Pr. DFD : Proper 23

Showing posts with label Proper 23. Show all posts

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Proper 23 - Series A notes

Proper 23 Series 'A'

Isaiah 25:6–9

Philippians 4:4–13

Matthew 22:1–14

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ, We Partake of His Wedding Feast

By His cross and resurrection, the Lord has swallowed up death forever, and by His Gospel He “will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth” (Isaiah 25:8). Therefore, “let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). On the mountain of the Lord of hosts — in His Church on earth, as in the kingdom of heaven — He has made “for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine” (Isaiah 25:6). It is the royal “wedding feast” of the Son of God, “and everything is ready” (Matthew 22:1, 4). Thus, His servants are sent into the highways and byways to invite and gather as many as they find, “both good and bad,” to fill the wedding hall with guests (Matthew 22:8–10). In Holy Baptism, He clothes them all in the “wedding garment” of His own perfect righteousness (Matthew 22:11). Therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” and “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4–6).

Collect for Proper 23 - Almighty God, You invite us to trust in You for our salvation. Deal with us not in the severity of Your judgment but by the greatness of Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” (Matthew 22:2)

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

A foundational institution of God is marriage. Within marriage the institution of the Church is also subsumed. Luther identified Adam as the first pastor, to whom was given the word of law and gospel to share, and Eve was the first congregation given to hear that Word of God. Note also that the first bride was built from the side of Adam, and now the Church through the water and blood of the pierced side of the New Adam is built. In his gospel, John records the same Greek word for Christ’s pierced side as that used in the LXX for the side of Adam. In his first epistle John then references this by writing, This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood [5:6]. Christ came to each of us by the water and the blood in our Baptism, creating His bride, the Church.

In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells a parable about the marriage feast for the king’s son. Interestingly in His previous parable Jesus speaks of the vineyard owner’s son being cast out of the vineyard and killed. Indeed, this is the same son! By the death of God’s Son, salvation is procured for His bride, the Church. But how can this bride rejoice when her husband has died? She rejoices because to secure her eternal salvation He rises from the dead. Now the feast of salvation is prepared, and those attending this wedding feast can be recognized as individual members of the Church.

Why a feast? God has always linked literal food both to communion with Him and to godly celebration. In the Garden of Eden there was the Tree of Life, from which the food of life and certainly godly rejoicing were linked. Yes, it was literal food, but also sacramental food in that it conveyed something beyond earthly nutrition. Uniquely the Old Testament peace offering sacrifice was always eaten in a celebrative communion feast. In connection with the peace offerings offered at the Tabernacle, God would direct, …you and your households shall eat and rejoice (Dt 12:7). Thus when a Jewish home had a celebration they would (whenever possible) “invite God” by dining on a peace offering. Appropriately the meat of a Jewish wedding feast, especially for those in proximity to the Jewish Temple, would have been from a peace offering.

The wedding feast has already begun. Though we find in the visible church hypocrites who fail to trust in Christ’s robe of righteousness, nonetheless we who have been made clean by the water and blood of Christ are privileged to join in Christ’s wedding feast every time we gather to eat of His body and blood. Here we eat literal food (bread and wine), but consistent with God’s working through the centuries we partake of sacramental food, the food of forgiveness and immortality! We eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life, that tree being the cross and that fruit being Christ himself. We eat of the ultimate peace offering, celebrating peace with God via communion in the flesh and blood of Jesus. Though we eat the Wedding Feast with an attitude of repentance, we also appropriately eat with joyful celebration. No wonder we call it “celebrating” the Lord’s Supper, and the man who leads it is called the “celebrant”.

Finally we who are members of Christ’s body, His bride, will get to celebrate the marriage feast when there will be no more sin and no more monstrous results of sin. In the final book of Holy Writ we not only encounter the reestablished right to eat of the Tree of Life, but we encounter the eternal marriage feast: Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure…Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” [19:7-9].Yes, eat in this life of the marriage supper of the Lamb, the marriage feast of the New Adam; then eat and celebrate the wedding feast most wondrously into eternity.

Matthew 22:1

Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λέγων•

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

Matthew 22:2

Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησεν γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

Vv.1-2-Jesus again spoke parables to them...chief Priests, Scribes, Pharisees...still addressing the question "by whose authority?" The Father again is the subject.

-The kingdom is compared to a man king who prepared a wedding. God is an action...always acting to save..the reign of God, not political action. The Kingdom is wherever Jesus is present.

Matthew 22:3

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.

and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

Vs. 3 - Sent his slaves to the invitees and they were unwilling to come...same lament as Jesus over the city of Jerusalem a chapter later. This would be a once in a lifetime event. Surprising that they would not come. The invitation would have come to the head of the household so the entire family would have been denied.

Δούλους “bond-servants” see also verses 4, 6, 8, 10

Matthew 22:4

πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους λέγων• Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις• Ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμακα, οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα• δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.

Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’

V.4 - Tell the invited all is ready, I have prepared my suffer. The oxen and calves have been slaughtered. The slaves preach the menu…the feast is upon the sacrifice. τεθυμένα

-The Father's first word "you may eat." His last word "all is ready."

Matthew 22:5

οἱ δὲ ἀμελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον, ὃς μὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, ὃς δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ•

But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

V.5- But not caring they departed. One to a field, another to his shop. One slept in, another had soccer practice.

Matthew 22:6

οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.

while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

V.6- Now the servants seized the slaves and insulted treated them disgracefully and killed the rest. Another absurd response. No fence sitting with Jesus - either you love Him or hate Him. You will go to the feast or kill the servants.

Matthew 22:7

ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὠργίσθη, καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν.

The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

V.7- But The King was enraged, suffered wrath, and sent his servants to kill and burn their city. The eschatological is now.

Matthew 22:8

τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ• Ὁ μὲν γάμος ἕτοιμός ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι•

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy

V.8- Then he said to his slaves the feast is ready. The rejection made them unworthy.

Matthew 22:9

πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν, καὶ ὅσους [g]ἐὰν εὕρητε καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.

Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

V.9- Be going to the through roads, off ramps, and invite call whomever you find to the feast. This was the prostitutes and thieves who were invited.

Matthew 22:10

καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς συνήγαγον πάντας [h]οὓς εὗρον, πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς• καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὁ [i]γάμος ἀνακειμένων.

And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

V.10- The slaves went to roads they synagogue all they could find to good and the evil…with recliners.

Matthew 22:11

εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειμένους εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου•

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

V.11- Found a man not clothed with the wedding garment. All were given a garment. (Baptism) He had thrown it off.

Matthew 22:12

καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ• Ἑταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου; ὁ δὲ ἐφιμώθη.

And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless

V.12- Said to him Ἑταῖρε "comrade" "friend" (same word spoken to Judas) how have you come not wearing a garment? He was muzzled ἐφιμώθη. This is straight up law... The “where are you?” spoken to Adam in the garden. He has thrown God off. He is a rejectable God.

Matthew 22:13

τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν τοῖς διακόνοις• Δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ἐκβάλετε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον• ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:14

πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Vv.13-14- Then the king said to the deacons thrown him into the darkness the outer kind. Where there is anguish, the gnashing of teeth. Many called few elected.

Time in the Word - Proper 23

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ,
We Partake of His Wedding Feast

By His Cross and Resurrection, the Lord has swallowed up death forever, and by His Gospel He “will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth” (Is. 25:8). Therefore, “let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is. 25:9). On the Mountain of the Lord of hosts—in His Church on earth, as in the kingdom of heaven—He has made “for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine” (Is. 25:6). It is the royal “wedding feast” of the Son of God, “and everything is ready” (Matt. 22:1, 4). Thus, His servants are sent into the highways and bi-ways to invite and gather as many as they find, “both good and bad,” to fill the wedding hall with guests (Matt. 22:8–10). In Holy Baptism, He clothes them all in the “wedding garment” of His own perfect righteousness (Matt. 22:11). Therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” and “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4–6).

Preparation for next week, Proper 23

Monday, 09 October 2023—Isaiah 61:10; Antiphon, Psalm 146:2—The Gospel reading for next Sunday is the parable of the Wedding Feast, and the Introit helps establish a theme, by bringing in images relating to a wedding and the wedding garments. It speaks of us being clothed with garments of salvation. This same sort of imagery is used in Revelation, when it is said that the saints clothed in white robes have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is rich sacramental imagery, portraying Baptism; the parable of the Wedding Feast has similar sacramental imagery, but that of the Lord’s Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar.

Tuesday, 10 October 2023—Psalm 23—The psalm for the day, the well-known 23^rd Psalm, also has sacramental imagery, as we are told that the Lord leads us beside still waters, restoring our souls, and leading us in the paths of righteousness. Holy Baptism restores our souls; the Word of God leads us in the paths of righteousness. Later in the psalm, there is, again, the image of a feast being prepared for us who are righteous on account of being baptized into the name of Jesus.

Wednesday, 11 October 2023—Isaiah 25:6–9—The prophecy of Isaiah looks forward to the Last Day and portrays eternity in heaven as a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. One of the post-communion collects refers to the Sacrament of the Altar as a foretaste of the feast to come. Indeed, it is a real partaking of the feast in heaven, with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, those who have gone before us and died in the faith. The only difference is, so long as we live on the earth, we have to return our daily lives, while the feast goes on eternally. Therefore, we continue in the collect, Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end.

Thursday, 12 October 2023—Philippians 4:4–13—St Paul urges us to Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Rejoice, for the Lord has washed us clean in Holy Baptism, clothing us in white garments, and inviting us to the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. He reminds us that the Lord is at hand. The Lord is, indeed, at hand; He is as near as His Word and Sacrament. Wherever the Word is preached in its truth and purity and the Sacraments are rightly administered, there the Lord is, dispensing the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Friday, 13 October 2023—Matthew 22:1–14—As we near the end of the Church Year, so the readings come closer to the end of our Lord’s earthly life, and begin to reflect on the Last Day, when we shall come into His heavenly kingdom. There are a number of themes un this parable. Those wedding guests who shunned the king’s invitation may be compared to the Jews, to who the Word of the Lord was given and whom the Lord chose as heirs of His kingdom. By and large, they have rejected the long-promised Messiah, and have no place at the eternal wedding feast in heaven. Likewise, those who come in unprepared, without a wedding garment, without a garment of salvation, trying to enter the feast of their own accord. These, too, will be rejected, for no one makes himself worthy of the kingdom of heaven; it is the Lord and King Himself who gives us the garment of righteousness.

Saturday, 14 October 2023—The hymn of the day is A Multitude Comes from the East and the West (LSB #510). It reflects the message of Jesus’ parable of the Wedding Feast. Those present at the heavenly banquet will come from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages (Rev. 7:9). At the heavenly marriage feast, we will dine with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all who have trusted in the Lord for their salvation, who have placed their trust in the merits of the promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

Prayer for the mission of the Church: Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation;

Prayer for those outside the Church: Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name;

Prayer for those who are separated from the Church: O God, protect the tempted, the distressed, and the erring, and gently guide them. By Your great goodness bring them into the way of peace and truth. Graciously regard all who are in trouble, danger, temptation, or bondage to sin, and those to whom death draws near. In Your mercy draw them to Yourself;

Lectionary summary on front page from LCMS Commission on Worship

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Proper 23 Series C

(October 9 -15)

Ruth 1:1–19a

2 Timothy 2:1–13

Luke 17:11–19

Faith Returns Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus

Collect for Proper 23 – O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church. Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through Your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

A quick outline based on the collect:

A proper perspective

1. God is our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness.

2. He hears the prayers of His people.

3. As dear children ask their dear Father we always ask in faith.

4. The Lord always responds from His bountiful mercy.

Jesus comes in mercy and, by His Word, heals you in body and soul. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” for you are cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord’s Temple. It is “at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks” (Luke 17:16) that you worship God, for Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His body is the true Temple. In Him, you “find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:9), for the Lord has “visited his people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food — bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Timothy 2:8). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach and confess the one Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ.

There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans. Had they been healthy, the nine Jewish lepers would have had had nothing to do with this person whom they considered a half-breed, little better than a heathen. But leprosy had made them all outcasts from society, depending on the kindness of strangers in for daily sustenance.

On the way to Jerusalem, on the road that would ultimately lead to His death, Jesus encountered these ten pitiable men. He had mercy on them, and, foreshadowing the restoration of all creation at the Last Day, healed them of their dread disease. Only one returned to Jesus to give thanks—a foreigner, the Samaritan.

Christ came into the world to save all people, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, or other outward characteristics. We Gentiles, too, ought to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks for having rescued us from the far more dread disease of sin and its consequences of eternal, and not just temporal, death. This Descendant of a foreign, Moabite woman has made us clean. He Himself is the High Priest who declares us clean to His Father, and gives us a place in His kingdom. This Gospel lesson will be read on Thanksgiving Day.

These men didn’t call out to Jesus just to say “Hello,” they called out because they were sick, in fact dying a very slow death, and it is precisely those people, whom our Lord came to rescue. Perhaps the greatest virtue of the Samaritan was his sense of self; the man knew precisely what he was and what he needed, more to the point, he knew where to get it.

After greeting the one soul who returned Jesus responds, “Rise up, go and keep going, your faith has and continues to save you.” Faith is always busy and active.

Lord, Grant that we may with thankful hearts receive these great mercies and express our gratitude, not only with our lips but also in our lives as we give ourselves to Your service and walk before You in holiness and righteousness all our days. Deliver us from sin and error, from the frailties of the flesh, the allurements of this present age, and the temptations of the devil. Give us faith that works in love, hope that never disappoints, kindness that never fails, confidence in You that never wavers, patience that does not grow weary, and courage always to be ready to confess Christ, that we may live in Your mercy and die in Your peace; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.- -Prayer of adoration, praise, and supplication, Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Hinting at His Deity (Luke 17:11-19)
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

Of course every time Jesus performed an out-of-this-world miracle—like calming the stormy sea or speaking the dead to life—such miracles hinted at his deity. Similarly every time Jesus was named the Son of God, or when He declared Himself to be the Son of the Father, these hinted at His deity (The Jews understood this to be more than a hint; see e.g. John 5:18; 10:33.).

In Sunday’s gospel when Jesus healed the ten lepers, one returned “praising God with a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him.” This in itself seems to indicate Jesus is God, as the healed leper praises God by giving thanks to Jesus. Jesus then confirms this understanding as He asks, “Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?” The Samaritan, cured of his leprosy, returned to Jesus and at His feet he gave glory to God—to Jesus. Another apparent hint at the deity of Jesus occurs in the command of Jesus that the lepers go to the temple—God’s unique dwelling place on earth. But as this former-leper returns to Jesus, Jesus is not critical of his failure to go to the Temple, for the man is indeed going to the Temple, the place where God dwells among men—in the person of Jesus Christ. The following are a few other hints of the deity of Jesus peppered throughout the Gospel of Luke.

When Saint Luke explains the identity of John the Baptist in Luke 3, the evangelist is inspired to point to him as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that describes the way-preparer as “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord…’” Though “Lord” as a title for Jesus may not always be speaking of His deity, it must here be speaking of His deity, because in Isaiah’s prediction the Hebrew word for Lord is the unique name for God—Yahweh. John the Baptist was preparing the way of Yahweh, the way of Jesus; Jesus is God (Yahweh).

In Luke 7:16, after Jesus had raised to life the dead youth from the town of Nain, the people exclaim, “God has visited His people.” One might understand this to mean that God, through a great prophet, has visited His people. But one can also take it as a confession by the people that Jesus is God, because God as a man was literally visiting His people—for who except God can speak the dead to life?

We find the record in Luke 8:26ff of another merciful, miraculous deliverance as Jesus cast the legion of demons out of the cemetery-residing man of the Gerasenes. The man then begs to go with Jesus, but the Lord responds to him, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” What does the exorcised man do? “So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.” These are in back-to-back sentences in which the parallel is obvious: “…tell how much GOD has done for you…[he] proclaimed how much JESUS had done for him.” Hint: Jesus is God.

In Luke 18:18ff the rich young ruler petitions Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replies, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” There is here a hint that if Jesus is the Good Teacher, and because only God is good, then Jesus must be God.

Thanks be to God that in Jesus the fullness of deity dwells bodily, for only God’s death could redeem mankind out of sin, death and the devil’s domain. Truly, as proleptically prophesied by Zechariah, “…the God of Israel….has visited and redeemed His people.” (Luke 1:68)

A hint of trivia - The Armadillo has an antibody for leprosy. The bacteria that causes leprosy, a chronic disease that can lead to disfigurement and nerve damage, is known to be transmitted to humans from nine-banded armadillos. A new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reports that 62% of the armadillos in the western part of Pará state in the Brazilian Amazon are positive for the leprosy bacteria. June 28, 2018 - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180628151918.htm

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ αὐτὸς διήρχετο διὰ μέσον Σαμαρείας καὶ Γαλιλαίας.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

The disease is what unites them. Jesus is going to Jerusalem. He will only stop for them.

Luke 17:12

καὶ εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν,

And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance

Going into a village, ten men, lepers met him standing afar off. Whole cities would come out to meet ἀπήντησαν a conquering King. This is a leper colony. Jesus is going into the leper's village. They come out to greet them.

Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

"Ten" is a perfect number. All together. They cry out for mercy but at a distance. They have nothing left to lose.

Luke 17:13

καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες• Ἰησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

“They” (plural) lifted up “their” (singular) united voice saying, "Jesus, Master have mercy/pity!" ἐλέησον

Luke 17:14

καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς• Πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν.

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

And seeing as they saw (being there present with them) he said "go, show yourselves to the priests. (To go back to your family. Uncleanness separated them. Cut off from community. The OT statement of original sin.) . Sin is unbelief given flesh and bones.

Sent to the priests think Judas

As they went they were healed.

Luke 17:15

εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψεν μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν θεόν,

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;

One from them, seeing right here and now, seeing he was healed, returned with a great voice glorifying God.

He goes to the priests. (Because Jesus sent him. He had to. He went, was examined, then returned.) Both he and Jesus knew the drill.

Luke 17:16

καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ• καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρίτης.

and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

He threw himself at Jesus' feet. See Ruth 4:7, Christ is the kinsman redeemer. John the Baptist, "I am unworthy to untie his sandals."

The Greek word used to describe his giving thanks εὐχαριστῶv is the word that is translated as Eucharist.

Luke 17:17

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν• Οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ;

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

Ten were cleansed, were there not? Expecting a positive answer. Ten were cleansed,

Luke 17:18

οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος;

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:19

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Ἀναστὰς πορεύου• ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε.

And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.

“has made you well” - has saved you.

Rise up, go and keep going, your faith has and continues to save you. Faith is busy and active.

Time in the Word - Proper 23

Time in the Word

Preparation for

Proper 23

October 03 – 08, 2022

Faith Returns Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus

Jesus comes in mercy, and by His Word heals you in body and soul. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” for you are cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord’s Temple. It is “at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:16), that you worship God, for Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His Body is the true Temple. In Him you “find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:9), for the Lord has “visited His people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). The person of Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food—bread and wine for believers to eat and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are your people. Death cannot part you from Him, because His death and resurrection are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8–9). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely “the Word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2), so that you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10). Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach, and confess the one Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ.

Prayer for the sick: O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need, look with favor upon Your servant. Assure him/her of Your mercy, deliver him/her from the temptations of the evil one, and give him/her patience and comfort in his/her illness. If it please You, restore him/her to health, or give him/her grace to accept this tribulation with courage and hope; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for deliverance from sin: We implore You, O Lord, in Your kindness to show us Your great mercy that we may be set free from our sins and rescued from the punishments that we rightfully deserve; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 03 October 2022—Psalm 34:2–4, 17; antiphon, Psalm 48:1—The Introit calls upon us to praise the Lord for His deliverance of His righteous ones out of all their troubles. Who are the righteous? We learned in the Old Testament reading from last week that those who place their trust in the Lord are the ones who are righteous—by their faith.

Tuesday, 04 October 2022—Psalm 111—Psalm 111 is a song of high praise to the LORD for His many and continued blessings upon His people—physical and spiritual blessings. The LORD’s great works and His provision of food are recounted before the His greatest blessing is extolled: He sent redemption to his people. In the face of the mighty deeds, awesome power, and goodness of the Lord, the psalmist concludes, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Wednesday, 05 October 2022—Ruth 1:1–19a—Sunday’s Old Testament reading is the opening portion of the book of Ruth. Ruth was not an Israelite, but a Moabite woman, whose husband had died. During a famine, Ruth’s husband died, as did his brother. When Naomi, the brothers’ mother, planned to go to Bethlehem, because she had heard there was food there, she urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab where, as still-young women, they might find husbands. Orpah did, but Ruth remained with Naomi, resolutely declaring, “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” This strong foreign woman, who took the Lord GOD of Israel—the true God—as her own God, would become an ancestress to the Christ, the incarnate Son of the only true God (Matthew 1:5

Thursday, 06 October 2022—2 Timothy 2:1–13—Our reading through Paul’s second letter to Timothy continues with encouragement to remain a good soldier of Christ Jesus, even in the face of suffering. But, this is no advice to Timothy simply to look deep inside himself for strength, or keep a stiff upper lip.

No, the Christian’s source of strength in the midst of adversity always comes from the fact that we are strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus (v. 1). Paul then quotes what he had written in his epistle to the Romans, in connection with Holy Baptism: If we have died with him, we will also live with him. Our Baptism into Christ gives us strength daily to face whatever hardships we may face in this life.

Friday, 07 October 2022—Luke 17:11–19—There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans. Had they been healthy, the nine Jewish lepers would have had had nothing to do with this person whom they considered a half-breed, little better than a heathen. But leprosy had made them all outcasts from society, depending on the kindness of strangers in for daily sustenance.

Saturday, 08 October 2022—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old (LSB #846). It also makes the connection between Christ healing disease and infirmities of the body when he walked the earth and His redemptive work in cleansing us from our sins. The last stanza asks that we, too, may be delivered from the sickness of sin, that we might offer up our praise and thanksgiving, as the Samaritan did in the Gospel reading.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Luther’s Seal © Ed Rajas Higher Things

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Proper 23 Series B

Proper 23 Series "B"

Amos 5:6–7, 10–15
Hebrews 3:12–19
Mark 10:17–22

Christ Jesus Is the One and Only Good by Whom You Inherit Eternal Life

The Lord is the Author and Giver of life, as well as a consuming fire of judgment against all “who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate” (Amos 5:12). “Seek the Lord and live,” therefore, by hating what is evil, loving what is good and doing what is just and right, according to His Word. “And so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you” (Amos 5:6, 14–15).

Understand that “no one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). The life that you are called to live is found neither in your “great possessions,” nor in your good works, but only in Christ Jesus. Let go of “all that you have” and follow Him, even unto death, and “you will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21–22). Do not harden your heart against His voice, nor turn away from Him, lest you “fall away from the living God.” Rather, hear and heed His call, cling to His Word and “exhort one another every day,” that you may remain steadfast in Christ and “firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:12–15).

Mark 10:17-22

A question: Did this man hear what Jesus said about marriage and children?

Children connection "All these I have kept since childhood." Also, Jesus concludes the commandments with the 4th Commandment.

Jesus teaches His disciples that not even people with the greatest worldly means can enter the kingdom of God on their own merit; We cannot justify ourselves, we receive salvation (inherit eternal life) solely by grace through faith in Jesus. Just like a little child (Vv. 13-16)

-The rich young man was off in his thinking from the very start, when he asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our doing; it is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could not earn his salvation, by directing him to the commandments. Yet, the young man persisted in his self-righteousness by proclaiming that he had kept them all from his youth.

Still, Jesus looked on him with love and compassion, as a wayward sheep. He directs the man to the First Commandment, by asking him to give up all he had. This young man loved the things of the world more than the things of God, and so he went away sorrowful.

How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits, for with man it is impossible…but all things are possible with God.

Mark 10:17

Καὶ ἐκπορευομένου αὐτοῦ εἰς ὁδὸν προσδραμὼν εἷς καὶ γονυπετήσας αὐτὸν ἐπηρώτα αὐτόν• Διδάσκαλε ἀγαθέ, τί ποιήσω ἵνα ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω;

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

- As he was going out one was running along the way, kneeling, he questioned Him, “what must I do to inherit eternal salvation”. He comes to Jesus respectively not reverently. He takes a knee in front of his life coach. "Kneeling" is not worshipful. He has nothing to give in reverent repentance. He approaches Jesus as an equal. Thinking they are both "good."

- The children are welcomed why not me? They are children but I can contribute.

Mark 10:18

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός.

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

- Why are you calling me good? No one is good except God...he points to the one thing the man lacks...to be in the presence of God is to be in the need of confession and faith...you're not good but God is...all morality evolves around Christ...YET HERE - no evidence of contrition.

Mark 10:19

τὰς ἐντολὰς οἶδας• Μὴ [a]φονεύσῃς, Μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, Μὴ κλέψῃς, Μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς, Μὴ ἀποστερήσῃς, Τίμα τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα.

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

- The commandments, you know...is 4 at the end connected to 9/10? Connected to Corbin gifts...

-"Do not defraud" is not listed in the commandments...is this the dagger?

Mark 10:20

ὁ δὲ [b]ἔφη αὐτῷ• Διδάσκαλε, ταῦτα πάντα ἐφυλαξάμην ἐκ νεότητός μου.

And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.

- Look at the Gk ‘ἐκ νεότητός μου” I've done this since I became of age, apart from the children. “I've guarded them.” ἐφυλαξάμην Confused moral goodness with righteousness. The man is listening.

Mark 10:21

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἐμβλέψας αὐτῷ ἠγάπησεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ• Ἕν [c]σε ὑστερεῖ• ὕπαγε ὅσα ἔχεις πώλησον καὶ δὸς [d]τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ ἕξεις θησαυρὸν ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει [e]μοι.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

- Jesus looking into him loved him, all you have sell it, and you will have treasures in heaven. Jesus looks at the man as a little one...is this Mark?

-After He loves him Jesus preaches the law again. Is this Jesus' "cut off your arm" command to this rich man?

Mark 10:22

ὁ δὲ στυγνάσας ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος, ἦν γὰρ ἔχων κτήματα πολλά.

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

_______________

Words -1,000
Readability – 70%
Reading Level – 7.0

Time in the Word - Proper 23

Time in the Word

4-9 October 2031

Preparation for next week, Proper 22

The theme for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost is The Root of Evil. You will sometimes hear a person say ‘Money is the root of all evil.’ Usually it is said in a judgmental tone, used to condemn another. But such a one doesn’t quote Scripture correctly, for the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil, but ‘the love of money is the root of all evil.’ (1 Timothy 6:10)

All of next Sunday’s readings exhort us not to depart from the Lord, but to remain faithful to Him. Oftentimes, not only the cares of this world, but the things of this world divert our attention from the Lord.

The sin of the rich young man in next Sunday’s Gospel reading was not that he had great riches, but that those riches were the most important thing to him. A Christian who is wealthy need not be ashamed of his wealth, for it is a gift from God, but he must not let his wealth rule him. He must realize that he is but a steward of the gifts God gives, and must use those gifts in a manner pleasing to God.

Monday, 4 October 2021—Psalm 112:3–6; Antiphon, Psalm 112:1—Sunday’s Introit tells of the blessedness of the man who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. This man delights especially in the First Commandment, You shall have no other gods. He fears, loves, and trusts in God above all things, especially earthly things. Thus, he is truly wealthy, for he possesses wealth that is far greater than material things; he has the righteousness of God that comes by faith.

Tuesday, 5 October 2021—Psalm 90:12–17—Psalm 90 is a psalm written by Moses, and is a great comfort in times of sadness. It starts out with a confession that the Lord abides with us always: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Verses 12–17 are a prayer for the continuation of God’s favor, and the wish that He would carry out His work of salvation and bless His people’s undertakings to that end.

Wednesday, 6 October 2021—Amos 5:6–7, 10–15—The prophet Amos lamented over the Israelites, who had turned their back on the LORD. Here the LORD exhorts the people through His prophet: Seek the LORD and live. He judges them for delighting in material things—houses of hewn stone and pleasant vineyards—but taking advantage of the poor and afflicting the righteous. Again they are exhorted, Seek good and not evil, that you may live.

Thursday, 7 October 2021—Hebrews 3:12–19—This portion of our reading through the book of Hebrews also contains an exhortation, that the hearers not be like the Israelites of old, who rebelled against God. No person, on his own, can fully withstand temptation. But God has given us His Word and Sacraments to keep us strong in the faith, and He also provides what our Confessions call the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren (SA III, IV). Therefore, we Christians exhort one another, that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Friday, 8 October 2021—Mark 10:17–22—The rich young man was off in his thinking from the very start, when he asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life? Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our doing; it is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could not earn his salvation, by directing him to the commandments. Yet, the young man persisted in his self-righteousness by proclaiming that he had kept them all from his youth.

How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits, for with man it is impossible…but all things are possible with God.

Saturday, 9 October 2021—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (LSB 694) is a hymn of resolute determination to love God above all things, not of our own selves, but prayerfully asking, Permit me nevermore to stray (v. 4).

Collect for Pentecost 20— Enlighten our minds, O God, by the Spirit who proceeds from You, that, as Your Son has promised, we my be led into all truth.

Collect for Proper 23 – Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in Your our heavenly treasure; for You live and reigns with the Father rand the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

Prayer to resist the love of money: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for grace to love and serve God: O God, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You pour the gifts of love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant Your servants health both of mind and body that they may love You with their whole heart and with their whole strength perform those things that are pleasing to You; 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.

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Image ©

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Proper 23 Series A

Proper 23 Series 'A'

Isaiah 25:6–9

Philippians 4:4–13

Matthew 22:1–14

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ, We Partake of His Wedding Feast

By His cross and resurrection, the Lord has swallowed up death forever, and by His Gospel He “will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth” (Isaiah 25:8). Therefore, “let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). On the mountain of the Lord of hosts — in His Church on earth, as in the kingdom of heaven — He has made “for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine” (Isaiah 25:6). It is the royal “wedding feast” of the Son of God, “and everything is ready” (Matthew 22:1, 4). Thus, His servants are sent into the highways and byways to invite and gather as many as they find, “both good and bad,” to fill the wedding hall with guests (Matthew 22:8–10). In Holy Baptism, He clothes them all in the “wedding garment” of His own perfect righteousness (Matthew 22:11). Therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” and “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4–6).

Collect for Proper 23 - Almighty God, You invite us to trust in You for our salvation. Deal with us not in the severity of Your judgment but by the greatness of Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” (Matthew 22:2)

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

Matthew 22:1

Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν εἶπεν [a]ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λέγων•

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

Matthew 22:2

Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησεν γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ.

The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

Vv.1-2-Jesus again spoke parables to them...chief Priests, Scribes, Pharisees...still addressing the question "by whose authority?" The Father again is the subject.

-The kingdom is compared to a man king who prepared a wedding. God is an action...always acting to save..the reign of God, not political action. The Kingdom is wherever Jesus is present.

Matthew 22:3

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.

and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

Δούλους “bond-servants” see also verses 4, 6, 8, 10

Matthew 22:4

πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους λέγων• Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις• Ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου [b]ἡτοίμακα, οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα• δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.

V.4 - Tell the invited all is ready, I have prepared my suffer. The oxen and calves have been slaughtered. The slaves preach the menu…the feast is upon the sacrifice. τεθυμένα

-The Father's first word "you may eat." His last word "all is ready."

Matthew 22:5

οἱ δὲ ἀμελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον, [c]ὃς μὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, [d]ὃς δὲ [e]ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ•

But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

V.5- But not caring they departed. One to a field, another to his shop. One slept in, another had soccer practice.

Matthew 22:6

οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.

while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

Matthew 22:7

[f]ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὠργίσθη, καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν.

The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

V.7- But The King was enraged, suffered wrath, and sent his servants to kill and burn their city. The eschatological is now.

Matthew 22:8

τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ• Ὁ μὲν γάμος ἕτοιμός ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι•

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy

V.8- Then he said to his slaves the feast is ready. The rejection made them unworthy.

Matthew 22:9

πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν, καὶ ὅσους [g]ἐὰν εὕρητε καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.

Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

V.9- Be going to the through roads, off ramps, and invite call whomever you find to the feast. This was the prostitutes and thieves who were invited.

Matthew 22:10

And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

V.10- The slaves went to roads they synagogue all they could find to good and the evil…with recliners.

Matthew 22:11

εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειμένους εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου•

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

V.11- Found a man not clothed with the wedding garment. All were given a garment. (Baptism) He had thrown it off.

Matthew 22:12

καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ• Ἑταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου; ὁ δὲ ἐφιμώθη.

And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

V.12- Said to him Ἑταῖρε "comrade" "friend" (same word spoken to Judas) how have you come not wearing a garment? He was muzzled ἐφιμώθη. This is straight up law... The “where are you?” spoken to Adam in the garden. He has thrown God off. Christ is a rejectable God.

Matthew 22:13

τότε [j]ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν τοῖς διακόνοις• Δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας [k]ἐκβάλετε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον• ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 22:14

πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.

For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Vv.13-14- Then the king said to the deacons thrown him into the darkness the outer kind. Where there is anguish, the gnashing of teeth. Many called few elected.

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

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

Time in the Word - Proper 23

Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ,

We Partake of His Wedding Feast

By His Cross and Resurrection, the Lord has swallowed up death forever, and by His Gospel He “will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth” (Isaiah 25:8). Therefore, “let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). On the Mountain of the Lord of hosts—in His Church on earth, as in the kingdom of heaven—He has made “for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine” (Isaiah 25:6). It is the royal “wedding feast” of the Son of God, “and everything is ready” (Matthew 22:1, 4). Thus, His servants are sent into the highways and bi-ways to invite and gather as many as they find, “both good and bad,” to fill the wedding hall with guests (Matthew 22:8–10). In Holy Baptism, He clothes them all in the “wedding garment” of His own perfect righteousness (Matthew 22:11). Therefore, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” and “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4–6).

Prayer for the mission of the Church: Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in Christ You have reconciled us to Yourself. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation;

Prayer for those outside the Church: Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name;

Prayer for those who are separated from the Church: O God, protect the tempted, the distressed, and the erring, and gently guide them. By Your great goodness bring them into the way of peace and truth. Graciously regard all who are in trouble, danger, temptation, or bondage to sin, and those to whom death draws near. In Your mercy draw them to Yourself;

Preparation for next week, Proper 23

Monday, 05 October 2020—Isaiah 61:10; Antiphon, Psalm 146:2—The Gospel reading for next Sunday is the parable of the Wedding Feast, and the Introit helps establish a theme, by bringing in images relating to a wedding and the wedding garments. It speaks of us being clothed with garments of salvation. This same sort of imagery is used in Revelation, when it is said that the saints clothed in white robes have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is rich sacramental imagery, portraying Baptism; the parable of the Wedding Feast has similar sacramental imagery, but that of the Lord’s Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar.

Tuesday, 06 October 2020—Psalm 23—The psalm for the day, the well-known 23rd Psalm, also has sacramental imagery, as we are told that the LORD leads us beside still waters, restoring our souls, and leading us in the paths of righteousness. Holy Baptism restores our souls; the Word of God leads us in the paths of righteousness. Later in the psalm, there is, again, the image of a feast being prepared for us who are righteous on account of being baptized into the name of Jesus.

Wednesday, 07 October 2020—Isaiah 25:6–9—The prophecy of Isaiah looks forward to the Last Day and portrays eternity in heaven as a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. One of the post-communion collects refers to the Sacrament of the Altar as a foretaste of the feast to come. Indeed, it is a real partaking of the feast in heaven, with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, those who have gone before us and died in the faith. The only difference is, so long as we live on the earth, we have to return our daily lives, while the feast goes on eternally. Therefore, we continue in the collect, Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end.

Thursday, 08 October 2020—Philippians 4:4–13—St Paul urges us to Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Rejoice, for the Lord has washed us clean in Holy Baptism, clothing us in white garments, and inviting us to the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. He reminds us that the Lord is at hand. The Lord is, indeed, at hand; He is as near as His Word and Sacrament. Wherever the Word is preached in its truth and purity and the Sacraments are rightly administered, there the Lord is, dispensing the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Friday, 09 October 2020—Matthew 22:1–14—As we near the end of the Church Year, so the readings come closer to the end of our Lord’s earthly life, and begin to reflect on the Last Day, when we shall come into His heavenly kingdom. There are a number of themes un this parable. Those wedding guests who shunned the king’s invitation may be compared to the Jews, to who the Word of the Lord was given and whom the Lord chose as heirs of His kingdom. By and large, they have rejected the long-promised Messiah, and have no place at the eternal wedding feast in heaven. Likewise, those who come in unprepared, without a wedding garment, without a garment of salvation, trying to enter the feast of their own accord. These, too, will be rejected, for no one makes himself worthy of the kingdom of heaven; it is the Lord and King Himself who gives us the garment of righteousness.

Saturday, 10 October 2020—The hymn of the day is A Multitude Comes from the East and the West (LSB #510). It reflects the message of Jesus’ parable of the Wedding Feast. Those present at the heavenly banquet will come from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages (Rev. 7:9). At the heavenly marriage feast, we will dine with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all who have trusted in the Lord for their salvation, who have placed their trust in the merits of the promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

 Morning Prayer Readings for the coming week:

October 5 Moses before Pharaoh

October 6 The Exodus

October 7 Chapel

October 8 Manna in the Wilderness

October 9 Ten Commandments

 Catechism Review: First Article & Meaning

Sources:

Lectionary summary on front page from LCMS Commission on Worship

Friday, October 11, 2019

Pentecost 18 - Proper 23

Pentecost 18 – Proper 23

12 October 2019

Luke 17:11-19

How you can be made well

From the Catechism we read, “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.” [1]

On the way to Jerusalem, on the road that would ultimately lead to His death, Jesus encountered ten pitiable men. He had mercy on them, and, foreshadowing the restoration of all creation at the Last Day, healed them of their dread disease. Only one returned to Jesus to give thanks—a foreigner, the Samaritan.

Christ came into the world to save all people, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, or other outward characteristics. We ought to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks for having rescued us from the far more dread disease of sin and its consequences of eternal, and not just temporal, death.

Jesus – whom Himself was a descendant of a foreign, Moabite woman (Ruth) has made us clean. He Himself is the High Priest who declares us clean to His Father, and gives us a place in His kingdom.

But leprosy had made them all outcasts from society, depending on the kindness of strangers in for daily sustenance.

The faith of the Samaritan had grown – for he not only believed in the power of Jesus to heal but he saw Jesus as the only one through whom the Father was working. It was his faith which made him whole. Our text answers a basic question of faith – how you can be made well.

1. What are you are saved from – ingratitude.

A. In a word we call this selfishness.

1. We live in a world where everything seems to be centered on self. We’ve been trained by our culture to believe in ourselves. Not only do we want to be wealthy and famous, we’ve been oriented to feel we deserve it.

2. This focus on self leads some to become self-serving and spoiled. Thinking they should get whatever they want, they will torment anyone who doesn’t give into their demands. Thus, a man all wrapped up in himself becomes quite a small package.

B. Taking things for granted.

1. Possibly we’re so focused on self because we’ve never had it so good. What is there that is lacking in our lives? Do we not live in the lap of luxury?We’re comfortable. And yet there are persons living in misery - feeling unfulfilled, frustrated, disgruntled, angry.

2. We don’t know how good we’ve had it until it is taken away from us. We do not know how these men lived before leprosy became their lot. But we do know what they had become –exiles, untouchable, shipwrecked.

C. Negativism.

1. Blessings are not a guarantee. No one is immune. Do we count our blessings or our problems? Have we grown to expect them?

2. Negativism can possibly be a result of being spoiled.“A selfish man is a thief.” [2} He will steal your heart, your money and your livelihood if you let them.

Transition: We have been saved from ingratitude – yet as we count our blessings we return thanks to the Savior.

2. What we are saved for – gratitude.

A. Counting you blessings. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praise God in a loud voice.” Vs. 15 The lepers left for the temple and to the priest because Jesus had commandment them to do so. The Samaritan returned. To give thanks to Jesus. He did this because of His faith. Faith always responds with gratitude. That is how you respond. With gratitude and thanks, and a grateful heart.

1. God has blessed us in so many ways. Look around you. Everything is a gift. Consider the open hand of your Merciful Master. “Forgiveness, life, salvation.” These three come from your heavenly Father. How do you respond? “For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”

2. His mercies cannot be counted. Says the Psalmist: “You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.” Psalm 40:5

B. Recognizing God as the healer. The lepers cried, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Vs. 12 Which moved the hymn writer to inscribe these words, “Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on thee; leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me. All my trust on thee is stayed, all my help from thee I bring; cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.” [3]

1. Lepers had to follow a specific prescription – after being quarantined they had to report to the priest. Before they even arrived at the temple behold they were cleansed. The priest’s inspection would verify they were whole.

2. God still works through means. The doctor might hand us the bill but it is the Savior who heals. Christ not only died for all. He died for each.

C. Praising God for His goodness “he came back, praising God in a loud voice.” Vs. 15b Says the Psalmist in Psalm 107:8-9, "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

1. He heals our diseases. When Jesus says, “Go!” That’s a complete sentence. It is one thing to feel grateful; it is another thing to express it. The louder you called for help, all the louder you should praise God. The Greek word used to describe his giving thanks εὐχαριστῶ is the word that is translated as Eucharist. The Eucharist is public thanks! Jesus is the true healer. Live your lives in perpetual thanksgiving and praise. At His table. And in your life.

2. Christ forgives our many sins. And it is the message of the cross which tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for He took them upon himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the cross God declares, 'I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pain that you feel. But I love you.'

With that lone leaper we can say, for all our Your tender mercies Lord, we give You thanks and praise.

___________

Words – 1,220

Passive Sentences – 11%

Readability – 80.3%

Reading Level – 4.7

Footnotes
1. Luther's Small Catechism "Explanation of the First Article" copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
2. The famous Cuban poet Jose Marti
3. Jesus, Lover of my Soul, stanza two copyright © 1942 The Lutheran Hymnal, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis