Saturday prior to Proper 22

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Joshua 24:15b; Ephesians 6:4; Luke 2:41-52; 10:38-42-Sunday’s hymn of the day is Oh, Blest the House (LSB 862).  This is an appropriate hymn as it deals with the Christian home. May the Lord bless not only our families, but each and every individual family of our congregations. Taking the lead from Joshua, “as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord!” May the Lord bless each of us as Christ remains at the center of our homes.

Oh, Blest the House
1. Oh, blest the house, whate’er befall,
 Where Jesus Christ is all in all!
A home that is not wholly His -
 How sad and poor and dark it is!

2. Oh, blest that house where faith is found
 And all in hope and love abound;
They trust their God and serve Him still
 And do in all His holy will!

3. Oh, blest the parents who give heed
 Unto their children’s foremost need
And weary not of care or cost,
 May none to them and heav’n be lost!

4. Oh, blest that house; it prospers well,
 In peace and joy the parents dwell,
And in their children’s lives is shown
 How richly God can bless His own.

5. Then here will I and mine today
 A solemn promise make and say:
Though all the world forsake His Word,
 I and my house will serve the Lord

A prayer 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. 2

Sources:

1.  “Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

2. A prayer for home and family, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Friday prior to Proper 22

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Mark 10:2-16 – God intends marriage to be lifelong. Sunday’s Gospel deals with two accounts: marriage/divorce and Jesus’ love of children. In regard to marriage and divorce, Mark has Jesus take the position that neither husband nor wife should get a divorce. For the Pharisees, divorce is a legal matter: for Jesus it is a divine matter – not what is legal, but what is right. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that the legal right to get a divorce was due to a human’s sinfulness, but this was contrary to God’s intention that marriage is permanent. To substantiate this, Jesus refers twice to the creation account. The Gospel continues with an account of Jesus receiving little children, for marriage and children go together. Jesus urges that children should be brought to Him and teaches that one should receive the kingdom of God as a child in terms of openness and receptivity.

Flesh is more than the physical body or sex. A sexual union does not necessarily make two people one. They are momentarily joined together physically for the completion of a sexual act, but they are not necessarily one. “Flesh” goes beyond the body to the whole person; physical, mental, psychological and spiritual. In marriage there is to be a union of two personalities, and the sexual act is merely an expression of that oneness. Thus, sex apart from a spiritual union is meaningless and contrary to God’s will. Sex outside of marriage is therefore meaningless. The physical union is proper, right and meaningful only when two people of the opposite sex have union of heart and mind.

To enter the kingdom of God is not to be a child  nor to be childish. A person enters the kingdom “like a child.” There is an innocence, openness, and receptivity on the part of a child that a person wanting to enter the kingdom of God must have. A child is ready to believe and trust what an adult says. Children eagerly believe and readily obey without question or doubt. 2

A Prayer for Peace - O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works proceed, give to Your servants that peace which the world simply cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended by You, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. 3

Sources:

1.  “Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

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

3. Collect for Peace, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Thursday prior to Proper 22

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Hebrew 2:1-13, (14-18) – God intends the family of humankind to be a family in Christ. By the grace of God, Jesus became a man who suffered and died for all. Today’s Epistle reading is the first in a series of passages from Hebrews. The author in Hebrews is facing the situation of the church’s waning faith, probably because of the delay of Christ’s return. To stimulate their faith, he writes the epistle of Hebrews. 

Today’s reading deals with the event of Christ’s incarnation leading to His suffering and death for the salvation of humanity. Jesus’ incarnation gave Him solidarity with humankind in order to save it.  At present, we do not see Christ’s lordship over everything, but we do see Him (verse 9).  His atoning death created a oneness of Christ and His followers whom He calls “brethren” (verse 11).  In comparison with the Old Testament lesson, humans are created and re-created by redemption. 

The writer to the Hebrews uses the term “perfect” in verse 10. This is not a moral but a religious use of the word. The religious meaning of “perfect” is the completion and fulfillment of a goal, destiny, or purpose. It was Jesus’ mission to take away the sins of the world through his atoning death. He fulfilled the mission and accomplished the goal through suffering death on a cross. Thus, Jesus was perfect – fulfilled, completed his destiny as Savior. 2

Collect for Pentecost 19—O God, whose almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity, grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be partakers of Your heavenly treasures. 3

A prayer for steadfast faith – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, of Your tender love towards 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 come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 4

Sources:

  

1. “Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

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

3. Collect for Pentecost 19, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St Louis

4. For steadfast faith, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

 

Wednesday prior to Proper 22

 

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Genesis 2:18-25 – The creation of woman as man’s helper and companion.

God intends husbands and wives to be one. God creates woman as man’s helper and companion. This lesson is part of the Lord’s account of creation, beginning with Chapter 2, verse 4. 

It is the earlier of the two accounts. According to this account, man is created first, then the animals, etc., and finally woman. The animals were not a suitable helper for Adam, and, consequently, Eve was created. Why the rib? It’s closest to the man’s heart. After her creation from his rib, Adam recognizes her as an equal part of him (verse 23).  She is recognized as a fellow human with equal dignity and worth. 

Because of the creation of man and woman, marriage is one of the orders of creation in which the two become an entity of one flesh. Flesh here is more than physical; it refers to the whole person.

For man to be alone was not good. This caused God to create a woman. No amount of vegetation and no number of animals, no matter how much a pet one might be, could be a satisfactory companion to a human being. Man was not meant to be alone, not even with people of the same sex. Woman was made for man, and it is normal and right for male and female to be together as companions and friends.

It is significant that Eve was not an isolated nor independent creation. Adam was formed out of dust; Eve was formed out of Adam by the use of a rib. Male and female are not two separate creations, each going his/her own way. They were not made to be independent of each other. Eve was made from Adam to indicate that they were of the same material and were meant for each other. But again, why the rib? Why not the head or the heart? Is it that the bib is close to the heart? 2

A prayer 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. 3

Sources:

1. Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

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

3. For home and family, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Monday prior to Proper 22

 

Sunday’s theme is God’s Intentions for the Family. The lessons deal with home, marriage, divorce, and children. The Gospel (Mark 10:2-16) considers Jesus’ position on divorce and His attitude toward children. The Old Testament lesson (Genesis 2:18-25) fits into the Gospel with its account of Eve’s creation and the relationship between husband and wife. The Psalm for the week (Psalm 128) concerns a God-fearing person’s blessing of a fruitful wife, children, and grandchildren. The Hymn of the Day “Oh, Blest the House” (LSB 862) is a prayer to the Lord to bless the home and family.

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Psalm 127:3-5, Antiphon, Psalm 127:1a – Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. 

This psalm is titled A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Most believe Solomon to be the author, yet it is possible that the psalm was composed by David for Solomon. Here, Solomon will be considered the author.

“The strength of the Hebrew people in the past, and all that remains of it today, largely results from the keen sense which they ever cherished of the importance of the home and the family. The house, the city, labor, are all important to the conserving of the strength of the family.” (G. Campbell Morgan) 2

In keeping with the theme of the week, God’s Intention for the Family, the psalmist gives us a timeless truth. Unless the Lord is the center of all that we do, unless the Lord builds the house, all of our efforts are in vain. The house in essence becomes a house of cards. May Jesus Christ be the ever present yet unseen guest in each of our homes.  

Collect for Psalm 127: Lord God, the land is brought to flower not with human tears but with the tears of your Son. Grant that those who labor for you may not trust in their own work but in your help through Jesus Christ our Lord. 3

Sources;

1. “Adam and Eve in Paradise” Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

2 https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-127 

3. Collect for Psalm 127, For All the Saints A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. IV © 1996 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Proper 22 Series B study notes

 

Proper 22Series B

Genesis 2:18–25 

Hebrews 2:1–13 (14–18)

Mark 10:2–16

 

Marriage Is a Sign that Manifests the Gospel of Christ and His Church

 

Humanity is created in the image and likeness of God. “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). For the Lord Himself is a perfect communion of three Persons — the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — in one God. Therefore, “the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs,” which “he made into a woman” and brought “to the man” (Genesis 2:21–22). It is for this reason that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7). 

This great mystery of holy marriage signifies Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, and His Bride, the Church. Divorce and all manner of adultery contradict and undermine this sign, and in doing so, they confess a false Christ and a false gospel. “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). In truth, Christ Jesus has atoned for all such sins, and He has perfected marriage in Himself “through suffering,” that He might bring “many sons to glory” in His resurrection. (Hebrews 2:8–10).   

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.

O Spirit of the Father, Breath on them from above, So searching in Your pureness, So tender in Your love That, guarded by Your presence And kept from strife and sin, Their hearts may heed Your guidance And know You dwell within (LSB 858;3)

Mark 10:2-16

The key to Mark 10 is that God accepts us by grace through faith in Jesus not through obedience or status. Just as children receive love they do not earn. 

Jesus teaches that God wants men and women in marriage to be exclusively committed to each other for life. Attempts to alter or get around God's good intentions bring condemnation, not greater liberty. Thoughtfully and prayerfully embrace God's ways. What He establishes is for our good and stems from His love and grace.

Mark 10:2 

Καὶ [b]ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γυναῖκα ἀπολῦσαι, πειράζοντες αὐτόν.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

and coming to him, the Pharisees asked is it lawful for a man to loose...divorce his wife...they did this to test him. 

Mark 10:3

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τί ὑμῖν ἐνετείλατο Μωϋσῆς;

He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”

What did Moses command?  Asking a Law question they get a LAW answer...they did not recognize Jesus so Jesus gives them the authority they recognize.

Mark 10:4  

οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· [c]Ἐπέτρεψεν Μωϋσῆς βιβλίον ἀποστασίου γράψαι καὶ ἀπολῦσαι. 

They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.”

they said, Moses allowed a bible of diverse And to send her away. Deut. 24:1-3 see Jeremiah 3:1; Hosea; 

Mark 10:5 

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Πρὸς τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐντολὴν ταύτην· 

And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

 

It was because your heart was hard that Moses wrote you this law. The Law was written for our hardness of heart. 

Mark 10:6 

ἀπὸ δὲ ἀρχῆς κτίσεως ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν [e]αὐτούς· 

 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’

from the beginning of creation (pre Fall) God created them male and female.  first words spoken of man from Scripture..."she completes me..."

Mark 10:7 

ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα [f]καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, 

 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one. God is doing the joining.. hence the words of 11 and 12...

Some manuscripts omit and hold fast to his wife

Mark 10:8

καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν· ὥστε οὐκέτι εἰσὶν δύο ἀλλὰ μία σάρξ· 

and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Mark 10:9

ὃ οὖν ὁ θεὸς συνέζευξεν ἄνθρωπος μὴ χωριζέτω.  

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Therefore that which God has joined together let not man separate. Nothing can destroy what God has commanded. It is what it is...don't mess with it...

Mark 10:10

Καὶ [g]εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν πάλιν οἱ μαθηταὶ [h]περὶ τούτου [i]ἐπηρώτων αὐτόν. 

And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

Mark 10:11

καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ὃς [j]ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ’ αὐτήν,

 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,

Mark 10:12

καὶ ἐὰν [k]αὐτὴ ἀπολύσασα τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς γαμήσῃ ἄλλον μοιχᾶται. 

 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Into the house again, they ask Him... whoever sends away cuts loose his wife and marries another and if she cuts loose her man...they commit adultery. 

__________________

Let the Children Come to Me

What ties these two texts together is who we are in Christ, we bring children to Jesus. These are separate sermons. It is the text in the baptismal rite.  Children are helpless...they bring nothing...what better place than for an adult baptism. Do not prevent...

Mark 10:13

Καὶ προσέφερον αὐτῷ παιδία ἵνα [l]αὐτῶν ἅψηται· οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ [m]ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

Mark 10:14

δὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἠγανάκτησεν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με, μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά, τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:15

ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὃς [n]ἂν μὴ δέξηται τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς παιδίον, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς αὐτήν.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  

Mark 10:16

καὶ ἐναγκαλισάμενος αὐτὰ [o]κατευλόγει τιθεὶς τὰς χεῖρας ἐπ’ αὐτά.

And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them… And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Mark 10:13,16

 Christ’s Touch (A Baptism Hymn, Sung to LSB 873)

Some brought children for your touch.

Your men did not understand;

They thought children were of such

Should not waste the Master’s hand.

Yet in Baptism you now bless

Every child with your caress.

Lord a leper you did cure

As he felt your holy hand.

He was cleansed, made wholly pure;

In your temple He could stand.

So you touched my body Lord,

Cleansing me by watery word.

Yes the deaf, the mute, the blind,

Many sick, the bent, the dead…

Felt your touch and they did find

Ails were gone of every dread.

Ailed with sin may we each see,

Baptized…cured, you have touched me!

By your cross you took our dross:

Sin’s impurities, death’s doom.

Now you’ve marked us with that cross,

Joined us to your empty tomb.

Stamped as your gold coins we live,

Cross embossed for you to give.

Daniel J. Brege,

Sources:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked SBLGNT are from the The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Proper 22B

 

[1]

03 October 2021
Mark 10:2-16
A Holy Permissiveness for Children

O God, Your Almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy and pity, grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Notice what Jesus is asking in our text for this morning – Jesus asks parents to permit their children to come to Him. Though parents may not deliberately neglect their children nor physically abuse their child, they may be cruel to them by neglecting them by failing to bring to the Savior.

Which parent among us wants nothing but the best for their child?  

When we consider our children, we include words such as bigger, better best; bigger opportunities better schools, the best opportunities possible.   

If children are our future, why not afford them those occasions, which produce success. If they are to be shining stars, we want to place them in those circumstances where they will succeed and prosper.

 This morning the Savior invites you to bring your children and permit them –

I To be blessed by Jesus – Vs. 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

He embraced them – He took them up into His arms putting His hands on them. While the disciples refused them – Jesus accepted and welcomed them.

Children are in a place where often all they can do is receive. They don’t refuse gifts out of self-sufficient pride. So you also must receive the kingdom of God as a child – because we surely will by no means enter it by what we do or earn.

He blessed them. What is the biggest blessing we can receive from the Lord? Is it not the gift of faith? Notice that the faith is something that is given to us. It’s not earned. We certainly do not deserve it. It is received freely by God’s gift and favor.

The writer to the Hebrews teaches; “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things, which are seen, were not made of things, which do appear. (Hebrews 11:1-3, KJV) 

When we have faith, then we can trust that everything we hope for and dreaming of. We have confidence it will eventually come true. Even though we cannot see the path ahead of us, faith tells us that the road will lead to something great.

Transition: We bring our children to Jesus to be blessed by Him. But how will they know Him?

 II. To know Jesus by our instruction – Vs. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

To enter the kingdom a person enters the kingdom, “like a child.” There is an innocence, an openness, and receptivity on the part of a child. That a person wanting to enter the kingdom of God must have.

Only by receiving the Kingdom, as would a child can our connection with God be changed. This happens through the gift of faith in Christ as our Savior.

A child is ready to believe and trust what an adult says. They take things literally. They have a literal mind. They readily obey without questioning. This is why we give our youth truths that transform. – The clear teachings of Christ and His Word.

Transition: To know the Savior is to trust Him. The Savior in the waters of Holy Baptism initiated all that trust.

III. You come to Jesus through baptism – Vs. 14 When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark tells us, “He was indignant”. Indignation does not mean, “flying off the handle,” displaying publicly a fit of temper, or expressing an irrational rage.

It means a “holy” displeasure, a disposition, which will act with displeasure every time it is affected. Jesus certainly was no “pushover,” and indignation is absolutely not a vice.

Jesus was indignant toward the scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites. (Matthew 23)  Jesus was indignant toward the moneychangers. (Matthew 21)  Jesus was indignant toward the disciples who refused children to come to him. 

When the disciples kept the children from being brought to Jesus He was indignant. Jesus always took time for children. He was never too busy, and was indignant with those who would not. He rebuked the disciples sternly in one breath; and in the next, He spoke kindly to these little ones.

We must not hinder them. Rather they are to come – for the kingdom belongs to such as these. The Savior invites children to come to Him.

Children are helpless...they bring nothing... And that sounds exactly like…you. Thus, St. Paul teaches, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Sin condemn us. We are powerless to save ourselves. Every day we sin against God with terrible thoughts, wicked words, and evil actions.

Even the good that we ought and do not perform is also sin. In spite of all of this, the Savior loves and forgives. Isaiah of old would teach; "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6).

Graciously our loving Lord does not keep a record of our sins. The fact is that the Lord God Almighty sees sin as sin. In His eye, all sins are the same. Only in man’s thinking are there different degrees of sin. Big sins, small sins, worse sins, and not so bad sins are terms we prefer and favor to describe sin.

The LORD’s term for missing the mark is simply sin. Christ’s forgiveness for your sins is simply complete.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7). Only by the blood of Jesus is there forgiveness. This holy blood of Jesus forgives all sin: not a few, some, or many but ALL sin. This is how the LORD shows us his great love.

You are now the shining lights in today’s darkness. We do not deserve the Father’s great love. We cannot earn His mercy. It is only by the free grace of Christ that we are saved. We are sinners, always.

True. We are sinners, forgiven of all sins. This is The LORD’s great love to us and for us. This is also His great love to and for all humankind.

The difference for believers is that we know we are sinners; sinners who have been freely forgiven purely out of the Father’s divine love, mercy, and grace.

 "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4, 5)

“…in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” -_{2 Corinthians 5:19}

You are helpless - Never hopeless. Remember the LORD’s promise recorded by the Prophet Isaiah thousands of years ago – “I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” –_{Isaiah 44:22}

In Christ, you are free; free to love God and serve your neighbor. 

Words-1,350
Passive Sentences –7 %
Readability –79.5 %
Reading level – 5.3

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