Nineteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Nineteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Nineteenth Sunday After Holy Trinity

Matthew 9:1-8

Title: Be of Good Cheer

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.  (Amen)

It is written: So Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”  

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”  4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Let us pray: Creator Father, Your Son tells a paralytic to be of good cheer by forgiving his sins, which is much harder than healing his paralysis.  O Lord, forgive our sins so that we may be of similar good cheer regardless of our physical fitness or fraility; in the name of Jesus.  (Amen)

Jesus had most recently cured a demon possessed man in the country of the Gergesenes.  It was that vivid scene when Jesus command a legion of demons to depart from the man and go into a herd of pigs.  And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

So Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city, because many people witness Jesus cast out many unclean spirits from one man.  Jesus cast those unclean spirits into a herd of unclean animal; pigs to be exact.  Those pigs ran off a cliff and died.  Those people, who witnessed this exorcism, begged Jesus to leave their town.  So Jesus left.

Then behold, some men brought to Jesus a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw the faith of those men, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”  A few men believed in Jesus.  What did they do?  Those faithful ones brought their unbelieving friend to Jesus.  The unbelieving one happened to be paralyzed, too.

This morning the Holy Spirit has brought us to Jesus.  It is the Holy Spirit who gathers sinners before Jesus.  The Holy Spirit trusts Jesus to give you a clean conscience so that you may be of good cheer.  You are baptized from unclean spirits by the Holy Spirit.  You believe in Jesus so you don’t send Jesus away from you.  Rather, faith clings to Jesus.  Baptism and faith give you a clean conscience.  

To use a rough example.  Imagine if the windows of your house were smeared with mud.  You wouldn’t know if the sun was shining or if it was overcast.  Day after day, that would be depressing.  But, with clean windows you can see the sunshine and you can also feel the sun’s warmth on your face.

To press a rough example, so it is with your conscience.  Muddied with unbelief, you have a dirty conscience.  You cannot see that the Son of God loves you.  You cannot receive His grace and mercy.  Why? Because you have a dirty conscience.

Only God can forgive your unbelief.

Only God can give you a clean conscience.

Only God can forgive you your sin.

Which makes the next verse understandable to us.  It is written: 3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”  

It is an accusation heard in this congregation from time to time.  At the beginning of the service, some people hear me say, “I forgive you all your sins” and are offended.  Only God can forgive sins.  How can that pastor say, “I forgive you.” Even, how can anyone say, “I forgive you” when we all know that only God can forgive sins?

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then Jesus said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And the man arose and departed to his house.

The forgiveness of sins is key to a good conscience.  Martin Luther, the Christian reformer, made a helpful distinction about the forgiveness of sins.  It helps to know what God promises to do but also how He invites pastors and people into His work.  Luther writes:

28...“The forgiveness of sins is of two kinds: The first is to drive sin from the heart and fill the heart with grace; this is the work of God alone.  The second kind is the declaration of the forgiveness of sin; this you can do to those around you.  But in this passage Jesus Christ does both. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit into the heart of the paralytic and externally Jesus declares forgiveness with the word, which is a declaration and public preaching of the internal forgiveness.  29 All men who are Christians and have been baptized, have this power (to declare forgiveness).  For with this they praise Christ, and the word is put into their mouth, so that they may and are able to say, if they wish, and as often as it is necessary: Behold! God offers you His grace, forgives you all your sins; be comforted, your sins are forgiven; only believe and you will surely have forgiveness.  This word of consolation shall not cease among Christians until the last day: Your sins are forgiven, be of good cheer.”  Such language a Christian always uses and openly declares the forgiveness of sins.  For this reason and in this manner a Christian has power to forgive sins.”  30 Therefore, if I say to you, Your sins are forgiven, then believe it as if God Himself had said it to you.”  So far Luther.

Where does God give Christians this power to forgive sins?  Jesus promises in Matthew 18, “I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Where does God give Christian pastors this power to forgive sins?  Jesus commands His apostles in John 20, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

31 Now if there were no man on earth to forgive sins, and there were only law and works what a weak and miserable thing a poor troubled conscience would be.  But now when God adequately instructs everyone, so that you are able to say to others: Your sins are forgiven you, then..”

The mud is removed from the window to your conscience.  Then you can trust God’s Son, Jesus.  Then you can receive the grace and mercy of God Himself.  What a beautiful day today becomes!

...31 On this account we are defiant against unbelief and boastful against sin, so that we can say to our anxious and distressed brothers and sisters on account of their sins: Be of good cheer.  Your sins are forgiven.  Although I cannot give you the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus (which only God can give), I can still declare them to you.  And trusting this God given declaration, you have both the Holy Spirit and faith.  Therefore those who believe these Words praise and glorify God, even as they do here in the Gospel.  For...

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep you in body and soul with a clean conscience so that you may be of good cheer; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  (Amen)

Service Video - Sunday, October 16

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, Iowa 52761 oslcp@machlink.com www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Eighteenth Sunday after Holy Trinity

Matthew 22:34-46

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

It is written: 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Mt 22:34–46.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.  The Pharisees and the Sadducees are two groups of religious leaders.  The main difference that we need to know about from this passage is that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection from the dead whereas the Pharisees did believe and teach a resurrection from the dead.  Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence.  Jesus showed the Sadducees that they do not know the Scriptures.  God is the God of the living not the dead.  

The Pharisees delighted that the Sadducees were defeated in public.  One enemy down.  Only Jesus is left.

35 Then one of the Pharisees, which was an expert in the Holy Scriptures, asked Jesus a question, tempting Jesus, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Satan uses this kind of questioning.  Get someone to question the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, and let sin carry the day.  False teachers use the same kind of questioning.  Get someone to question whether the Holy Scriptures are God’s Word and then let sin carry the day...in the name of the Lord.  But the Lord answers the Pharisees...

37 † Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The expert in the Holy Scriptures does not argue.  The Pharisees accept Jesus’ answer.  

In catechism class this last Wednesday, we briefly discussed a Lawless Christianity and Legalistic Christianity.  

This morning, the Sadducees are an example of Lawless Christianity.  God’s Law is good to make daily living better.  No need to fear sin.  Life is short, today, we eat and drink and be merry; and tomorrow we die.  The Sadducees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Gospel alone.  Believe in God but don’t worry about sin.  Don’t wrestle with the Ten Commandments.  This is Lawless Christianity.

The Pharisees are an example of Legalistic Christianity.  God’s Law must be followed in order to extinguish sin before the resurrection.  Sin is a problem.  Sin must be fought.  The Pharisees teach a salvation from sin by means of the Law alone.  This is Legalistic Christianity.

But, Jesus is neither Lawless nor Legalistic.  The Holy Scripture had two sermons in it.  Jesus distinguishes between these two sermons but holds both of them important.  The first sermon is the Law Sermon.  The Law of God will never go away.  It is an eternal Law.  It is the order of creation.  The second sermon is the Gospel sermon.  The Gospel of God is the promise of God.  He promises to restore creation by through the Christ.  So, this Christ, who is Jesus, asks the Pharisees a question in return…

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is He?  They say unto him, The Son of David. Before we get back to the Sadducees and Pharisees, what do you think of the Christ? Is your Christ the Christ that is promised in the Scriptures?  

For those of you who are more the emotional type, you will be tempted to believe in a Christ that makes you feel good regardless of what is written.  You might say, “God loves me no matter what!” Although there is more than a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Scripture says that God loves you through Christ, the crucified One - no matter what.  So, what do you think of this crucified Jesus?  Are you saying the same thing as Holy Scripture or are you practicing a Lawless Christianity like the Sadducees - whom Jesus needed to correct?

For those of you who are more the thinking type, you will be tempted to believe in a Jesus that makes sense to you regardless of what is written.  You might read the Holy Scripture diligently and say, “God loves me because I practice what He has written!”  Although there is also a kernel of truth in your claim, Holy Scripture has more to say.  Holy Scripture says that God loves you through the Christ.  So, what do you think of the crucified Jesus?  Are you saying you follow Holy Scripture while downplaying Jesus Christ?  Are you practicing a Legalistic Christianity like the Pharisees?  If so, then you need to hear what Jesus says next.

43 Jesus saith unto the Pharisees, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer Jesus a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Jesus any more questions.

The Pharisees get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  They cannot answer Jesus’ question.  The Sadducees have a great opportunity to win a few points against their clerical opponents.  But, the Sadducees also get confused when faced with Holy Scripture.  In fact, no one was able to answer Jesus.  No one is able to answer God.

Jesus is quoting Psalms 2 and 110 from the Old Testament.  The Lord who created David will also become the Lord born from David’s descendant - the virgin Mary.  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:14.  Jesus is the Word.  Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is the Christ who proclaims, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.

28. But what shall we do to get rid of our bad conscience? Here follows now the other part of this Gospel, namely, who Christ is and what we can expect of him. From him we must receive and secure freedom from a wicked conscience, or we shall remain in our sins eternally, because for this purpose is Christ made known and given by the Father, in order that he might deliver us from sin, death, from a wicked conscience, and from the law.

31. Now this is accomplished in the following manner: Christ has through his death secured for us the Holy Spirit; and he fulfills the law in us, and not we. For that Spirit, whom God sends into your heart for the sake of his Son, makes an entirely new man out of you, who does with joy and love from the heart everything the law requires, which before would have been impossible for you to do. This new man despises the present life, and desires to die, rejoices in all adversity, and submits himself wholly and entirely to the will of God. Whatever God does with him, is well pleasing to him. This Spirit you cannot merit yourself, but Christ has secured and merited it. When I believe from the heart that Christ did this for me, I receive also the same Holy Spirit that makes me an entirely new man. Then everything God commands is sweet, lovely and agreeable, and I do everything he desires of me; not in my own strength, but by the strength of him that is in me, as Paul says in Philippians, 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.”

32. But you must take heed, that you do not undertake to secure this faith in Jesus Christ by your own works or power, or that you think lightly about this matter; for it is impossible for the natural man; but the Holy Spirit must do it. Therefore beware of the preachers of self-righteousness, who simply blabber and say: We must do good works in order to be saved.

But we say that faith alone is sufficient to this end. Our good works are for another purpose, namely, to prove our faith, as you have already frequently heard; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Matins - Commemoration of St. Luke

                                                                      Matins

    Commemoration of St Luke

Audio Block

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The Order of Matins

P – O Lord, open Thou my lips.
C – And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise
P – Makes haste O God, to deliver me.
C – Make haste to help me, O God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And every shall be; world without end.
Amen.
Praise to You, O Christ.  Alleluia.

The Invitatory

P – Blessed be God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C – O come, let us worship Him.

The Venite

O come let us sing unto the Lord
Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
And make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The strength of the hills is His also
The sea is His, and He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
Oh, come let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker
For He is our God
And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be; world without end. Amen.

Hymn - God is Our Great Heritage

The Lection - Matthew 14:1-21

P – O Lord, have mercy upon us.
C – Thanks be to God

The Catechesis - Apology of the Augsburg Confession XXIV (XII) 17-                     19 http://bookofconcord.org/defense_23_mass.php#para17

The Te Deum Laudamus

We praise Thee O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship Thee, the Father Everlasting.
To Thee all the angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein;
To Thee cherubim and seraphim continually do cry;
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee;
The noble army of martyrs praise Thee;
The holy Church though all the world doth acknowledge Thee;
The Father of an infinite majesty; Thine adorable true and only Son,
Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ.
Thou are the everlasting Son of the Father.
When Thou tookest upon Thee to deleiver man;
Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a virgin.
When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God
In the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come
To be our judge.
We therefore pray Thee to help Thy servants,
Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with Thy saints
In glory everlasting.
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine heritage.
Govern them and lift them up forever.
Day by day we magnify Thee,
And we worship Thy name ever, world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin,
O Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us,
O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in Thee.
O Lord, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded. midi 
 

The Prayers

The Kyrie

Lord have mercy upon us, 
Christ have mercy upon us, 
Lord have mercy upon us.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Give us this day our daily bread and
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory;
Forever and ever. Amen.
 

The Salutation

P – The Lord be with you.
C – And with thy spirit

P – O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God,
Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day,
Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power
And grant that all our doings, being ordered by Thy governance
May be righteous in Thy sight;
Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost
Ever one God, world without end.
C – Amen
 

The Benedicamus

P – Bless we the Lord
C – Thanks be to God
 

The Benediction

P – The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
The love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost
Be with you all.
C – Amen

Silent Prayer

Sunday Bible Study Notes - John 8

              Sunday Bible Study Notes - John 8

Sunday Bible Study Notes - John 8

Purpose: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:31).

John 8:12-30

Purpose of this section:  This is one of Jesus’ I AM statements referring to the burning bush from where He spoke to Moses.  But also, Jesus is the light in the dark world.  With the light turned on you see the gift - life.

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  The Feast of Tabernacles is over.  The crowd has dispersed.  The plot to kill Jesus did not happen but there are many angry at Jesus.  They are still plotting.  Jesus is continuing to teach from the temple area.  He repeats His, “I AM the light of the world” meaning He and He alone.  Light and life go together (1:4) just as darkness and death go together.  The light does the work.  It draws us to Jesus who gives His life for us.  Notice how this light is both for all the world but also to the individual person as well.  No one trusts the darkness at least after the light is turned on.  But light is trustworthy.  We can see what is in the light.  So, Jesus is the light and this light is always linked with life.  Later, Jesus will also say I AM the...Life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

The Pharisees don’t listen to what Jesus is saying.  Rather, they raise a formal objection as in a court of law.  You cannot bear witness about yourself.  Someone needs to see or hear what you said.  Otherwise there is no reason to listen.  Anyway, they are like blind men in the dark.  They see no Father.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them (John 1:48), Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.  15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.  16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.  17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.  18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Jesus is not contradicting Himself.  Even though He said something different in 5:31 -  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.  Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.  But I receive not testimony from man: In John 5 He goes on to say that John the Baptist gave witness but says there is another witness - His Father - who is not a man.

19 Then said the Pharisees unto Jesus, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.  There is an ancient little saying that Christian teachers have often applied - the faith comes before understanding.  Without faith even a person fully knowing all the Holy Scripture will not understand the gift given.  With faith, many who don’t know

the Scriptures very well still receive the gift.  

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. The main reason to mention the treasury is that Jesus is teaching in public; in view and earshot of the authorities.  The conflict is over.  The plot to arrest Jesus does not go forward again.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.  A sharper clash starts.  Jesus gives a strong warning to the same people in the first clash.  He restates what He said is 7:33-34 - 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. A few changes are made.  He leaves out “a little while I am with you” because no police are coming to arrest Him, which was the earlier intent.  Also, Jesus emphasizes strongly that “I go my way”.  The warning is that if the Jews keep going their own way, their unbelief will end in death.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

The Jews catch that Jesus is going to do something of His own will.  However, they think it might be suicide.  They are still trying to catch Jesus in His words as well.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.  24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he (more plainly that I Am the I AM of the burning bush), ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? This is much less a question than a sneer.  Who do you think you are?  You come to this holy place and make such blasphemous claims about yourself.

And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said (solemnly proclaimed) unto you from the beginning...  The Jews are sneering while Jesus is happy to answer again.  Jesus then continues.  26 I have many things to say (solemnly proclaim) and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  Jesus not only tells them something about Himself but also something about themselves.  He tells them of their darkness for which a judgment is coming.  

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  What they did not understand is that Jesus’ words are the Father’s words.  The Jews are intellectually following what Jesus is saying.  However, they don’t trust what Jesus says in verse 26 is even possible.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man (crucifixion), then shall ye know that I am he (the I AM of Exodus), and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.  Wow!  Amid all the hostility, many trusted Jesus.