Proper 13 Series C

Proper 13 C

(July 31-August 6)

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26

Colossians 3:1–11

Luke 12:13–21

O Lord, grant us wisdom to recognize the treasures You have stored up for us in heaven that we may never despair but always rejoice and be thankful for the riches of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

Faith in Christ Is Rich toward God

Pr. Daniel J Brege

To live for earthly things “is vanity and a striving after wind,” and work that is driven by such vanity “is an unhappy business” (Eccl. 1:13–14). The man who lives like that has nothing to show for “all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun. … All his days are full of sorrow” (Eccl. 2:22–23). So, too, your “covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5), makes a god out of that which cannot give you life or happiness. For “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). But “Christ who is your life” (Col. 3:4), in giving you Himself, gives you all the wealth of heaven. Instead of striving to lay up treasures for yourself, be “rich toward God” in Him (Luke 12:21).

Sin is especially seen in selfishness.  As we worship and magnify self, God and our neighbor are pushed out of our lives. Thus they are not loved, and love is the fulfillment of the law.  Jesus thus warns in Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 12:13-21), ““Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness…”   Our self-worshiping lovelessness is clearly detected by the evidence of our covetous (greedy) hearts.

At first glance the parable of the wealthy farmer seems to have little meaning.  Every farmer wants his land to be productive, as was the case for the man in the parable. There is nothing inherently wrong with being wealthy; faithful Abraham and faithful Job are examples of wealthy Christians.  Additionally there is nothing wrong with building larger barns and there is nothing wrong with storing one’s goods in such barns.  It is not necessarily wrong to “eat, drink and be merry”, for this can even be something wonderful (Eccl. 8:15; Luke 15:23).

To understand the parable the context must be observed.  Preceding the parable Jesus states, “…one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Thus the parable teaches how easily one can be caught up in the wrong-headed thinking that life does consist in “my” possessions.  After the parable Jesus explains, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”  From the parable we realize that to be “rich toward God” does not mean having all kinds of money and things. Being “rich toward God” foundationally means having faith and trust in God.  Thus the man Jesus was rich toward God, having perfect faith/trust in the providence of His God and Father.  Such faith culminated in Jesus giving up all his possessions—even his life—ultimately dying on the cross.  Christians realize Christ did this to earn forgiveness—even for our sins of covetousness.  We are now “rich toward God” when we have (as a gift) a Christ-like faith/trust in God, with such trust in God including a repentant faith, a faith that, upon confessing sin, receives the forgiveness earned by Christ.

A second aspect of being “rich toward God” consists in our God-generated love for our neighbor.  The Lord Jesus had this wealth beyond measure as He gave His life as a ransom for even His enemies.  The wealthy farmer in the parable had none of this wealth; he was only rich toward self.  Jesus shows the omission of the farmer’s love toward his neighbor as He repeatedly uses the little word “my” in the parable.  The farmer confesses self:  “my crops”  “my barns” “my grain”  “my goods”.  Both faith in God the provider and the resultant love toward neighbor are absent in the “me-centered” rich man of the parable.  This lovelessness toward the neighbor is also conveyed by the little word “all”.  In his new barn the wealthy farmer says, “I will store all my grain and my goods.”  None of his wealth will go to his neighbor; it’s all mine!

Appropriately Jesus follows the parable with statements summarizing being “rich toward God”.  He first describes faith/trust in God the provider, climaxing with the salvation promise:  “Fear not, little flock, for it is our Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Secondly the Lord Jesus describes our love toward our neighbor:  “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.”  May the Spirit grant us grace to be “rich toward God”, trusting His temporal and eternal providence in Christ, and loving our neighbor with our God-given wealth.
The Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12:13 
Εἶπεν δέ τις ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου αὐτῷ• Διδάσκαλε, εἰπὲ τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μερίσασθαι μετ’ ἐμοῦ τὴν κληρονομίαν.
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

     -The man is expecting a certain outcome.

Luke 12:14 
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Ἄνθρωπε, τίς με κατέστησεν κριτὴν ἢ μεριστὴν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς;
But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

     - Jesus does not teach about the way, He is THE WAY - to reconcile and  become the mediator.

     -People want something from Jesus rather than Jesus Himself.

     - Do not worry what you will get from the dead guy rather, what will you do when you're the dead         guy?

Luke 12:15 
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς• Ὁρᾶτε καὶ φυλάσσεσθε ἀπὸ πάσης πλεονεξίας, ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ περισσεύειν τινὶ ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ.
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

     - Not in the abundance of one's possessions does one's life exist.

     - Riches attract greed.

Luke 12:16 
εἶπεν δὲ παραβολὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων• Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα.
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

Luke 12:17 
καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων• Τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου;
and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

     -He argues within himself, a negative argument. He wants to keep it all form himself.

Luke 12:18 
καὶ εἶπεν• Τοῦτο ποιήσω• καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα ὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου,
And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

     - I will build even bigger barns.

Luke 12:19 
καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου• Ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά• ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου.
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

     - You can eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you live!

     - Ψυχή, -the whole person - body and soul.

     - See the temptation in the garden, "you will be like God"

Luke 12:20 
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ θεός• Ἄφρων, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ• ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας, τίνι ἔσται;
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

     - On this night, your soul (all of you) will be demanded of you.

Luke 12:21 
οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ καὶ μὴ εἰς θεὸν πλουτῶν.
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

     Where does God hide today? He hides in the neighbor.

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.
LCMS lectionary summaries © 2016 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Collect for Proper 13 Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Time in the Word - Proper 13

Preparation for next week

Pentecost 8 – Proper 13

July 29-August 3, 2019

The theme for this coming week is “possessed by possessions”. In the Gospel lesson Jesus refuses to champion the cause of one who wants his inheritance and goes on to teach by a parable that in the pursuit of wealth one can lose one’s soul. In the Old Testament lesson, the theme of vanity is shown when a man works hard to accumulate wealth only to leave it to one who did not work for it. In the Epistle lesson Paul gives us a contrast between heavenly virtues and earthly vices which are to be shunned.

A Collect during Pentecost: O God, the Protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, increase and multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; 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 13: O Lord, grant us wisdom to recognize the treasures You have stored up for us in heaven that we may never despair but always rejoice and be thankful for the riches of Your grace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever.

For proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ our Lord.

For steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward 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 the faith to the end and finally come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Against the love of money: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 29 July 2019—Psalm 49:7-8, 13-14a, 15; antiphon, Psalm 49:1-2 - God is the owner of the earth and all that is therein. In giving to God we merely return that which is His own. The vanity of life is explained in this psalm. Also this psalm teaches that death comes to all. This psalm is similar to Psalm 39. Psalm 49 is a meditation on life and death. A typical piece of wisdom on life’s inequalities. At the end of the line death waits for the materialist not even he can buy himself off. The “moral” of the psalm is similar to that of Jesus’ parable of the rich man found in Sunday’s gospel.

Generally speaking the psalmists have no clear concept of life after death and verse 15 is therefore often taken as a reference to premature death. But this undermines the reasoning, which requires ironing out of this life’s inequalities beyond the grave.

Tuesday, 30 July 2019—Psalm 100— Praise God. His mercy endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. “The Lord is God” and “The Lord is Good” Let the whole earth sing and be glad.

Wednesday, 31 July 2019—Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-26— The vanity of accumulating wealth and leaving it to one who did not work for it. To get property, financial security, and a sizable nest-egg, one usually must work hard and long for it, unless he inherited a fortune. To get ahead financially, a husband may work night and day, hold more than one job, and his wife may work, too. 

The question must often come to these people’s minds: Is it worth the work? Are our material desires and standards too high? Are we missing out on the better things of life by giving all our time and effort to making money? Our lesson speaks to these questions.

Thursday, 01 August 2019—Colossians 3:1-11— A Christian seeks to acquire heavenly virtues and shuns earthly vices. Many live according to earthly values. Usual folks walk with heads down, seeing worldly things, and thinking negative thoughts. 

A Christian lives with his feet planted in two worlds – in this world of materials and vices, and in a higher world of heavenly values where Christ is. Since Christ has ascended, we on earth look to Him for our values, goals, and ideals while on earth. Our lives are impoverished by preoccupation with worldly values leading us into negative thoughts and wicked actions. The wagon of life needs to be hitched to the star of Christ.

Friday, 2 August 2019—Luke 12:13-21— The parable of the rich fool. Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” If it does not consist of material goods, of what does life consist? Most people feel that money is the key to real living. After winning the Irish Sweepstakes, a woman exclaimed, “Now I’m going to start living!” People need to know what makes life worthwhile.

Saturday, 3 August 2019 – Psalm 143:8 – The hymn of the week is “All Depends on Our Possessing” (LSB 732). This much loved hymn is best summed up in stanza three. Contemplate its impact in light of the readings for the week, “Many spend their lives in fretting over trifles and in getting things that have no solid ground. I shall strive to win a treasure that will bring me lasting pleasure and that now is seldom found.”

______________________

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Collect for Tenth Sunday after Pentecost from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Pentecost 7 - Proper 12

Pentecost 7 – Proper 12
28 July 2019
Luke 11:1-13
Your prayers are the voice of faith
 

O Lord, the Protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, increase and multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

"I’ll give you what you want so long as you will…go away!” We’ve each experienced such annoyances and frustrations. From the belligerent and aggressive telemarketer who knows exactly when you sit down to eat to an obnoxious friend. We contribute to a cause not because we are so noble. To the contrary, all too often we give in, submitting to their wishes and demands to acquire for ourselves, a little peace. 

How then are we to approach God? Jesus gives us insight as we consider approaching our Father in prayer. 

After repeated request -you receive mercy.

1. Sometimes we get what we want because we badger people – pounding them into submission.

A. We submit to others, we get what we want, or we press others to do for us – because we know which buttons to push. Try reasoning with a three – year -old. It does not work! They know exactly which button to push! Yours!

B. Some equate prayer, or answers to pray similar to debates parents have with toddlers.  They believe  the only way to get something from God is to first get His attention by complaining until we are heard.

Transition: We do not have to argue with God forcing Him to hear us. He understands us.

2. Not so with the Father. He knows your need.

A. Your heavenly Father knows your needs already. He not so distant that He has to be pushed or driven into submission. We do not have to provoke the Lord. We do not have to wake Him up or stand on our head to gain His attention. 

B. We do not even have to initiate the conversation. Before there is a word spoken from your tongue. He knows it altogether. Before there is even a thought in your mind. Your heavenly Father knows it already.

Transition: As the Father knows you, He is able to provide for all your needs.

3. When you request of the Lord in prayer He will always answer according to your need.

A. Every petition, every request, every plea that we cry out to God has already been answered. The answer is already there for you to receive. Your only prayer needs to be, “Thy will be don Lord!” Recall the explanation give to us from Luther’s Catechism, “The will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray is this petition that it may be done among us also.” 

B. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything that God wants to do for us according to His promise. “God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4

C. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything that God wants us to suffer patiently according to His good pleasure. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

D. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything God wants us to do as well as avoid – according to His will.  “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Transition: You do not have to worry approaching the Father. Every request will be answered by grace for Jesus’ sake.  

4. Every request, every petition, we be answered with grace. 

A. There is no need to worry about holdouts. You do not have to wait for Him to be in a good mood for Him to act. You do not have to worry about Him changing His mind or going back on His Word. His mind is already made up. His Word is clear – “I am the Lord and I change not!”  - Malachi 3:6

B. The Father knows only how to give only good and perfect gifts. This is why we pray. We pray that God would strengthen and preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end; so that we may at all times do His will as gladly as the angels in heaven. 

C. We pray that God would in all suffering keep us faithful to our end. “He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 1 Corinthians 12:9

So what does this mean? God would be these words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask –as dear children ask their dear father.

_________________
Words – 835
Passive Sentences – 5% 
Readability – 79.1
Reading Level – 5.3

Proper 12 Series C

Proper 12 Series C
(July 24-30)
For July 28, 2019

Genesis 18:(17–19) 20–33
Colossians 2:6–15 (16–19)
Luke 11:1–13

The Prayer of the Church Is the Voice of Faith

Jesus catechizes His disciples in the way of faith by teaching them how to pray. He promises us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13). 

Thus, father Abraham was bold in his prayer because he believed the gracious promise of the Lord, that he would “surely become a great and mighty nation” (Genesis 18:18). 

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we also hold “fast to the Head” (Colossians 2:19), “rooted and built up in him and established in the faith” (Colossians 2:6–7).

The Lord's Prayer
Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ προσευχόμενον, ὡς ἐπαύσατο, εἶπέν τις τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν• Κύριε, δίδαξον ἡμᾶς προσεύχεσθαι, καθὼς καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐδίδαξεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ.
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

This is the prayer Jesus Himself gives. He Himself has given us THIS prayer.
This is how the Savior has taught us.
We pray through Christ, we stand in his shoes.

Luke 11: 2
 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς• Ὅταν προσεύχησθε, λέγετε• Πάτερ, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου• ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου•
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

Luke does not include “Thy will be done”

Luke 11:3 
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δίδου ἡμῖν τὸ καθ’ ἡμέραν•
Give us each day our daily bread,

Our bread “according to the day” or “bread for the coming day”

Luke 11:4
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἀφίομεν παντὶ ὀφείλοντι ἡμῖν• καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Luke 11:5 
 Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς• Τίς ἐξ ὑμῶν ἕξει φίλον καὶ πορεύσεται πρὸς αὐτὸν μεσονυκτίου καὶ εἴπῃ αὐτῷ• Φίλε, χρῆσόν μοι τρεῖς ἄρτους,
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,

Luke 11:6
ἐπειδὴ φίλος μου παρεγένετο ἐξ ὁδοῦ πρός με καὶ οὐκ ἔχω ὃ παραθήσω αὐτῷ•
for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

Luke 11:7
κἀκεῖνος ἔσωθεν ἀποκριθεὶς εἴπῃ• Μή μοι κόπους πάρεχε• ἤδη ἡ θύρα κέκλεισται, καὶ τὰ παιδία μου μετ’ ἐμοῦ εἰς τὴν κοίτην εἰσίν• οὐ δύναμαι ἀναστὰς δοῦναί σοι.
and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?

Luke 11:8
λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ καὶ οὐ δώσει αὐτῷ ἀναστὰς διὰ τὸ εἶναι [e]φίλον αὐτοῦ, διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ ἐγερθεὶς δώσει αὐτῷ [f]ὅσων χρῄζει.
 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[c] he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
[c] Or persistence

Luke 11:9
Κἀγὼ ὑμῖν λέγω, αἰτεῖτε, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν• ζητεῖτε, καὶ εὑρήσετε• κρούετε, καὶ ἀνοιγήσεται ὑμῖν•
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:10
πᾶς γὰρ ὁ αἰτῶν λαμβάνει, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει, καὶ τῷ κρούοντι ἀνοιγήσεται.
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 11:11
τίνα δὲ [g]ἐξ ὑμῶν τὸν πατέρα αἰτήσει ὁ [h]υἱὸς ἰχθύν, [i]καὶ ἀντὶ ἰχθύος ὄφιν [j]αὐτῷ ἐπιδώσει;
 What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
[d] Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

Luke 11:12
ἢ καὶ αἰτήσει ᾠόν, ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ σκορπίον;
or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Luke 11:13 
εἰ οὖν ὑμεῖς πονηροὶ ὑπάρχοντες οἴδατε δόματα ἀγαθὰ διδόναι τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὁ πατὴρ ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δώσει πνεῦμα ἅγιον τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν αὐτόν.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Footnotes:
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Time in the Word - Proper 12

Time in the Word

22-27 July 2019

Pentecost 07, Proper 12

Persistent Prayer

Prayer is the obvious them for next Sunday. The Gospel deals with several aspects of prayer: 1 how to pray; 2 persistence in prayer; 3 God is willing to give good gifts to His children. The Old Testament lesson deals with Abraham’s reasoning with God: getting God not to destroy Sodom because of only 10 righteous souls. Having been reduced from 50 the Lord stops Abraham at his request of ten. Not even ten were found and thus the city was destroyed as is depicted in the woodcut on our cover. Prayer is often a wrestling with God, a spiritual struggle. The Lord encourages us to watch and pray to remain vigilant and on our guard.

Collect for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Grant Lord, that the course of this world may be so governed by Your direction that Your Church may rejoice in serving You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Collect for Proper 12: O Lord, let Your merciful ears be attentive to the prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray that our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever.

For an answer to prayer: Almighty God, You have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in Your Son’s name. Mercifully incline Your ears to us who have now made our prayers and supplications to You, and grant that those things that we have faithfully asked according to Your will we may receive to meet our need and bring glory to Your; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward 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 the faith to the end and finally come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For the right understanding of Christ: Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the way, the truth, and the life that following His steps we may steadfastly walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 22 July 2019—Psalm 119:145-149; antiphon, Psalm 50:15 This psalm is based on The Hebrew Letter “Qoph” It’s theme- “Crying With The Whole Heart” David cries, “Save me O Lord and I will keep Your law.” As the psalm draws to a close, prayer for deliverance becomes more dominant

Tuesday, 23 July 2019—Psalm 138— This is a royal son of praise for God’s saving help against threatening foes. In many respects it is like Psalm 18 though it is more concise and direct. Two Hebrew four-line stanzas (Vv. 1-3, 6-8) develop the main theme; at the center a two line stanza (Vv. 4-5) expands the praise of the Lord to a universal company of earth’s royalty.

Wednesday, 24 July 2019—Genesis 18:20-33— Abraham bargains with God not to destroy Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people. In addition to the idea of persistence in prayer, our Old Testament lesson teaches us a number of timeless truths. God is concerned about conditions on earth. Vv. 20-21. 

We do not have a God high in the heavens who could not care less what happens on earth. In the case of Sodom, God Himself comes down to the city for a first-hand investigation. God knows and cares about the human condition. The wrath of God is real. In verse 22 God intends to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sin is punished. The wrath of God is visited upon the wicked. This applies to any city or nation at any period of history. A corrupt society will experience its consequences. 

In verse 25 Abraham tests God’s justice. Would God destroy the righteous along with the wicked? God would not do that; He is a just God. Vv. 27 and 30 speak concerning the attitude of one in prayer. Abraham realizes he has no right he had no right to speak to God, to approach God, to make any requests. This is the attitude of one who knows his finiteness and unworthiness to speak to God in prayer. Prayer is no friendly chat between equals. It is an audience with the Holy One, full of majesty and glory. Sodom was destroyed because 10 righteous people were not found in the city. Diogenes could not find one honest man in his land. Are there as many as 10 really righteous people in your city?

Thursday, 25 June 2019—Colossians 2:6-15— Paul exhorts his people to live in Christ in whom dwells the fullness of God. We live on earth only once and almost everyone wants to get as much out of life as possible. But how do you achieve a happy and fulfilling life? 

Go to any bookstore and you will find scores of books promising a life that can be good, rich, happy and free of fear, worry, and guilt. That is life as it ought to be, the kind of life God means for us to enjoy. But how many readers of these books will then have that new life? When will the real life begin? There is no easy way to get real life. Christians get this life by living in Christ. Life is a by product of a one-to-one relationship with Christ. Paul gives us the procedure for living in Christ as a way to real life. The key is in verses six and seven. Contemplate these words.

Friday, 26 July 2019—Luke 11:1-13— Jesus gives the Lord’s Prayer and teaches persistence in prayer. It is common practice for many to ask once and forget it. How long should we pray for something? Is unanswered prayer a “no” answer? In the Gospel for Sunday Jesus teaches that there is no limit to the number of times we pray. The friend wanting bread comes at midnight when his friend is in bed. The man wanting to borrow bread kept asking and pounding until in desperation he got out of bed and gave the food. It wasn’t because of friendship but because his friend would not quit bothering him. He would not take “No” for an answer. Jesus teaches that we should ask, seek, and finally knock to get what we want. Persistence in prayer is necessary.

Saturday, 27 July 2019 – Matthew 6:5-13; 7:7-11 – The hymn of study this week is “Come, My Soul, with Every Care” (LSB 779). In every need in every circumstance take it to the Lord in prayer.

_________________________

Sources: 

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Collect for Seventh Sunday after Pentecost from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

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.

Concordia Self Study Bible © 1886 Concordia Publishing House

Pentecost 6 - Proper 11

July 21, 2019
Luke 10:42
“One thing necessary”

[1]

“Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her.” 

Grant us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are please in Your sight that we, who without Your guidance cannot do anything that is good, may be enabled to live according to Your will. [2]

It was the June meeting of the Tabea Society. Some years ago.  Each month there was roll call. Along with a question. Asked by the host. And the question for the JUNE meeting was…”what are your plans for Thanksgiving?”  This seemed only natural for those sitting around the table.

Thanksgiving?  Why ask such a question? In June?  We hadn’t even celebrated Flag Day! Or the 4th of July. Or Labor Day. Or Columbus Day. Thanksgiving? “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” In June?

Well, over time I’ve discovered that Thanksgiving is the one holiday when people travel. Especially if you have family living out of state. So it’s only natural to be making plans for Thanksgiving even as early as June. Who cares if the holiday is five months away!  If you’re hosting an event. And it’s your responsibility. It’s never too soon to start making preparations now.

And now that the children are out of the house, living far, far away Tammy and I, from time to time have had the discussion, “so, what are our plans...for Thanksgiving?”

Mary and Martha have Jesus over for dinner. He is invited for a meal in their home. Martha was concerned about everything. The furnishing. The guests seated at the table. The meal.  Everything had to be perfect. Mary is content to sit at the feet of the Savior.

Martha is distracted with much serving. She’s frustrated. Because her sister ignores her. So she asks Jesus to intervene. “Lord, you do care, don’t you, that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Assist me. Make her cooperate. Tell her to take up this service!

What can be gleaned from this conversation the Savior had with the members of this family?

1. Only one thing is needed. The one thing needed is for you to sit at the feet of the Savior; to listen to His Word, to abide in Him, to know of His direction and care in your life. 

A. To sit at the feet of the Savior.

1. You are doing this, this very moment. You are sitting at the feet of the Savior, listening to His Word. Drinking deep from His instruction.

2. This has been your habit, your routine. In a word, it’s called “faithfulness.” You have been found to be faithful. Faithful in coming to service. Faithful in your hearing of the Savior’s word. Faithful in receiving His gifts with thanksgiving.

B. To listen to His Word.

1. As Christ comes to you in His Word, which is preached, taught shared and read. You respond with a faithful heart. 

2. Make it a daily habit. Make it a part of your daily ritual. There are countless resources, which are readily available. Our daily devotionals; Time in the Word, Portals of Prayer, and for our children – the daily Bible stories read in Morning Prayer at school.   Use them! [3]

C. To abide in Christ. 

1. He alone initiated this with you when you were baptized. St. Paul would remind us, “When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were baptized into His death. We were buried with Him by our baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection life His.” – Romans 6

2. He will keep this promise. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of this wonderful promise. “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever Amen.” –Hebrews 13:21

D. To know of His direction and care.

1. He has been doing this all your life. His word and promise to you on the day of His Ascension is an enduring promise. He said, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” – Matthew 28 

2. Every moment of your life. In every circumstance. He is shaping and using these events of your life to draw you closer to Himself.  The temptation of this age is to live in the moment. Christ has the perspective of eternity. Know this – He orders all of your days. He directs your path.

3. Yet, will He change? Will He change His mind concerning your situation? He can never change. You and I are so fickle – changing our minds constantly. Not so with your Lord. He has bound Himself to His Word.  He has clearly spoken this truth through His prophet Malachi, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” – Malachi 3:5

Transition:  Only one thing is needed. To sit at the Savior’s feet is a wise choice.

2. Mary chose what is better. She chose to trust and believe in Christ first. Serving has its place – yet, serving comes from believing.

A. To trust and believe in Christ is of the first import.

1. It must be top priority. When Christ is not the center of everything we do – we violate the 1st Commandment.  We must fear love and trust in God above all things. 

2. It must be chief among all of us. Says St. Paul, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:2

B. Serving does have its place.

1. Without serving nothing would get done. There are so may needs. We need faithful people. To be the hands and feet, the fingers and toes of Jesus. 

2. There is much to do. What then should be our motivation? Consider the instruction of St. Paul: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Then He gets specific:

a. Wives – submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

b. Husbands – love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

c. Children – obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

d. Parents – do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

e. Employees – Obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. – Colossians 3:18-22

C. Yet serving comes from believing.

1. We serve. Only after we have sat and listened at the feet of Jesus. We receive instruction first. Then, we go out into the world as ambassadors for Christ. We serve, with all our strength. But first, we’re fed.

2. Serving is our response to sitting and listening. We go to a worship service. Then, in service, we worship. We worship on Sunday. Service is performed Monday through Saturday – as you live your live in your given vocation as husband, wife, child, employee, master – praising God while you serve your neighbor. Remember the slogan of the cleaning service, ServiceMaster® - providing Service to the Master.

Transition: Because you choose to sit at the feet of the Savior and listen – your reward cannot be taken from you. 

3. It will not be taken away from her. A faith, which trusts, is an enduring faith. It is the blessed assurance you have in Christ. It is a faith that endures though out time. 

A. A faith, which trusts, is an enduring faith. Faith is nothing more than another word for trust. Trust is nothing more than taking God at His Word. 

1. The Spirit gives you faith. It will get you through times of testing – When you are tempted to believe, whether God your Father will act for you.

2. The Spirit gives you faith. It will get you through times of doubt – In which you are called to question whether God your Father is concerned for you. 

B. This is the “blessed assurance” you have in Christ. He relieves all fear. He removes all doubt. He sets you apart to be His for time and eternity.

C. It is a faith that will endure.

1. The devil, world and flesh cannot defeat faith. They are already crushed. As Jesus went to the bloody and cruel cross of Calvary. Where He suffered for you, and then victoriously rose from the grave. To defeat your last enemy – death. 

2. Every time you commune at His altar. The promise of the cross and tomb is given to you. Christ’s body is given – for you – as His blood was shed –for you!

3. You are secure in Christ. That’s why you pray in the morning and evening, “…into Thy hand I commend myself (placing) my body and soul and all things (into Your care.) Let Your Holy Spirit be with me – that the devil, world, and flesh – may have no power over me. “

Only one thing is needful. What was evident in the life of Mary – sitting at the feet of Jesus –may it continue to be found in you – today, tomorrow – and throughout your days! In Jesus’ Name. Amen 

_________________

Words – 1,690

Passive Sentences –11% 

Readability-82.6%

Reading Level – 4.0  

[1] Luther’s Seal © Higher Things

[2] Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

[3] If you would read the daily readings contained in Time in the Word over a three- year period you would go through much of the Bible. The readings found in Morning Prayer contain 140 Bible stories - 70 from the Old Testament, 70 from the New Testament.
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.

Proper 11 Series C

Proper 11 Series C
(For 7.21.2019)

(July 17-23)

Genesis 18:1–10a (10b–14)
Colossians 1:21–29
Luke 10:38–42

The Word of Christ Is the One Thing Needed

“The Lord appeared to [Abraham] by the oaks of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1) and received his hospitality. But Abraham received the gracious promise of a son. Though Abraham and Sarah were very old, nothing is “too hard for the Lord” (Genesis 18:14). 

His Word appointed the time and fulfilled the promise. In the same way, the Lord Jesus “entered a village” and received Martha’s hospitality (Luke 10:38). “Martha was distracted with much serving” because she was “anxious and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:40–41), but her sister Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” (Luke 10:39). The service of love is no sin, but “one thing is necessary” for both faith and love — the Word of Christ (Luke 10:42). 

Thus, the ministers of Christ are sent “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” (Colossians 1:25–26).

One Thing Is Necessary
Published on July 17th, 2019 - Pr. Daniel J. Brege

Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching.  The one thing necessary is continued catechesis—continued learning and growing in the Word of Christ. This is what Mary was doing.

In Luke 1:4 we are informed that the Gospel was written so that the unidentified Theophilus would have certainty concerning the things that he was “taught” (literally “catechized”).  Theophilus, Mary, Martha and each “mature” Christian has been catechized—taught the foundational truths of the faith.  Jesus would drive home the reality that the one thing necessary is to continue at His feet, continue to be catechized.  Was Martha’s work of serving then worthless?  By no means!  But continued catechesis is the ultimate necessity.

Such continued catechesis should first be realized in the home.  Upon completion of the 8th grade when children are traditionally “confirmed” among us, they may wrongly be given the impression that they are done, that they have “graduated”.  The head of a given household should take it upon himself to keep his family at the feet of Jesus.  We then also should take it upon ourselves to have Jesus continue catechizing us as individually we daily study our catechism.  Martin Luther, who penned the Small Catechism, wrote in his preface to the Large Catechism:  “I must still read and study the [Small] Catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism…”  Luther remained at the feet of Jesus, he remained a student of the Catechism.  Of course “catechesis” generally connotes instruction in God’s Word, but specifically it refers to instruction drawn from The Small Catechism.

Some might ask, “Why are you emphasizing The Small Catechism?  Shouldn’t our emphasis be upon continued study of the Bible?”  Truly we, unlike most in previous centuries, are privileged to personally own and be able freely to study the Holy Bible, the fountain of all doctrine. This is wonderful, yet, as is true of any difficult and deep subject, one must first master the basics, the framework.  Thus to find your way around a city you must first learn the main roads.  Using the main roads you will then learn various roads that branch off of these thoroughfares. The Small Catechism is a wonderful condensation of Holy Scripture, conveying the “main roads” of the faith.[1]  What better way to learn the depths of the Holy Bible than to first master its “main roads”.  Yet as Luther rightly reminds, in this sinful world no one fully masters even the basics of the faith.  So remain a catechist at the feet of Jesus.

Even as The Small Catechism is a wonderful condensation of the entire Bible, so there is an even more concentrated condensation.  The one-word condensation of the Catechism is the same as the one-word condensation of the entire Bible: Jesus.  Jesus—crucified and risen—is the meaning behind, the fulfillment of, and the direction taken in each of the six Chief Parts of the Catechism.  Jesus—crucified and risen—is the summary of the entire Bible (John 5:39, etc.).  Indeed, we sit at the feet of Jesus that we may learn not only from Jesus, but about Him.  And through that Word the Holy Spirit brings eternal gifts, gifts wrought by Jesus.

[1] Luther notes that the church through the centuries especially recognized the first three chief parts to be foundational (Decalogue, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer).

Mary and Martha
38 Ἐν δὲ τῷ πορεύεσθαι αὐτοὺς αὐτὸς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς κώμην τινά• γυνὴ δέ τις ὀνόματι Μάρθα ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a (certain) village. And a (certain) woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

Why "certain?" Jesus goes to this place and to this woman.

39 καὶ τῇδε ἦν ἀδελφὴ καλουμένη Μαριάμ, ἣ καὶ παρακαθεσθεῖσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ.
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

This is perhaps a welcoming on the part of Jesus
Look at those who sat at Jesus' feet...
A prostitute
A demonic
A woman at the tomb Easter Sunday

40 ἡ δὲ Μάρθα περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν• ἐπιστᾶσα δὲ εἶπεν• Κύριε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην με κατέλειπεν διακονεῖν; εἰπὲ οὖν αὐτῇ ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται.
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Assist me, cooperate, take up the service...

41 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ κύριος• Μάρθα Μάρθα, μεριμνᾷς καὶ θορυβάζῃ περὶ πολλά,
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Martha is being pulled in a different direction
42 ὀλίγων δέ ἐστιν χρεία ἢ ἑνός• Μαριὰμ γὰρ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεταιαὐτῆς.
but one thing is necessary Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This is an attitude of the heart
Don't sit there DO something is the idiom of today. With Jesus it's SIT and listen

This is not an either or distinction Both are necessary yet one is better. The fault is not in her sacrifice but in her trust.

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.

Time in the Word - Proper 11

Time in the Word
15-20 July 2019
Preparation for next week, Pentecost 6 – Proper 11
Fellowship with the Divine

Next Sunday may be called “Hospitality Day.” Human entertain divine beings at dinners. In the Gospel Martha and Mary have Jesus in their home for dinner, but only Mary gets fed by Christ while Martha is busy getting the meal ready. In the Old Testament lesson Abraham offers hospitality to three men from God and receives a blessing from them. The Epistle lesson is a continuation from last Sunday’s lesson from Colossians. Because of the cross which reconciled us to God, we may appear before Him with holiness. Before Christ, we could not approach God or be in His presence because were estranged from Him.

Collect for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: O God, because You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding, pour into our hearts such love towards You that we, loving You above all things, may obtain Your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

Collect for Proper 11: O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

For guidance in our calling: Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but on that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward 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 the faith to the end and finally come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For newness of life in Christ: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of light now in the time of this mortal life in which Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility, that in the Last Day, when He shall come again to glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 15 July 2019—Psalm 119:57-60, 64; antiphon, Psalm 119:103— Psalm 119:57-64 is brought to you by the Hebrew Letter “”Heth” 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 are his delight.

Tuesday, 16 July 2019—Psalm 27— Devotion to God’s House. David speaks of fearless trust in God. God - the strength of his life. David loved to sing, and to pray and to wait on the Lord. The man whose priorities are right (Vv. 4, 8) has nothing to fear (Vv. 1-3, 5-6). He knows where to turn in trouble (Vv. 7-12) and his hope is well founded. (Vv. 13-14)

Wednesday, 17 July 2019—Genesis 18:1-18a—At the oaks of Mamre, Abraham feeds three angels of God. At least two of the “men” were angels. The third was the angel of the Lord or the Lord Himself. [See Vv. 1,13,17,20, 26, 33, and especially verse 22] Abraham politely addressed one of his guests as “my lord” and called himself “your servant” (Vv. 3, 5) a common way of speaking when addressing a superior. Hebrews 13:2 is probably a reference to Vv. 2-8 and 19:1-3. Abraham and Sarah were rewarded beyond measure. They entertain the Lord Himself Vv. 1-2 and they are given the miraculous gift of new life. Vs. 10a Note: The woodcut below is a depiction of what transpires in the verses immediately following our lesson.

Thursday, 18 June 2019—Colossians 1:21-28—Through the cross Christ reconciled those once estranged that they might be blameless before God and Paul explains the purpose of his sufferings and ministry. Paul explains so much in just a few verses. In Vv.21-23 Paul explains the nature of the gospel, the way of salvation, with an appeal to remain steadfast in the faith. In verse 24, there is the difficult passage concerning Paul’s sufferings completing Christ’s afflictions. In Vv. 26-27 Paul speaks about the mystery of the gospel. The purpose of one’s ministry, the goal of the church’s work is in verse 28: “So we preach Christ to everyone…in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature individual in union with Christ.” Maturity in Christ is the goal in thinking, understanding, in attitude, and in practice. 

Friday, 19 July 2019—Luke 10:38-42— Jesus visits with Martha and Mary in their home. The church needs to reach out into the world demonstrating the compassion of Christ. This is seen in the work of Martha. The church at the same time needs to become a redemptive community – demonstrated by the actions of Mary. Mary chose to fulfill that need by sitting at His feet to learn from Jesus. We can not neglect physical bread for spiritual bread. Both are needed. But which is more important? In the Gospel text Jesus answers this: “Mary chose “the good portion.” Donating food, clothing, shelter, medical care and the like is important yet the Savior encourages us to give top priority to the spiritual needs of life.

Saturday, 20 July 2019 - Romans 3:23-25 – The hymn of the week is “O Savior, Precious Savior” (LSB 527). Having come into the presence of Christ, having heard His Word having communed with Him at His altar, having received His promise of reconciliation in the words of the Absolution we are encouraged to praise the name of the Lord. The words of this much loved hymn finds its focus on Christ and the true worship He is due. Come tomorrow to the Divine Service expecting to be drawn by the Savior to those means of grace that He gives us.

Luther's Seal © Higher Things

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Collect for Eighth Sunday after Pentecost from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Concordia Self Study Bible © 1886 Concordia Publishing House

Pentecost 5 - Proper 10

July 14, 2019

Pentecost 5 -Proper 10

Luke 10:25–37

“You are loved”

  

 [1]

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [2] 

Two questions. Stand as bookends for us today. The first. Is asked by an expert in the Law. The second. Is asked by Jesus. Jesus responds in both instances with a mandate. “This do.” 

The one proficient in the Law asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Oh yes, he was skillful in the Law of God. He interpreted it correctly. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”   To which Jesus replies, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Now it is Jesus’ turn to ask a question. “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” And the response, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

The righteous requirements of the Law - still remain a mandate. Jesus did not come to eliminate the law but to fulfill it. 

Says the Savior, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”   -Matthew 5:17-20 “Do all this and you will live.”

The popular phrase, "Be a Good Samaritan" is meant to motivate you to help someone you do not want to bother with. It sounds clever. But, more times than not, it is a burden. Most times, you help the person you do not always desire or want to. Their lack of appreciation and demand for more can be defeating and exhausting. It can leave you feeling you were right after all. That you shouldn't have even tried. More than exhausting. It leads many to give up. [3]  Sadly, in this American culture, most are motivated to serve only to impress the people they really cannot stand! 

So it is with any motivation from the Law. It reveals our sin. “But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” The path into hell is always paved with good intentions. The Old Adam in us is still trying self-justification.

Jesus, though. Did not come teaching lessons like the Good Samaritan to inspire you on how to live a better life but to reveal that we simply can't. But once you realize that. Your Savior then desires to show your repentant heart what He has done to free you and forgive you.

Jesus truly helped all. Only He was the "Good Samaritan." As the Son of God. He was the only one who could be. His greatest act of love proves it to be the case. Jesus offered His life in exchange for yours. He took all your sins as His own. He paid their full price on His cross. In exchange. He gives you everything.  The forgiveness of sins. And eternal life. He then gives you opportunities to help and serve your neighbor in love. 

The Christian life is not mere theory. It is faith always active in love toward the neighbor. God does not need your good works. Your neighbor, however, always will. Thus, the Savior gives you opportunities to love and serve your neighbor. As Jesus says in our Gospel today – “To show mercy!”  Not motivated for some righteous reward. Rather. He gives you a servant’s heart. And places opportunities before you. To be salt and light in this world. 

Dr. King put it best when he said,

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” [4]

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” It is, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

[1.]   Google Image, “The Good Samaritan” by Aime Morot LeBon

[2.]  Collect for Proper 10 Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 
[3]  Pr. Tim Daub, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hecla, South Dakota

[4.] Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 'The Drum Major Instinct' delivered at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, February 4, 1968

________________________

Words – 910

Passive Sentences –3% 

Readability – 82.3%

Reading Level- 4.2

Proper 10 -Series C

Proper 10 - Series C
(July 14, 2019)

Leviticus (18:1–5) 19:9–18
Colossians 1:1–14
Luke 10:25–37

Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan

The Law commands that “you shall love the Lord your God” with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27), and that you shall “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). Love fulfills the Law because love does no harm to the neighbor. Christ Jesus is the Good Samaritan, who with divine compassion saves you from all evil. He takes your sin and death upon Himself and bears these in His body to the cross. He binds up your wounds with the healing balm of His Gospel, and He brings you into His Church, where He takes care of you at His own expense (Luke 10:34–35). By such mercy, He proves “to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers” (Luke 10:36). Therefore, “you go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). By “your faith in Christ Jesus” and “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:4–5), you have the same love for others as the Lord Jesus has for you.

The popular phrase "Be a Good Samaritan" is meant to motivate you to help someone you don't want to. It sounds clever, but spiritually speaking, it is a burden. Most times you help the person you don't want to, their lack of appreciation and demand for more can be defeating and exhausting. It can leave you feeling you were right, that you shouldn't have. More than exhausting, it leads many to give up. So it is with any motivation from the Law: it reveals our sin.

Jesus, though, did not come teaching lessons like the Good Samaritan to inspire you how to live a good life but to reveal that we can't. But once you realize that, your Savior then desires to show your repentant heart what He has done to free you and forgive you.

Jesus truly helped all, only He was the "Good Samaritan" we should be. As the Son of God, He was the only One who could be. His greatest act of love proves it to be the case. Jesus offered His life in exchange for yours, took all your sins away as His own, and paid their full price on His cross. In exchange, He gives you everything, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37

:25 Καὶ ἰδοὺ νομικός τις ἀνέστη ἐκπειράζων αὐτὸν λέγων• Διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω;
 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν• Ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τί γέγραπται; πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις;
 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

27 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν• Ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης]τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ἰσχύϊ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

28 εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ• Ὀρθῶς ἀπεκρίθης• τοῦτο ποίει καὶ ζήσῃ.
And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

 The righteous requirements of the Law still remain a mandate. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.  See Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus is not an antinomian. “Do this and you will live.”

29 Ὁ δὲ θέλων δικαιῶσαι ἑαυτὸν εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν• Καὶ τίς ἐστίν μου πλησίον;
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 θέλων δικαιῶσαι ἑαυτὸν The path into hell is always paved with good intentions. The Old Adam in us is still trying self-justification.

30 ὑπολαβὼν]δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν• Ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ εἰς Ἰεριχὼ καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν, οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ.
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 κατὰ συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν•
 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Λευίτης κατὰ τὸν τόπον ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. .

33 Σαμαρίτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθεν κατ’ αὐτὸν καὶ ἰδὼν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη,
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ.
He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον ἐκβαλὼν δύο δηνάρια ἔδωκεν τῷ πανδοχεῖ καὶ εἶπεν• Ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν προσδαπανήσῃς ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με ἀποδώσω σοι.
And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer

36 τίς τούτων τῶν τριῶν πλησίον δοκεῖ σοι γεγονέναι τοῦ ἐμπεσόντος εἰς τοὺς λῃστάς;
   Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

37 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν• Ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετ’ αὐτοῦ. εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Πορεύου καὶ σὺ ποίει ὁμοίως.
He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

 The Christian life is not mere theory. It is faith always active in love toward the neighbor. God does not need your good works. Your neighbor, however always will.

Footnotes:
LCMS Lectionary notes and summaries © 2019
Collect for Proper 10 Lutheran Service Book © 20006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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.
Woodcut © WELS for personal and congregational use. 

Time in the Word - Proper 10

Time in the Word

08-13 July 2019

Preparation for next week, Pentecost 5 – Proper 11

Jesus Is Our Good Samaritan

The Law commands that “you shall love the Lord your God” with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27), and that you shall “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Love fulfills the Law because love does no harm to the neighbor. Christ Jesus is the Good Samaritan, who with divine compassion saves you from all evil. He takes your sin and death upon Himself and bears these in His body to the cross. He binds up your wounds with the healing balm of His Gospel, and He brings you into His Church, where He takes care of you at His own expense (Luke 10:34–35). By such mercy, He proves “to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers” (Luke 10:36). Therefore, “you go, and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). By “your faith in Christ Jesus” and “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:4–5), you have the same love for others as the Lord Jesus has for you.

Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: O Lord, whose gracious presence never fails to guide and govern those whom You have nurtured in Your steadfast love and worship, make us ever love and adore Your holy name; 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: O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

For guidance in our calling: Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but on that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward 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 the faith to the end and finally come to love everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For newness of life in Christ: Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of light now in the time of this mortal life in which Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility, that in the Last Day, when He shall come again to glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, 08 July 2019—Psalm 136:23-26, antiphon Psalm 136:1 - Psalm 136 seems to be an expansion of Psalm 135, about God’s mighty works of Creation and in His dealings with Israel, arranged for antiphonal singing. The phrase “His mercy endures forever” occurs in every verse. It is called a “Hallel” Psalm, was sung at the opening of the Passover, and was a favorite Temple Song (see 1 Chronicles 16:41; 2 Chronicles 7:3; 20:21; Ezra 3:11) The description of God’s great works in creation (Vv.4-9) and in history (Vv.10-24) alternate with the people’s refrain to God’s unchanging timeless love.

Tuesday, 09 July 2019—Psalm 41— This psalm is David’s pray for mercy when he was seriously ill. His enemies greet the prospect of his death with malicious glee. Even his once close friends betray his friendship see verse 9. Psalm 41 concludes a collection of four psalms connected by common themes, and also form the conclusion to the first section of the book of Psalms. (Psalms 1- 41) In its structure, the psalm is very symmetrical, composed of four stanzas of three verses each. The first and fourth stanzas frame the prayer with a note of confidence; stanzas two and three elaborate the prayer. Verse 13 is a doxology that closes Book I.

Wednesday, 10 July 2019— Leviticus 19:9-18 - Obedience demanded from the Lord your God. Notice throughout the Old Testament reading that the people are reminded, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18:1) God’s people are given instructions concerning a morality reflecting God’s holiness. God was preparing His people for a life different from their pagan neighbors, whose life-style was deplorably immoral. Our lesson is an expansion of the Ten Commandments as the Lord gives detail as to how and why we must live. We live in obedience because of the relationship with have been given with our God.

Thursday, 11 June 2019—Colossians 1:1-14— Obedience pleases God. In daily life we are accustomed to being transferred, and with each transfer we hope it means a promotion with larger salary. We may transfer schools. We may get a transfer at work from one department to another one. The company may transfer us to another city. In our Epistle Paul talks about the greatest transfer of all: from darkness to the light of God’s kingdom. 

Everyone needs this transfer because we are born into the world of sin and need to be delivered. Has this transfer taken place in your life?

Friday, 12 July 2019—Luke 10:25-37 - Obedience leads to eternal life. The common understanding of a neighbor is one who lives close to you in a neighborhood. In today’s world this is not necessarily the case. Many do not even know even the name of the family who lives in the apartment down the hall, nor the couple living in the adjoining townhouse. Using this definition of “neighbor,” the lawyer was sure he was exempt from the law to love your neighbor. In the parable, Jesus gives a new understanding of a neighbor; he is one who is in need of your assistance given out of love.

Saturday, 13 July 2019 - Romans 3:23-25 –The great hymn of faith “By Grace I’m Saved” (LSB 566). The glory God intended man to be is the glory that man had before the fall. (See Genesis 1:26-28; Psalm 8:5-6; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10. Believers in Christ will again have this glory through faith in Jesus Christ. (See Hebrews 2:5-9)

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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.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Collect for Eighth Sunday after Pentecost from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

 Google Image, “The Good Samaritan” by Aime Morot LeBon

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Concordia Self Study Bible © 1886 Concordia Publishing House