Time in the Word
Living the Law
The interpretation, understanding,
and obedience of the law of God come forth from this week’s lections. The
overall theme appears to be life in the light of the Law. The Gospel gives
several examples of Jesus’ interpretation of the law of Moses. His view goes
behind the letter to the spirit of the Law. In his last address, Moses appeals
to his people to obey the Law and to live. To make the right interpretation
there must be wisdom. Paul in the epistle lesson teaches that the wisdom of God
is revealed only to those of the Spirit. This explains how Jesus was able to
rightly understand the Law. He had the Spirit of God and was taught by the
Spirit. During this season our prayers must embrace both the understanding of
God’s Law (Epistle lesson) and obedience (Old Testament lesson). We must pray
to see and understand the things we ought to do with the grace and power to do
them.
The Epiphany theme of the
manifestation of God’s glory in Jesus continues in Epiphany 6. In the Gospel, the glory of God in Jesus is
seen in His interpretation of the law and in His authority as God’s Son,
greater than Moses – “And I say to you.”
God’s glory is seen also in the Old Testament lesson where God in mercy makes a
covenant with His people and promises them life if they accept and obey the
terms of the covenant. Paul refers to Jesus as “the Lord of Glory” (verse 8).
Jesus is the true and able interpreter of God’s laws because He possessed the
Spirit of God resulting in wisdom and understanding. The readings from Psalm
119 deal with the Law which for the Hebrews was God’s revelation of Himself to
man. In other words, today we see the glory of God in Jesus in His
understanding and interpretation of God’s law.
Collects
for Epiphany: Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations
by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our
lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory.
Father,
You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to Your
glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God,
forever and ever.
Father,
You make known the salvation of humankind at the birth of Your Son. Make us
strong in faith and bring us to the glory You promise. We ask this through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Collects
for Epiphany 6: O God graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who
justly suffer the consequences of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your
goodness to the glory of Your name for You live and reign with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
O God, the strength of all who put their
trust in You. Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can
do nothing good without You, give us the help of your grace that in keeping
Your commandments we may please You both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever
and ever.
Amen.
Monday,
10 February, 2014—Psalm
119:1-8; antiphon, Psalm 119:1—In
the Introit for Sunday, the key verses remind us as is explained in verse 2, “happy
are those who observe His decrees.” Coupled with the Old Testament lesson
for this week, we are reminded on the face that the Law is good and obedience
makes one happy.
Tuesday,
11 February 2014—Psalm
119:9-16—As an acrostic psalm, this section is focused on the Hebrew letter
Beth. The Psalmist would have reason to praise the Lord for blessings received
and deliverances granted because the
Lord does not forsake His own.
Wednesday, 12 February 2014—Deuteronomy 30:15-20—Moses gives his people a choice
of life and death. We live by obeying the Law.
The two-letter word
“if” has theological implications. Our life depends on it. “If” people love and
obey, they shall have life. “If” they are rebellious, they will experience
death. This implies that life and death are results of meeting certain
conditions. This means that we have free will to do one or the other. We are
not an automation, not a victim of circumstances. We cannot blame God for our
fate. Ultimately our condition depends upon the type of ‘if” we choose.
Thursday, 13 February 2014—1
Corinthians3:1-9—Those who have the spirit possess
the wisdom of God, understand His gifts, and interpret spiritual truths. Live
by interpreting the Law through the Spirit.
To be mature, Paul shares the wisdom of God. Last week, in
Epiphany 5 we dealt with the wisdom of man. Then we learned that the Gospel is
not built on man’s wisdom. There is a greater wisdom, which Paul shares with
the mature. When he preached, he gave the
facts of the Gospel. Facts dealing with the basics of Christ’s life, death, and
Resurrection. Now comes the understanding of those facts, the doctrine, or the
teaching. Mature Christians receive the teaching: the interpretation, understanding, and meaning
of the facts. This maturity is not the modern “man come of age” in the sense of
outgrowing God, but it is a growth into the wisdom of God.
Friday,
14 February 2014—Matthew
5:21-37—Jesus places a new interpretation on the law of Moses. Live by the
spirit of the Law.
Jesus begins this section with these
words, “And I say to you…” Who is
this “I”? Who is presumptuous to go beyond what Moses said? Who does the “I”
think he is – one greater than Moses, the mighty prophet of God? Here we
confront Christological considerations. Jesus is speaking. Here we find a
greater than Moses. In the words, “I say.” Jesus is placing Himself above all other
religious teachers and prophets. How can he rightfully do this? Jesus speaks as
God’s Son, the Word made flesh. He has the mind, the Spirit, and the essence of
God the Father. As the Word of God, Jesus’ word is truth excelling all other
teachers. Thus, the Scriptures testify of Him and we interpret them in the
light of Christ.
Saturday, 15 February 2014—Isaiah
61:1-3; 1 Peter 1:20; Matthew 11:4-5; Revelation 19:1-16— The Hymn for next
week is Hymn 394, “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.” As we are now mostly
through the season of Epiphany, we come to a clearer picture of who Jesus
really is. Through His words and by His miracles, we see Him as He is, our
coming Savior, the one who has come to save us.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary
Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the
Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American
Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi ,
NY
Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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