Proper 14 Series A

Proper 14

Job 38  (he did not see the whole picture) 

Psalm 18 

Matthew 14:22–33 Peter rescued after walking on water with Jesus Peter calls upon the Lord and is saved. 

Romans 10:5–17 

"The message of Salvation is to all"

Context of Romans 10 our task is to proclaim Christ's work, how he comes to us...

Jews rejected as they attempted to keep the law rejecting the righteousness of the Gospel. Why?

1. Ignorance of the Gospel

2. Rebelliousness

3. Trying to establish their own righteousness They did hear but Paul does not answer why Israel rejected.

Romans 10 does not attempt to answer why but points us to Gentiles being grafted in with a warning not to reject. But Paul does return to the promise...

We are given to trust not to understand everything...

Not to understand God but to be addressed by Him We can not explain God but are called to trust His promises The overarching theme is the compassionate/suffering God 

Romans 9 is not about election but selection a people not a person 

LSB #587 "I Know My Faith Is Founded" WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE HYMN

:5-8 the righteousness of faith

:6 personification of righteousness, context is Deuteronomy 30:9-14 the commandment is right here, near to you, Christ fulfilled the Law For us. The word near you is Christ. He is here, near you. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot ascend or descend. Yet Christ became incarnate and is the center of all. Christ is the goal and the fulfillment of the Law.  (See John 3) 

:6 is the central verse, the Word of God is not powerless. It has not failed. But cannot be understood by the ways of the world. It is not reasonable. The way it has always been with God. Contrary to worldly expectations. 

:9 this is not a check off of what you must do to be saved. This is the response of faith. It confesses and believes what has already been proclaimed to you.  The Word comes to you in a located way through preaching (see Vv.14-15)  God's word is placed on you so you can call on him. 

:14-17 it's impossible to believe without the word, preaching, or preachers. The Lord always works through means.

:16 yet not everyone has believed but no explanation is given. 

:17 a summary. Yet God is not surprised.  

The Lord. Who laid the foundation of the earth.” (Job 38:4) Is the Author and Giver of life.  Who governs all things by His Word. His wisdom and power. Are beyond our understanding. Except.  As He reveals Himself in the incarnate Word, Christ Jesus. He has “entered into the springs of the sea.” And “walked in the recesses of the deep.” (Job 38:16), And He draws near to you in mercy. Have you been “a long way from the land, beaten by the waves,” and "tossed about by hostile winds"?  (Matthew 14:24). 

Christ the Crucified Comes to Save Us by the Word of Faith

1. In our mortality and sinful unbelief, we do not always recognize the Lord Jesus.

     A.  But as we cry out in fear, He speaks tenderly to us: “Do not be afraid,” and He reaches out His hand to save us. (Matthew 14:27, 31)

     B. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13), 

2. And now we call upon Him in faith. 

     A. Because we have heard “through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).

     B.  “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8).

He Prayed Alone
Published on August 5th, 2020
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

“And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23)

Echoing the Old Testament, the New Testament sets forth the principle that the Word of God and prayer are central (Acts 6:6; 1 Ti 4:5).  God’s Word is His means by which He accomplishes His wondrous and powerful acts, and prayer is our means whereby we in faith ask for God’s blessings, speaking back to Him His Word.  Preaching from Sunday’s Gospel, likely most pastors—rightly so—will magnify the miraculous and instructive account of Jesus and Peter.  Let us not however overlook the importance of Jesus approaching His Father alone in prayer. As demonstrated by the perfect Man, both God’s Word and prayer—though having different functions—are equally valuable in the life of God’s children.

Though God’s children should indeed gather together for prayer, which is an integral part of worship, yet praying alone to God is magnified throughout Scripture.  Moses interceded for Israel for forty days in prayer (Deut 9:25).   When Saul rebelled, Samuel cried to the Lord all night (1 Sam 15:11).  Daniel prayed daily in his closed room, facing Jerusalem (Dan 6:10).  The Apostle Peter, apparently as a habit, went to the housetop to pray (Acts 10:9).  Praying in solitude is so important, our Lord spoke of it in His Sermon on the Mount:  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Mt 6:6).   Perhaps more important than this encouragement to pray alone is Jesus’ constant example to do so.  As Jesus began His ministry Mark records, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (1:35).  Luke speaks of this habit of Jesus: But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray (5:16).  Luke 6:12: In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.  Note Gethsemane where Jesus, preparing to suffer horribly for mankind’s salvation, withdrew from the Apostles to pray (22:41).  In each Gethsemane account we find the stupendous struggle of Jesus, and His prayerful submission to the Father’s will. No doubt this perfect man prayed the Psalms in Gethsemane as he faced his excruciating destiny, bearing the sins, sicknesses and sorrows of mankind.

Why pray alone, when even at times no other human realizes you are doing it?  As the Spirit brings people to faith through the Word, so Christians will personally employ that faith by coming to God alone in prayer.  Praying alone is perhaps the ultimate expression of a Christian’s faith.  No faithless person will pray alone to God. When we are alone with God, for what shall we pray?  Certainly for anything.  However praying to God is something that “improves” as one’s faith matures.  Thus both John the Baptist’s followers and our Lord’s Apostles asked that they be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1).  In response to their request the Apostles received the foundational prayer—the Lord’s Prayer.  As we come to God in solitary prayer, the Lord’s Prayer is certainly foundational; likewise the Psalms are ready-made prayers for God’s people to read, to learn and to pray.  Often (Like Moses, Samuel, Daniel and Jesus) we are driven to our knees in prayer when we face the trials of this life.  Many of the Psalms are cries of lament to God, and are appropriately prayed on such occasions (e.g. 13, 130, 70).  Some wise theologians have said that when we mature in prayer we are consciously echoing God’s Word back to Him.  Thus we may mediate on a verse such as, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119:105).  Appropriately we would be moved to pray, “Father, my path today is a dark path. Help me to consider your word that the path of this life and the path to eternal life be made bright through your Son who is the very heart of your Word.”  We can similarly pray the Catechism, which is a condensation of the basics of God’s Word.  Though even the most mature Christian offers “imperfect” prayers, yet the blood of Jesus and the intercession of the Holy Spirit make them perfect before our Father.

Time in the Word - Proper 14

Christ the Crucified Comes to Save Us by the Word of Faith

The Lord who “laid the foundation of the earth” (Job 38:4) is the Author and Giver of life who governs all things by His Word. His wisdom and power are beyond our understanding, except as He reveals Himself in the incarnate Word, Christ Jesus. He has “entered into the springs of the sea” and “walked in the recesses of the deep” (Job 38:16), and He draws near to us in mercy. We have been “a long way from the land, beaten by the waves,” and tossed about by hostile winds (Matthew 14:24). In our mortality and sinful unbelief, we do not always recognize the Lord Jesus. But as we cry out in fear, He speaks tenderly to us: “Do not be afraid,” and He reaches out His hand to save us (Matthew 14:27, 31). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), and now we call upon Him in faith, because we have heard “through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8).

.

Time in the Word
07-12 August 2023
Preparation for next week, Proper 14

Monday, 07 August 2023—Psalm 34:4–8; Antiphon, Psalm 34:1—1 Samuel 21:10–15 provides the background story to this psalm. David, the one chosen by God to be king, in a moment of weakness when pursued by King Saul and his armies, sought refuge with the Philistines, the enemy of Israel. David realized his mistake and the truth of what he declares in verse 8:Blessed is the man who takes refuge in the Lord! When we are tempted to look elsewhere than to the Lord for rescue, let us also remember this psalm of David, and then bless the Lord at all times.

Tuesday, 08 August 2023—Psalm 18:1–6—It is likely that King David wrote this psalm near the end of his life, as it is very similar to the psalm recorded in 2 Samuel 22, just before his last words. Here he recounts many of the terrible situation in which he found himself over the course of his life, and tells how the Lord delivered him. He says, In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. When we find ourselves in bad situations, we ought to remember that the Lord has already delivered us from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation, and that He stands ready to defend us throughout our lives.

Wednesday, 09 August 2023—Job 38:4–18—Job had questioned God, as to why He would let such great calamities befall him. In response, the Lord answers Job by recounting His creation of all things, His ongoing involvement and dominion over that creation. God is not subject to nature; nature is subject to God. We weak humans, created beings that we are, have no right to question our benevolent Creator, but simply to trust that what He does, he does for our benefit.

Thursday, 10 August 2023—Romans 10:5–17—How are we saved? By grace alone (sola gratia) by faith alone (sola fide).in the merits of Christ alone (solus Christus). This salvation extends to Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) alike. But how are we to receive such saving faith? By Scripture alone (sola scriptura).Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

That is why Paul quotes Isaiah: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! For the preaching of the Good News of the Gospel engenders saving faith.

Friday, 11 August 2023—Matthew 14:22–33—We can see ourselves in Peter. Jesus asks him to do the impossible, and Peter, full of bravado, believes he can. However, when he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he falters, and is at risk of perishing. Likewise, when we avert our eyes from Jesus, we lose faith and confidence, and put ourselves in spiritual jeopardy. When we cry out, Lord, save me, Jesus rescues us, lest we drown in our sin and unbelief and are lost forever.

Saturday, 12 August 2023—Sunday’s hymn of the day is Eternal Father, Strong to Save (LSB #717). The first stanza, from the original Navy Hymn, proclaims the supremacy of our heavenly Father over the sea. The next two stanzas declare the authority of the Son and the Holy Spirit over the land and the air, respectively. Finally, the fourth stanza affirms the sovereignty of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, over all our foes. Let us put our trust in God alone for protection from all our enemies, whether physical or spiritual.

Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Grant us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always, such things as are pleasing in Your sight that we, who without You cannot do anything that is good, may be You be enabled to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect for Proper 14: Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer 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 this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns…

Prayer in time of spiritual doubt and affliction: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, You have given to all who believe exceedingly great and precious promises. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may without all doubt trust in Your Son, Jesus Christ, so that our faith in Your sight may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns…

Prayer for agriculture: Almighty God, You bless the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper the work of farmers and all those who labor to bring food to our table. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth in abundance and proclaim Your goodness with thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns…

Lectionary summary on front page from LCMS Commission on Worship

Artwork by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, © WELS

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” – Psalm 119:105 

Proper 14 Series C

Proper 14 C  

(August 7-13)

Genesis 15:1–6

Hebrews 11:1–16

Luke 12:22–34 (35–40)

Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service. Grant that we may walk by faith and not by sight in the way that leads to eternal life...

The Lord Is Surely Coming to Give You His Kingdom

The Lord Himself was Abraham’s shield and great reward. For “the word of the Lord came to him” and sustained the patriarch’s faith in the face of death (Genesis 15:4). 

By divine grace, Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), on account of the holy Seed, Christ Jesus. To that one old man, the Lord granted “descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore” (Hebrews 11:12). 

The Lord is likewise faithful to you. It is His glad desire “to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Therefore, “do not be anxious about your life,” but instead “seek his kingdom” (Luke 12:22, 31). Set your heart on that treasure. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning … for the Son of Man is coming” (Luke 12:35, 40).

Pr. Daniel J Brege

So often when the Lord Jesus speaks, his preaching is profoundly pregnant, each statement being packed with themes that interconnect with the rest of Scripture.   Thus in Luke 12:32 (from Sunday’s Gospel) Jesus promises: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Do not be afraid.  God repeats this comforting clause throughout Holy Writ, for we truly have plenty to fear!  We are afraid of guilt, afraid of sickness and injury, afraid of death, afraid of Satan, afraid of hell, afraid of failure, afraid of a just God…and the list goes on.  Christ’s perfect love casts out fear, and we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, a love shown uniquely at the cross.

Little flock. Jesus speaks here of a flock of sheep.  The Lord is our shepherd, so the Scriptures echo.  As sheep of God’s flock we belong to Him and He cares for us.  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture, because the Good Shepherd laid down His life and took it back up again to save His sheep.  The Lord’s flock does not appear to be the flock of the very Creator of the universe, for most of the time (if not always) it is a little flock, consisting only of a remnant, only a relatively tiny group of seemingly helpless sheep.  However, this little flock consists of those who know their Shepherd and He knows them and He gives unto them eternal life, carrying them through the valley of the shadow of death.

For your Father…  When we were born into this fallen world, we were of our father the devil.  But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Christ’s redemptive work at the cross was to give us the adoption as sons, to bring us back into the family of our heavenly Father.  Now we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of us who have been baptized into Christ have clothed ourselves with Christ.  As surely as Jesus is God’s Son, so too we who in our Baptism were completely clothed with Him are then seen by God the Father to be His Son.

…is pleased to give you the kingdom.  Why is the heavenly Father thus pleased to give us the kingdom?  It is only because of His beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased (Lu. 3:22; same Greek word as here).  Only in the Son of God can the Father be pleased with anyone, and we are in the Son and He is in us through the Word and Sacraments.  The Father is thus pleased to give us the kingdom.  Yes, give it to us! Salvation is not earned or merited, it is given; it is a gift purchased by the death and resurrection of the sinless One.   And the kingdom which is gifted to us is more than can be grasped.  Briefly the kingdom is all that has to do with the person and work of the King of kings.  It is forgiveness, it is membership in the body of Christ, it is the indwelling of the Spirit whose work is to constantly point to Christ, it is faith, it is newborn love for our neighbor, it is the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, it is heavenly bliss beatifically realized when see Jesus as he is.

As surely as Christ is risen from the dead, do not doubt His promise:  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Context - Jesus is heading to Jerusalem - the anxiety will only heighten. 

Do Not Be Anxious

Luke 12:22 

Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ• Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ τί φάγητε, μηδὲ τῷ σώματι τί ἐνδύσησθε.

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

- anxiety this is what we are given to do - the reaction to what is given as gift. 

- Διὰ - “Therefore” - When Jesus says "be not anxious" read on! 

Luke 12:23 

ἡ γὰρ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

 ψυχὴ- Life, see vs. 19, the man who wanted to be happy, worried about his stuff.  

Luke 12:24 

κατανοήσατε τοὺς κόρακας ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ταμεῖον οὐδὲ ἀποθήκη, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τρέφει αὐτούς• πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς διαφέρετε τῶν πετεινῶν.

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

- how much more value do you have He cares for the whole 

Luke 12:25 

τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι πῆχυν;

- which one of you by or through worrying (genitive absolute) can add one hour to his life? 

Luke 12:26 

εἰ οὖν οὐδὲ ἐλάχιστον δύνασθε, τί περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν μεριμνᾶτε;

- if you are able neither do to this little thing why worry about anything else. 

Luke 12:27 

κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει• οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει• λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.

- consider how the lilies grow - they do not spin or work (what God gave Adam to do)  but I say to you not only Solomon in his glory was clothed as one of these. 

Wherein lies contentment?  

Luke 12:28 

εἰ δὲ ἐν ἀγρῷ τὸν χόρτον ὄντα σήμερον καὶ αὔριον εἰς κλίβανον βαλλόμενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ἀμφιέζει, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς, ὀλιγόπιστοι.

- but if the grass is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow how much more will God cloth you oh little faiths. 

Luke 12:29 

καὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ ζητεῖτε τί φάγητε καὶ τί πίητε, καὶ μὴ μετεωρίζεσθε,

- and you do not worry seeking after what you should eat or drink.

Luke 12:30 

ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τοῦ κόσμου ἐπιζητοῦσιν, ὑμῶν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ οἶδεν ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων.

- for these things all the nations of the world seek 

Luke 12:31 

πλὴν ζητεῖτε τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν.

- seek first the kingdom and all thee shall be added to you. 

Luke 12:32 

Μὴ φοβοῦ, τὸ μικρὸν ποίμνιον, ὅτι εὐδόκησεν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν δοῦναι ὑμῖν τὴν βασιλείαν.

- the kingdom is already yours. It is continually given. "These things" are added. So we do need not concern ourselves with the periphery things....all these shall be added. 

Luke 12:33 

πωλήσατε τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ὑμῶν καὶ δότε ἐλεημοσύνην• ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς βαλλάντια μὴ παλαιούμενα, θησαυρὸν ἀνέκλειπτον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ὅπου κλέπτης οὐκ ἐγγίζει οὐδὲ σὴς διαφθείρει•

- sell your possessions give (a mercy gift) to the poor.  Provide purses (money bags) for yourself that will not wear out. 

A treasure in heaven is not exhausted.

Luke 12:34 

ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν ἔσται.

- where your treasure is there is your heart. 

Where are you storing up? 

Where your treasure is there is your heart.

__________________

Sources:

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

LCMS lectionary summery © 2016 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Collect for Proper 14, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Time in the Word - Proper 14

Pentecost 12 - Proper 14
August 1-06, 2022

The Lord Is Surely Coming to Give You His Kingdom

The Lord Himself was Abraham’s shield and great reward. For “the word of the Lord came to him” and sustained the patriarch’s faith in the face of death (Gen. 15:4). By divine grace, Abraham “believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6), on account of the holy Seed, Christ Jesus. To that one old man, the Lord granted “as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore” (Heb. 11:12). The Lord is likewise faithful to you. It is His glad desire “to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Therefore, “consider the ravens” and “do not be anxious for your life,” but instead “seek for His kingdom” (Luke 12:22, 31).

A collect for the Pentecost season: Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service. Grant that we may walk by faith, and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer 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 this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Prayers in times 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.

Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in every situation they may recognize and receive Your gracious help, comfort, and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for hope of eternal life in Christ: Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

  

Monday, 01 August 2022—Psalm 147:8–11; antiphon, Psalm 147:7—Psalm 147 is a great hymn of praise to God for His abundant power and His understanding beyond measure (v. 5), and, especially for His steadfast love (v. 11). It is well for us who fear the Lord to sing to the Lord with thanksgiving, because He has saved us from the futility of trying to earn our way into His good graces. He gives us the good things we need for this life, and has done everything necessary for our salvation.

Tuesday, 02 August 2022 - Psalm 33:12–22—What is it that gives the Lord pleasure, as He looks down from heaven upon His creation, and upon the children of men? It is not the might of man, his great armies, his war horses, or the strength of warriors. No, what pleases the Lord is those who fear him…those who hope in His steadfast love. He desires and takes delight in delivering their souls from death, of providing for the salvation of His people, and sparing them from famine and the wants of the body.

Wednesday, 03 August 2022—Genesis 15:1–6—Abraham was an old man, and his wife both barren and well beyond child-bearing years. Yet the Lord promised to Abraham that he would be father to many descendants, too numerous to count. If this promise had been made by a mere man, it would be utter nonsense, foolish and unthinkable. But the promise of a great nation coming from Abraham was not made by any man, but by the Creator of the earth, the universe, and all things, the Almighty God. Abraham’s response was one of faith: he trusted the Word of the Lord, and the Lord counted him righteous because of it. Likewise, when we trust in the Word of the Lord—specifically, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, slain and risen again for our salvation—then we, too are counted righteous by the Lord.

Trusting in His promises to bring us the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of our souls delivers that very salvation to us. We are saved by faith—faith which God Himself delivers to us by Word and Sacrament.

Thursday, 04 August 2022—Hebrews 11:1–16—We are saved by faith, and the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is the great chapter of faith in the Bible. First, the author gives us a good succinct definition of faith: it is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Then, he proceeds to recount some of the great heroes of faith in the Bible: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham (who believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness, as we read in the Old Testament reading), and also Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Let us also add our own names to this list, for God has, by His Word and Sacrament given us saving faith and preserved us in it. We, too, who trust in God alone for our salvation, will spend eternity with those listed here and all who die in the faith, rejoicing in our Lord forevermore.

Friday, 05 August 2022—Luke 12:22–34—In this sinful, troubled world in which we live, it is altogether too easy to succumb to the cares of the world and become anxious. But our heavenly Father, who desires only what is best for us, provides not only for our earthly needs, but, more importantly, has provided for our eternal salvation. We can rest secure in the fact that we have a loving and gracious God who knows our needs and provides for them.

Saturday, 06 August 2022—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe (LSB #666). In the face of anxiety and especially, spiritual warfare, we can be confident and daring, not because we are strong in ourselves, but because the Lord is for us and fights for us; therefore, we can rest in the certainty that not earth nor hell’s satanic crew against us shall prevail.

Sources

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Lift High the Cross copyright  © Ed Rajas Higher Things

Proper 14 Series B

Proper 14

1 Kings 19:1–8

Ephesians 4:17—5:2

John 6:35–51

The Lord Jesus Feeds Us with His Flesh, in Order to Strengthen Us with His Own Life

God the Father sent His Son into the world, so that the world might have life in Him. Now He “draws” you to His Son, Christ Jesus, by the preaching of His Gospel. “Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father” comes to Jesus, who will never cast him out but “will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44–45). He is “the bread of life,” who “comes down from heaven” in the flesh, that you may eat of Him and “live forever” (John 6:48–51). 

Although “the journey is too great for you,” in the strength of this food you shall come to “the mount of God.” Do not be afraid, and do not despair, but “arise and eat.” (1 Kings 19:5–8). And “no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds” (Ephesians 4:17), but “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). In Him, you have been “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Therefore, “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1), by “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” 

John 6:35-41

Gracious Father, Your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world.  Grant that Christ, the bread of life, may live in us and we in Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

John 6:35-51

Proper 14 Series B

“I will raise him up.”

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:40

In Sunday’s Gospel (3-year series), Jesus repeats several themes.  Let us begin by concentrating on the resurrection theme repeated by Jesus in this pericope.   In verse 39 Jesus, speaks of all that the Father has given Him, promising, I will raise it [all] up on the last day.  Then, from a slightly different angle, in verse 40 Jesus says that each person who looks on the Son and believes in Him, He will raise him up on the last day.  A third time Jesus promises that an individual drawn to Him by the Father, He will raise him upon the last day [v 44].

Christianity, the proper continuation of Judaism, believes in and proclaims the resurrection of the body.  The ultimate sign of God’s curse upon this creation was and is physical death.  The ultimate sign of the New Adam’s victory is His resurrection from the dead. To demonstrate and prove His actual physical resurrection Christ showed the Apostles His death wounds, He then had the Apostles touch Him and He ate in their presence.

Even as Christ called forth from death Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter and the youth and Nain, so He will at the end of days call forth all who have died.  Jesus spoke of this in John 5: Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out [28,29a].  Of this resurrection Saint Paul was inspired to write: As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive… For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality [1 Cor 15:22, 52-53].  So whether our bodies are consumed in fire, consumed by vicious beasts, dismembered, buried at sea, or—like most—buried in the ground, all the dead will hear the voice of Christ and rise.  This miracle is not only a miracle of re-creation, but it is a miracle of redemption.

Holy Scripture is emphatic that all the dead (believers and unbelievers) will physically rise.  Unbelievers will get what they have wanted—no God.  They will live, physically, in the horrible realm of Satan, without the presence of any of God’s mercy.  It is true that in our current era people live in Satan’s realm, for he is the “ruler of this world”.  However the current world has many good things, and of greatest significance is the fact that it has the redemption created by Christ’s death and resurrection. Because of God’s merciful presence, this world still sees some good and pleasant things, but the next realm of Satan will have none of God’s goodness.  Into this realm the resurrected unbelievers will be cast.

So why then will Christ raise believers to an unimaginable eternal bliss?  It has nothing to do with our merit. It is because Christ is the bread that came down from heaven [vv 33, 38, 41, 42, 50].  The eternal Son of God took into Himself humanity, that He might feed humanity with the bread of life. And eternal life is given because He is the bread of life, the bread that gives life eternal [e.g. vv 33, 35, 40, 50].

In order to “bake” this bread for mankind, the Son of God had to die and rise from the grave. He had to establish the “dough” of this bread by giving His flesh and blood at the cross, and coming out of the “oven” of the tomb, the bread was ready to be consumed.  Observe Christ’s discussion about this flesh and blood in vv 53-58.

How then does one eat of this Wonder-Bread?  It is consumed by faith, and that faith is wrought in the hearts of people by the power of God [vv 29, 37, 39, 44, 45].  Jesus says succinctly: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life… I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever [vv 47-48, 44, 51].

And since it is our bodies that will rise on the last day, God has established a literal food of life to be consumed by our bodies.  Luther and several other theologians have remarked that to eat of the Lord’s body and blood in the Eucharist, is to eat of that which raises the very body which consumed it.  Already around the year 105 AD, Ignatius declared that the Lord’s Supper is the “medicine of immortality.”  Of course the Lord’s Supper is only eaten to one’s eternal health if it is eaten in faith.  So by faith eat of the Bread of Life, and He will raise you up, eternally!

 

Summary:  What else can one say:  Jesus is the bread of life.  Three words, actually verbs, pop out this week.  All three (καταβαινω, πιστευω and εχω).  John employs them powerfully here to make three points:  

1. Jesus came down to earth; 

2. Jesus came down to earth that we might believe; 

3. Jesus came down to earth that we might thus have life.  Here.  Now.  

Also, this week  includes a quote of the Small Catechism to solve a thorny issue...

Key words:

καταβαινω ("descend" or "go down"; it appears seven times in chapter 6: 16, 33, 38, 41, 42, 50, 51, 58 in various forms). The use of this word throughout John and especially John 6 reminds us that John is an incarnational Gospel (as are all the Gospels!).   While John 6 pushes this in a new direction, the idea of God moving toward earth, coming down, has occurred already in John:  The Spirit descends at Baptism (1:33); Jesus refers to Jacob's dream where angels descended at "Bethel," foreshadowing Jesus; Jesus also "goes down" to heal an officials son (4:47) and lastly, Jesus simply said he descended from heaven (3:13).

One could simply be reminded that Jesus in John's Gospel is not an eagle like philosopher above it all; Jesus is not some Gnostic or Docetic savior; rather he is a flesh and blood, incarnate Son of God. John 6 is all about the Eucharist; and the Eucharist is the summation of all things.  In this case, the Eucharist is the summation of all other downward movements by God.  It includes the Spirit empowering, it includes heaven's gates opening; it includes healing of mortals.  In Jesus, Bethel (house of God) becomes Bethlehem (house of bread).  Jesus is full divine yet fully flesh. (σαρξ)

σαρξ ("flesh"; just about every verse in section 6:51-63)  Jesus says two puzzling things:  First, that σαρξ is useless; but that on the other hand, we must eat of his σαρξ.  John's Gospel is not anti-flesh; yet it wisely points out the limits of flesh.  So why does Communion help?  As Jesus says, "It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."  

Jesus words make his flesh, the Communion, have life and Spirit!  To put it another way, courtesy of Luther:

"It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying."  http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#baptism

πιστευω ("believe"; the word appears 85 times in John's Gospel).  This might just be the most important word in John's Gospel.  Worth noting is that faith only appears as a verb:  It is always an action.  In other words, "Faith" doesn't exist in John's Gospel, but believing does. 

It is not by intellectual assent that we live, but fully trusting in God.  Sadly, it often takes us to get to that moment where all hope has been lost that we actually begin to trust...

Grammar:  

Present tense and εχω

The present tense means something is happening right now and on-going.  Jesus says, "the one who believes is having eternal life."  It does NOT read "the one who believes will have eternal life."  It simply says, "the one who believe HAS eternal life."  Eternal life begins here and now in a relationship based on believing in Jesus Christ.

:35 "I am" Jesus clearly identifies Himself a the source of real life, which lasts forever. 

Will never, ever, no, not ever, hunger. This is the response to give us this bread. What He gives He gives by faith.

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35

:36 - you have seen me yet you do not believe. This verb is to see and believe. John 1:18 "we have seen and believe..." 

:36 you look for me  because of the miraculous but because you ate and were filled. Their minds are still on earthly things. 

:37 "All"  Those who believe...Father gives...will come to Me.  No one has willpower to choose to believe in Jesus or come to God. Faith comes to the believer as a gift from God just as physical life comes as a gift. 

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. - John 6:37

:38 "for/because I have descended"  not to do my will but the will of My Father. He comes to gather. Look at the  verbs of motion. He comes down to bring up. 

:39 "lose nothing"  Salvation of the believer is secure in Christ, who lets none of His own slop through His fingers... see 1 Peter 1:3-5

Jesus - "I won't destroy what's been given Me." 

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. - John 6:39

:40 "looks"  Seeing Jesus with eyes of faith. "The chief worship of the Gospel is to desire to receive the forgiveness of sins, grace and righteousness." (Apology V 189) "raise him up on the last day" see 5:28-29

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." - John 6:40

:41-42 Jesus' opponents thought they knew His background and parentage.  Thus, any implication that He was more than of human origin was grounds for complaint on their part. see Matthew 13:53-58

They grumble - 

So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." - "They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" - John 6:41-42

They ask a question expecting a positive response. 

:43 - Jesus responds by saying in short, "stop it!"

:44 - No one comes unless the Father drags him.  

:45 - it was written in the prophets all will be taught ones of God. God's taught ones. - Isaiah 54:13 

He is the One the prophets mention. Picture of the kingdom and the coming of the Christ. And this is happening among you now.

:46 - not that  anyone the the Father has seen except the one who has seen Him. The the prologue in Genesis. 

The flesh I will give is the cross. 

Source:
http://lectionarygreek.blogspot.com/2012/08/john-63541-51.html

Time in the Word - Proper 14

Time in the Word

August 2-7 2021

Pentecost 12 -Proper 14

The theme for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is “Eat and Live”. The Lord’s own people, the Jews, grumbled when Jesus told them that He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven. They saw Him only as a man, not the Savior who had been promised from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden after the Fall (Genesis 3:15). Their own expectations of God’s promised Deliverer blinded them to the fact that He was standing before them.

Christ Jesus offers His gift of eternal salvation to all who will receive it. He calls them, and the Father draws them to Him. But some, because of the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their sin, reject the good gift that God has for them. May we ever nourish our faith through our regular church attendance, hearing the word of God preached and proclaimed, and receiving the body and blood of Christ.

Collect for Proper 14 – Gracious Father, You blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Grant that Christ, the bread of life, may live in us and we in Him, who loves and reigns with You and the holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

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

For reconciliation – God of love, through Your Son You have commanded us to love one another. By the guidance of Your Word and Spirit, deliver us from impenitence and teach us the truth that we might confess our sins, receive Your forgiveness, and be reconciled to one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  

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

Monday, 2 August 2021—Psalm 34:8–10; Antiphon, Psalm 145:16—The antiphon should be familiar to us, as it is part of the prayer before a meal which Luther included in the Catechism. The psalmist David then says to taste and see that the Lord is good. How are we to do this? St Peter tell us that we should be like newborn infants, longing for the pure spiritual milk. We have tasted that the Lord is good, for we have heard His Word of forgiveness and salvation, we have eaten of His Holy Supper, and we long for more.

Tuesday, 3 August 2021—Psalm 34:1–8—The psalm appointed for next week is one taken from a bizarre incident in the life of David, when he pretended to be insane before Achish, a Palestinian king in the line of Abimelech. The entire story is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David exhorts us to extol the Lord at all times, for as the Lord delivered David in answer to his prayer, so He also has delivered us from sin, death, and the devil.

Wednesday, 4 August 2021—1 Kings 19:1–8—Despite the fact that the Lord had shown that He alone is the true God in Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal, wicked Queen Jezebel clung to her false gods and sought to kill Elijah. To escape, Elijah fled to the wilderness near Beersheba. There, the Lord fed him with bread. The Lord feeds us also; not through the ministrations of an angel, but by farmers, truckers, stock-boys, and grocery-store clerks. Each essential workers in the Lord's economy. “God gives daily bread to everyone…we pray that He would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

Thursday, 5 August 2021—Ephesians 4:17—5:2—In this section of our reading from the book of Ephesians, St Paul tells us that, since we have been set free from bondage to sin and death, we should live outwardly in way that reflects our new life in Christ. We are to live as children of light, no longer living in the darkness of sin. Those in the world ought to see a difference in how Christians live versus how the rest of the world lives. As children of God, we imitate God, not the ways of the world.

Friday, 6 August 2021—John 6:35–51—“I am the Bread of Life,” declares Jesus. The bread that He gives is better than earthly bread, for that can only sustain the body while we sojourn in this earthly vale of tears. The bread that Jesus gives—the bread that Jesus is—sustains our souls for all eternity. Jesus gives Himself for the life of the world.

Saturday, 7 August 2021— The hymn of the day is O Living Bread from Heaven (LSB 642). This second stanza proclaims that we have been led by the Lord to His house to receive His good gifts of forgiveness. We could not, and do not, do this on our own, but He leads us, and then feeds us with Word and Sacrament. The ‘food’ we receive in the Divine Service is better than the food we eat daily at our meals, for it is food that gives eternal life.

My Lord, You have led me

To this most holy place.

And with Yourself have fed me

The treasures of Your grace;

For You have freely given

What earth could never buy,

The bread of life from heaven,

That now I shall not die.

-Lutheran Service Book #642:2

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

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 this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Sources:

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House and from Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission for personal and congregational use © from WELS

Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B – John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Proper 14 - Mid-week Homily

Proper 14
Hebrews 12:1-3
What Faith Can Do For You
August 14, 2019

We talk about the wonderful things it is to have faith. This indeed is true. For the average church member faith is something you should have but you do not always know why. What difference would faith make in your life? Does faith have any practical help for your life? The writer to the Hebrews tells us what faith can do for you -

1. Faith is the assurance of spiritual realities. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. v.1

A. We can persevere when we remember the witnesses.

1. There are witnesses in both the Old and New Testaments for us to remember.

2. You are not alone in this race. It’s not a sprint it’s a marathon all 26 miles! The number of Christian runners is large also today.

B. Their witness is encouraging.

1. There’s nothing new under the sun. Those who have gone before us experienced some of the same burdens and sins as we do. We’re not alone.

2. By faith we are able to lay ever hindrance aside.

3. The burdens cares and troubles of this life soon will be no more. Paul would write to the saints in Rome theses encouraging words - I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. –Romans 8:18 And to the Philippian congregation he would say, What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

Transition: Faith assures us of certain spiritual realities. It helps us discover that God is present in our lives.

2. Faith gains God’s approval. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. v. 2

A. We will make it when we fix our eyes on Jesus.

1. Christ endures much worse suffering that we will ever be required to endure.

2. Yet, He persevered for us by keeping the final joy in view. The cross, and empty tomb are now the marks of your salvation.

B. He is faith’s enabler.

1. He authored your faith when in Baptism He started us in the race.

2. He will perfect and finish what He has begun in you.

Transition: Throughout this entire ordeal God is teaching you.

3. Faith enables you to understand God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. v. 3

A. There will come a time when you are tempted to think that you can’t go on any more. This happens to even seasoned runners. What happens when you hit that brick wall?

1. When sickness and troubles come, we may begin to think that God has become the enemy.

2. When such challenges come we commit ourselves to God.

B. Your Savior uses every circumstance to draw you closer to Himself.

1. He has a deep love for you.

2. He has both your temporal and eternal good for you.

We can persevere in our Christian walk when we remember the witnesses, submit to the Father’s 

discipline, and most important, we fix our eyes on Jesus.

_________________

Words – 615

Passive Sentences –5%

Readability – 74.5

Reading Level -6.1

Proper 14 Series C

Proper 14 C  

(August 7-13)

Genesis 15:1–6

Hebrews 11:1–16

Luke 12:22–34 (35–40)

Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service. Grant that we may walk by faith and not by sight in the way that leads to eternal life...

The Lord Is Surely Coming to Give You His Kingdom

The Lord Himself was Abraham’s shield and great reward. For “the word of the Lord came to him” and sustained the patriarch’s faith in the face of death (Gen. 15:4). 

By divine grace, Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6), on account of the holy Seed, Christ Jesus. To that one old man, the Lord granted “descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore” (Heb. 11:12). 

The Lord is likewise faithful to you. It is His glad desire “to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Therefore, “do not be anxious about your life,” but instead “seek his kingdom” (Luke 12:22, 31). Set your heart on that treasure. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning … for the Son of Man is coming” (Luke 12:35, 40).

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege
So often when the Lord Jesus speaks, his preaching is profoundly pregnant, each statement being packed with themes that interconnect with the rest of Scripture.   Thus in Luke 12:32 (from Sunday’s Gospel) Jesus promises: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Do not be afraid.  God repeats this comforting clause throughout Holy Writ, for we truly have plenty to fear!  We are afraid of guilt, afraid of sickness and injury, afraid of death, afraid of Satan, afraid of hell, afraid of failure, afraid of a just God…and the list goes on.  Christ’s perfect love casts out fear, and we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, a love shown uniquely at the cross.

Little flock. Jesus speaks here of a flock of sheep.  The Lord is our shepherd, so the Scriptures echo.  As sheep of God’s flock we belong to Him and He cares for us.  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture, because the Good Shepherd laid down His life and took it back up again to save His sheep.  The Lord’s flock does not appear to be the flock of the very Creator of the universe, for most of the time (if not always) it is a little flock, consisting only of a remnant, only a relatively tiny group of seemingly helpless sheep.  However, this little flock consists of those who know their Shepherd and He knows them and He gives unto them eternal life, carrying them through the valley of the shadow of death.

For your Father…  When we were born into this fallen world, we were of our father the devil.  But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Christ’s redemptive work at the cross was to give us the adoption as sons, to bring us back into the family of our heavenly Father.  Now we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of us who have been baptized into Christ have clothed ourselves with Christ.  As surely as Jesus is God’s Son, so too we who in our Baptism were completely clothed with Him are then seen by God the Father to be His Son.

…is pleased to give you the kingdom.  Why is the heavenly Father thus pleased to give us the kingdom?  It is only because of His beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased (Lu. 3:22; same Greek word as here).  Only in the Son of God can the Father be pleased with anyone, and we are in the Son and He is in us through the Word and Sacraments.  The Father is thus pleased to give us the kingdom.  Yes, give it to us! Salvation is not earned or merited, it is given; it is a gift purchased by the death and resurrection of the sinless One.   And the kingdom which is gifted to us is more than can be grasped.  Briefly the kingdom is all that has to do with the person and work of the King of kings.  It is forgiveness, it is membership in the body of Christ, it is the indwelling of the Spirit whose work is to constantly point to Christ, it is faith, it is newborn love for our neighbor, it is the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, it is heavenly bliss beatifically realized when see Jesus as he is.

As surely as Christ is risen from the dead, do not doubt His promise:  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Context - Jesus is heading to Jerusalem - the anxiety will only heighten. 

Do Not Be Anxious

Luke 12:22 
Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ• Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ τί φάγητε, μηδὲ τῷ σώματι τί ἐνδύσησθε.
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

- anxiety this is what we are given to do - the reaction to what is given as gift.


Διὰ- "Therefore" - When Jesus says "be not anxious" read on!

Luke 12:23 
ἡ γὰρ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ἐνδύματος.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

ψυχὴ - Life, see vs. 19, the man who wanted to be happy, worried about his stuff.

Luke 12:24 
κατανοήσατε τοὺς κόρακας ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν, οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ταμεῖον οὐδὲ ἀποθήκη, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τρέφει αὐτούς• πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμεῖς διαφέρετε τῶν πετεινῶν.
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

- how much more value do you have He cares for the whole

Luke 12:25 
τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν μεριμνῶν δύναται ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι πῆχυν;
- which one of you by or through worrying (genitive absolute) can add one hour to his life?

Luke 12:26 
εἰ οὖν οὐδὲ ἐλάχιστον δύνασθε, τί περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν μεριμνᾶτε;
- if you are able neither do to this little thing why worry about anything else.

Luke 12:27 
κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει• οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει• λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
- consider how the lilies grow - they do not spin or work (what God gave Adam to do)  but I say to you not only Solomon in his glory was clothed as one of these.

Wherein lies contentment?

Luke 12:28 
εἰ δὲ ἐν ἀγρῷ τὸν χόρτον ὄντα σήμερον καὶ αὔριον εἰς κλίβανον βαλλόμενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ἀμφιέζει, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς, ὀλιγόπιστοι.
- but if the grass is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow how much more will God cloth you oh little faiths.

Luke 12:29 
καὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ ζητεῖτε τί φάγητε καὶ τί πίητε, καὶ μὴ μετεωρίζεσθε,
- and you do not worry seeking after what you should eat or drink.

Luke 12:30 
ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τοῦ κόσμου ἐπιζητοῦσιν, ὑμῶν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ οἶδεν ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων.
- for these things all the nations of the world seek

Luke 12:31 
πλὴν ζητεῖτε τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν.
- seek first the kingdom and all thee shall be added to you.

Luke 12:32 
Μὴ φοβοῦ, τὸ μικρὸν ποίμνιον, ὅτι εὐδόκησεν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν δοῦναι ὑμῖν τὴν βασιλείαν.
- the kingdom is already yours. It is continually given.

- "These things" are added.

- So we do need not concern ourselves with the periphery things....all these shall be added.

Luke 12:33 
πωλήσατε τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ὑμῶν καὶ δότε ἐλεημοσύνην• ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς βαλλάντια μὴ παλαιούμενα, θησαυρὸν ἀνέκλειπτον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ὅπου κλέπτης οὐκ ἐγγίζει οὐδὲ σὴς διαφθείρει•
- sell your possessions give (a mercy gift) to the poor.  Provide purses (money bags) for yourself that will not wear out. A treasure in heaven is not exhausted.

Luke 12:34 
ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν ἔσται.
- where your treasure is there is your heart.

-Where are you storing up?

- Where your treasure is there is your heart.

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The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
LCMS lectionary summery © 2016 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Collect for Proper 14, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Luther's Seal © Higher Things