the benefit of society.
But what about the things that we can’t do? And the list is long. What then? We turn to someone else. That is what the Canaanite woman did. And so do we. Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might. We read from …
Matthew 15:21-28
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our merciful and mighty Savior,
I am sure that you have seen some footage of the damage, if not the destruction, of Hurricane Harvey. It is hard to imagine a deluge of 40 to 50 inches of rain in such a short time. We are not talking about looking at a light rain from your living room. But sitting on your roof staring at the high water.
If you were to find yourself perched on top of your home, I would guess that it would be a horrible feeling. What could you do but wait for help—from a helicopter flying overhead or boat passing by? That is the only way you are getting to safety.
Perhaps that what that woman in the area of north of Israel felt like—hopeless. We probably can identify with her. When it is critical, like her, we cry out with a short prayer:
Lord, Help Me!
1. In your mercy (21-25)
2. With your might (26-28)
1. In your mercy (21-25)
When in trouble, we want someone to be concerned. If we are sick, a doctor can have a cold stethoscope as long as he has a warm heart. That is mercy—seeing a need and being moved to help. That is how Jesus deals with us when we say, “Lord, help me in your mercy.”
Jesus’ enemies were relentless with their attacks. Responding to them prevented Jesus from teaching his disciples. So he took action: “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Mt 15:21). Those cities were located a bit north and west of Israel. It wasn’t for a quick vacation, but for some quiet instruction.
But it didn’t last long. Matthew draws our attention to an interesting individual. “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him” (Mt 15:22). It wasn’t just the unbelieving area she was from, but the unexpected address from her mouth. This Gentile was calling out, and not in a whisper: “Lord, Son of David” (Mt 15:22). Jesus was the Lord—all-powerful, yet all-loving. In spite of the idolatry of her neighbors, she knew the identity of Jesus as the promised descendant of David who was to come to release the world from sin (2 Sa 7:11ff.). She certainly fits the description of the ones whom Isaiah described: “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him” (Is 56:6). God had gathered her to himself (Is 56:8).
She explained what she wanted. “Have mercy on me!” (Mt 15:22). She pleads for pity. And she expressed why she wanted that. “My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” (Mt 15:22). The devil had a cruel hold on this girl—in whatever form it took. Anyone who is a parent can sympathize with this woman. No mom and no dad like to see their child suffer even a skinned knee. It breaks their hearts. How much more this?
And that is how we approach Jesus. It is not to brag about something, but to beg for everything. We echoed her words earlier, “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us” (CW p. 15). And we didn’t have to wait for it or wonder about it. “God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us” (CW p. 16). And then we heard of how God sends away our sin because Jesus satisfied God’s anger and sacrificed himself. Lord, help me in your mercy because of my sin. And he does through his Son.
But it didn’t appear to be the case with this Canaanite. “Jesus did not answer a word” (Mt 15:23). Not one syllable. That strikes us as strange. Silence. That would be like a person who keeps rowing in his canoe past a person sitting up on his shingles who yells, “Hey, I’m up here. Over here.” That is cold and calloused. But Jesus knew what he was doing.
The twelve couldn’t take her persistence any longer. (She is worthy of our admiration and imitation.) “So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us’” (Mt 15:23). She was not going to take “no.” They were tired of her being behind them, going after them and groveling. It is hard to tell if they wanted to get rid of the demon or just the distraction. This was getting annoying.
Then Jesus replied with this statement—not even to her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Mt 15:24). That was a summary of Jesus’ personal ministry even though he came to save the whole world. Salvation for the Jews then would go from the Jews. It was never at the expense of the Gentiles. As the apostle Paul reminded the Romans that God’s mercy is on all (Ro 9:32). But in a sense it seemed as if Jesus didn’t care. We could compare it to the mommy who chases down a doctor in the parking lot and he replies to his buddies with him: “I only care for those who have an appointment.”
The Canaanite woman did not come back with a “how dare you talk to me and treat me that way.” Instead of being insulted, she was insistent: “The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt 15:25).
Have you been there? You pour out your heart and Jesus puts you off? He is more of a stranger than a shepherd. It may look like that but it is not like that. Instead of lashing out at him in anger, we can look to him in humility. We head to the cross to remember his love and his mercy. We return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1 Pe 2:25). The One who takes away our guilt turns his attention to us. Lord, help me with your mercy. And it is there. We hang on to him like that Canaanite in trust. He is not against us, but for us (Ro 8:31).
2. With your might (26-28)
When in turmoil, we want someone to be competent. The doctor is to write the correct prescription or recommend some physical therapy to get us back among the healthy. Jesus is there with his muscle when we state, “Lord, help me with your might.”
Finally Jesus speaks to this woman on her face at his feet. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (Mt 15:26). Some definitely spoil their four-legged friends. But not at the expense of their kids. It would be out of line to feed the family pet what is intended for the rest of the family. That is not proper or appropriate.
This is not an insult but an invitation. Jesus is not thinking of a dog roaming in the streets, but one staying in the house. And she picked up on it. His comment was correct. It is true that children sit at the table and dogs under it.
But it can happen that a tidbit or two may accidentally be dropped or intentionally be tossed. “Yes, Lord, … but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Mt 15:27). She understood her position. And she wanted just the scraps. Those who have a furry animal know that they can be relentless in their quest for a potato chip or French fry at supper. They stand and stare and stare and stare until something makes its way to the floor (but not for long). The woman was persistent too. She reminds us of Jacob who wrestled with the Lord and refused to let him go until God blessed him (Ge 32:26). And he did with him.
And with her. “‘Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Mt 15:28). Jesus demonstrated his immediate and immense power to help and to heal. At once the girl was cured of her demon possession. “Help me, Lord, with your might.” And he did from a distance.
Our plea is the same. Far too often we accuse Jesus of a “crumby” deal instead of appreciating his total control. As the psalmist reminded us, the Lord is “Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 134:3). If he can call it into existence, he can care for it. And for us. Jesus may remove our problem in a situation or he may refresh our strength along our path. He is aware of how and when to bless us—even under the table.
And then the Lord can compliment the very thing that he has created just like that lady, “You have great faith!” (Mt 15:28). It reaches a high level because of the object of the confidence—Jesus. “Lord, help me with your might.” And he is there. We hold on to him like the Canaanite woman. And he gives us his ear and gives us a hand in his way and according to his will.
The first Monday in September is a reminder of the contributions of the workforce to our nation no matter what the occupation or profession. We especially think of the rescue workers in southern Texas toiling long and hard, battling the floodwaters. As we commemorate Labor Day, we don’t work for one day and take the rest of the year off. In fact, most people don’t have to punch in tomorrow. We labor for the Lord and that is never in vain (Col 3:23; 1 Co 15:58). And he is by us to benefit us in anything and with everything. So we pray boldly, “Lord, help me in your mercy and with your might.” It shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
September 3, 2017
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