Epiphany 7 Series C

Epiphany 7

Series C

24 February 2019

Genesis 45:3-15

Psalm 103:13 (antiphon v.8)

1 Corinthians 15:21-26, 30-42

Luke 6:27-38

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity;

So what does God do for us? That will be the question asked by each of the lessons used in service next Sunday. In a nutshell God uses the events of this world and also in the world to come to shape and form our lives. Sometimes the going gets tough; there are troubled and dangerous waters that we have to forge through life. But as the old hymn “Jesus Savior Pilot me” reminds us He will chart and compass our course through life. This we can depend upon He will direct us. 

Genesis 45:1-7

So you think that you’ve had it rough? Joseph was abandoned by his brothers; left for dead, sold into slavery, arrested tried, convicted and imprisoned on false charges all for one purpose. That purpose was to save his family from starvation so that they could find safety in Egypt. God used extreme adversity to preserve life. Life will not always be easy and often times it’s simply unfair. Yet God is in the business of turning tragedy into triumph and disaster into miracle. All He asks of us is to trust Him and keep to His Word.

1 Corinthians 15:35-38a, 42-50

God is the source of everything that we are. He has gone so far as to prepare for you a new body in heaven. “How will the glorified body be…what will it look like…will it be different?” These are just some of the questions asked about this topic.

The answer is that we do not know how it will look because we have yet to go to heaven. But of this we can say, the glorified body will be free from sin. It will be perfect. The wonder of it all is that God has designed our body so that it will be fit for His purposes.

Luke 6:27-38

The point that all three of our lessons make is the fact God is the source of our being and doing. Thus our lives are a reflection of the character of God.  It’s easy to say, “I love God” Jesus shows us the example of loving God by loving those who hate and cure us. Jesus says love your enemies, be merciful, and forgive. This we cannot do in and of ourselves. We need someone stronger then ourselves to do this. We need Christ in our lives to work in us; strengthening us to do His good and perfect will.

Luke 6:27-38

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27

Ἀλλὰ ὑμῖν λέγω τοῖς ἀκούουσιν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε τοῖς μισοῦσιν ὑμᾶς,

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Luke 6:28

εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς καταρωμένους ὑμᾶς, προσεύχεσθε περὶ τῶν ἐπηρεαζόντων ὑμᾶς.

bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Luke 6:29

τῷ τύπτοντί σε ἐπὶ τὴν σιαγόνα πάρεχε καὶ τὴν ἄλλην, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἴροντός σου τὸ ἱμάτιον καὶ τὸν χιτῶνα μὴ κωλύσῃς.

To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either.

[a]Greek   χιτῶνα  chiton,   a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

Luke 6:30

παντὶ αἰτοῦντί σε δίδου, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ αἴροντος τὰ σὰ μὴ ἀπαίτει.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

Luke 6:31

καὶ καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Luke 6:32

Καὶ εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτοὺς ἀγαπῶσιν.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Luke 6:33

καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθοποιῆτε τοὺς ἀγαθοποιοῦντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν;  καὶ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν.

And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

Luke 6:34

καὶ ἐὰν δανίσητε παρ’ ὧν ἐλπίζετε λαβεῖν, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν; [i]καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανίζουσιν ἵνα ἀπολάβωσιν τὰ ἴσα.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

Luke 6:35

πλὴν ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε καὶ δανίζετε μηδὲν ἀπελπίζοντες· καὶ ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολύς, καὶ ἔσεσθε υἱοὶ Ὑψίστου, ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Luke 6:36

γίνεσθε οἰκτίρμονες καθὼς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν οἰκτίρμων ἐστίν·

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

Luke 6:37

Καὶ μὴ κρίνετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ κριθῆτε· καὶ μὴ καταδικάζετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ καταδικασθῆτε. ἀπολύετε, καὶ ἀπολυθήσεσθε·

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Luke 6:38

δίδοτε, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν· μέτρον καλὸν πεπιεσμένονσεσαλευμένον ὑπερεκχυννόμενον δώσουσιν εἰς τὸν κόλπον ὑμῶν· ᾧ γὰρ μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε ἀντιμετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν.

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

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

Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use