Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Matthew 7,15-23. 8. Trinity

Monday, July 31, 2023

Matthew 7,15-23. 8. Trinity

Matthew 7,15-23 3823

8. Trinitatis 54

Abdon and Sennen, Martyrs at Rome 250 (Emperor Decius’ persecution 249-51)

Robert Barnes, English Lutheran Reformer, Martyr ✠ 1540

30. Juli 2023

1. ℣ We have thought of Thy merciful steadfast love, O God:

℟ In the midst of Thy people (Psalm 48,9).

O Yahweh, our Rock of refuge; save us, so that when we flee to You for safety we may never be put to shame. Amen. (Psalm 31,2.1 Gradual).

2. »Jesus taught them: „Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the reign of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?’ And then will I declare to them: ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’“«

3. Jesus uses the phrase reign of heaven in today’s Gospel pericope; in Mark and Luke Jesus uses a variation: reign of God. Matthew records 48 times this phrase reign of heaven/God. The phrase forms the central content and the focus of Jesus’ preaching and His entire ministry (Gibbs 48). This is summarized in Matthew 4,23: »And Jesus began to go around throughout all of Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the reign and heal every disease and ever ailment in the people.«

4. The message of the reign of God in Jesus is tantamount to the proclamation of the saving Gospel (Gibbs 48). The reign of God is in Jesus (Gibbs 49). The reign of God reveals that God is active redemptively in order to reestablish His rule over and among men (Gibbs 49). „This reign of God is already, and it is not yet. Faith looks to the already; hope longs for the not yet“ (Gibbs 51).

5. Jesus warns that false prophets will seek to draw people off the path of the reign of God. By outward appearance, they will seem to be from Jesus, but their words and teachings will reveal they are not Christ. »Who is the false prophet but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the false prophet, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also« (1. John 2,22-23). Here He commands and gives all Christians the power to be judges of all doctrine, and He gives them power to judge what is right and what is not right (Luther 236).

6. The reign of God is manifested in Jesus Christ. True prophets and preachers point to Him alone. Those who do the will of God the Father is one who believes in and follows Jesus (Gibbs 658). We do the will of the Father when we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Father, who has come to redeem the world, for redemption is the goal of the reign of God (Matthew 18,14). Luther writes in his Small Catechism: God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the Devil, the world and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s Name or let His Kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will (3. Petition).

7. The reign of God and the will of God culminates with Jesus drinking the cup of His Father’s wrath (Gibbs 1436); this is a cup of suffering and judgment. The Psalmist says of this cup: »For a cup is in the hand of Yahweh: the wine is undiluted and is fully mixed; He pours out from it, and all the sinners of the earth shall drink it down to the dregs« (Psalm 75,8 lxx).

8. We deserved this cup, for we have sinned against God and disobeyed His law. We rebel against His will and reject His love. We fail to love God and our neighbor. We lie, cheat and steal. We are proud, greedy and envious. We are sinners, and it is sinners who must drink in full the cup of God’s wrath.

9. But if we are forced to drink this cup, then our end is nigh. Justice upon sin is punishment and death. The words of the Prophet Ezekiel strike deeply at our hearts: »The soul that sins shall die« (Ezekiel 18,20 lxx). Paul concurs in his Epistle to the Romans. »None is righteous, no, not one« (Romans 3,10). »For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law« (Romans 2,12). »Who will deliver us from this body of death?« (Romans 7,24)

10. Jesus Christ delivered us from this body of death! (Romans 7,25) We deserved the cup of God’s wrath, but Jesus took it, drank it and emptied it! The reign of God is God’s Heilsgeschichte (salvation history) fulfilled: God’s Son stands in front of us and receives the suffering and death we rightly deserved. On the cross Jesus bore the wrath of His Father, and in doing so God’s wrath upon the sinner and sin was sated; the price in blood has been paid. Redemption has been secured. The Son of God became our brother so as to become our Redeemer.

11. »There is therefore no condemnation/penalty for those in Christ Jesus« (Romans 8,1). Since God is for us, no one can be against us (Romans 8,31). God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us; He will also graciously give us all things (Romans 8,32). No thing and no one shall separate us from Christ (Romans 8,35). Jesus has brought the reign of God into our midst, and He is the manifestation of that Godly reign.

12. God the Father gave Jesus the cup of wrath to drink, and Jesus gives us the cup of communion to drink for our blessing. He gives us His body in the bread and His blood in the cup; they are for us, and we eat and drink in remembrance of Him (1. Corinthians 11,23-25), for as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He shall arrive again (1. Corinthians 11,26). Taste, and receive the merciful steadfast love of Christ, for He brings the reign of God into our midst once more today.

13. Sun of Righteousness,

In our time arise;

In Your Church shine,

For the world to opine.

Have mercy, Lord. (Sonne der Gerechtigkeit elkg 297,1 2021 Christian David (1728) 1741).

This is most certainly true.

14. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

15. Let us pray. Bless, O Lord, this house and all who dwell in it, as Thou wast pleased to bless the house of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that within these walls may dwell an angel of light and that we who dwell together in it may receive the abundant dew of heavenly blessing and through Thy tenderness rejoice in peace and quiet; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (8. Trinitatis, 2. Vespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, July 31, 2023

Matthew 7,15-23. 8. Trinity

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