Pr. DFD : Pentecost 7 Proper 10

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Saturday, July 4, 2026

Proper 10 Series A (Pentecost 7)

Pentecost 7

Isaiah 55:10–13
Romans 8:12–17
Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23

The Preaching of the Word of Christ Bears the Good Fruits of Faith and Love

As “the rain and the snow come down from heaven” and “water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout” (Is. 55:10), so the Word of God accomplishes the purpose for which He speaks it, granting joy and peace through the forgiveness of sins and producing the fruits of faith and love in those who are called by His name. Christ Jesus, the incarnate Word, has established the name of the Lord as “an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off” (Is. 55:13). He opens our ears to hear, our minds to understand and our hearts to believe His Word, lest the evil one come and snatch it away. He thus transforms our rocky hearts into good soil, which clings to the Gospel and “indeed bears fruit” (Matt. 13:23). He is Himself the first-fruits of all who “have received the Spirit of adoption as sons” (Rom. 8:15). Thus being “led by the Spirit of God,” we are not afraid, but we cry out in faith to our Father in heaven (Rom. 8:14–15). For as we suffer with Christ, the beloved Son, so shall we “also be glorified with him” (Rom. 8:17).

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and every hold fast to blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
The Parable of the Sower

V1Ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῆς οἰκίας ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν·
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

v2 καὶ συνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὄχλοι πολλοί, ὥστε αὐτὸν εἰς πλοῖον ἐμβάντα καθῆσθαι, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ὄχλος ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν εἱστήκει.
And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

v3 καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς πολλὰ ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγων· Ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπείρειν.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

v4 καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ἃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἐλθόντα τὰ πετεινὰ κατέφαγεν αὐτά.
And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

v5 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη ὅπου οὐκ εἶχεν γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐξανέτειλεν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς,
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,

v6 ἡλίου δὲ ἀνατείλαντος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη.
but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

v7 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ ἔπνιξαν αὐτά.
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

v8 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπόν, ὃ μὲν ἑκατὸν ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.
Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

v9 ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.
He who has ears, let him hear.”

The Parable of the Sower Explained

v18 Ὑμεῖς οὖν ἀκούσατε τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ σπείραντος.
Hear then the parable of the sower:

v19 παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

v20 ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη σπαρείς, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων καὶ εὐθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς λαμβάνων αὐτόν,
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

v21 οὐκ ἔχει δὲ ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτῷ ἀλλὰ πρόσκαιρός ἐστιν, γενομένης δὲ θλίψεως ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζεται.
yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

v22 ὁ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπαρείς, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων, καὶ ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου συμπνίγει τὸν λόγον, καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

v23 ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν καλὴν γῆν σπαρείς, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων καὶ συνιείς, ὃς δὴ καρποφορεῖ καὶ ποιεῖ ὃ μὲν ἑκατὸν ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.
As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Pentecost 6 - Proper 10

Romans and the Reformation
A Series of Sermons Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
16 July – Proper 10 – Romans 8:12-17

Heirs with Christ

As “the rain and the snow come down from heaven.” And “waters the earth…making it bring forth and sprout.” (Isaiah 55:10) So the Word of God accomplishes the purpose for which the Father speaks it. Granting joy and peace through the forgiveness of sins. Producing the fruit of faith. Demonstrating acts of charity. Kindness. And love. In the lives of those who are called by His name.

Christ Jesus. The Incarnate Word. Opens our ears to hear. Opens our minds to understand. And penetrates our cold broken hearts. To believe His Word. Lest the evil one come. And snatch it away. He thus transforms our rocky hearts into good soil. Which, clings to the Gospel. And, “indeed bears fruit.” (Matthew 13:23).

The Preaching of the Word of Christ Bears the Good Fruits of Faith and Love making us Heirs with Christ.

1. Well, of course, it's all about Jesus.

A. He is Himself the first-fruits of all who “have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.” (Romans 8:15).

B. Believers have received the Holy Spirit. For Paul, whoever confesses Jesus as Lord does so by the power of the Spirit. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). That is evidence enough for being a person in Christ. They have thus already been adopted as God’s children. By faith and baptism and through the power of the Spirit they have a new relationship with God.

C. There is evidence of this whenever they cry out “Abba, Father.” The word “Abba” is an Aramaic term for “father.” Abba was usually the word used in the home, as children addressed their fathers.

It is easier for a child to use a two-syllable word ending in a vowel than to use a single syllable word ending with a consonant. Every parent knows this! At ten months, Daniel can now say, "Momma" "Dadda" and "Egg!" “Daddy” is easier to say than “Dad,” “Mommy” is easier than “Mom.”

But “Abba” is the word used by Jesus in the crucifixion scene in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible… ” The use of “Abba” must also have been characteristic of Jesus’ prayers, as in the use of “Father” in the Lord’s Prayer.1 God would by these words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father. 2 This term was familiar to the Christians at Rome. The audience to whom Paul is writing.

D. Being a son makes you an heir. And a member of the family. Being a citizen gives you rights, privileged, responsibilities. The Inheritance is yours. Because you belong to Christ.

2. Thus being “led by the Spirit of God,” we are not afraid, but we cry out in faith to our Father in heaven. (Romans 8:14–15)

A. Fear leads to isolation. This leads to withdrawal. Which leads to depression. Which leads to alienation. Which leads to death. Notice the downward spiral.

B. Which was Luther's journey. How can I find a loving God? One who is not angry? Luther finally understood what Paul wanted: to preach a righteousness that was a gift—a gift by which God mercifully justifies us through faith in His Son. Paul was not describing a cold-hearted standard that could only lead to our condemnation. That would hardly be Gospel, “good news!” Paul was speaking of the righteousness of God that was revealed at the cross—God’s great love for us. When Luther realized this, his whole world turned upside down, the bitter became sweet, and the locked door sprang open:

“I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word ‘righteousness of God.’ Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise.” While wrestling with Paul, Luther found himself also wrestling with God, and like Jacob of old, Luther would never be the same. 3

3. For as we suffer with Christ, the beloved Son we look for a glorious future.

A. So shall we “also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17). One characteristic of the son is that he is his father’s heir. So it is with the Christian. He, too, has an inheritance—an inheritance of glory which he will share with Christ. But he must not be surprised if, before sharing the glory, he also shares the sufferings. All who suffer for the sake of the gospel are regarded as suffering with Christ. They “drink of the cup” that He drank.

B. Yet, any suffering we endure will only last for a season. We have this promise. You shall live and reign with Christ throughout all eternity.

1. Then in glory. A place chosen especially for you! You shall reign with Him.

2. Yet even now. As we serve our neighbor. Says St. Paul “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

a. So tomorrow. When you wake in the morning. And your feet hit the floor…Thank God. As the devil says to himself, “oh, know…she’s up! Its and opportunity to praise God as you serve your neighbor. S0, stop your griping. It won’t help anybody.

b. Instead…Pick up a shovel.

c. And go merrily about your business. With a grateful heart.

Words –995
Passive Sentences –5%
Readability –79%
Reading Level -4.6
Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

1. In Matthew 6:9; the Greek “pater” of the prayer is probably a translation of the Aramaic Abba).

2. Explanation to the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer Luther’s Small Catechism.

3. LW 34:337

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

Proper 10

Mark 6:14-29

12 July 2015

Dance, Salome, Dance!

[1]

O Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death.

Word about Jesus is spreading fast! And strong! Who is this? Some said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, He is, “a prophet…like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead.”

We prefer our Bible stories to be pristine. We enjoy stories that are, “good for food… pleasant to the eyes… desired to make us wise.” (Genesis 3:6) We favor music and song that lifts us up. We wish to feel good about ourselves after spending an hour in church. That doesn’t always happen. Nor should it. A diet consisting only of sweets is not good for you. Nor is it good for you spiritually if we hear nothing of the consequences of transgression.

The story of the beheading of John the Baptist reminds us that the way of sin always leads to destruction. Offense casts a web for which we cannot easily escape. John’s death speaks about the reality in which we live, a broken and fallen world – outside of Eden.

Herod the Great, who murdered the boys from Bethlehem, had ten wives and many children. His second son, Antipas, governed Galilee for more than forty years. Remember him. He is the one who not only executed John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1; Luke 3:19), he played a crucial role in Jesus' death (Luke 13 & 23).

If loving you is wrong -I don’t want to be right! Antipas married the daughter of the King of Arabia. But later lived with Herodias. The wife of his brother Philip. The New Testament gives the reason why Herodias sought John's head. She had married Prince Philip — who lived as a private citizen in Rome. By whom she had a daughter, Salome.

Herodias was married to Philip. Antipas took her to be his wife. Yes! He married his sister-in-law! The wife of his brother Philip. For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. (v.17)

Herodias acted against the law of man and of God. In leaving Philip, to marry Antipas. John rebuked Antipas for this adulterous union. John called Antipas out. “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias chose vengeance.

Herodias held a grudge against John. And wanted to kill him. But, she could not. Herod feared John. Knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Antipas protected him. When Antipas heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. - I find this powerful - Herod knows he’s clearly in the wrong. Herod calls him out. And, still…Herod listens…

John was a just man. A holy man. A complete, good man. Herod knew this. What was lacking in his own character he saw in John. And this frightened him. John was a man from God. A man of God. A man for God. Antipas wanted to please his guests. He wanted to please his wife. And he was afraid of this desert preacher. So he locked him up. He shut him down. He attempted to silence him. But John’s words still haunted him.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

That was Herod’s problem. He had an evil conscience. An evil conscience is a conscience that continues to feel the guilt of sin. An evil conscience is a conscience still burdened. An evil conscience is a troubled conscience. An evil conscience is a conscience diseased by guilt. Guilt is heavy. And oppressive. By its very nature, it suffocates the soul. Guilt is not outward. It’s inward. Of the heart. It deeply affects us. Even our spirit.[2]

Choose, but choose wisely. An opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his crew, the officers and the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. He solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” Her reply was expected, “The head of John the baptizer.” Deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths, and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.

Weak and wicked Herod, like his father before him, was more afraid of looking bad in front of his dinner guests than he was of God and His wrath. Driven by lust and pride and in the false name of honor, as though he were a man of his word, he unjustly and illegally executed John to please the daughter of a harlot who was not his wife.[3]

That was then. This is now. Do you give a “false witness” when, for example, you compromise clear Biblical principles in order to fit in at work, or at school? What price will you pay to acquire acceptance and approval?

So, what about you? Do your sins rise up against you? Of what are you afraid? Do you crave the praise of men? Do you fear the voice of God? Repent! And claim that forgiveness which was won for you by Jesus Christ. This forgiveness has a name. It’s called Absolution.

[Absolution] “Is neither a response to a suitably worthy confession. Nor, is it the acceptance of a reasonable apology. To absolve means not only to loosen, to free, to acquit; it also means to dispose of, to complete, and to finish…

…When God pardons. He does not say He understands your weakness. Or makes allowances for your errors. Rather, He disposes of; He finishes with, the whole of your dead life. And raises you up with a new one. He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the black hole of Jesus’ death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb.

He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus’ death. He finds you in the desert of death. Not in the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus’ resurrection. He puts you on His shoulders. Rejoicing, He brings you home.”[4]

The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 – David explains, “He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.“

God restores the soul. Restoration not of your own making. Restoration that Christ performs for you. Not something you do. Or, can do. Regardless of what you do. You cannot restore yourself. You cannot make atonement for yourself. Jesus is the one who restores. He alone restores you back to God.

He brings you back. From bondage to freedom. And this freedom. Is the deepest level of your being. Outward circumstances may be difficult. But this restoration, which comes from the cross, allows you to live thankfully and joyfully - for your conscience has been cleaned of guilt.

This pure water that cleanses is the work of Christ. His work is a cleansing work. It purifies. It redeems from all sin. It justifies. It sanctifies. It glorifies. Jesus is the pure water who cleanses. His sacrifices frees from the burden of guilt.

The old song sings –

“Would you be free - from your burden of sin. There is power in the blood. Power in the blood.

Would you over evil, a victory win, there’s a wonderful power in the blood.

There is power, power, wonder working power, in the blood of the Lamb.

There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb!”[5]

If you find yourself burdened under the weight of guilt. Come to the One who alone sprinkled His blood for you. Christ is the one who alone can wash you with pure water. For He takes your guilt upon Himself. And in return, gives you His peace![6]

[1] Baron Julius Carolsfeld, © WELS Permission to use this copyrighted item is limited to personal and congregational use.

[2] “An Evil Conscience”, christianarmor.net

[3] Taken from an 8.29.2002 sermon by Pr. David Peterson, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ft. Wayne, IN, which also gave structure to this manuscript.

[4] Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, p. 39

[5]library.timelesstruths.org

[6] Words –1,450

Passive Sentences –10%

Readability –80.3%

Reading Level –4.1

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Time in the Word Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

Preparation for next week – Sent to Serve

The theme for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10) is sent to serve. Christians are people who are sent by God to serve Him and His people. Jesus sent His disciples to preach and heal. John the Baptist is beaded for his refusal to stand down to wicked King Herod. Faithfulness to God was far more important than obeying the dictates of a mad king. As John dies innocently, so must the Christ. Amos claimed that the Lord chose him as a shepherd to go to Israel to preach in the Old Testament lesson. In the Epistle lesson, we gain the impression that we are destined to be God’s people through Christ and appointed to glorify Him. We are a people with a mission and on a mission given to us by God. Occasionally we might be opposed. This need not be our chief concern. One thing is needed and that is faithfulness.

Collect for Pentecost 7—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;

Prayer in time of affliction and distress: Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we endure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of our lives that we may know the peace and joy of the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and of the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Absolution is neither a response to a suitably worthy confession, nor the acceptance of a reasonable apology. To absolve means not only to loosen, to free, to acquit; it also means to dispose of, to complete, and to finish. When God pardons, He does not say He understands your weakness or makes allowances for your errors. Rather, He disposes of; He finishes with, the whole of your dead life and raises you up with a new one. He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the back hole of Jesus’ death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb. He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus’ death. He finds you in the desert of death, not the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus resurrection, He puts you on His shoulders, rejoicing, and brings you home. – Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, pg. 39

Collect for Proper 10 – Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Monday, 06 July 2015—Psalm 143:1-2, 8a; Antiphon, Psalm 143:1— O Lord hear my prayer listen to my cry for mercy in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. In each of our readings for this coming week the righteous find themselves confronted by evil forces. There are those who would want the Christian to cease and desist. Thus, we must pray to the Lord for deliverance from all our enemies. Psalm 143 is such a prayer. As we make our appeals known to God, not only will He hear us but also He will act, in His own time to rescue and defend us.

Tuesday, 07 July 2015—Psalm 85(1-7) 8-13; key verse v.7— Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. This is how God chooses to act on behalf of His people. He has every right to punish, condemn and destroy. In love, He will offer forgiveness, life, and salvation. How could He? The cross of Calvary shows us how deep and profound the Father’s love is for His people.

Wednesday, 08 July 2015—Amos 7:7-15—Amaziah orders Amos to stop preaching and go home to Judah. Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is sent by the lord to Israel to preach. It is at the time of King Jeroboam that Amos preached at Bethel, the site of the royal sanctuary. Amaziah is the high priests who warms the king of Amos’ treason and who commands Amos to go back to Judah to preach there. Amos replies that he is not a professional prophet, just a layman, who was called by God to preach to Israel. He is not preaching for a living, but in obedience to God’s call.

Amos was preaching in the holy place of Bethel, the royal seat and place of worship. Amaziah tells Amos to go home to the South to preach, for the temple is the “king’s sanctuary.” Since Amos’ message was against the king and nation, Amos had no right to speak there; it was the king’s chapel and not God’s house. If it is the king’s then speak in support of the king’s policies and practices. If it is God’s house, God speaks in His house through His called spokesperson. It was a matter of civil religion v. true religion.

It was a religious service head in a “White House” where you would expect sermons supporting the nation. The high priest of Israel accuses Amos of treason. His preaching does not support the nation. The king is to be killed and the people are to go into captivity. This spells the end of the nation. This is a hard message. Amaziah reports this to the king. The truth often hurts. It does not always approve what we do.

Thursday, 09 July 2015—Ephesians 1:3-14— God’s chose and destined us to be His children through Christ. For the next few weeks, the Epistle lesson will come from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This lesson is difficult to relate to the other two lessons. The central theme of the letter to the Ephesians is the church. This lesson is on praise to God who in Christ has poured out His love for us, who calls us to be His children, redeemed us through the blood of Christ, and revealed His will to us. He has given us His Spirit who is a guarantee of our salvation and eternal life.

Friday, 10 July 2015—Mark 6:14-29 —Mad king Herod had John the Baptist killed to honor an oath, to save face in front of his dinner guests, to quiet a man who firmly told him that his illicit affair with his sister-in-law was sinful and shameful and to honor Herodias’ request. Verse 20 is the key verse. Although Herod knew he was doing wrong, his conscious bothered him, and John’s words condemned him Herod was still drawn to listen to John. When we are overcome by the fear of confronting someone, we can be comforted in the fact that the Law does convict. God through the preaching of the Law prepares us to hear, understand and savor the Gospel. John the forerunner of Christ will preach, baptize and die all like Christ. First he must die. With the death of John now, the cross becomes the focus of Christ’s destiny.

Saturday, 11 July 2015— Luke 10:2 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Spread the Reign of God the Lord (LSB 830). Who will work for the Lord and His cause? There is plenty of work to be done. May we pray the Lord would use each of us to be doing His will in our daily vocations. The opportunity to serve Him is rewarding enough. As we can find work to be done may we do it joyfully and willingly.

Sources:

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

The Beheading of John the Baptist

Proper 10

Mark 6:14-29

We prefer our Bible stories to be pristine. We enjoy stories that are good for food… pleasant to the eyes… desired to make us wise. (Genesis 3:6) We favor music and song that lifts us up. We wish to feel good about ourselves after spending an hour in church. That doesn’t always happen. Nor should it. A diet consisting only of sweets is not good for you. Nor is it good for you spiritually if we hear nothing of the consequences of transgression.

Herod the Great, who murdered the boys from Bethlehem, had ten wives and many children. His second son, Antipas, governed Galilee for more than forty years. Remember him. He is the one who not only executed John the Baptist (Matt 14:1; Luke 3:19), he played a crucial role in Jesus' death (Luke 13 & 23).

(If loving you is wrong) I don’t want to be right! Antipas married the daughter of the King of Arabia, but later lived with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. The New Testament gives the reason why Herodias sought John's head. She had married Prince Philip — who lived as a private citizen at Rome, by whom she had a daughter, Salome.

She acted against the law of man and of God in leaving him to marry Antipas. John rebuked Antipas for this adulterous union, and Herodias took vengeance. John called Antipas out. “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Herodias held a grudge against John, and wanted to kill him. But she could not. Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Antipas protected him. When Antipas heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. John was a just man, and a holy man, a complete good man. Herod knew this. What was lacking in his own character he saw in John and this frightened him. John was a man from God, a man of God, a man for God. Antipas wanted to please his guests. He wanted to please his wife. And he was afraid of this desert preacher. So he locked him up. He shut him down. He attempted to silence him. But John’s words still haunted him.

Choose, but choose wisely. An opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his crew, the officers and the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. He solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” Her reply was expected, “The head of John the baptizer.” Deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.

Do we give a “false witness” when we, for example, compromise clear Biblical principles in order to fit in at work, or at school? What price will we pay to acquire acceptance and approval? So, what about you? Do your sins rise up against you? Of what are you afraid? Do you crave the praise of men? Do you fear the voice of God? Repent! And claim that forgiveness which was won for you by Jesus Christ. This forgiveness has a name. It’s called Absolution.

[Absolution] “Is neither a response to a suitably worthy confession, nor the acceptance of a reasonable apology. To absolve means not only to loosen, to free, to acquit; it also means to dispose of, to complete, and to finish. When God pardons, He does not say He understands your weakness or makes allowances for your errors; rather He disposes of, He finishes with, the whole of your dead life and raises you up with a new one. He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the black hole of Jesus’ death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb. He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus’ death. He finds you in the desert of death, not in the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus’ resurrection, He puts you on His shoulders, rejoicing, and brings you home.”2

1. Taken from an 8.29.2002 sermon by Pr. David Peterson, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ft. Wayne, IN, which also gave structure to this manuscript.

2. Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, p. 39

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Time in the Word - Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

Collect for Pentecost 7—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;

Time in the Word

Preparation for next week – Sent to Serve

Monday, 09 July 2012—Psalm 143:1-2, 8a; Antiphon, Psalm 143:1— O Lord hear my prayer listen to my cry for mercy in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. In each of our readings for this coming week the righteous find themselves confronted by evil forces. There are those who would want the Christian to cease and desist. Thus, we must pray to the Lord for deliverance from all our enemies. Psalm 143 is such a prayer. As we make our appeals known to God, not only will He hear us but also He will act, in His own time to rescue and defend us.

Tuesday, 10 July 2012—Psalm 85(1-7) 8-13; key verse v.7— Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. This is how God chooses to act on behalf of His people. He has every right to punish, condemn and destroy. In love, He will offer forgiveness, life, and salvation. How could He? The cross of Calvary shows us how deep and profound the Father’s love is for His people.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012—Amos 7:7-15—Amaziah orders Amos to stop preaching and go home to Judah. Amos, a herdsman from Tekoa, is sent by the lord to Israel to preach. It is at the time of King Jeroboam that Amos preached at Bethel, the site of the royal sanctuary. Amaziah is the high priests who warms the king of Amos’ treason and who commands Amos to go back to Judah to preach there. Amos replies that he is not a professional prophet, just a layman, who was called by God to preach to Israel. He is not preaching for a living, but in obedience to God’s call.

Thursday, 12 July 2012—Ephesians 1:3-14— God’s chose and destined us to be His children through Christ. For the next few weeks, the Epistle lesson will come from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This lesson is difficult to relate to the other two lessons. The central theme of the letter to the Ephesians is the church. This lesson is on praise to God who in Christ has poured out His love for us, who calls us to be His children, redeemed us through the blood of Christ, and revealed His will to us. He has given us His Spirit who is a guarantee of our salvation and eternal life.

Friday, 13 July 2012—Mark 6:14-29 —Mad king Herod had John the Baptist killed to honor an oath, to save face in front of his dinner guests, to quiet a man who firmly told him that his illicit affair with his sister-in-law was sinful and shameful and to honor Herodias’ request. Verse 20 is the key verse. Although Herod knew he was doing wrong, his conscious bothered him, and John’s words condemned him Herod was still drawn to listen to John. When we are overcome by the fear of confronting someone, we can be comforted in the fact that the Law does convict. God through the preaching of the Law prepares us to hear, understand and savor the Gospel. John the forerunner of Christ will preach, baptize and die all like Christ. First he must die. With the death of John now, the cross becomes the focus of Christ’s destiny.

Saturday, 14 July 2012— Luke 10:2 - Sunday’s hymn of the day, Spread the Reign of God the Lord (LSB 830). Who will work for the Lord and His cause? There is plenty of work to be done. May we pray the Lord would use each of us to be doing His will in our daily vocations. The opportunity to serve Him is rewarding enough. As we can find work to be done may we do it joyfully and willingly.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

Luke 10:25-37

Nearly all of you are well acquainted with the Gospel lesson today. We heard the familiar parable of the “Good Samaritan” which to mind the story of a priest, and a Levite (supposedly holy men) passing by a wounded man lying on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho and a Samaritan who saves that man from dying. While many aspects of the New Testament may be unfamiliar to our society, the term “Good Samaritan” gets thrown around a lot. In the newspapers or on Fox News we occasionally read and hear stories about people who go out of their way to help others in need. Headlines read, “Good Samaritan Pulls Victim from the Water” and “Good Samaritan Helps Police Make Arrest.” Since we are bombarded by stories of tragedy and loss in the media and on the news, “Good Samaritan” stories do come as a welcome relief. Good, so our culture understands what Jesus is telling us through this parable, right? Or does it somehow miss the point about the parable of the “Good Samaritan”? While the theme of coming to someone’s aid is indeed an aspect of Jesus’ parable, it only scratches at the surface of what Jesus wants you and me to learn from the Gospel lesson this morning. We will learn that there is only one true “Good Samaritan” only one truly good neighbor that rescues a world in need. Our Gospel lesson teaches that,
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR GOOD SAMARITAN

I. The way to inherit eternal life is through perfectly keeping the law.
1. So how can we as Christians understand this parable so differently from the rest of our culture? First of all, we need to pay attention to how the parable starts. Our text reads, “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” While his motives for coming to Jesus may not have been pure, (the text says he came to test Jesus) the lawyer’s question is extremely important. He wants to know from Jesus himself how he can inherit eternal life. Not only that, he wants to know what he can personally do to earn that life. Even though we discover through his wording that he recognizes that eternal life must be inherited, as a son inherits a family estate, he still thinks that there is something that he must do to make eternal life a reality.

2. Jesus replies to the lawyer’s question with a question of his own. “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” Jesus asks this not to evade the question but to give the lawyer a clear understanding of what earning eternal life really means. So the lawyer answers “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, Love your neighbor as yourself.” This lawyer is no slouch. He knows the law well enough that he quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” and Leviticus 19:18 “love your neighbor as yourself.” By doing that he rightly captures the essence of the God’s law. Jesus tells him as much. He says, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” Jesus makes it clear that the only way a person can earn eternal life is through keeping the demands of God’s law. The lawyer in today’s text understood at this point that the law could be demanding more than he could do himself. So trying to find a way out, or as our text puts aptly puts it, desperately wanting to justify himself the lawyer tries to mitigate the law’s demands. So he asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Application: You can see the problem the lawyer finds himself in. It’s easy to love your neighbor as yourself if your neighbors are none other than your close family and friends. If those people were your neighbors then you might have a shot at keeping the law’s requirement of loving your neighbor as yourself. But what about the new family who just moved in down the street? What about the new kid in your classroom? What about those in-laws that you have never gotten along with? Why should they be our neighbors? Unfortunately, in our sinful and fallen nature all of us would much prefer a short list of neighbors to love. For as often as there are stories about “Good Samaritans” coming to the rescue in the news, there seems to be twice as many stories about someone being in trouble, needing help, and no one does a thing. Just this past week, I found a news story about how bystanders did nothing as an elderly man was beaten in a carjacking outside a convenience store. Other disturbing stories recount how children are abused and beaten on playgrounds as others just stand around and watch. There is even a psychological term that has been coined, called “the bystander effect,” which tries to make sense as to why people do nothing when they witness someone in trouble. And even when identifying strangers as neighbors is hard enough, how often do we fail to love our family and friends as we should?

II. When we realize who our neighbors really are, we discover that we cannot keep the law.
1. Jesus makes clear though the parable that a neighbor could be anyone. It could even be the man who was beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. The priest and the Levite kept their distance from the dying man on the side of the road. By avoiding him they denied that the man was their neighbor; that he meant anything to them at all. The Samaritan, however, saw the dying man and felt compassion. His heart went out to him. It is interesting to note that the same Greek word is used in describing how the Samaritan felt and how Jesus felt when he saw the Widow at Nain come out of the town with her son in a coffin. It was not just simple compassion the Samaritan felt, it is a heartfelt, gut wrenching pity that moved him to help the dying man no matter what the cost was.

2. But it isn’t enough to recognize who is your neighbor, what is also required is that we are good neighbors to those who need it. When Jesus asked the lawyer at the end of the parable, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The answer was the Samaritan. He not only recognized who his neighbor was he was also a true neighbor in return.

3. So where do we stand in relation to this parable? When we try to justify ourselves, like the lawyer in this lesson, we become like the priest and the Levite who ignore the dying man on the road. We feel nothing when we fail to help those who need it and we come up with excuses and try to limit who our neighbors could be. If however we can see that we fail to keep God’s law to love him with all our heart mind and soul and that we fail to love our neighbors as ourselves, then we recognize the truth about our sinful and fallen condition. We recognize that there is nothing that we can do on our own to earn or merit eternal life, as the lawyer in our text wanted to. When we understand this we become like the robbed and beaten man on the side of the road in need of rescue. In that man’s condition there was nothing he could do to help himself. And in the same way, when we are beaten down by our own sins, when we realize that we love ourselves more than God or our neighbors, we are rendered helpless.

III. Christ rescues us from the wounds of sin by perfectly keeping the law for us.
1. But dear friends in Christ, I have good news for you today! Jesus Christ is our true Good Samaritan who came and found us when the Devil, the world, and our flesh left us dying on the side of the road. When we could not keep the law of God to earn eternal life, Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life that kept God’s law perfectly. On the cross he exchanged his glory and the eternal life that were rightly his for our sins, our shortcomings and our punishment of death. From his heartfelt compassion, he selflessly lifted up our sins on the cross to remove them forever from us. By his own wounds ours have been healed. So in the same way as the Samaritan paid for the restoration of health of the dying man, so Christ has paid for our everlasting health through his suffering and death on the cross. There is only one true Good Samaritan in this parable and it is Jesus Christ himself. Unlike us, he will never just stand by and watch as we are torn apart by the powers of this world. No, he comes to our rescue and saves us every time we are in trouble. When we call on his name in prayer we have the absolute confidence and assurance from God’s Word that he hears us and that he helps us by his good and gracious will.

2. Dear friends, we have inherited eternal life, not by anything we have done, but by what Christ has done. Through his work on the cross we have been reconciled to the Father. Since we are reconciled, we have become heirs to his eternal kingdom. St. Paul writes in Galatians chapter 3, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” We have been made heirs to eternal life through Christ’s saving work. Through faith in that promise we will receive that gift.

IV. Through Christ, we love and serve our neighbor as he loves and serves us.
1. Now that we know how we as Christians understand the parable of the Good Samaritan, we know that any good work done by us to help our neighbor is not really our own work, but it is Christ working through us. As Jesus found us and rescued us from our wounds, so we look to help all our neighbors. We welcome the new family into our neighborhood. We pray for and provide for the needy through our donations of time and goods. When we see someone who does need help, we go out of our way to help them. We don’t do this to show how good we are, but to show the world how much Christ loves us.

2. When I was studying late one cold winter night this past year at the seminary, a friend of mine stopped by to say hello. We were both having a tough time keeping up with our studies but I was encouraged by my friend’s concern long hours in the library as I worked on a paper that was due that week. A few minutes after my friend left, he returned with a small takeout bag from McDonalds and insisted that I take the bag and have some food to hold me over till I get home. I couldn’t help but think to myself how blessed I was to have such a great Christian friend who somehow knew how hungry I was without even asking. I thought to myself at the time, and still do today, that this is how Christ serves us through our life in this world, through our neighbors’ actions. The great Good Samaritan moves us through the power of the Holy Spirit to spread his mercy to anyone who needs it. Thanks be to God for the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation made possible through Jesus Christ and opportunities to serve in his name every day.

sermon written by Sem. Brian Flamme

Monday, July 5, 2010

Time in the Word - Pentecost 7 - Proper 10

Benefits of Obedience

Sunday’s theme might well be called “Obedience Sunday.” Both Gospel (Luke 10:25-37) and other lessons deal with God’s commandments. The Epistle lesson (Colossians 1:1-14) calls upon the people to lead lives worthy of Christ. We are in the position of children, who, when told to do something, ask, “Why?” Often the parent answers, “Because I said so.” Why obey God’s laws? The Lessons give the answer – the benefits of obedience. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a sub point to the question raised in the Gospel. It answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The parable serves as an illustration of one who obeys the command, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

For responsible citizenship: Lord, keep this nation under Your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of ht earth. Grant that we may choose trustworthy leader, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve You faithfully in our generation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For purity: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name; 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 faith, hope, and love: Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hop in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Time in the Word 05-10 July 2010
Preparation for next week, the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Monday, 05 July 2010—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, 06 July 2010—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, 07 July 2010—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, 08 June 2010—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, 09 July 2010—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, 10 July 2010 - Romans 3:23-25 – The hymn of the week is 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)

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

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Isaiah 55:10–13Romans 8:12–17Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23

Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23The Parable of the Sower

V1Ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῆς οἰκίας ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν·That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

v3 καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς πολλὰ ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγων· Ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπείρειν. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

v4 καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ἃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἐλθόντα τὰ πετεινὰ κατέφαγεν αὐτά.And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

v6 ἡλίου δὲ ἀνατείλαντος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη.but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

v7 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ ἔπνιξαν αὐτά.Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

v8 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπόν, ὃ μὲν ἑκατὸν ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

v9 ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.He who has ears, let him hear.”

v18 Ὑμεῖς οὖν ἀκούσατε τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ σπείραντος.Hear then the parable of the sower:

Saturday, July 15, 2017

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Saturday, July 14, 2012

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Monday, July 5, 2010

Isaiah 55:10–13
Romans 8:12–17
Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23

Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
The Parable of the Sower

V1Ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐξελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῆς οἰκίας ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν·
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

v3 καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς πολλὰ ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγων· Ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπείρειν.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

v4 καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ἃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἐλθόντα τὰ πετεινὰ κατέφαγεν αὐτά.
And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

v6 ἡλίου δὲ ἀνατείλαντος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη.
but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.

v7 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι καὶ ἔπνιξαν αὐτά.
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

v8 ἄλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπόν, ὃ μὲν ἑκατὸν ὃ δὲ ἑξήκοντα ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.
Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

v9 ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.
He who has ears, let him hear.”

v18 Ὑμεῖς οὖν ἀκούσατε τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ σπείραντος.
Hear then the parable of the sower: