Matthew 7,24-27. 9. Trinity

Matthew 7,24-27           4221 

9. Sonntag nach Trinitatis 054

St. Peter’s Chains Acts 12,6-19

1. August 2021

1. O Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who has bountifully given us Your blessing and our daily bread: We beseech You, preserve us from covetousness, and so quicken our hearts so that we willingly share Your blessed gifts with our needy brethren; so that we may be found faithful stewards of Your gifts, and abide in Your grace when we shall be removed from our stewardship, and shall come before Your judgment.  Amen. (Veit Dietrich) 

2. »Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.« 

3. One of the words Jesus said was: »Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also« (Matthew 6,20-21). As sinful men and women we often focus on earthly treasures and are tempted to neglect the heavenly treasures. It is easy to do with all the pressure and stress of the responsibilities and the cares of the world that weigh down upon our shoulders. The Scriptures exhort us to tend to the things of heaven for they are weighty matters of salvation. Many a person gained the world but forfeited their soul (Mark 8,26). 

4. Jesus exhorts us to realize that God gives us the treasures of heaven: forgiveness, salvation, fellowship with Him and a resurrected body. We cannot obtain or merit these treasure; they are gifts that God graciously gives to us through His Son Jesus Christ. 

5. A wise man, a wise woman, has their foundation on Jesus. The Apostle Paul says: »We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, of which Christ Jesus Himself is the Cornerstone« (Ephesians 2,20). Jesus Himself is the Rock upon which we are built. He bears the winds and waves of life that surge upon us. Not even the ravages of sin and death can overwhelm Jesus. 

6. Yahweh boasts that His servant Job is a blameless and upright man, who fears Me and turns away from evil (Job 1,8). Job had built his life upon Yahweh, and was thus able to withstand tumult that crashed against him. Satan threw every storm against Job: he lost his wealth, his children and his health. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong (Job 1,22). What Job endured would have broken someone who did not wholeheartedly trust Yahweh. Even three of Job’s friends could not comprehend his steadfastness. Job even makes a statement that has been remembered to this day: »I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will God« (Job 19,25-26). Job’s Redeemer he looked forward to is the Messiah who stood upon the earth as Jesus. Job’s life and faith was built upon Jesus. 

7. The Apostle Paul  beautifully comments on Jesus being our Foundational Rock: »Likewise the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, then who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord« (Romans 8,26.28.30-35.37-39). 

8. Throughout history Jesus’ disciples have faced tribulation and persecution. All of the apostles were persecuted, and all save John, were martyred. Christians around the world are persecuted on account their faith. The daily trials and struggles of this life weigh heavily upon us. At times they may be daunting and insurmountable as we experienced last year with the pandemic. The Apostle Paul reminds us: »No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it« (1. Corinthians 10,13). Jesus promises us: »Draw unto to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light« (Matthew 11,28-30).

9. When Simon Peter confessed to Jesus: »„You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.“ Jesus said: „ On this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her“« (Matthew 16,16.18). The rock, the foundation, is the confession that Jesus is the Christ. Our Christian faith is founded upon Christ. Because we are built upon Him we cannot fall.  Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord, Your Name is Great; may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; so that they may love Your salvation.  Amen. 

To God alone be the Glory 

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

ELKB. Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. www.bayern-evangelisch.de/www/index.php. Copyright © 2019 Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. 

VELKD. Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands. www.velkd.de. Copyright © 2020 Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands.