Thursday prior to Proper 18

 

1

James 2:1-10 14-18 —Showing partiality is a sin, for true faith issues in good deeds.

This passages in context condemns the showing of partiality to the rich and the humiliation of the poor (Vv.1-5) because it is a violation of the law of love, partiality is a sin (Vv.8-10).

Verses 14-18 refer to faith as intellectual assent only which does not issue in deeds of compassion. True faith expresses itself in deeds of live. This harmonizes with Paul’s teaching that faith works through love. Faith and works are inseparable. Since you have faith it will be demonstrated by works to the neighbor in love. 

Let’s face it; we are profit-oriented people. We ask, “What will we get out of it?” What is there to gain?” James asks, what good is it to have faith but not works. If a needy person is given only empty words and not physical help, what good will the words do? The Christian faith must be of some value, some help to others. Otherwise, it is a useless, profitless religious experience, shallow and of little use.  2  

Favoritism is forbidden – faith and deeds are explained. It’s quite easy to say, “I believe,” “I have faith,” “I trust,” etc. Too often these are empty words and phrases. James explains that the sign of a genuine faith is shown in deeds. The key verse is verse 17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

A prayer 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. 3

Sources:

1. The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © from WELS  used with permission for personal and congregational use

2. Lectionary Preaching Workbook, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH 

3. Collect for guidance in our calling, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Proper 18 - Series A notes

Series "A"

Proper 18

(10 September 2023)

Series A

Ezekiel 33:7–9

Romans 13:1–10

Matthew 18:1–20

Living as Humble Little Children of the Father

True greatness is not self-sufficient strength, but humility like that of a little child. The greatness of child-like faith receives all good things as gracious gifts from our Father in heaven. Apart from such faith, “you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” but whoever is humbled like a little child will be “the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3–4). Though in our sin we deserve to be “drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6), we have instead been drowned (“buried”) with Christ in Baptism and then raised to the new, humble life of a child of God. The Lord sends His watchman to warn us with a word from His mouth, in order that we may not die in our iniquity, but be turned from our pride and selfishness to live (Ezek. 33:7–9). Thus we live in humility and faith before God as well as in love for our neighbor, which “is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom. 13:10). In the reverent fear of God, we do no harm to our neighbor, but we “pay to all what is owed to them” (Rom. 13:7) and we “owe no one anything, except to love each other” (Rom. 13:8).

The Greatest Are Like Children
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 18:3)

Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

When the disciples questioned Jesus about greatness in the kingdom of heaven, the Greek wording indicates they were not asking who is the greatest but who is the greater.  When posed this way we begin to realize the Apostles already considered themselves great, but they were wondering, as they did on other occasions, what is the rank of greatness among the Apostles; who are the greater and who are the lesser Apostles? Perhaps their question was generated by the fact that Jesus would Himself set apart particularly three Apostles (Peter, James, John) for certain tasks (e.g. Mat 17:1). Jesus now must teach them, as He would on other occasions, that in God’s kingdom their question is completely wrong-headed.

So Jesus calls a child to himself and places this little one in front of these “noble” Apostles.  Then Jesus makes the astounding and absolute statement, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (18:3).

Though all are conceived and born in sin, yet little children have a blessed emptiness when it comes to relationships.  They have no life-experience to get in the way of their faith.  The littlest ones cannot even yet think in terms of words.  They have not yet had building blocks such as pride, envy, vying actions, jealousy, anger and hatred laid upon the foundation of their sinful flesh.  It is apparent the Apostles had some of these diabolical building blocks.  A child thus is not concerned about how great he is, for he has not yet begun to compare himself with others.  In this respect, in comparison with adults, children are “empty”.  That which is empty can have something put in it; the container which is full can have nothing added to it. Because we yet have the sinful flesh, adults are “naturally” full of themselves.  How appropriate it is to baptize babies, for though they have sin, yet they do not have apparent sins associated with relationships!  Upon baptism their guardian angels, unlike the guardian angels of conniving adults, are not embarrassed to face the heavenly Father (v 10).

Appropriately Jesus describes a key characteristic pertaining to being like a child in God’s kingdom:  humility. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (v 4).  We must “turn and become like children,” Jesus said, and to be like children is to be humble.  Jesus informs us that we must “turn”. Turn to what?  We must turn to Jesus, the truly humble One.

Sadly no one, not even children, are able to thus turn to Jesus. For Jesus avows, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (Jn 6:44,65). Thankfully through the Word the omnipotent Holy Spirit turns us to faith in Jesus, and when we are thus turned, in Christ we become as the humble child, forgiven of all our sinful, proud desires, made empty containers readied to be filled.

Turned to trust in Jesus we realize that He was God’s holy child who humbled and emptied himself to the point of death on the cross (Phil 2:5ff), rising then for our justification.  As we realize the emptiness of all our efforts in relation to God, the Spirit not only endows us with faith in Christ and His purging blood, but the Spirit pours His gifts into our emptied hearts; gifts such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Indeed the Holy Spirit makes us not merely like children, in Christ He makes us to be born-anew babies in the kingdom of God.

Proper 18 -

Romans 13:1-10

Grant, merciful Lord, to Your people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns...

In the Lessons for this week we encounter sinners. What shall we do with our fellow sinners and how shall we deal with them?

 In the Gospel lesson  (Matthew 18:15-20) Jesus teaches what we should do to be reconciled to those who sin against us.

 Ezekiel in the Old Testament lesson (33:7-9)  reports that God expects us to warn the sinner, who, if he repents, will live. Paul in the Epistle lesson urges obedience to the officials and law of government and teaches that love is the way to obey the law.

The Hymn of the Day -  LSB #373, "By Grace I’m Saved, Grace Free and Boundless" speaks of the power we as Christians possess to carry out this task. It is found in the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who has called and saved us according to His grace and favor.  We place our confidence in God and enjoy His blessings, even in times of trouble.

Civil governments have been given their authority by God. Thus, the Christian submits himself to that rule which God has established, and exhorts others to do the same. St. Paul also tells us how we are to live with our fellow man: letting love for the neighbor guide all our actions and dealings. This love is not of ourselves, but flows from Christ, who first loved us.

v. 1.  every person, no matter their status, is to be subject to the governing authorities.

       to be "subordinated" does not mean inferior. W/in the creation...recognize you     position in God's order.

v. 2.  resists - "to set ones' self in opposition."

        appointed - ordinance which God appointed - an office - the embodiment of the person serving in the office.

      The government is God's arm...to receive punishment from the state is to receive God's punishment.

v. 3.  good or bad conduct is by God's definition. Government is not the definer of good or evil. We know the law by nature. To be foolish is to flee from it

v. 4. God's servant - deacon - official service - a religious cast -

         Incurring wrath is a badge of the office. God's wrath is final and ultimate.

v.5   notice first "fear of wrath" and second "conscience" uses of the law.

v.6 - 7  Paying of taxes is our obligation.  Death and taxes are certain.Taxes are part of God's positive work. Death is God's "opus alienum"

v.8 - love is our only "Debt" thus we pray "forgive us our debts"

v. 9 - all commandments come to a head , "love your neighbor as yourself" this is how it is done...all this falls under the #4 commandment This love is God's love from a divine perspective. Only was we can love is in Christ.

v. 10 - love does no wrong. Every law, including that which would have us submit to government authorities, is fulfilled in love.

 The thesis of Paul’s argument is in verse 1a, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities.”

 Reasons why the Roman Christians are to submit to the authorities.

First, no authority exists except from God, and all authorities that exist have been instituted by God (13:1b).

Second, rulers are not a terror to good conduct but rather to bad (13:3a).

Third, the authority/ruler is God’s servant in three ways:

1. for the Romans’ good,

2. to execute wrath on the wrongdoer,

3. by being busy with “this very thing,” that is, collecting taxes (13:4a, 4c, 6b).

Paul intersperses his reasons with examples and consequences, such as at 13:2 where he notes the results of resisting authority. He also makes a noticeable shift from making statements of fact (indicative mood) to a command “pay to all what is due them” (imperative mood) at 13:7,  - thus connecting submission to the authorities with a duty to pay taxes and offer revenue.

The reasons (facts) for submission to the governing authorities are fundamental to Paul’s command that the Roman Christians fulfill their civic obligations.

In summary, Paul is arguing that because the authorities were instituted by God, and continue to serve both God and the Christian, believers must submit to their rule. The rulers of Rome are to be respected and obeyed for reasons of conscience and their possible wrath. (13:5)

------------

I. Christians submit to the authorities because civil authority is God's institution and, as such, will punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. (13:1-5)

A. Christians submit to civil authority because God has appointed that authority. (1-2a)

B. Christians submit to civil authority because the civil authorities will punish those who resist them (2b-3a) and will praise and do good to them that obey. (2b-4)

C. Christians submit to civil authority because of the punitive action of the state (i.e. wrath) and also because of conscience. (5)

II. Christians submit to civil authorities (who give themselves to collecting taxes )by giving back to them whatever is owed, whether taxes, dues, respect or honor. (13: 6, 7)

A. Christians pay taxes because God has appointed the state to receive taxes and  they persist in collecting them. (6)

B. Christians demonstrate submission to civil authorities by giving back to each authority what is owed, whether taxes, revenue, respect or honor.  (7)

Time in the Word - Proper 18

Time in the Word

Proper 18

September 4-9, 2023

Christian Obligation to Sinners

In the Lessons for this week we encounter sinners. What shall we do with our fellow sinners and how shall we deal with them? In the Gospel lesson Jesus teaches what we should do to be reconciled to those who sin against us. Ezekiel in the Old Testament lesson reports that God expects us to warn the sinner, who, if he repents, will live. Paul in the Epistle lesson urges obedience to the officials and law of government and teaches that love is the way to obey the law. The Hymn of the Day speaks of the power we as Christians possess to carry out this task. It is found in the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who has called and saved us according to His grace and favor. We place our confidence in God and enjoy His blessings, even in times of trouble.

Grant, merciful Lord, to Your people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

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

For Schools—Almighty God, our heavenly Father, since You have committed the care and nurture of children to Your people, graciously enlighten those who teach and those who are committed to their instruction that they may know the truth and trust in You all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

For Home and Family—Visit, we implore You, O Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy angels, and may Your blessing be with us forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Monday, September 04, 2023—Psalm 37:3-5,39; Antiphon, Psalm 92:1—The theme of next week’s propers is the description and obligation of the Christian living in the world. The Introit tells us that trusting in the Lord enables us to serve Him, and to have courage in the face of a world that is hostile to the Lord and His people.

Tuesday, September 05, 2023—Psalm 119:113-120 - The first letter in each verse of this portion of Psalm 119 is the Hebrew letter samekh. As in the other sections, the psalmist here extols the goodness of God in giving us His holy Word. His devotion to the Word of God moves him to reject the counsel of evildoers. Take note that when the psalmist write, “I love Your law,” this is not the opposite of the Gospel, but a term which encompasses the whole of God’s communication to man.

Wednesday, September 06, 2023—Ezekiel 33:7-9—The Lord told Ezekiel that He would restore Jerusalem, yet this did not remove Ezekiel’s obligation to warn sinners to turn from their wicked ways and repent. Likewise, we who live in the post-resurrection time, when Christ has restored mankind by His death and resurrection, have an obligation to warn sinners to turn from their wicked ways and repent, that they may partake of fellowship with God.

Thursday, September 07, 2023—Romans 13:1-10—Civil governments have been given their authority by God. Thus, the Christian submits himself to that rule which God has established, and exhorts others to do the same.

St. Paul also tells us how we are to live with our fellow man: letting love for the neighbor guide all our actions and dealings. This love is not of ourselves, but flows from Christ, who first loved us.

Reasons why the Roman Christians are to submit to the authorities.

First, no authority exists except from God, and all authorities that exist have been instituted by God (13:1b).

Second, rulers are not a terror to good conduct but rather to bad (13:3a).

Third, the authority/ruler is God’s servant in three ways:

1. For the Romans’ good

2. To execute wrath on the wrongdoer

3. By being busy with “this very thing,” that is, collecting taxes (13:4a, 4c, 6b).

Friday, September 08, 2023—Matthew 18:15-20—Since we have been reconciled to God through Christ Jesus, the Christian life is one that strives for reconciliation with our fellow man. If our brother sins against us, we will try to restore him privately.

Only if that fails will we bring it before others, and before the Church as a last result. Throughout, the goal is the restoration of the erring brother, and his reconciliation with us.

Saturday, September 09, 2023—Hymn 373, By Grace I’m Saved, Grace Free and Boundless—How is it that we have been set free from the bondage of sin, to live a life pleasing to God, with love toward our neighbor? Only by the grace of God. Our salvation is a free gift; our works could never begin to secure our salvation. But, through the love of God poured out upon us in the person of His Son, Jesus, He has made us His own. Tomorrow’s chief hymn is a jubilant recounting of the goodness of God in graciously providing for our salvation.

Sources:

Artwork by Ed Rojas, copyright © Higher Things

Lutheran Worship, copyright © 1982, Concordia Publishing House

Proper 18 Series C

Proper 18 C
(September 4-10)

Deuteronomy 30:15–20
Philemon 1–21
Luke 14:25–35

Christ Jesus Has Paid the Cost of Discipleship for You

A disciple of Jesus Christ will “bear his own cross” (Luke 14:27) and follow the Lord through death into life. Discipleship is costly because it crucifies the old man with “all that he has” (Luke 14:33), in order to raise up the new man in Christ. The disciple disavows “his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life” (Luke 14:26) in deference to Christ. That way of the cross is impossible, except that Christ Jesus has already paid the cost. His cross is set before you as “life and good, death and evil” (Deuteronomy 30:15). Taking up His cross is to “choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20). To live that life in Christ is also to bear His cross in love, “that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.” (Philemon 14).

Some Salty Thoughts
Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege

Jesus states in Sunday’s mini-parable, “Salt is good.”  Salt has been used to illustrate many things.  Consider it here to be that which purges, purifies, and ultimately preserves what it has rendered good.

Such “good salt” can first be understood to be Christ and His life in this sinful world.  He—the good salt—can alone reverse the rottenness of this world and give it preservation. Even in the kingdom of the left His words of wisdom and instruction were salt in a putrid world of vain philosophies and worldly wisdom.  His words about issues such as love, marriage and morality stand as law-related salt to preserve a culture and society gone awry in these matters.

Christ’s miraculous and powerful presence was the salt that purged the decay of disease and demons, even calling forth the dead from their graves. Those healed, exorcised or resurrected by Christ were then freed in Christ to lead lives of salt-created purity.

The foundation of mankind’s rottenness is sin.  All of Christ’s salty words and works would initially be welcomed as people perceived Him to be an earthly philosopher and provider. Thus at first Christ received a wondrous welcome.  But His salty words began to expose corruption.  In a short while His salt in this sin-fouled, putrid world would be declared “unsalty” and He, being perceived as not even good enough for the manure pile, would be thrown out of Jerusalem to be trampled underfoot, being nailed to a stinking cross.

Christ is however such good and powerful salt that His rejection becomes the saving salt for the world.  He rises from the dead to establish a salt that preserves into eternity.  The salt of His word, drawn from the salt mine of His cross and empty tomb, purges the corruption of sin.  His salted people then—armed with His salty word— become themselves the salt of the earth.

However, even as Christ’s saltiness would be perceived by the worldly as useless, so now Christians—though themselves being salt for the purification and preservation of a society—find the world declaring them to be “unsalty” and worthless, not even good enough for a manure pile. The Savior thus predicted time and again the reality of persecution, even martyrdom.  So Christians face the same expulsion and rejection as their Lord.   Sadly such rejection occurs even within families, so that those family members who reject Christ are to be “hated”—that is they are not to be accepted in relation to their non-Christian counsel and beliefs.

So what is the outcome?  Even as Christ was preserved, rising victorious from the decay-causing grave, so too Christ’s salty people are preserved.  Indeed the salty salvation of Christ is such a powerful preservative that the Lord will preserve our going out and our coming in—even the going out of death and the coming in of resurrected bodies into heaven—from this time forth and even forevermore.

copyright © 2019 Indiana District - Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Luke 14:26 - Jesus provides chastisement "and does not hate" division in the family mentioned for the fourth time. Who do you fear and trust in? Everything must die. Hate means renunciation. We die to self.

[25]

suneporeuonto de autw ocloi polloi kai strafeiV eipen proV autouV

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

Luke 14:25 - crowds are following.

[26]

ei tiV ercetai proV me kai ou misei ton patera eautou kai thn mhtera kai thn gunaika kai ta tekna kai touV adelfouV kai taV adelfaV eti te kai thn yuchn eautou ou dunatai einai mou maqhthV

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life -- he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26 - Jesus provides chastisement "and does not hate" division in the family mentioned for the fourth time. Who do you fear and trust in? Everything must die. Hate means renunciation. We die to self.

[27]

ostiV ou bastazei ton stauron eautou kai ercetai opisw mou ou dunatai einai mou maqhthV

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not carry his own cross cannot be my disciple. To carry the cross means to die. We do bear our own cross. But we do not choose it.  The aim is faithfulness. The aim is Christ. Look to the giver not the gifts.

[28]

tiV gar ex umwn qelwn purgon oikodomhsai ouci prwton kaqisaV yhfizei thn dapanhn ei ecei eiV apartismon

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?

[29]

ina mhpote qentoV autou qemelion kai mh iscuontoV ektelesai panteV oi qewrounteV arxwntai autw empaizein

For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

[30]

legonteV oti outoV o anqrwpoV hrxato oikodomein kai ouk iscusen ektelesai

saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

Luke 14:28-30- For which one of you who wants to build a tower will first consider the money if he has enough to complete it? Jesus is the only disciple. He is the one who was ridiculed, mocked, rejected. When you start to build  - know where it leads to. Jesus was the one ridiculed, mocked from the cross," he saved others himself he cannot save." The world mocking says, you did not consider the cost."

[31]

h tiV basileuV poreuomenoV eterw basilei sumbalein eiV polemon ouci kaqisaV prwton bouleusetai ei dunatoV estin en deka ciliasin upanthsai tw meta eikosi ciliadwn ercomenw ep auton

"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

[32]

ei de mh ge eti autou porrw ontoV presbeian aposteilaV erwta proV eirhnhn

If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

Luke 14:31-32 Jesus is the one who went against legions as an army of one. He knew the cost and entered the war willingly.  In his parables Jesus will always flip common sense on its head.

[33]

outwV oun paV ex umwn oV ouk apotassetai pasin toiV eautou uparcousin ou dunatai einai mou maqhthV

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 - all from among you who does not renounce is not worthy to be my disciple.  We need now to renounce Resources that which we have by nature.

[34]

kalon oun to alaV ean de kai to alaV mwranqh en tini artuqhsetai

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

[35]

oute eiV ghn oute eiV koprian euqeton estin exw ballousin auto o ecwn wta akouein akouetw

It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

Luke 14:34-35 - salt cannot loose its saltiness. Even when thrown out it still serves a purpose.

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

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

Time in the Word - Proper 18

 Proper 18 

Christ Jesus Has Paid the Cost of Discipleship for You

Prayer for Proper 18: O merciful Lord, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all. Grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him;

Prayer for Pentecost 13: Merciful Father, since You have given Your only Son as the sacrifice for our sin, also give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His ways;

Prayer for Christian vocation: Heavenly Father, grant Your mercy and grace to Your people in their many and various callings. Give them patience, and strengthen them in their Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to their neighbor in Christ's name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for likeness to Christ: O God, by the patient suffering of Your only-begotten Son You have beaten down the pride of the old enemy. Now help us, we humbly pray, rightly to treasure in our hearts all that our Lord has of His goodness borne for our sake that following His blessed example we may bear with all patience all that is adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for industry and commerce: Lord Jesus Christ, as once You shared in our human toil and thus hallowed the work of our hands, bless and prosper those who maintain the industries and service sectors of this land. Give them a right regard for their labors, and grant them the just reward for their work that they may find joy in serving You and in supplying our needs; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A disciple of Jesus Christ will “carry his own cross” (Luke 14:27) and follow the Lord through death into life. Discipleship is costly because it crucifies the old man with “all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33), in order to raise up the new man in Christ. The disciple disavows “his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life” (Luke 14:26), in deference to Christ. That way of the cross is impossible, except that Christ Jesus has already paid the cost. His cross is set before you as “life and prosperity, and death and adversity” (Deut. 30:15). Taking up His cross is to “choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him” (Deut. 30:19–20). To live that life in Christ is also to bear His cross in love, “that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will” (Philemon 14).

Monday, 29  August 2022—Psalm 119:28–32; antiphon, Psalm 119:27—The readings for Sunday reflect the theme of discipleship. Whose disciples shall we be? That is, in whom shall we place our trust? Let us be like the psalmist, who boldly pronounces, I have chosen the way of faithfulness . . . I cling to your testimonies, O Lord.

This he can say with confidence, not because of anything in him, but because he prays, Make me understand the way of your precepts, and the LORD answers.

Tuesday, 30 August 2022—Psalm 1—The contrast between the righteous and the wicked is brought into sharp contrast in this, the first of the psalms. We know that we are not righteous in ourselves, but, since we are in Christ, His righteousness is our righteousness. Those who are in Christ are fit the description of the description of the blessed man, the righteous man, in the psalm.

Wednesday, 31 August 2022—Deuteronomy 30:15–20—In Moab (Deut 29:1), before they entered the Promised Land, Moses re-iterated the covenant between the LORD and His people, the Children of Israel. He reminded them of how the LORD led them out of bondage in Egypt and cared for them throughout their sojourn in the wilderness. Then, Moses tells the Israelites that they must follow one of two paths: to continue as God’s Chosen People or to turn their backs on the One who chose them, made them His own, preserved them, and promised to take them into a land where He would continue to shower blessings upon them. It seems that the decision would be easy to make: Choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, yet we know that most people, including most of the Jews, the descendants of the Children of Israel, have chosen instead the way that leads away from God, and into death, eternal death. Let us ever remain faithful to the One who provides life through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thursday, 01 September 2022—Philemon 1–21—During the summer months, our epistle readings make their way through some of the letters (epistles) in the New Testament. This summer, we read through Galatians, the first half of Colossians, and, last Sunday, we finished the latter portion of Hebrews.

Sunday’s reading is from Philemon, but it is the only reading we shall have from that book, as it is only 25 verses long.

Philemon is a personal letter from St Paul to a man named Philemon. Paul intercedes for Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, who had stolen from his master, but subsequently became a Christian. In what is a model of Christian reconciliation, Paul pleads on behalf of Onesimus, just as Christ pleads to His father on our behalf. “We are Christ’s Onesimi,” wrote Luther, “restored by Christ, who, by giving up his rights, compelled the Father to lay aside his wrath.”

Friday, 02 September 2022—Luke 14:25–35—We are told that great crowds accompanied Jesus, but accompanying Him is not enough. A person must be ready and willing to turn his back on the things of this world: his family, his life, indeed, all he has. The things of this life must never stand in the way of our discipleship with Christ, that is, our faith in Him as the sole procurer of our salvation, and the only thing that matters.

Saturday, 03 September 2022—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways(LSB #707). Our readings speak of the necessity of being Christ’s faithful disciples, shunning the things and ways of this world. This, we can only do when the Lord guides our ways: He grants us grace to know and do His will.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden [The Book of Books in Pictures]) ©WELS

Proper 18 Series B

Proper 18 Series B

Isaiah 35:4–7a

James 2:1–10, 14–18

Mark 7:(24–30) 31–37

Our Merciful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Does All Things Well

The Lord proclaims the Gospel “to those who have an anxious heart” to comfort and encourage them with His presence. He comes not only with threats of “vengeance” and “recompense,” but with His gracious salvation (Isaiah 35:4). He opens “the eyes of the blind” and “the ears of the deaf,” and He loosens “the tongue of the mute” to “sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:5–6).

Like water on thirsty ground, He speaks His life-giving Word to people of all nations. With His Word and the touch of His hand, He does “all things well,” so that you may now speak “plainly” (Mark 7:31–37). You confess the truth of God in Christ to the glory of His holy name, and you call upon His name in every trouble, confident that He will hear and answer. As you pray and confess with your tongue, so also “love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8). Show your faith “in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory,” by loving without partiality. For God has “chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom” (James 2:1–5).

Mark 7:31-37

Collect for Proper 18 -O God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us Your humble servants Your holy inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

God's standard of excellence is the theme for this coming Sunday.

In the Old Testament lesson God's people are call to be strong and not to fear as God promises to come to His people. The language which is used is similar to that used of the coming Messiah. In the Epistle lesson excellence is seen in how the believer behaves. Favoritism is forbidden rather keeping the law is what is expected.

The Christian faith is not merely a philosophical exercise of the mind. Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.

In the Gospel lesson a standard of excellence has been stamped on everything Jesus has done. He fulfills the prediction given in the Old Testament lesson. This causes the believer to express praise and adoration to the Lord who has done all things well as expressed in the hymn of the day which is based on this week's appointed psalm.

Mark 7:31-37 -The original translation of verse 37 literally reads "Well! All things He has done!" A standard of excellence has been stamped on everything Jesus has done. He is able to make the deaf hear. This should not surprise us. Everything Jesus is doing is what God had promised to do when He came to redeem His people see Isaiah 35:5-6.

MARK 7:31-37

Mark 7:31

Καὶ πάλιν ἐξελθὼν ἐκ τῶν ὁρίων Τύρου ἦλθεν διὰ Σιδῶνος εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ὁρίων Δεκαπόλεως.

Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis.

-7:31 This geographical description is unusual. Sidon was north of Tyre on the coast, while the Decapolis was south and east of the Sea of Galilee. The NKJV has "departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon," but this translation is not supported by P45, A, W, and the Peshitta. Most textual critics support the more difficult text which takes Jesus north and east before going south.

- came from the region of Tyer through Sidon into the middle region of the Decapolis.  An interesting route. Worth the words. He's in a Gentile/pagan land. Magic was popular there at the time.

▣ "Sea of Galilee" This same body of water is called (1) Chennereth in the OT; (2) Lake of Gennesaret in Luke 5:1; and (3) Sea of Tiberias during the first century Roman period in John 6:1; 21:1.

▣ "region of Decapolis" This was the area of the Gedarene Demoniac (cf. Mark 5:1-20). It was also a Gentile area to the east and south of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus' ministry in these areas shows His love for the Gentiles.

Mark 7:32
Καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτῷ κωφὸν καὶ μογιλάλον, καὶ παρακαλοῦσιν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιθῇ αὐτῷ τὴν χεῖρα
They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him.

Ø "was deaf and spoke with difficulty" This term is used only here in the NT and in the Septuagint in Isaiah. 35:6.

Ø  -“and they carried to him a non-speaking one begging Him to lend a hand.” Because of the deafness they had difficulty speaking. Who brought him?

Mark 7:33

καὶ ἀπολαβόμενος αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου κατ’ ἰδίαν ἔβαλεν τοὺς δακτύλους αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ καὶ πτύσας ἥψατο τῆς γλώσσης αὐτοῦ

Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;

“taking him from the crowd, he cast his fingers into his ears and spitting touched his tongue.”

Ø  Is this an exorcism?

Ø  Did Jesus spit on the ground, on his fingers, or into the mouth directly?

Ø  This is why He takes the man aside. The pagans would take the credit but not Jesus.

Ø  Only reference is to His fingers with the variant. He's going to do what He's going to do but the pagans won't get it.

Ø  In Milan, as part of the Baptismal rite spitting would be used as a part of the exorcism...at the latest, the 3rd. Century.

Ø  To heal is to “lick the wound,”…this is an instinct.

Ø  He groans…He carries our misery…see Romans 8…the entire world groans…and the Spirit groans for us with words too deep...same verb. He takes the misery to Himself and bears them.

Ø  Passive "be opened" beseeching the Father

  

Mark 7:34
καὶ ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐστέναξεν, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ἐφφαθά, ὅ ἐστιν Διανοίχθητι.
and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"

 “looking up into heaven, he sighed and said, "Be opened."

Ø   Why the Aramaic? It is the voice. It is a word accomplishing something.  Not that it was magic. It was the original language Jesus spoke. This is why we use words like “Introit.”  It has a specific meaning/language.

Mark 7:35

καὶ ἠνοίγησαν αὐτοῦ αἱ ἀκοαί, καὶ εὐθὺς ἐλύθη ὁ δεσμὸς τῆς γλώσσης αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλάλει ὀρθῶς

And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly.

What speech is he now given to speak?

Mark 7:36

καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ λέγωσιν· ὅσον δὲ αὐτοῖς διεστέλλετο, αὐτοὶ μᾶλλον περισσότερον ἐκήρυσσον

And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.

- Jesus commands them not to tell...Jesus knows the road He's on...He doesn't need to push the cross...it will come. But even more greatly they preached.

So were they sinning? They were doing what is natural. “If they kept silent even the rocks would speak out!” (Luke 19:40) 

But He doesn't want their speaking to get in the way of the cross or the gospel. He must still face Jerusalem.

Mark 7:37

καὶ ὑπερπερισσῶς ἐξεπλήσσοντο λέγοντες Καλῶς πάντα πεποίηκεν, καὶ τοὺς κωφοὺς ποιεῖ ἀκούειν καὶ ἀλάλους λαλεῖν.

They were utterly astonished, saying, "He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Ø  Verse 37 may relate to Isaiah 35:5-6, which describes the future healing ministry of the Messiah.

Ø  They were completely amazed well…all things he has done…the deaf hear and the mute preach.

Ø  See alternative verse for "O For a Thousand Tongues"

Ø  Lord, You have done everything well.  Help us also to see the depths of Your mercy and grace, that we understand them as gits meant for all

Ø  Jesus heals another person in a Gentile region further emphasizing His love for every race and kind of people.

Ø  This serves as yet one more example of why we need to avoid the temptation to narrow the scope of the mission and to ignore opportunities to reach out to those who are different that ourselves.  Jesus' healing of this man, immediately after He restored the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman, underscores that He desires to love, cleanse, and heal all people.

_____________________________

Mark 7: 31-37 (and read vs. 24-30)

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of today’s Gospel. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. How should we relate to tradition? Define tradition.

2. Was Jesus setting aside the Old Testament? If so how do we treat the OT as inspired? (Mark 7:19)

3. Explain the difference between Jesus' view of religion and that of the Pharisees.

4. Why did Jesus go into a predominately Gentile area? (Mark 7:24)

Jesus is returning from a trip to the far north (Sidon and Tyre) to the more familiar region of the Sea of Galilee. He speaks in Aramaic, his own native language but apparently not that of Mark’s audience.

A Syrophoenician woman is not a Jew, but a Gentile/pagan.

1.       Why does the Syrophoenician woman come to Jesus?

2.       How would you describe their conversation? What is his first response? How does she challenge him? How does his response change? Why? What tone do you hear? Is this the Jesus you see in other stories about him?

5. How did a child become demon possessed? Does it happen today? (Mark 7:25)

6. Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone about the man's healing? (Mark 7:36) Who is the “them” in v. 36? Why do they not do as Jesus orders them? Is their disobedience helpful or harmful?

7. Since vs. 24-30 are also about a healing miracle, why do you think they are left out? What do they add, if anything? Are they in any way a transition between what precedes and what follows?

Source:

http://goodshepherdnewton.org/wp-content/uploads/B-pdf-Proper-18-Last-Pentecost-RCL-2018.pdf

https://biblehub.com/text/mark/7:31-37.htm