Saturday, September 30, 2023

Proper 22 - Series A notes

Proper 22 Series A

Isaiah 5:1–7

Philippians 3:4b–14

Matthew 21:33–46

The True Vine Redeems the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts

“The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel” (Isaiah 5:7), which He planted “on a very fertile hill” (Isaiah 5:1). He did everything for His vineyard, not only clearing it of stones and planting it with “choice vines,” but also building the “watchtower” of His prophets and hewing out the “wine vat” of His priesthood in its midst (Isaiah 5:2). But when “he looked for it to yield grapes,” there were only “wild grapes” of bloodshed and unrighteousness (Isaiah 5:2, 7).

The Lord Jesus likewise described the unfaithfulness of those who were called to care for His vineyard (Matthew 21:33–35). But in this He also describes His cross and Passion (Matthew 21:38–39), by which He has redeemed the vineyard for Himself. He is the true Vine, planted by death into the ground, and in His resurrection He brings forth “the fruits in their seasons” (Matthew 21:41). Among those good grapes of the true Vine is the apostle Paul. Once a zealous persecutor of the Church, he “suffered the loss of all things” in order to “gain Christ and be found in him,” to “know him and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:8–10).

“Lord Jesus, you have endured the doubts and foolish questions of every generation. Forgive us for trying to be judge over You and grant us the confident faith to acknowledge You as Lord.”

The Parable of the Tenants

A Clear Parable

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard…” (Matthew 21:33)

More often than not the parables of Jesus require significant wrestling to grasp and apply. Clearly this Sunday’s parable of the wicked vineyard tenants is not such a parable. In fact at the moment this parable proceeded from the mouth of Jesus, most of it almost certainly rang clear in the ears of the Jewish rabbis. Consider the following Old Testament quotes that are linked to this parable.

(v 33): There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants. Israel is God’s vineyard: For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:7; see all of Isaiah 5:1-7; also e.g. Psalm 80:8). Jerusalem is the heart of this vineyard.

(vv 34-35): When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. E.J. Young wrote a book entitled, My Servants, the Prophets. Jeremiah and others were such servants: God says: …listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened…And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die!” (Jeremiah 26:5,8; also e.g. 2 Chron. 24:20,21)

(vv 36-37): Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ There are intimations of the Son of God throughout the Old Testament, but at least two texts speak directly of God’s Son: I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son…” (Psalm 2:7). Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know? (Proverbs 30:4). A son is an heir; the Son of God is heir of all!

(vv 38-39): But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? (Isaiah 53:8). This part of the parable was likely only understood after God’s Son was murdered “outside the vineyard”…on Golgotha.

(vv 40-41): When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” God’s judgment upon unbelieving Israel is clearly attested throughout their history. Jesus here predicts the event that certainly fulfills this parable’s prediction of “a miserable death”: (Of Jerusalem): For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you (Luke 19:43).

How amazing that God works the greatest evil into good! The Jewish rejection of the Christ—ultimately by crucifixion—means reconciliation for the world! Praise God for The Vine who sprang from the earth in resurrection, and for the Spirit who grafts us into Him; enabling us to produce fruit to God’s glory.

Matthew 21:33

Ἄλλην παραβολὴν ἀκούσατε. [a]Ἄνθρωπος ἦν οἰκοδεσπότης ὅστις ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκεν καὶ ὤρυξεν ἐν αὐτῷ ληνὸν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδετο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς, καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν

Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

παραβολὴν - a parable -

Matthew 21:34

ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ καιρὸς τῶν καρπῶν, ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ.

When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants[a] to the tenants to get his fruit.

- "earth workers" Or bond servants; also verses 35, 36 expected

Matthew 21:35

καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὃν μὲν ἔδειραν, ὃν δὲ ἀπέκτειναν, ὃν δὲ ἐλιθοβόλησαν.

And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

- They skinned, stoned, killed, escalated quickly not expected... Jesus is speaking to the elders. Unbelief is never passive. The devil is a destroying demon.

Matthew 21:36

πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὡσαύτως.

Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.

- Even more unexpected...they kill more that are sent!

Matthew 21:37

ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων• Ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου.

Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

- lastly, he sent his Son, he really wants the fruit. He would stop at nothing. One of the few parables where the Father is the subject, not the Son.

Matthew 21:38

οἱ δὲ γεωργοὶ ἰδόντες τὸν υἱὸν εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς• Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος• δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν καὶ σχῶμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ•

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’

- We will kill the son and take the fruit. Inheritance comes only as gift. Kill the son to receive the merits does not work except in God's economy.

Matthew 21:39

καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.

And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

- they cast him outside and killed him. Notice the details. Note the double emphasis.

Matthew 21:40

ὅταν οὖν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τί ποιήσει τοῖς γεωργοῖς ἐκείνοις;

When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

- When the master comes what will he do to those Tenants? Answer is understood w/o speaking.

Matthew 21:41

λέγουσιν αὐτῷ• Κακοὺς κακῶς ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐκδώσεται ἄλλοις γεωργοῖς, οἵτινες ἀποδώσουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς καρποὺς ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς αὐτῶν.

They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

-Those bad, bad ones will receive a wretched death and He will give the vineyard to those who will give Him the fruit. Whom answers the question? The Pharisees or the crowd?

-KJV "He will wickedly destroy" same response as David and Nathan.

Matthew 21:42

Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς• Λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας• παρὰ κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?-

“CORNERSTONE” Greek ‘the head of the corner’

- Jesus answered, have you never read in the Scriptures the stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner from the Lord this is, wondrous in our eyes. ps. 118:22 this is not about their answer but their unbelief.

Matthew 21:43

διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀρθήσεται ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ δοθήσεται ἔθνει ποιοῦντι τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς.

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

- The kingdom of God Will be taken from you and given to a people Jews/Gentiles who will produce its fruit.

Matthew 21:44

Καὶ ὁ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸν λίθον τοῦτον συνθλασθήσεται• ἐφ’ ὃν δ’ ἂν πέσῃ λικμήσει αὐτόν.

And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

-Some manuscripts omit verse 44

-The one felling upon this stone will be destroyed but upon whom it falls it will crush to powder him. You cannot do it you must be crushed killed to self.

Matthew 21:45

Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι τὰς παραβολὰς αὐτοῦ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι περὶ αὐτῶν λέγει•

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.

-The chief priests and Pharisees knew that concerning them He tells.

Matthew 21:46

καὶ ζητοῦντες αὐτὸν κρατῆσαι ἐφοβήθησαν τοὺς ὄχλους, ἐπεὶ εἰς προφήτην αὐτὸν εἶχον.

And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

-And seeking him to seize they feared the crowds for a prophet him they had. They are living out the parable.

Time in the Word - Proper 22

A Study for Proper 22

October 2-7, 2023

The Vineyard of God’s People

In the Lessons for this week, we look at evil confidences, which cannot stand under the light of God’s Holy Law. God’s people constitute a vineyard. The Gospel and Old Testament lessons complement each other in the use of a vineyard as a metaphor for God’s people. In both, the vineyard is at fault; in the Gospel, the tenants refuse to render fruit; in the Old Testament, the fruit is wild. In the Epistle lesson, the wild fruit are those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ” and serve as an example of the right kind of fruit Christians produce. Because God’s vineyard is His people, He has the right to ask for proper returns from the vineyard. Both the Old Testament lesson and the Gospel pronounce judgment upon the vineyard for failing to produce the fruit of acknowledging Christ as Lord and the fruit of justice.

Monday, October 02, 2023 – Psalm 118:22-24 - Antiphon, verse 1:“O Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.” – This is a call to praise the Lord. David offers a song of thanksgiving for deliverance and victory.

The people rejoice over what the Lord has done. Thereafter, the king speaks his final word of praise (see verse 28). We praise and exalt the Lord because He is mighty to save. This is why He is good – His mercy, His steadfast love endures forever.

Tuesday, October 03, 2023 – Psalm 80:7-19 – This week’s Psalm has as the key verse, verse 7. The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant He cherished (Isaiah 5:7). After making a lament over the Lord’s severe punishment of His people the Psalmist looks to the Lord who will vindicate His own as He restores and makes His face shine upon them that they might be saved.

Wednesday, October 04, 2023– Isaiah 5:1-7 God’s people receive judgment for evil fruit. Confidence in violence and bloodshed leads to judgment. In the Old Testament reading, God’s judgment upon His people is shown for their failure to produce proper fruit. The prophet sings a love song to God regarding God’s vineyard, his people. God is his “beloved.” God loves His people. Proof of this love is that God’s vineyard, His possession, is His people. Out of love, God accepts and owns His people. And look what God has done for His people! He has placed a vineyard on a fertile hill. He dug the ground, cleared away the stones, and planted it with the best vines. Then He built a watchtower and a wine vat. God is love and He deals lovingly with His people: claiming them as His own, and providing for them by giving them the best of everything to be fruitful.

Thursday, October 05, 2023 – Philippians 3:4b-14 – God’s people strive to be examples worthy of Christ. Confidence in the flesh cannot stand. Forgetting the past, Paul presses on toward the goal of Christ and lives as an example for others. Paul defends himself as a Christian of the first order through the mercies of God. Yet, he does not think he has it “made,” but keeps striving for complete devotion to Christ by becoming one in the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ. Because he imitates Christ, he is able to ask his people to imitate him in both faith and life.

Though we are in the world, we belong to the kingdom of heaven. When Christ returns, He will transform our earthly bodies to spiritual bodies.

Paul uses this phrase “I press on” twice in this passage. It must have been important to him in getting across his plan. He is not idly waiting for perfection to come to him. He is not neutral. He is urgent, pursuing, and energetic in getting to his goal. To become like Christ is a process over a lifetime — ever striving to be like Christ in every area of life. At the same time, Paul would say that God was in him pressing on, working in him. A Christian dare not be content with his life. He is ever seeking to improve it.

Friday, October 06, 2023 – Matthew 21:33-46 – God’s people refuse to return God His due. Confidence in one’s own faith will fail. This is another parable of the kingdom. It is an allegorized parable. The vineyard is Israel. The tenants are the religious leaders. The servants are the prophets. The son is Jesus. The murder was the cross. Jesus is saying that time after time God has sought to redeem his people through the prophets, but each effort was in vain. In desperation, He sent His Son whom they crucified. This is in accord with the psalmist who says the rejected stone became the cornerstone. The outcome of it is that the religious leaders of Israel will lose the kingdom, which will be given to those who produce the fruit of righteousness. Because of their rejection of Christ, the Jews lost, but the Gentiles gained the kingdom.

The owner has a right to receive fruit from the tenants. People owe something to God. Time after time God comes for His due until finally He makes the ultimate appeal in His Son, Jesus. Rebellious tenants kill the Son in hope of taking over the vineyard. Here can be seen the patience of God, trying repeatedly to get the tenants to respond; here can also be seen the greed of people.

Saturday, October 07, 2023 –Matthew 25:1-13 - Our reading is the inspiration for the hymn, “Rejoice, Rejoice Believers.” The believer rejoices only in Christ. The days are getting shorter, soon the harvest will commence. We pray for the safety of all who work to bring food to our table. We also anticipate a harvest of souls.

As God’s vineyard will be harvested at the end of days so look to Christ the lord of the harvest, the one in whom the believer rejoices.

Collects for Proper 22 – Gracious God, You gave Your Son into the hands of sinful men, who killed Him. Forgive us when we reject Your unfailing love, and grant us the fullness of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever.

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 before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help, our labor is useless, and without Your light, our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Sources:

Friday, September 29, 2023

Saturday prior to Proper 21

John 8:31 – This passage is the inspiration for the hymn, “Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word.” Faith clings to the Lord and His teaching. We are called to be faithful; faithful to the Lord, to His Word, to each other.

The reflection below was written by The Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oak Lawn, Ill.

Luther’s Reformation hymn, “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (LSB 655) is one of his best known compositions. When it was published in 1542, it appeared with the subtitle, “A Children’s Hymn, to be Sung Against the Two Archenemies of Christ and His Holy Church, the Pope and Turk.” What was going on for Luther to write such a hymn?

Luther and the Reformers’ theological conflict with the various popes is well-known. The political conflict between the Holy Roman Empire, to which the Reformers and their princes belonged, and the Turkish Ottoman Empire was also a significant factor during the time of the Reformation.

In Luther’s day the Turks controlled not only much of the Middle East and North Africa, they also held land in southeastern Europe (modern day Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Balkans). In the early 1500’s there were a series of battles in Austria and Hungary between the Turks and the Holy Roman Empire. The siege of Vienna in the autumn of 1529 led to the decision of Emperor Charles V to call the Diet of Augsburg to unite the Holy Roman Empire against threat of Turkish invasion.

In 1541 there were two additional battles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Turks, which led Luther to pen this hymn. The army of the Holy Roman Empire was defeated at Budapest in August, and the imperial fleet was largely destroyed near Algiers in October.

Luther felt like he was surrounded by enemies—both the forces of the pope and the Turk. He wrote an appeal for the people to pray against the Turks (Vermahnung zum Gebet wider den Türken, LW 43:213-42), and he wrote “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” to encourage them in the face of their enemies.

The second line of the hymn originally read, “Restrain the murderous Pope and Turk” (Und steur des Papst und Türken Mord). The translation was later revised to “Curb those who by deceit or sword,” to include all the enemies of the church.

This hymn is written in a threefold, Trinitarian format. This first verse is an appeal to God the Father to preserve us by His Word, rather than by the force of arms. God never promises us victory in battle over our enemies. Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks are reminders that there will be times when our enemies may triumph over us as a nation. Luther does not lead his people to pray for the imperial armies or for victory in battle, but for God to sustain His people by His Word, come what may.[1]

Lord God heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]

[1] https://lutheranreformation.org/theology/lord-keep-us-steadfast-word/

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Friday prior to Proper 21

Matthew 21:23-27 – The sinner who repents enters the Kingdom of God. The Gospel lesson tells of two sons, one of whom repented and entered the Kingdom even though at first he disobeyed the Father. In the Parable of the Two Sons we learn a valuable lesson concerning sin and an appeal to turn to God for mercy. With this parable, Jesus confronts the religious leaders of His time (priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees) who condemn Jesus for His association with sinners (publicans, prostitutes, and so on). This one son who says, “I go” but does not, represents the religious leaders. The other son who says, “I will not go” but later changes his mind and obeys, represents the sinners. Moreover, Jesus points out that when the religious leaders saw sinners repenting upon hearing John the Baptist, they still did not repent. Consequently, the sinners will enter the kingdom before the leaders will.

Here is a case of repentance in action. One son refused to go to work in his father’s vineyard. Then he changed his mind and went to work. This about-face, change of mind from disobedience, from no to yes, from going in the wrong direction to turning in the right direction is the meaning of repentance. When the religious leaders heard the Baptist’s call to repentance, they did not heed it, while the sinners of the day did. It was shocking to the professional religious leaders that Jesus claimed the sinners and not the religious ones were in the kingdom.

Notice that there is action to the young man’s resolve. By the power of the Holy Spirit there is a God pleasing resolve to be righteous. It is Jesus Christ who has changed us. It is His Holy Spirit which works in us to will and to do the Father’s good and gracious will.

"Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The latter." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31

He who has entered the kingdom through repentance loves not just in word but in deed and in truth; his faith is not dead, without works, but alive and bearing fruit. God grant this for each of us.

“God of love. You know our frailties and failings. Give us Your grace to overcome them; keep us from these things that harm us; and guide us in the way of salvation.”[1]

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Thursday prior to Proper 21

Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 – Turn from conceit to humility for unity.

As we have read through Paul’s letter to the Romans this past seventeen weeks we now set our focus on his letter to the Philippians. Paul in the Epistle lesson appeals for unity in the Philippian congregation. Paul, in appealing for unity, presents Jesus as the model of humanity and obedience. Paul pleads for unity in the congregation at Philippi. He uses Jesus as an example of humility. In this lesson Paul shows the dual reality of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. His deity is indicated by the words, “in the form of God” and “equality with God.” His humanity is expressed in the phrases, “emptied himself,” “the likeness of men,” “in human form,” “obedient unto death.” This humility and obedience led to Christ’s exaltation. It is God’s will that every tongue confess Him as Lord. In the light of this, Christians are to work out their salvation as God works in them.

What is the solution to lack of church unity? Paul urges his people to have the mind of Christ. His mind was one of humility demonstrated in His taking the form of a servant and dying on a cross.

Humility is expressed by considering others better than yourself and being concerned more about others than yourself. Arrogance and pride divide and cause trouble while humility draws together into a unity.

When someone uses the word “if” to begin a sentence, we must look to the context to determine whether he/she is describing a factual condition or something contrary to fact. The context of this verse makes it clear that Paul is talking about something that is true. There IS “exhortation in Christ.” There IS “consolation of love.” There IS “fellowship of the Spirit.” There ARE “tender mercies and compassion.” Most Christians have experienced at least some of these things and know that they are the case. When Paul says “if,” he intends these Philippian Christians to nod their heads “Yes” and say, “Well, of course there is encouragement in Christ—of course there is consolation in love.”[1]

Paul is setting the stage with this verse. See verse 2 to see where he takes this. “Make my joy full” (v. 2a). An “if” clause is often followed by a “then” clause. “If A is true, then B naturally follows”—or “If X is true, then do Y.” In this verse Paul encourages us with these words:

• “If there is any exhortation in Christ, (then) make my joy full.”

• “If there is any consolation of love, (then) make my joy full.”

• “If there is any fellowship of the Spirit, (then) make my joy full.”

• “If there are any tender mercies and compassion, (then) make my joy full.”

With the hymn writer we pray: “Give Thy Church, Lord to see Days of peace and unity.”

A collect for Unity of faith – O God, Your infinite love restores to the right way those who err, seeks the scattered, and preserves those whom You have gathered. Of Your tender mercy pour out on Your faithful people the grace of unity that, all schisms being ended, Your flock may be gathered to the true Shepherd of Your Church and may serve You in all faithfulness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [2]

[1] https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/philippians-21-13/

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Wednesday prior to Proper 21

Isaiah 55:6-9 - Generosity of mercy to all who return. In Sunday’s first reading, the prophet’s hearers are encouraged to seek God and return to Him for mercy and pardon. God’s thoughts and ways are totally different from ours. This truth is illustrated in today’s reading, the parable of laborers in the vineyard.

If God were like the world, he would not take back his enemies and freely pardon them. The world, rather, would seek revenge and treat enemies with hatred. We, by our nature, do not love or seek reconciliation. We hate and kill and never, never forgive. God is so different — thank God for that! Those who return to the Lord in repentance will receive mercy and pardon. The same thought is echoed in the much loved hymn, “Just as I Am” as the hymn writer reminds us that the Lord will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.

If you ask God for forgiveness, can you be sure that He grants it? What are the qualities to which God responds? With what urgency should you seek Him? This passage presents one of the great assurances in the Bible that God does hear and respond to sincere request for forgiveness.

Seek the Lord urgently. Our seeking must be "while he may be found . . . while He is near." God would not be God if He were no more than a cosmic houseboy to be summoned at our whim. There are moments of time and windows of opportunity when we must seek God. St. Paul insists, "now is the accepted time...now is the day of salvation." -2 Corinthians 6: 2

The assurance of our forgiveness rests in the character of God Himself. To be God, He must stand true to His promise. We can be sure of seeking and finding forgiveness.

God’s pardon and forgiveness is:

Available to all

Abundant and free

Amazing and certain

Keep, we pray O Lord, Your church with Your perpetual mercy. Because without You we cannot but fall, keep us ever by Your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable.[1]

Monday, September 25, 2023

Tuesday prior to Proper 21

Psalm 25:1-10 – The Psalm appointed for next week has as the key verse, verse 6, “Be mindful of thy mercy, O Lord, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” The Psalmist asks the Lord to remember the Lord’s long-standing mercy and love but not to remember his long-standing sin.

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul."

This Psalm is a plea from the depth of a suffering soul to the God in whom the speaker trusts for deliverance and mercy. Yet despite this trust, the text is a cry of desperation. It points to our longing for God not only to deliver us from our troubles, but also for God to see us fully. We wait for God to see us through the darkness, and to bestow the mercy that we trust God alone to give.

Woven together with this plea is a petition for instruction in following the right path (verses 4-5 and 8-10). While mercy is dependent on God and not on our own deserving, the Psalmist knows that such mercy is most often found by walking the way that God has provided within the covenant community (verses 10, 13-15).

With the Psalmist, as a community and as individuals, we pray, “See me, God, and show me that mercy and steadfast love for which I long, and which I can receive only from you.” Today, we cry the lament of Psalm 25, and wait for the salvation that we know is ours.[1]

Collect for Psalm 25: Lord our God, you show us your ways of compassion and love, and you spare sinners. Remember not our sins; relive our misery; satisfy the longing of your people; and fulfill all our hopes for eternal peace through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1513

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Monday prior to Proper 21

Psalm 147:1-5, Antiphon, verse 6 – “The Lord lifts up the humble He casts the wicked to the ground.” Those who acknowledge that they are without resources in and of themselves, the Lord lifts up while others who trust in themselves will be cast down. This is the definition of faith.

Psalm 147 is the second of five "Alleluia" hymns that close the Psalter. Each of the last five psalms starts and ends with the imperative, "Praise the Lord!" ( translated from the Greek word, alleluia). Together, these psalms put a final exclamation point on the book that the Jewish community calls, "Praises". In other words, the Psalter closes with an extended call to praise that is directed at the Psalter's audience.[1]

We tend to think of the purpose of singing in worship as something we do as part of our relationship with God, as something we do for God. But the direction of the call to praise at the end of the Psalter is a little different. We are enjoined here to come to worship, to learn the praise of God, and to go out into the world and sing these songs (these psalms) out there. And the praise that this psalm calls for has a specific content: it is testimony about God.

Psalm 147 is exclusively praise that is sung about God. The purpose of this type of praise is testimony. As Patrick Miller has written, "the purpose of praise [is] . . . to bear witness to all who hear that God is God.[2]

As you begin another week be it at work, school or home reflect on the mighty acts of the Lord and then live your life as a testimony concerning all the Lord has done. [3]

Collect for Psalm 147 –God our Father, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem, you know the number of the stars and call each of them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather those who have been scattered, and enrich us all from the plenitude of your eternal wisdom, Jesus Christ our Lord.[4]

[1] See Beth Tanner, "Rethinking the Enterprise: What Must be Considered in Formulating a Theology of the Psalms," in Rolf Jacobson, ed., Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011), 139-150.

[2] Interpreting the Psalms (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986), 68.

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1217

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Proper 21 - Series A notes

Proper 21 "A"

(25 Sept—1 Oct)

Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32

Philippians 2:1–4 (5–13) 14–18

Matthew 21:23–27 (28–32)

The Cross of Christ Opens to Us the Way of Repentance to Life with God

The way of the Lord is righteous and just: “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). However, because the Lord has “no pleasure in the death of anyone.” (Ezekiel 18:32), He calls sinners to repentance and faith in His gracious forgiveness of sins. The man who is thus turned away from his wickedness, who henceforth lives by the grace of God, “shall surely live; he shall not die” (Ezekiel 18:28). This way of repentance has been opened for us by the cross of Christ. In the righteousness of faith and love, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:8), and He was vindicated in His resurrection from the dead. Indeed, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). He has given us this name in our Baptism into Christ, in whom we now “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). He uses the authority that He has received from His Father (Matthew 21:23–27) to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, by which even “the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 21:31–32).

Christ’s Authority

Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

The priests had been authorized by God to lead and direct the matters of the Jewish temple. The elders of the Jews were regarded as the authorized leaders of the Jewish community. These two groups, which clearly had authority to perform their various religious tasks, now approach the man Jesus who the day before had authoritatively entered the temple and overturned the tables of money changers as well as the seats of the pigeon-sellers. As they now approach Him the day after He “cleansed” the Temple He acts as though the temple belongs to Him, and in the Temple He now teaches with unequaled authority.

These authorized leaders now approach Jesus with the question, By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? They ignore the fact that from His baptism onward Jesus had been conveying the source of His authority. Many thus realized Him to be the Christ, the Son of God, and that from these two “positions” Jesus possessed authority never seen before. As the Christ, the Son of God, He had authority in and over the Temple. But what had the Christ, the Son of God been given special authority to accomplish? Was His authority only given so He would “clean up” the Temple both with His actions and with His teaching?

When He first cleansed the Temple at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus actually conveyed what He had been given authority to accomplish: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (Jn 2:19). In this veiled statement He was describing His death and resurrection. Later, when Jesus spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd, He specifically used the word “authority” to describe His central work: I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father (John 10:17,18). In this statement Jesus explains how He had been given the charge and the authority by His Father to lay His life down and then to take it up again.

Forty days after completing His authorized work to die and rise again, Jesus explains His omni-authority in His final “commission” spoken to His Apostles: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Mt 28:19). Truly after His resurrection, having entered His State of Exaltation, the man Jesus has been given the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow. As a man He now fully uses the omni-authority He always possessed as the Son of God.

And what does this man with infinite authority do? He uses this authority to institute Christian Baptism. We should all the more appreciate and treasure what Baptism is, for Christ now identifies Baptism as primary in relation to what He has been authorized to accomplish and create. Looking at what led up to Christ’s institution of Holy Baptism we should not be surprised at the importance of Christian Baptism, for John was authorized to baptize, performing this pre-sacrament as preparatory for Holy Baptism. And Christ’s very death and resurrection—the primary action Christ was authorized to perform—accomplishes salvation and this salvation is foundational to and miraculously conveyed in this wondrous washing. The Apostles’ writings explain much more about this Christ-empowered Sacrament. Indeed, as Jesus explains in this “Great Commission”, disciples are made through Holy Baptism.

Those who doubt the power and deep meaning in the Baptism performed by pastors may ask, By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? Answer: The omni-authority of the crucified and risen Christ has authorized these things to be so.

The Cross of Christ Opens to Us the Way of Repentance to Life with God

Collect for Proper 21 - Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

:23 Καὶ ἐλθόντος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ διδάσκοντι οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ λέγοντες• Ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιεῖς; καὶ τίς σοι ἔδωκεν τὴν ἐξουσίαν ταύτην;

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

-By what authority do you do "these things?" - Jesus had just entered Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple after P Sunday...This is Tuesday of Holy Week "Of what kind of authority?" they had previously accused him of demon possession...where does it come from and is it any good?

:24 ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Ἐρωτήσω ὑμᾶς κἀγὼ λόγον ἕνα, ὃν ἐὰν εἴπητέ μοι κἀγὼ ὑμῖν ἐρῶ ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ•

Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

-Which if you will tell me and also to you by what authority these things I do. Remember, Jesus never answers a question in unbelief.

:25 τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν; ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες• Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν• Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν• Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

The baptism of John, from whence was it heaven or man? Why you not follow?

:26 ἐὰν δὲ εἴπωμεν• Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, φοβούμεθα τὸν ὄχλον, πάντες γὰρ ὡς προφήτην ἔχουσιν τὸν Ἰωάννην.

But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

:27 καὶ ἀποκριθέντες τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἶπαν• Οὐκ οἴδαμεν. ἔφη αὐτοῖς καὶ αὐτός• Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ.

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

-“if we say from man we fear the crowd for they hold John as a prophet...neither will I say to you.” They have the authority yet fear the left hand kingdom. They fear the crowd. To agree with John is to agree with Jesus, which, answers their own question.

The Parable of the Two Sons

:28 Τί δὲ ὑμῖν δοκεῖ; ἄνθρωπος εἶχεν τέκνα δύο. προσελθὼν τῷ πρώτῳ εἶπεν• Τέκνον, ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι.

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

- child today work in the vineyard but he replied I don't want to! But he repented, was sorry, changed his emotions, felt contrite.

:29 ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν• Οὐ θέλω• ὕστερον δὲ μεταμεληθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν.

And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.

- coming to the other he said " I go" but did not...

:30 προσελθὼν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ εἶπεν ὡσαύτως• ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν• Ἐγώ, κύριε• καὶ οὐκ ἀπῆλθεν.

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

- Which of the two did the will of the Father. Jesus said tax collectors and porn stars will enter before you. Turn and believe in Him.

:31 τίς ἐκ τῶν δύο ἐποίησεν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός; λέγουσιν• Ὁ πρῶτος. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς• Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οἱ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.

:32 ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ• οἱ δὲ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι ἐπίστευσαν αὐτῷ• ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰδόντες οὐδὲ μετεμελήθητε ὕστερον τοῦ πιστεῦσαι αὐτῷ.

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

_________

“God of love, You know our frailties and failings. Give us Your grace to overcome them; keep us from these things that harm us; and guide us in the way of salvation.”

The Bible testifies to the fact that all are sinners, whether in the church or in the world. In that event, why become a Christian? Why become committed to Jesus Christ? If all are sinners, even Christians, who can be saved? It is important for Christians to realize they are sinners lest they become holier-than-thou in their attitude toward non- Christians.

It is not a matter of being a sinner; it matters what kind of sinner you are. One type is missing and another is retrieved and reinstated. The two sons represent two kinds of sinners.

1. The lost sinner — the one who said, “I go, sir” — v. 30.

A. He had respect and piety — “Sir.” One of the sons was very polite and respectful of his father. He addressed him as “Sir.” This son said he would go to work as the father expected. He gave the right answer and showed the proper respect, but he was not as good as his word. This son represents “religious people” who know the right things to say in worship and prayer and in life.

They consent to God’s laws and make promises to obey, but do nothing. They gave confession without execution. The have “rigor without submission Orthodoxy without obedience”.[1]

Jesus says these people do not get into the kingdom. They failed to repent. This does not mean that we are saved by acts of obedience, but it points out that a superficial and artificial relationship with God does not count. How so? They fail in two respects.

B. They give only lip service — He said emphatically: “I go.” There are the obedient ones who refuse to obey. They see no need for Christ.

C. They fail to act. He cannot do what he promised. He can not produce —“but did not go.” Failed to do what he said – “but did not go” Lip service is inadequate, but how can we do the Father’s will and not simply say, “I will”?

Transition: The way of righteousness is that Jesus calls us sinful sons to enter the kingdom through repentance. This involves sorrow over our sins and faith that God has forgiven our sins and declared us righteous because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit He gives us a God given resolve to be righteous in our every day life.

2. The saved sinner — v. 29. He repented and He obeyed.

A. He repented —Here is a case of repentance in action. There was an “about face” in his life. One son refused to go to work in his father’s vineyard. Then he changed his mind and went to work. This about-face, this change of mind from disobedience, from no to yes, from going in the wrong direction to turning in the right direction is the meaning of repentance.

When the religious leaders heard the Baptist’s call to repentance, they did not heed it, while the sinners of the day did. It was shocking to the professional religious leaders that Jesus claimed the sinners and not the religious ones were in the kingdom. He is a sinner –yet saved by grace.

B. He repented –He turned from his sinful ways. He came to the understanding that he was in need of a change in his life. He turned from his evil ways. The way of righteousness is that Jesus calls us sinful sons to enter the kingdom through repentance.

This involves sorrow over our sins; and faith that God has in fact forgiven our sins and declared us righteous. This has happened because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

C. He Obeyed — “He went.” He is the disobedient who now obeys.

1. They turn from evil to good

2. They respond to Christ.

"Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The latter." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you.” -Matthew 21:31

He who has entered the kingdom through repentance loves not just in word but in deed and in truth; his faith is not dead, without works, but alive and bearing fruit.

See “BOBO’s in Paradise” by David Brooks

Time in the Word - Proper 21

A Study for Proper 21

September 25-30, 2023

Repent & Live

In the Lessons for this week, we deal with sin and an appeal to turn to God for mercy. The Gospel lesson tells of two sons, one of whom repented and entered the Kingdom even though at first he disobeyed the Father. Through Ezekiel, God appeals to sinners to repent lest they die, for His will is for everyone to live. In the Epistle lesson, Paul deals with the problem of disunity in the Philippian congregation resulting from selfishness and arrogance, and appeals for unity by adopting the humble mind of Christ. The suggested Psalm deals with the theme by asking God not to remember the sins of our youth and appealing to God’s mercy and steadfast love.

Collect for Proper 21 – Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth;

O God, You are the Strength of all who put their trust in You. Mercifully accept our prayer, and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Your help, grant us the help of Your grace that, keeping Your commandments, we may please You in both will and deed.

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, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A prayer before we study the Word – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

Monday, September 25, 2023 – Psalm 147:1-5, Antiphon, verse 6 – “The Lord lifts up the humble He casts the wicked to the ground.” Those who acknowledge that they are without resources in and of themselves, the Lord lifts up while others who trust in themselves will be cast down. This is the definition of faith.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 – Psalm 25:1-10 – The Psalm appointed for next week has as the key verse, verse 6, “Be mindful of thy mercy, O Lord, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” The Psalmist asks the Lord to remember the Lord’s long-standing mercy and love but not to remember his long-standing sin.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 – Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 – God wants all to repent and live. In Sunday’s first reading, God appeals to Israel to repent and live. Turn from evil to good and you shall live. With that we can agree, but the rub comes in making the turn. What will create a desire to change? Where does one get the power to break away from sin to walk in righteousness? The answer is in “a new heart and a new spirit.” But how does one get a new heart? This takes us to Jesus who said, “You must be born new.” Thus, one does not straighten out his life and then come to Jesus. He comes to Jesus as he is in sin and gets a new spirit. He then follows a new way of life.

Thursday, September 28, 2023 –Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 – Turn from conceit to humility for unity. Paul in the Epistle lesson appeals for unity in the Philippian congregation. Paul, in appealing for unity, presents Jesus as the model of humanity and obedience. Paul pleads for unity in the congregation at Philippi. He uses Jesus as an example of humility. In this lesson Paul shows the dual reality of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. His deity is indicated by the words, “in the form of God” and “equality with God.” His humanity is expressed in the phrases, “emptied himself,” “the likeness of men,” “in human form,” “obedient unto death.” This humility and obedience led to Christ’s exaltation. It is God’s will that every tongue confess Him as Lord. In the light of this, Christians are to work out their salvation as God works in them.

What is the solution to lack of church unity? Paul urges his people to have the mind of Christ. His mind was one of humility demonstrated in His taking the form of a servant and dying on a cross.

Friday, September 29, 2023 – Matthew 21:23-27 – The sinner who repents enters the Kingdom of God. The Gospel lesson tells of two sons, one of whom repented and entered the Kingdom even though at first he disobeyed the Father. In the Parable of the Two Sons we learn a valuable lesson concerning sin and an appeal to turn to God for mercy. With this parable, Jesus confronts the religious leaders of His time (priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees) who condemn Jesus for His association with sinners (publicans, prostitutes, and so on).

This one son who says, “I go” but does not, represents the religious leaders. The other son who says, “I will not go” but later changes his mind and obeys, represents the sinners. Moreover, Jesus points out that when the religious leaders saw sinners repenting upon hearing John the Baptist, they still did not repent. Consequently, the sinners will enter the kingdom before the leaders will.

Saturday, September 30, 2023 – John 8:31 – This passage is the inspiration for the hymn, “Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word.” Faith clings to the Lord and His teaching. We are called to be faithful; faithful to the Lord, to His Word, to each other.

Sources: