Proper 12 Series A (Pentecost 9)

Pentecost 9

Deuteronomy 7:6–9
Romans 8:28–39
Matthew 13:44–52

The Son of God Has Redeemed Us for Himself with His Holy and Precious Blood

The Lord our God has chosen us to be “his treasured possession,” not because of any strength in us, but solely “because the Lord loves” us (Deuteronomy 7:6–8). He is faithful, and He “keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). He has searched for us and found us in love, and He has bestowed on us “great value” by the great price that He has paid on the cross. (Matthew 13:45–46). 

In His joy, He has redeemed us by His cross and gathered us into His Kingdom by the Gospel. Now we are “hidden in a field,” covered by the cross and subject to the persecution of the world (Matthew 13:44), not for destruction, but “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). 

Since we “are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), and because Christ Jesus died, rose again and lives to intercede for us “at the right hand of God” (Romans 8:34), there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from “the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39).

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope and love that, receiving what You have promises, we may love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

Matthew 13:44-54

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 Ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν θησαυρῷ κεκρυμμένῳ ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ, ὃν εὑρὼν ἄνθρωπος ἔκρυψεν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς αὐτοῦ ὑπάγει καὶ πωλεῖ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει καὶ ἀγοράζει τὸν ἀγρὸν ἐκεῖνον.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 Πάλιν ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν  ἀνθρώπῳ ἐμπόρῳ ζητοῦντι καλοὺς μαργαρίτας· 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 

46 εὑρὼν δὲ ἕνα πολύτιμον μαργαρίτην ἀπελθὼν πέπρακεν πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν καὶ ἠγόρασεν αὐτόν.

who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

The Parable about the net

47 Πάλιν ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν σαγήνῃ βληθείσῃ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἐκ παντὸς γένους συναγαγούσῃ· 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

48 ἣν ὅτε ἐπληρώθη ἀναβιβάσαντες ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν καὶ καθίσαντες συνέλεξαν τὰ καλὰ εἰς ἄγγη, τὰ δὲ σαπρὰ ἔξω ἔβαλον. 

When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 

49 οὕτως ἔσται ἐν τῇ συντελείᾳ τοῦ αἰῶνος· ἐξελεύσονται οἱ ἄγγελοι καὶ ἀφοριοῦσιν τοὺς πονηροὺς ἐκ μέσου τῶν δικαίων 

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous

50 καὶ βαλοῦσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρός· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.

and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

New and Old Treasures

51 Συνήκατε ταῦτα πάντα; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Ναί. 

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

52 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Διὰ τοῦτο πᾶς γραμματεὺς μαθητευθεὶς τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν ὅμοιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐκβάλλει ἐκ τοῦ θησαυροῦ αὐτοῦ καινὰ καὶ παλαιά. 

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Jesus rejected at Nazareth

53 καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὰς παραβολὰς ταύτας, μετῆρεν ἐκεῖθεν.

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 

54 καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν, ὥστε ἐκπλήσσεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ λέγειν· Πόθεν τούτῳ ἡ σοφία αὕτη καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις;

and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

Footnotes:

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

-Romans 8:18-23 Total Loss for Permanent Gain - Why do believers suffer?

 “Mom...why are there mosquitoes? That give people malaria? Why are there germs? That make us sick?”

“Mom...I saw on the news a bad flood that killed a lot of people. Why are there floods? And earthquakes? And hurricanes? And tornadoes? Why are there famines? Why do some people starve to death?”

“Why did my friend at school get cancer? Why did Grandma get sick…and die?”

“Mom, why do people set off bombs? Why do people do bad things? To hurt each other?”

Maybe your kids have asked you questions like these. I know mine have. Probably you’ve wrestled with them yourself.

How does all of this make sense to you?  How can a loving, all-powerful God allow terrible suffering that is in the world? Some become agnostics or atheists because they cannot come up with satisfactory answers to such questions.

Since none of us are exempt from suffering and death. It’s important that we understand what the Bible teaches on this difficult topic. The topic of brokenness in this world. 

As we continue with our reading and reflecting on Paul's letter to the Romans, Paul would give us this perspective. We live in an interim period. Now we have suffering. Later, permanent glory. Now we are children of God. But not fully.

In this transitional period on earth, we wait, groan, and long for the end of this pilgrimage. What we endure today is a temporary loss for a permanent gain of glory as children of God. Both creation and creatures groan for redemption. That's what Paul is getting at this morning. "We wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." 

 

In this period of transition.

 

1. We wait for redemption.

2. We groan because of suffering.

3. We long for permanent gain.

1. We wait for redemption – “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:19, 23

ALL BELIEVERS SUFFER BECAUSE OF MAN’S FALL INTO SIN.

This needs to be stated because; there is a pervasive false teaching that God wants every Christian to be healthy, wealthy, and above all else successful. Purchase this product. Follow this program. Practice these steps and the blessings of God will follow. After all, God wants you to have your best life now. They say, “If you’re sick or poor, then you need to claim your healing or your wealth by faith.” Those who teach these lies are preying on people’s greed and their natural longing to be in good health. But, you will never see one of these false teachers live to be 120. They all succumb to disease and death at about the same age as the rest of us. Do not fall for their teaching!

Paul himself suffered terribly. When he was call on the road the Lord told Ananias the prophet whom He sent to open Paul’s eyes “for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  (Acts 9:26) Paul often mentions the trials that he endured, which would have driven most to despair.  (See 2 Cor. 11:23-28).

Our Lord Himself was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3). He came to this world of suffering to bear our sins through His own suffering and death. So why should we think that somehow we will be exempt from suffering?

In the sovereign purposes of God, some suffer more and some suffer less. But none are exempt. It’s a part of living in this fallen world.

2. We groan because of suffering – “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. -   "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."- Romans 8:22-23

The present time is marked by sufferings because of man’s fall into sin.

Paul mentions “the sufferings of this present time.” v.18. He was not referring to an especially difficult period in history, but to the entire present age. The whole history of creation since the fall is marked by suffering. The history of nations is marked by struggles and catastrophes—wars, natural disasters, internal conflicts, power struggles, and crimes.

 

The history of individuals is also in large part a history of trials—the trials of growing up, figuring out what to do with your life, whom you will marry, rearing children, working through struggles in your marriage, providing for your needs, growing old and facing declining health and finally, death.

 

But, why? Why do we suffer? How should we as Christians think about these difficult matters? 

3. We long for permanent gain - "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."  - Romans 8:19

To persevere in present sufferings with hope, keep your eyes on the future glory that God has promised us.  Paul wants us to understand two certainties…

First, the present time is marked by sufferings because of man’s fall into sin.

Second, the future will be marked by glory for believers as God fulfills all His promises to us. The practical conclusion is, if we keep our eyes on the future promised glory, then we can endure present sufferings with perseverance and hope.

Keep your eyes on the future promised glory and you will persevere in present sufferings with hope.

Paul anticipates us thinking, “But, I can’t see this future glory.” His reply is, “Yes, that’s the very nature of hope.” If you can see it all, then it’s not hope. Our salvation includes hope because we don’t receive it all in this life. The hope of our salvation is not uncertain, as when we say, “I hope it doesn’t rain on my picnic tomorrow.” Rather, it is absolutely certain because of the many promises of God, who cannot lie. But we hope for it because we have not yet received all that has been promised. So Paul concludes (8:25), “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” The key to persevering in suffering with hope is to keep your eyes on the promised future glory.

It's summer. Those who subscribe to the B1G network know that especially during the summer months, highlights from previous games are aired. 

If you’ve ever watched your favorite team live, or in person, it's only natural to become anxious as the game progressed. Especially if it was close. If your team fumbled or threw an interception, you groaned because you didn’t know the outcome. You hoped they would win, but your hope was uncertain. Maybe you even got depressed when they were far behind.

But if your team came from behind and won in the last seconds of the game and later you watched a replay of the game, your whole attitude is different. You don't despair when they fumbled. Or fell behind. Because you knew how it all would turn out. Knowing the certainty of the future glory gave you hope to persevere through the setbacks.

If we become anxious or depressed in trials and lose hope, it’s because we’ve forgotten the absolutely certain outcome: Future glory forever with Christ! Yes, there is present suffering because we live in a fallen world. But God has promised future glory. Keeping that in view will enable you to persevere any suffering with hope.

Words –1,300

Passive Sentences –5%

Readability – 73.5%

Reading Level -6.0
Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Saturday prior to Proper 11

 Psalm 50:15; 1 John 5:14 - This passage is the inspiration for the hymn “In holy conversation” LSB 772.

The following reflection was written by Rev. Gregory J. Wismar the author of the hymn.

When so much of communication in life is done through single sentences and ‘sound bites’ it can be a real blessing to have an extended conversation with someone else in an unhurried and unimpeded way.

In the ‘What does this mean’ section responding to the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer (‘Our Father who art in heaven’) Martin Luther writes: “With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.” Prayer is a most special conversation, a holy and sanctified speaking with God.

In the first stanza of “In Holy Conversation” we rejoice in God’s gracious invitation to come to him in prayer. In the words of the psalmist we hear that invitation fully extended: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15) In troubled times, in good times, in all times our heavenly Father is ready to enter into that holy conversation with us. The stanza also reminds us that our speaking to God is assisted fully and fervently.

Saint Paul writes: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought…” (Romans 8:28) There may be times when words of prayer are hard to come by. Even then we can be sure that those prayers are in no way defective. The Holy Spirit is with us and for us in our prayer life with encouragement and support.

The second stanza the hymn reflects how we grow in our prayers in the different stages of life. A day begun and ended with prayer is one that is enveloped in the presence of God. Saint Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi: “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.” (Philippians 4:6) God is always ready not only to hear but to respond to our prayers as they come before his throne of grace.

The final stanza of the hymn affirms that God cherishes our prayers and is ready to attend to our concerns even before they are completely expressed. Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says: “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24) Prayer is holy and confident conversation. Summing up that central truth, Saint John writes: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (I John 5:13) So let us pray securely at all times and in all places in silence or by word or by song in Jesus’ name.

https://www.cuchicago.edu/globalassets/www-new/documents-and-images/academics/centers-of-excellence/center-for-church-music/devotions/hymn-of-the-day-devotion---proper-11_2.pdf

Friday prior to Proper 11

 Psalm 119:57-64 – This Psalm is suggested for this coming Sunday. This section falls under the Hebrew letter “He.” The Lord is the psalmist’s true homestead because it is God’s law that fills the earth with all that makes life secure and joyous. So God’s promises are his hope and God’s righteous laws his delight.

The Psalmist is ever aware of God’s mercy and His statutes. 

We have a sense of our deep need.  We are always in great need of two things: God’s mercy and wisdom to walk in God’s ways. It is only by God’s mercy and wisdom that we will find the paths of life.  So our hearts cry out for more of God’s mercy and more of God’s wisdom in his law that we may truly know what it is to live life.

We are always in need of the mercy of God (verse 58).  If ever we lose sight of this, we are most miserable and hopeless.  We are beggars for mercy. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy mercies. Have mercy!” The only basis on which we can plead for this mercy is the Word of God - the promises and the provisions already laid out in His Word. Thus we may say, “Have mercy on us, according to the provision of Christ’s blood and righteousness!”

Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord. 

For All the Saints: A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. II The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau © 1995 Delhi, NY

Sacrament of the Altar copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Thursday prior to Proper 11

 

Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43 –Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds at the request of His disciples. That’s a good thing! Now we know the meaning of the parable too! 

The Son of Man (Jesus) sows good seed into the field of the world, producing children of the kingdom. The devil, on the other hand, sows bad seed, producing evildoers. At the end of the age, that is, at the end of all time – angels will remove from the kingdom all evildoers. 

When that happens, then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

This parable teaches that we are not to judge who is a true or false Christian. We are not to weed out the weeds because in doing so, we would destroy the wheat. On the Day of Judgment God only will judge and separate the weeds and the wheat. Until that time comes the church needs to have patience and forbearance of the weeds among the wheat.

The wheat (good) and the weeds (bad) are in the kingdom, not in the world. We could understand it if the parable applied to the world where there are all kinds of people. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of God is God’s realm, God’s people, the church. The church of God consists of good and evil, wheat and weeds.

According to this parable, every church consists of wheat and weeds. Who is to determine who the weeds are? Who are we to judge? Since Jesus teaches that we should allow the weeds to remain, why try to decide who weeds are? Only God knows who are genuine believers, and members of the invisible church.

Weeds look like wheat — hypocrites. You cannot tell the difference between believers and make believers. Both live together in the Kingdom. Their behavior is similar. The only difference – one has faith the other not.

The weeds are so much like the wheat that only God can tell the difference. The Church is invisible to us. We can’t tell who has faith and who does not have faith. Only the Father Himself knows the heart of men. Only He knows the difference.

O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect for Proper 11, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Wednesday prior to Proper 11

 Romans 8:18-27 – In our epistle lesson for this coming week the Apostle Paul reminds us “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."  - Romans 8:19

To persevere in present sufferings with hope, keep your eyes on the future glory that God has promised us.  Paul wants us to understand two certainties.

First, the present time is marked by sufferings because of man’s fall into sin. This is a broken world.

Second, the future will be marked by glory for believers as God fulfills all His promises to us. The practical conclusion; if we keep our eyes on the future promised glory, then we can endure present sufferings with perseverance and hope.

Keep your eyes on the future promised glory and you will persevere in present sufferings with hope.

Paul anticipates us thinking, “But, I can’t see this future glory.” His reply is, “Yes, that’s the very nature of hope.” If you can see it all, then it’s not hope.

Our salvation includes hope because we don’t receive it all in this life. The hope of our salvation is not uncertain, as when we say, “I hope it doesn’t rain on my picnic tomorrow.” Rather, it is absolutely certain because of the many promises of God, who cannot lie. But we hope for it because we have not yet received all that has been promised.

Paul concludes, “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” vs. 25 The key to persevering in suffering with hope is to keep your eyes on the promised future glory.

If you’ve ever watched your favorite team live, or in person, it's only natural to become anxious as the game progressed. Especially if it was close. If your team fumbled, threw an interception, or made some costly error you might have groaned because you didn’t yet know the outcome. You hoped they would win, but your hope was uncertain. Maybe you even got worried or anxious when they were far behind.

But if your team came from behind and won in the last seconds of the game and later you watched a replay of the game, your whole attitude is different. You don't despair when they fell behind. Because you knew how it all would turn out. Knowing the certainty of the future glory gave you hope to persevere through the setbacks.

It’s easy to become anxious or depressed in trials and lose hope. That’s because we’ve forgotten the absolutely certain outcome: future glory forever with Christ!

Yes, there is present suffering because we live in a fallen world, outside of Eden. But God has promised future glory. Keeping that in view will enable you to persevere any suffering with hope.

Today Let us pray that we hold fast to hope as we are anchored in Christ.

Almighty God, give us such a vision of your purpose and such an assurance of your love and power, that we may ever hold fast the hope which is in Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Tuesday prior to Proper 11

 Isaiah 44:6-8 – The faithful believe in the one true God. There is no god but Him. It could be that Isaiah in these words is recalling a song of Moses, which describes God as “the Rock” (see Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 30-31). This metaphor of the Lord is also common in the book of Psalms (see Psalm 18:2).

The Lord declares, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no other god.”  V. 6b In short, there is no other viable object of worship. There is no other source of life. There is no other King. There is no other Redeemer. There is no other Lord of hosts. “You shall have no other gods before me” declares the Lord. –See Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7

It is easy for us to become distracted placing our focus on family, career, our health, acquiring wealth, status, leisure.  Yet these will not last and can only provide temporary satisfaction.  

Our Lord; the King, Redeemer, and Lord of hosts -- the beginning and the end -- directs our attention and our devotion away from empty things, and empty pursuits back toward the only one who saves, back toward the only source of life. “I am the first and I am the last, besides me there is no god … Fear not, and do not be afraid.”

As our Lord has taught us, the first commandment is the most important one; everything stands or falls with it. The Psalmist directs our focus back to the Lord in verse 8; "Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one."

Luther explains in the Catechism concerning the first commandment.  We should fear love and trust in God above all things. Trust not in princes they are but mortal. Rather, place your confidence in Christ your Savior.

Lord Jesus Christ whose grace always proceeds and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and find in you our heavenly treasure;  for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit; one God now and forever.

Collect for Proper 23 Series B, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis