Proper 22 Series B

Proper 22 Series B

Genesis 2:18–25 

Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18)

Mark 10:2–16

Marriage Is a Sign that Manifests the Gospel of Christ and His Church

Humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For the Lord Himself is a perfect communion of three Persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — in one God. Therefore, “the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs,” which “he made into a woman” and brought “to the man” (Genesis 2:21–22). It is for this reason that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7). 

This great mystery of holy marriage signifies Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, and His Bride, the Church. Divorce and all manner of adultery contradict and undermine this sign, and in doing so, they confess a false Christ and a false gospel. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:9). In truth, Christ Jesus has atoned for all such sins, and He has perfected marriage in Himself “through suffering,” that He might bring “many sons to glory” in His resurrection. (Hebrews 2:8–10).   

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.

O Spirit of the Father, Breath on them from above, So searching in Your pureness, So tender in Your love That, guarded by Your presence And kept from strife and sin, Their hearts may heed Your guidance And know You dwell within (LSB 858;3)

Mark 10:2-16

The key to Mark 10 is that God accepts us by grace through faith in Jesus not through obedience or status. Just as children receive love they do not earn. 

Jesus teaches that God wants men and women in marriage to be exclusively committed to each other for life. Attempts to alter or get around God's good intentions bring condemnation, not greater liberty. Thoughtfully and prayerfully embrace God's ways. What He establishes is for our good and stems from His love and grace.

Mark 10:2 
Καὶ [b]ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γυναῖκα ἀπολῦσαι, πειράζοντες αὐτόν.
And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

and coming to him, the Pharisees asked is it lawful for a man to loose...divorce his wife...they did this to test him.

Mark 10:3
ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Τί ὑμῖν ἐνετείλατο Μωϋσῆς;
He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”

What did Moses command?  Asking a Law question they get a LAW answer...they did not recognize Jesus so Jesus gives them the authority they recognize.

Mark 10:4  
οἱ δὲ εἶπαν• [c]Ἐπέτρεψεν Μωϋσῆς βιβλίον ἀποστασίου γράψαι καὶ ἀπολῦσαι. 
They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

they said, Moses allowed a bible of diverse And to send her away. Deut. 24:1-3 see Jeremiah 3:1; Hosea;

Mark 10:5 
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην• 
 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

It was because your heart was hard that Moses wrote you this law. The Law was written for our hardness of heart.

Mark 10:6 
ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν [e]αὐτούς• 
 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’

from the beginning of creation (pre Fall) God created them male and female.  first words spoken of man from Scripture..."she completes me..."

Mark 10:7 
ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα [f]καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, 
 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one. God is doing the joining..hence the words of 11 and 12...

Some manuscripts omit and hold fast to his wife

Mark 10:8
καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν• ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ μία σάρξ• 
and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Mark 10:9
ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν ἄνθρωπος μὴ χωριζέτω.  
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Therefore that which God has joined together let not man separate. Nothing can destroy what God has commanded. It is what it is...don't mess with it...

Mark 10:10
Καὶ [g]εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν πάλιν οἱ μαθηταὶ [h]περὶ τούτου [i]ἐπηρώτων αὐτόν. 
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

Mark 10:11
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς• Ὃς [j]ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ’ αὐτήν,
 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,

Mark 10:12
καὶ ἐὰν [k]αὐτὴ ἀπολύσασα τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς γαμήσῃ ἄλλον μοιχᾶται. 
 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Into the house again, they ask Him..whoever sends away cuts loose his wife and marries another and if she cuts loose her man...they commit adultery.
__________________
Let the Children Come to Me

What ties these two texts together is who we are in Christ, we bring children to Jesus. These are separate sermons. It is the text in the baptismal rite.  Children are helpless...they bring nothing...what better place than for an adult baptism. Do not prevent...

Mark 10:13
Καὶ προσέφερον αὐτῷ παιδία ἵνα [l]αὐτῶν ἅψηται• οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ [m]ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

Mark 10:14
δὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἠγανάκτησεν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με, μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά, τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:15
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὃς [n]ἂν μὴ δέξηται τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς παιδίον, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτήν.
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 

Mark 10:16
καὶ ἐναγκαλισάμενος αὐτὰ [o]κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ’ αὐτά.
And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked SBLGNT are from the The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Time in the Word - Pentecost 20 - Proper 22

Time in the Word
  October 1-6, 2018

Proper 22
Preparation for next week, Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday’s theme is God’s Intentions for the Family. The lessons deal with home, marriage, divorce, and children. The Gospel considers Jesus’ position on divorce and His attitude toward children. The Old Testament lesson fits into the Gospel with its account of Eve’s creation and the relationship between husband and wife. The Psalm for the week concerns a God-fearing person’s blessing of a fruitful wife, children, and grandchildren. The “Hymn of the Day” is a prayer to the Lord to bless the home and family.

Collect for Proper 22 –Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect for Pentecost 20—O God, whose almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity, grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be partakers of Your heavenly treasures

A prayer for steadfast faith – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, of Your tender love towards us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 For those in distress - Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may mark and receive Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A Prayer for Peace - O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works proceed, give to Your servants that peace which the world simply cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended by You, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.

A prayer for home and family - Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever. 

This Week’s Morning Prayer Readings

Read and review the following Bible stories for each day… 

Monday, October 1- Moses before Pharaoh –Ex.5-12- selective verses

Tuesday, October 2–  The Exodus-Ex.12-14-selective verses

Wednesday, October 3– Chapel Day

Thursday, October 4- Manna in the Wilderness-Ex.15-16- selective verses

Friday, October 5- 10 Commandments-19-20 selective verses

From the Small Catechism – Close of the Commandments & 1^st Article

Monday, 01 October 2018—Psalm 127:3-5, Antiphon, Psalm 127:1a – Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. In keeping with the theme of the week, God’s Intention for the Family, the psalmist gives us a timeless truth. Unless the Lord is the center of all that we do, unless the Lord builds the house, all of our efforts are in vain. The house in essence becomes a house of cards. May Jesus Christ be the ever present yet unseen guest in each of our homes. 

Tuesday, 02 October 2018—Psalm 128; key verse, verse 1 - Blessed are all who fear the Lord. Psalm 128 speaks of the blessedness of the godly man, another word for wisdom concerning health and home. The concluding benediction suggests that the psalm originally served as a priestly word of instruction to those assembled from their homes to worship in Jerusalem. The main body of the psalm is found in verses 1-4.

Wednesday, 03 October 2018—Genesis 2:18-25 – God intends husbands and wives to be one. God creates woman as man’s helper and companion. This lesson is part of the Lord’s account of creation, beginning with Chapter 2, verse 4. It is the earlier of the two accounts. According to this account, man is created first, then the animals, etc., and finally woman. The animals were not a suitable helper for Adam, and, consequently, Eve was created. Why the rib? It’s closest to the man’s heart. After her creation from his rib, Adam recognizes her as an equal part of him (verse 23).  She is recognized as a fellow human with equal dignity and worth. Because of the creation of man and woman, marriage is one of the orders of creation in which the two become an entity of one flesh. Flesh here is more than physical; it refers to the whole person. 

Thursday, 04 October 2018—Hebrew 2:1-13, (14-18) – God intends the family of humankind to be a family in Christ. By the grace of God, Jesus became a man who suffered and died for all. Today’s Epistle reading is the first in a series of passages from Hebrews. The author in Hebrews is facing the situation of the church’s waning faith, probably because of the delay of Christ’s return. To stimulate their faith, he writes the epistle of Hebrews.

Today’s reading deals with the event of Christ’s incarnation leading to His suffering and death for the salvation of humanity. Jesus’ incarnation gave Him solidarity with humankind in order to save it.  At present, we do not see Christ’s lordship over everything, but we do see Him (verse 9).  His atoning death created a oneness of Christ and His followers whom He calls “brethren” (verse 11).  In comparison with the Old Testament lesson, humans are created and re-created by redemption. 

Friday, 05 October 2018 –Mark 10:2-16 – God intends marriage to be lifelong. Sunday’s Gospel deals with two accounts: marriage/divorce and Jesus’ love of children. In regard to marriage and divorce, Mark has Jesus take the position that neither husband nor wife should get a divorce. For the Pharisees, divorce is a legal matter: for Jesus it is a divine matter – not what is legal, but what is right. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that the legal right to get a divorce was due to a human’s sinfulness, but this was contrary to God’s intention that marriage is permanent. To substantiate this, Jesus refers twice to the creation account. The Gospel continues with an account of Jesus receiving little children, for marriage and children go together. Jesus urges that children should be brought to Him and teaches that one should receive the kingdom of God as a child in terms of openness and receptivity. 

Saturday, 06 October 2018—Joshua 24:15b; Ephesians 6:4; Luke 2:41-52; 10:38-42-Sunday’s hymn of the day is Oh, Blest the House (LSB 862).  This is an appropriate hymn as it deals with the Christian home. May the Lord bless not only our Friedheim, St. John, and Zion families, but each and every individual family of our congregations. Taking the lead from Joshua, “as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord!” May the Lord bless each of us as Christ remains at the center of our homes.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Reflections on Proper 21 Series B

Proper 21 Series B

Mark 9:38–50

24 September 2018

Collect for Proper 21 Lord, thank You for Your work through the lives of others. Lead me to welcome those miracles and mercies that You show through every one of Your people. Grant us the lasting faith that can persevere through every trial. Empty our heads of anything that competes with You, and let us hold firmly to You eternally.

What scandals have you heard about in the past month? How did they affect you?

What is John’s worry in v. 38? “John said to HIM, "TEACHER, we saw someone expelling demons in YOUR name and we were forbidding him because he was not following us”. “He's not following us, not one of us...casting out demons correctly.”

Is this man a part of the 70 or perhaps a follower of John the Baptist who was beheaded earlier in Mark's Gospel? 

What is Jesus’ response, and why?

What happens when the scandal within the Church is caused - by the good of non-believers?

What similarity do you see to the passage from Numbers in our Old Testament lesson?

This passage contains some of Jesus’ most spectacular hyperbole. What advice does He give?

To what extent would you apply it?

Does it seem to be connected with John’s complaint, or not?

How does it fit this point in the journey of faith?  

What does it mean to “have salt in yourselves”?

Why was that important for Jesus’ followers?  

Compare and contrast this passage to Jesus’ other statement, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” _{Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23}

A prayer for God to guide us—Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Sources

http://goodshepherdnewton.org/wp-content/uploads/B-pdf-Proper-18-Last-Pentecost-RCL-2018.pdf

Prayers Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

Pentecost 19 - Proper 21

Proper 21 Series B
Mark 9:38–50
24 September 2018

Scandal 

What scandals have you heard about in the past month? How did they affect you?

Scandals. Like gossip. Create news. Headlines. And the patter and chatter of talk shows. Politicians and entertainers. Cause the public concern. With their dress. Their lifestyle. Or their secrets. Indeed. Scandal not only drives public opinion. It can increase profits for media. And visibility for publicity-hungry persons. 

The biggest PR myth of all states. “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” Which suggests. Even if they're saying awful things about you. The publicity is supposed to still be good. Because your name is on the top of people's minds. Keeping you relevant. And in some cases. This might be true. For a season. Yet, the idea that there's no such thing as bad publicity. Is laughable. It's totally insane. 

When it comes to the Church. Scandal multiplies problems. Not only does the community lose faith. The community loses face. With potential converts. Church scandal also gives those who oppose the faith reason for harassment. But. What happens when the scandal within the Church is caused - by the good of non-believers?

Lord, thank You for Your work through the lives of others. Lead me to welcome those miracles and mercies that You show through every one of Your people. Grant us the lasting faith that can persevere through every trial. Empty our heads of anything that competes with You, and let us hold firmly to You eternally.

“John said to HIM, "TEACHER, we saw someone expelling demons in YOUR name and we were forbidding him because he was not following us.  But JESUS said, "Do not forbid him. For there is no one who will do powerful things in my name and will be able to quickly speaking ill of me. For, who is not against us is in behalf of us. For, whoever might give you a drink (from) a cup of water on the grounds that you are of Christ, again; I say to you that he will definitely not lose his earnings.” (VV. 38-41)

John objects to this outsider healing in Jesus' name. John's question seems to say: "How dare He! This outsider should be one of us!" 

Jesus turned the objection to the question of discipleship. No matter how small the kind act. No one. Who does good. In the name of Jesus. Should be stopped. In fact. Anyone who did not oppose Jesus and His movement. Were considered potential friends and benefactors. This outward world view allowed Christianity to grow rapidly. 

Anyone and everyone was a potential Christian. Friendship began with a simple act of kindness. It began with a single act of charity. The good others did for Christ. And His followers. Did matter!

But what good were the disciples doing? Scandal is an attitude or behavior. Which leads another to do evil. Jesus said, “Do not scandalize one of these little ones trusting in ME. It is better that you go into eternal life deformed.” The weight of the statement was simple. Not only could sinners. The "deformed" enter the Kingdom. But the righteous. Those with "two hands." Could suffer eternal punishment! (Vv.41-43)

How has your practice of the faith challenged others? Did it invite others to join? Or, did it cause others to step away? Which is worse? To cause scandal? Or to be scandalized? Neither advance faith, only egos. Both can destroy faith and community participation. Both can lead to spiritual death. 

When believers cause scandal. It is a challenge away from faith. But. When God causes scandal. It challenges us towards faith. God's "scandal" happened when He rejected His Son at the cross. There. Stretched out on wood. Jesus was cut off out of the land of the living. When the Son of God entered this world. He took upon Himself all your embarrassments. All your disappointments. And regrets. 

All the sins you've only realized later. Much to your shock and appall.

Jesus came neither to impress you. Nor to be impressed by you. He came to save you. He took your sins as His. Suffered and died in your place. He received the punishment you deserve. So you won't. have to bear it alone.

Today. Some of you may be feeling grief. Confusion. Anger. Or hopelessness. About the future of this country. You may be a survivor of sexual abuse. You may be quietly hurting.*

Some of you. Might be frightened. Of a sin. Committed years ago. What if someone finds out? What would become of you? If it all comes undone? 

None of this scandalizes Jesus. He is waiting. To welcome you. With your concerns. Fears. And sorrows. Turn to Jesus. He is able to heal and restore.

When you have sinned. Come clean. Confess your sin. REPENT! Receive the Lord’s absolution. If you have been abused. Welcome Jesus’ safe embrace. Seek His peace and presence. And seek out. Your sisters and brothers. Who will welcome you and include you into His family the Church.

George Harrison wrote the words, “You know, it don’t come easy.” True. It’s never easy. Life. It’s hard.  But with the Lord begin your task. Jesus will direct it.

And when someone approaches you. STOP. LISTEN. LEARN. Concerning their pain and suffering. This life you live. Is often filled with misery. Life is sometimes messy. Remember, we’re living outside of Eden. Still.  Enter the swamp. Only to brings others to the side of peace. Bring them to Jesus. The prince of peace.

Have you ever felt conflicted in your spiritual life? Gone from great to little. From high to low?  Behold His cross. And understand. He knows your every sorrow. And see. He has taken it all away. All away to His grave. He died for everything that pains you. For on the third day. He rose victorious from it all.

In the glory of this His resurrection. He declares and pronounces. That you are righteous before God's heavenly throne. That your sins are forgiven. That the gates of heaven are now opened to you. You are forgiven. *

Jesus wanted an increase in faith. Not scandal. So place your focus on Christ. More of Him. And less of you. Trust not in your own merits. Your own strength. Your own understanding. Instead. Place your trust and confidence in Jesus. He bore the scandal of the cross. To give you both. A hope and a future. 

_______________

Words-1,095

Passive Sentences-5%

Readability -80.7%

Reading Level-3.4
* from a facebook message from a dear friend

* Pr. Tim Daub, pastor Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Hecla, SD  "Great Faith, What Jesus says, Happens" 1.21.2018 

Morning Prayer Reading 28 - The Call of Moses

The Call of Moses 

Exodus 2-3  

(Selective Verses)

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

Morning Prayer Reading 27- Birth of Moses

Birth of Moses  

Exodus 1-2  

(Selected Verses)

8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. 13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves 14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews[a] you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

2 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

Morning Prayer Reading 26 - Jacob in Egypt

Jacob in Egypt  

Genesis 45-47  

(Selective Verses)

23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 

11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

Morning Prayer Reading 25 - Joseph Makes Himself Known

Joseph Makes Himself Known 

Genesis 44 & 45 

(Selective Verses)

44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.

3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?”

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself.   30 “Now therefore,  please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers."

 45 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

5 "And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry." 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

Proper 21

Proper 21 B

Numbers 11:4–6, 10–16, 24–29 

James 5:(1–12) 13–20

Mark 9:38–50

Christ Jesus, the Son of God, Cares for Us and Serves Us with the Forgiveness of Sins

When the people of Israel wept, complaining that they had no meat to eat (Numbers 11:4), Moses cried out to the Lord that “the burden of all this people” was too heavy for him and that he was “not able to carry all this people alone” (Numbers 11:11–14). So the Lord had Moses gather “seventy men of the elders of Israel” (Numbers 11:16), and the Lord “took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders” (Numbers 11:25), so that Moses would not carry the burden alone.

All who thus labor are honored, and all the people are cared for, in the name of the Lord (Mark 9:39–41). Everything is done with reference to Christ Jesus. So we cling to Him, and we flee from all sins that would separate us from Him (Mark 9:42–48). The life of the Church is one of repentant faith in Christ. Christians confess their sins to one another, and they “pray for one another,” that each would be raised up and healed by the Lord Jesus, who covers “a multitude of sins” and saves our souls from death (James 5:15–20). 

The theme is Tolerance. In the Old Testament lesson Moses tolerates the giving of the Spirit. In the Epistle, James calls for intolerance of wickedness. In the Gospel, Jesus approves a non-follower's use of His name. Coupled with tolerance is an underlying theme of resistance. Jesus urges to get rid of anything that causes us to sin while in the Old Testament lesson the Israelites complain about the monotony of daily manna. James condemns the sin of arrogance and persecution of the poor.

Collect for Proper 21 - Everlasting Father, source of every blessing, mercifully direct and govern us by Your Holy Spirit that we may complete the works You have prepared for us to do; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord, thank You for Your work through the lives of others. Lead me to welcome those miracles and mercies that You show through every one of Your people. 

Lord, give us the lasting faith that can persevere through every trial. Empty our heads of anything that competes with You, and let us hold firmly to You eternally. 

Mark 9:38-50 – Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name to cast our demons. He urges the extermination of those sins that result in hell. The first part of the Gospel (Vv. 38-41) obviously parallels the Old Testament lesson. It deals with Jesus’ approval of a non-disciple casting out demons in Jesus’ name. The next section (Vv.42-48) deals with Jesus’ “little ones” – not children but his disciples or new converts. The point is that any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment.

A third section of the reading deals with salt.  It is a call to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.

In Christ you are free. There is much Christian liberty and freedom the child of God can experience in this life. The Lord wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole. When should we allow our Christian liberty to be exercised? When might you deny yourself certain “freedoms” for the sake of someone else? How might we better live balanced lives?

Vv. 38-41 Jesus opens the disciples' eyes to see those who do God's work in dramatic or simple ways. The work of God goes far beyond us. He show His power and kindness through great life changing miracles and simple cups of water. 

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

:38 [a]Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης· Διδάσκαλε, εἴδομέν τινα [b]ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ἐκβάλλοντα δαιμόνια, [c]καὶ ἐκωλύομεν αὐτόν, ὅτι οὐκ ἠκολούθει ἡμῖν. John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[a] and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

-John the Baptist  beheaded in chapter 6 - he's not following us, not one of us...casting out demons correctly. Is this a part of the 70/72? 

-Consistent with John/James “shall we call down fire?” “Sit on Your right/left.”

:39  ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· Μὴ κωλύετε αὐτόν, οὐδεὶς γάρ ἐστιν ὃς ποιήσει δύναμιν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου καὶ δυνήσεται ταχὺ κακολογῆσαί με· But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 

- do not forbid him...do not stop them...for no one who does a powerful work (things) ...in My Name... and turn around and speak evil. 

-Powerful things = proclaiming the Word, baptizing…

:40 ὃς γὰρ οὐκ ἔστιν καθ’ [d]ἡμῶν, ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐστιν For the one who is not against us is for us. 

-whoever is not against us is for us...

:41 Ὃς γὰρ ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν [e]ὀνόματι ὅτι χριστοῦ ἐστε, ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν [f]ὅτι οὐ μὴ [g]ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

- for whoever gives you to drink a cup of water in the Name because you are in Christ, he will certainly no loose his reward...Christian Vocation... 

-There must have been a conversion. By nature people start out against Christ, in the realm of darkness...

-Jesus also said, "He who is not with me is against me."

-Do not compare yourself to others but also do not compromise the truth.

“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.” – CS Lewis “Through the Wardrobe”

Vv. 42-50 Nothing is more important than retaining the faith unto eternal life. Let nothing come between you and the Savior.  Though He tests us with fire, He does not consume His own people.  Rejoice, for God graciously gives us the faith in which He preserves us to eternity. 

Temptations to Sin

:42  Καὶ ὃς [h]ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν [i]τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων [j]εἰς ἐμέ, καλόν ἐστιν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον εἰ περίκειται [k]μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ βέβληται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν.  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[b] it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 

"little ones" Gk. μικρῶν "smallest child" 

:43 Καὶ ἐὰν [l]σκανδαλίζῃ σε ἡ χείρ σου, ἀπόκοψον αὐτήν· καλόν [m]ἐστίν σε κυλλὸν [n]εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν ἢ τὰς δύο χεῖρας ἔχοντα ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν γέενναν, εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ [o]ἄσβεστον. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell,[c] to the unquenchable fire.[d] 

-"hell: Gk. γέενναν from Hebrew name for the Hinnom Valley southwest of Jerusalem, where humans were sacrificed (2 Ch.28:3; 33:6) and garbage was dumped (2 Kings 23:10)  Fire was constantly present in the Hinnom Valley due to sacrifices and burning trash. This became a figure for the everlasting fire of hell. Used in Mark Vv. 43, 45, 47. 

-Hand, foot, eye = Works, your walk, what you take in goes to the heart...

:45  καὶ ἐὰν ὁ πούς σου σκανδαλίζῃ σε, ἀπόκοψον αὐτόν· καλόν ἐστίν [p]σε εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωὴν χωλὸν ἢ τοὺς δύο πόδας ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν [q]γέενναν. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 

:47 καὶ ἐὰν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζῃ σε, ἔκβαλε αὐτόν· καλόν [r]σέ ἐστιν μονόφθαλμον εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς [s]τὴν [t]γέενναν, And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

:48  ὅπου ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται. where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

:49 Πᾶς γὰρ πυρὶ [u]ἁλισθήσεται. For everyone will be salted with fire.

:50 καλὸν τὸ ἅλας· ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας ἄναλον γένηται, ἐν τίνι αὐτὸ ἀρτύσετε; ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς [v]ἅλα, καὶ εἰρηνεύετε ἐν ἀλλήλοις. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Sources

Scripture quotations marked SBLGNT are from the The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

Time in the Word - Pentecost 19 - Proper 21

Time in the Word
 September 24-29, 2018

Proper 21
Preparation for next week, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday’s Theme is Tolerance. In the Old Testament lesson, Moses tolerates the giving of the Spirit. In the Epistle, James calls for intolerance of wickedness. In the Gospel, Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name. Coupled with tolerance is an underlying theme of resistance. Jesus urges to get rid of anything that causes us to sin while in the Old Testament lesson the Israelites complain about the monotony of daily manna. James condemns the sin of arrogance and persecution of the poor.

Collect for Pentecost 18—Keep, we pray. O Lord, Your Church with Your perpetual mercy; and because without You we cannot but fall, keep us ever by Your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A prayer for God to guide us—Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  

Collect for Proper 21 –Everlasting Father, source of every blessing, mercifully direct and govern us by Your Holy Spirit that we may complete the works You have prepared for us to do; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

A prayer for steadfast faith—Almighty God, our heavenly Father, of Your tender love towards us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Hope of Eternal life in Christ—Almighty, everlasting God, whose Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death, strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ increase daily and we hold fast to the hope that we shall not die but fall asleep and on the last day be raised to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For those in distressed—Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may mark and receive Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

This Week’s Morning Prayer Readings

Read and review the following Bible stories for each day… 

Mon., September 24 - Joseph reveals himself - Genesis 44-45 selective verses

Tues. September 25– Jacob in Egypt – Genesis 45-47 selective verses

Wed. September 26– Chapel Day

Thurs. September 27 - Birth of Moses –Exodus 1-2 selective verses

Fri. – September 28- Call of Moses – Exodus 2-3 selective verses

From the Small Catechism – 9^th & 10^th Commandments  

Monday, 24 September 2018—Psalm 135:1-3, 13-14, Antiphon, Psalm 135:13—Your Name, O Lord, endures forever, Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. Psalm 135 is a call to praise the Lord – the one and only true God, the Lord of all creation, the Lord over all the nations, Israel’s redeemer. The Psalmist reminds us that the Lord and His redeeming work will be remembered throughout time. Thus we praise Him for His marvelous deeds.

Tuesday, 25 September 2018—Psalm 104:27-35; key verse, verse 24—How many are Your works, O Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. The psalmist recalls the fifth day of creation. (Genesis 1:20-23).  The realm of the sea is structurally balanced with the celestial realm, (see verses 2-4) as the other boundary to the realm of earth. And the Lord orders each day of your life as He has promised to guide and sustain you. 

Wednesday, 26 September 2018—Numbers 11:4-6; 10-16, 24-29—Moses tolerates the giving of the Spirit. The Lord provides seventy elders to assist Moses in meeting the needs of the people and gives his spirit to others than the seventy. The Israelites are in the wilderness and complain to Moses that they have only manna and no meat. Moses takes the complaint to God who orders Moses to bring seventy elders to the meeting place outside the camp. Some of Moses’ spirit was given to the elders and they began to prophesy. Two men, Eldad and Medad, were not invited to the meeting of the seventy. While in the camp, they received the Spirit and prophesied. Joshua was jealous for Moses and asked him to stop the two. Moses refused and wished that all of the people had the spirit and were prophets.

Thursday, 27 September 2018—James 5: (1-12) 13-20—James calls for intolerance of wickedness and a return to God for the avoidance of evil. This lesson continues where last Sunday’s Epistle has stopped. James urges his readers to turn to God and away from wickedness. Among the evils we are to avoid are judging others, boasting, and injustice to the poor.

Friday, 28 September 2018—Mark 9:38-50—Jesus approves a non-follower’s use of His name to cast our demons. He urges the extermination of those sins that result in hell. The first part of the Gospel (verses 38-41) obviously parallels the Old Testament lesson. It deals with Jesus’ approval of a non-disciple casting out demons in Jesus’ name. The next section (verses 42-48) deals with Jesus’ “little ones” – not children but his disciples or new converts. The point is that any sacrifice is worth eternal life rather than going to hell forever which is described as eternal torment. A third section of the reading deals with salt.  It is a call to radical obedience rather than to accommodation to the world.

In Christ you are free. There is much Christian liberty and freedom the child of God can experience in this life. The Lord wants His followers to enjoy the fullness of life. All that God created is good. However, if any part of us or any habit causes us to sin, we are to get rid of it. It would be better to abstain and deny ourselves certain pleasures and privileges than to allow one pleasure to ruin the whole. When should we allow our Christian liberty to be exercised? When might you deny yourself certain “freedoms” for the sake of someone else? How might we better live balanced lives?

Saturday, 29 September 2015—John 14:2; 1 John 4:19; John 8:12- The hymn, Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (LSB 694), is the Hymn of the Day. Having seen what the Lord has done, having experienced His goodness and mercy, having entered into His presence, we are now called to praise the Name of the Lord which is expressed in this wonderful hymn. 

Sources:

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH