Pr. DFD : Lent 3 Series C

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Lent 3 Series C

Lent 3 – Series

24 March 2019

Ezekiel 33:7–20

1 Corinthians 10:1–13

Luke 13:1–9

Collect for Lent 3 – O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Jesus Calls You to Repentance

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). By this warning, the Lord would turn us away from wickedness and bring us to life in Himself. For He is patient with us, that we not be cut down in our sin but live and bear fruit in Him. As He lives, the Lord has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).

So the Scriptures have been “written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11), that we should not desire evil but trust in Christ. He alone is faithful, the Rock who feeds us with His “spiritual food” and pours out His “spiritual drink” (1 Corinthians 10:3–4).

Luke 13:1 –

Παρῆσαν δέ τινες ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ καιρῷ ἀπαγγέλλοντες αὐτῷ περὶ τῶν Γαλιλαίων ὧν τὸ αἷμα Πιλᾶτος ἔμιξεν μετὰ τῶν θυσιῶν αὐτῶν.

some present at that time at which Pilate had mixed their blood with the sacrifices.

Not recorded in history. Why do bad things happen? Spoke of the wickedness of man. Jesus ups the anti, why the eighteen?

Suffering and the question of "why?" See Pless's response...and the "hidden God."

Contrition - we deserve no better

Faith - we receive grace undeserved.

"Because of sin" is a diagnosis. The solution is repent, and receive the gifts.

Luke 13:2 –

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Δοκεῖτε ὅτι οἱ Γαλιλαῖοι οὗτοι ἁμαρτωλοὶ παρὰ πάντας τοὺς Γαλιλαίους ἐγένοντο, ὅτι ταῦτα πεπόνθασιν;

do you think those Galileans were worse sinners because they suffered?

See the answers from Job's friends.

We can ask “why?” By faith we hear the promise.

Luke 13:3 –

οὐχί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐὰν μὴ μετανοῆτε πάντες ὁμοίως ἀπολεῖσθε.

No, but unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Future more vivid. Companion text is Ezekiel 33

“Why doesn't anything good happen to bad people?” is the response to "why do bad things happen to good people?"

Luke 13:4-

ἢ ἐκεῖνοι οἱ δεκαοκτὼ ἐφ’ οὓς ἔπεσεν ὁ πύργος ἐν τῷ Σιλωὰμ καὶ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτούς, δοκεῖτε ὅτι αὐτοὶ ὀφειλέται ἐγένοντο παρὰ πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἰερουσαλήμ;

or those 18.. Do you think those ones were worse debtors then all those dwelling in Jerusalem?

Does God bless us because we are doing more better? We are beggars talking to beggars showing them where the food is.

Luke 13:5 –

οὐχί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀλλ’ ἐὰν μὴ μετανοῆτε πάντες ὡσαύτως ἀπολεῖσθε.

Same response as verse 3 - if you do not repent you too shall perish -

Luke 13:6 –

Ἔλεγεν δὲ ταύτην τὴν παραβολήν. Συκῆν εἶχέν τις πεφυτευμένην ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦλθεν ζητῶν καρπὸν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ οὐχ εὗρεν.

a man had a fig tree seeking fruit in his vineyard (Israel?) [and] found none.

Luke 13:7 –

εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἀμπελουργόν• Ἰδοὺ τρία ἔτηἀφ’ οὗ ἔρχομαι ζητῶν καρπὸν ἐν τῇ συκῇ ταύτῃ καὶ οὐχ εὑρίσκω• ἔκκοψον αὐτήν• ἱνατί καὶ τὴν γῆν καταργεῖ;

cut it down why should it waste the earth?

Are you a burden on the earth?

Luke 13:8 –

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει αὐτῷ• Κύριε, ἄφες αὐτὴν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ ἔτος, ἕως ὅτου σκάψω περὶ αὐτὴν καὶ βάλω κόπρια•

leave it alone I will dig around it and fertilize it/ dung it "throw skat on it"

When the owner wants to cut down the unfruitful fig tree, the Vine-dresser says, "Leave it alone [ ἄφες ] for now." On the cross, Jesus says, "Father, forgive [ ἄφες ] them." - Luke 23:34

Same Greek verb. Same mercy. Same patient, gracious love of God for us all! - Chad Bird.

The vine dresser prunes and throws crap on you. Do you fear him?

Luke 13:9 –

κἂν μὲν ποιήσῃ καρπὸν [m]εἰς τὸ μέλλον— εἰ δὲ μήγε, ἐκκόψεις αὐτήν.

if it bears/makes fruit next year well and good - if not then cut it down.

Now is the time of repentance. Today is destination day. Time is of the essence!

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Lent 3 Series C

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