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Matthew 21:23-32

²³ And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Just who do you think you are? What gives you the right? Who gave you the authority to do these things?” The chief priests and elders want to know because Jesus has been throwing their world into chaos.

What had Jesus been doing that was causing such a ruckus? Well, the day before this confrontation had been Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem like He was some kind of Messiah. He marched His way straight into the Temple, tossed around the tables of the money changers, and drove the merchants and their animals out with a whip saying, “This is My house” (Mt. 21:13). Then, Jesus had the audacity to heal the blind and the lame in the Temple as the children continued to cry out, “Hosanna (‘Save us now’) to the Son of David!” (Mt. 21:15). It had been anything but a relaxing Sunday for the leaders.

Monday morning rolls around. Jesus enters the Temple again, and before He can even hang up His coat or get His coffee. There they are asking, “Let’s see some credentials here, Jesus. License and registration, please. What and who gives you the authority to do all of this?”

Today, it seems like we usually think of ‘authority’ in terms of having power to do this or that. But authority has more to do with having permission to do certain things. A judge has the authority, the permission, to make rulings on cases. A police officer has the authority, the permission, to pull you over for speeding. As much as I would like to pull people over for their traffic violations, I don’t have that authority.

Instead, the authority I have has been given to me by God through you, my dear congregation. You have called me to be your pastor, the Word and Sacrament guy, in this house of God. And that is a responsibility and authority I do not take lightly. Please, pray for me.

But what gives Jesus the right to do what He is doing? It should have been clear to them. With all the healing and miracles going on, it’s pretty clear this rabbi from Nazareth isn’t your typical son of a carpenter. The crowds had seen it too. Remember, after Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were astonished at Jesus’ words because He taught as one who had authority and not as one of their scribes (Mt. 7:28-29) – not like these guys.

But when you ask the wrong question, you will get the wrong answer. And when you ask Jesus the wrong question, you’re likely to have a question asked of you. And that is exactly what happens. “I’ll tell you by what authority only after you answer Me this, wise guys: John’s baptism, where did it come from? I’ll even make it multiple choice – from God or from man?”

And you can hear their discussion as they huddle up. “It had to come from God.” “No, you idiot. We can’t say that. He’ll ask us why we didn’t listen to John.” “Ok. Fine. Let’s say that it came from men.” “Are you insane? The people thought John was a prophet, and we can’t make them mad at us.” “Well, what do you suggest we say then?” “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s just say, ‘We don’t know.’” “Yeah, I like that plan.” “Me too.” “Ok then. Go team. Break!”

I like to imagine one guy coming out of that huddle thinking, “I hope no one ever writes this conversation down because we’ll look like idiots for the rest of recorded history.”

Because they come back with their pathetic excuse of a response, Jesus refuses to show them His authorization. But Jesus, being God, still wants them to turn from their wicked ways of unbelief and live. So He tells them the parable.

A man tells his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first one is a wishy-washy twerp and says, “Naw, I don’t think so,” but later changes his mind and goes. The other son is a politician and says, “Yes, sir. I go, sir,” but doesn’t go. Who does the will of the father? The most obvious answer is the first, but what kind of parent is proud of their child who verbally defies them at every turn even if they eventually do what they are asked.

But that’s the point, and here’s the rub. How many of you do the will of your heavenly Father? The God who has given you the Ten Commandments – have no other gods, keep My name holy, listen to My Word, honor your parents, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t covet – do you do these things?

You end up being both of these sons. Sometimes, you say, “Yes, sir. I obey, sir,” but then you go gossiping and hating your neighbor. You do not gladly hear and learn God’s Word, so you aren’t keeping the Commandments. Sometimes, you say, “I don’t want to do that,” but, for some reason, you end up doing it anyway.

But here is what Jesus wants to get these leaders to understand, and what He wants to get you to understand. You know that the first who says, “No, I’m not going,” but changes his mind, he is the one who does the will of his father. That is the main point of the parable – the change of mind. Repentance. Repentance is what this is all about – and faith.

That’s why Jesus says that the tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom of heaven before the religious know-it-alls. Those sinners believed John. What was John’s constant sermon? “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2).

You see, repentance is one aspect of saving faith. To repent is first to believe what God says about your sins. They are damnable.

The tax collectors and prostitutes believed John. They believed that their lives of sin weren’t getting them anywhere. Neither is yours. Your selfishness and pride, your words of piety but lack of love, your actions that are done simply out of a sense of obligation – they don’t get you into the kingdom of heaven.

Repentance is the first part of faith. Believe your sins are what they are. And believe Jesus when He says about your sins that they are forgiven. Believe what Jesus says as He invites you to His table now and says, “This is My Body. This is My Blood shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.”

Jesus is asked, “By what authority do you do these things?” And how does Matthew’s Gospel end? With Jesus saying “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:18-20).

Jesus takes His authority and does not us it for His own advantage. He uses it for yours. Repent. Believe. Be absolved, forgiven, washed, and fed. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 20:1-16

¹ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Some worked a full shift – twelve hours. Some worked nine hours. Some six and three. And some were called when there was only one hour of work left. By the time they got to the vineyard, all the other workers were putting the spades and shovels and buckets away because it was time to get paid. But it didn’t matter when the laborers got to the vineyard. They all received the same – one denarius, one full day’s wage.

This is not the way the world works, and it shouldn’t be the way the world works. Even the Scriptures say this isn’t how this world works, “If anyone is unwilling to work, do not let him eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). Wherever this is tried in a business or forced through politics, it fails. Businesses and governments cannot afford to pay people who don’t work.

If people work one hour and get paid as much as those who work twelve, no one will work more than an hour. And if people aren’t working to keep the business going, there won’t be a business. And if there is no business, there is no one to pay workers, and there are a lot more hungry families in the world.

But Jesus isn’t telling us about how this world works or how this world should work. Jesus is teaching us about the kingdom of heaven. This is how the gracious and merciful God runs things. And the way God chooses to do things is so high above us that we cannot understand it. God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts or ways. They are higher thoughts and higher ways. Joyfully and mercifully so.

But you can see, can’t you, what those who were hired at the beginning of the day were doing. They see the bums who came just in time for pay-day receiving their denarius and the minds start racing. The ones who are terrible at math are trying to calculate. “He did one hour of work and got one denarius. I worked twelve. That’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (take off a shoe) 11, 12 denarii.” The ones who are better at math are taking out their cell phones and calling their wives to go buy steak and lobster for supper because daddy’s coming home with a big paycheck.

But when that one coin gets dropped in their hand, they are frustrated. The frustration turns to anger. The anger turns to bitterness. And the bitterness turns to a false idea of what is right and just. “Hey, boss, you’re a lousy dude. You are giving those bums more than they deserve. We worked the whole day in the heat and dirt, and you’ve made them equal to us. This is not right. This is not fair. This is not just.”

Christian, you and I fall into the same trap as those hired at the beginning of the day. We think we have earned or deserved more than what God has given us. When we start to focus on what we do not have, we forget that everything we have is a benevolent gift from God.

God doesn’t owe you anything. You are, all of us are, sinners. We see God’s grace every day as He makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, the good and the evil. Every good thing – coffee, padded chairs, a pair of socks, and a soft tissue to blow your nose – all of it is an undeserved gift from God’s mercy. The worst existence on earth is better than what we deserve in hell.

When you see God being gracious and giving someone more than they deserve, do not grumble and tell God that He is unfair or unjust.

Repent. Repent and be thankful.

Listen to what the master says to those who grumbled, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity (lit. ‘Is your eye evil because I am good?)?”

In the end, those who worked the whole day got exactly what they bargained for. They agreed for a denarius, and a denarius, they got. And that is all they will ever get because they are sent away from the vineyard.

There are all sorts of vineyards where you can get exactly what you deserve. There is only one vineyard and one vineyard owner who is generous and merciful. If you don’t like it, then take what is yours and go.

That is the saddest truth of all. Those who believe God owes them will get exactly what God owes them, judgment and expulsion from His presence. The kingdom of heaven is about grace that works by raising the dead – not by rewarding the rewardable. If you don’t like it, you can take what is yours and leave.

Our parable today depicts grace as undeserved wages. Workers get paid for work that they did not do. And, believer, so do you. You have not done the work of keeping God’s Law. What God has demanded of you, you have not done, but you get treated as though you have. Jesus has borne the heat of the day, and you get His wages. We are those who are hired at the eleventh hour. God be praised, and may we never forget that.

And because of the mercy and grace of God, you are no longer workers being overpaid. By the grace of God in Christ, you are members of the kingdom, children of God, and brothers and sisters of Christ. You remain with Him. Not only do you get paid generously, you also get to remain in the vineyard because His ways of mercy and love are higher than the heavens are above the earth. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 18:21-35

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Wasn’t it necessary that you should have mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peter isn’t being stingy when he asks Jesus if he should forgive his neighbor seven times. Imagine having a relative who has been addicted to drugs, but he comes to you and says, “I’m getting my life in order. I’m done getting high. I’ve got a job. Can you loan me $750 for the security deposit on this apartment?” You loan him the money but before the weekend comes, he’s been arrested, again, for drugs, again, and kicked out of his apartment, again.

He gets out, and says, “Ok this time, I mean it. I’m getting my life together. I just need a security deposit for a new apartment.” Does he even get to finish his speech? Do you loan him another $750? How about when he asks a third time? You probably don’t do it seven times like Peter benevolently suggests. And it is pure insanity to do it seventy-seven times like Jesus says.

We are just like Peter. We know that we should be forgiving, and maybe we even want to be forgiving. But deep down we also want to know, we need to know, what the limits are. When can I quit being nice? When do I finally get justice? When can I stop loving my neighbor?

The whole point of the parable is that neither Peter, nor the servant, nor you, nor I can forgive someone enough times to say, “I’ve done all I need to with regard to forgiveness. Check that off my list.” The point of the parable is that the king, God, wants to settle accounts by forgiveness not by collection.

Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.” Notice, Jesus does not say, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to collect what was owed him by his debtors.” Immediately, there is a clue of what is going to happen. The king wants clean books, zero balances.

When a debtor comes who owes 10,000 talents… Now, a talent isn’t an exact sum of money. Sometimes, one talent can mean 20 years’ wages for a laborer meaning this owes 200,000 years’ worth of work. Sometimes a talent means 75 lbs. of gold (I checked Thursday, 75 lbs. of gold was just under $1.5M, so take that times 10,000). When someone owes you 10,000 talents, that massive amount of debt, how are you going to settle the account?

It’s clear that nothing can be done to get this account to zero. The guy doesn’t have the money. Even if he, his wife, his children, his house, and everything he has are sold, it doesn’t make a dent. So the man falls on his knees and asks – for patience. But patience wouldn’t do this servant any good; a thousand lifetimes isn’t enough time. And patience doesn’t do the king any good; he wants the accounts settled.

So instead of patience, the king gives mercy. The debt is forgiven. The servant is declared to be out of the red and into the black. In other words, the king pays the debt for him.

The servant, let’s call him Vinnie, leaves. And, instead of being filled with gratitude and joy, he sees Chuck, his buddy, who owed him 100 denarii. A denarius was a day’s wage, so we’re talking about 3 months’ wages (say between $10 – $15 thousand). With his hands around Chuck’s throat, Vinnie demands that Chuck pay up. Chuck asks for patience, just like Vinnie had. And even though Vinnie had just received mercy for this impossible debt, Vinnie doesn’t give Chuck the very thing he requested from the king. Not even patience.

How could this happen? How is it possible? Well, Vinny didn’t appreciate the mercy that had been given to him. He didn’t see what he received was merciful. He didn’t think he really had a debt. He thought his situation was still manageable. In his mind, given enough time and patience, he would have gotten it together on his own. Vinnie would have probably said that the king was a good guy, but little more. In Vinnie’s mind, his freedom and righteousness were his own, a product of his doing – or at least they would have been. He would have paid.

This parable, because it is arguably the epitome of parables showing the nature and character of God’s grace and mercy, contains a dire warning for us.

In the kingdom of God, you are beggars. You were guilty and could not dig your way out no matter how much time you were given. Even more, you were dead, and how do dead people pay bills? You and I, we need mercy. And in Christ, mercy is exactly what we have. Because of Christ’s payment on the cross, we have been declared innocent, alive, beloved.

Never say, “I can’t forgive him/her for what they did.” Don’t say that. At least, be honest, “I don’t want to forgive him/her for what they did.” Then, you can confess your sin of unforgiveness.

Also this parable reminds us (just as we were reminded in our Epistle lesson (Ro. 14:1-12) that each one of us will give an account of ourselves to God (v. 12). So, ask yourself, “What am I doing with what God has given me?” What has God given me? Think about it. Life. Planet to live on. House. Family. Health (even if it ain’t what you wish it is). Knowledge. Food. Mercy. Forgiveness. Reconciliation with Himself.

Now flip the question: What do I have that God has not given me? And really think about this: God the Father who created you, God the Son who redeemed you, and God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you, what do you have that you haven’t received from Him? Sin.

And God has taken that from you. He’s stolen it. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world bore your sin on the cross that you might die to sin and live to righteousness (Jn. 1:29, 1 Pet. 2:24).

So, what are we to do? Should we not have mercy on our neighbor as God has had mercy upon us (Mt. 18:33)? How about our congregation? How can we be a beacon in this community of the mercy of Christ the King? Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 18:1-20

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.

⁶ “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

¹² “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴ So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Great men and women do great things. They contribute, make a difference, and have an influence. Great businessmen create thousands of jobs, build huge companies, and make billions of dollars. Great politicians get reelected, climb higher in office, and change the course of history so that we learn about them in textbooks. Great athletes set records, win championships, create dynasties, and get elected into the Hall of Fame.

Great people don’t just live in this world, they change the world. The greater you are, the more power and influence you have. In the thinking of this world that is greatness.

But what about the kingdom of heaven? In the kingdom where the last are first, and the first wind up dead last (Mt. 19:30), what does greatness look like there?

Jesus calls a child into their midst and says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus makes this child an example – be like this. But then, Jesus goes even farther than that. Jesus makes this child the pinnacle of Christian greatness. “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

And ever since Jesus said this, we Christians have been ignoring it. We take a quick gawk at the cuteness and littleness of a child and go, “Aw,” then go about trying to make ourselves great by climbing up a spiritual ladder.

In just a few chapters, the disciples will argue about who will sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in His kingdom (Mt. 20:20-22). Paul wrote letters to the Corinthian and the Galatian churches because they were fighting over what made a believer great. In the middle ages, some would go live in a monastery and model their life after this or that saint. Today in the church, you are great by overcoming your Goliaths, living your best life now as though every day is a Friday, making sure it is purpose driven.

But none of these man-made ladders make you greater in the kingdom of heaven. The higher you climb, the greater your achievements, the further from the Gospel you are.

Again, Jesus says, “Unless you turn and become like children, don’t worry about being great, you won’t even enter the kingdom of heaven.” Little children don’t point to their resume and expect a promotion. Little children don’t hand God a bill, “See all my good works, I believe You owe me.” The things you would point at to prove that you are a good, great Christian are the very things that will condemn you to hell. Repent.

Greatness is not something you earn. Greatness is something Jesus gives.

Imagine the child in this text. (Now, the Greek doesn’t actually indicate if the child is a boy or girl like the ESV does. I’m going to go with a girl because that would have been even more surprising in Jesus’ day.)

Jesus calls a little child to Him. Imagine her barely able to walk. She’s dusty, dirty, and diapered. Her dad hovers over her as she grasps his pinkies to stable herself as she waddles up to Jesus. Jesus put her on his lap and says, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

What greatness did she have? What had she done for God? Nothing really. She came when Jesus called and received the honor and blessing Jesus gave. You too today. You have come to this place where Jesus has called you. You have received the blessing of His Word and the absolution that He gives to you. This is what makes you great.

Don’t despise the little ones. Don’t cause them to sin, to stumble and fall away. Bring them, and yourself, to Jesus to hear His Word and delight in it. If they go lost, do everything to seek them out. Go search for them and find them. If they sin, call them to repentance to restore them. That means telling people their fault. And that can be hard. But listen to what Jesus says, “If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

If you agree that a particular sin needs forgiveness and ask God, He forgives. And where two or three of you are gathered together in Jesus’ name, there He is. Jesus, the greatest of all because He became the servant of all, present with the you, little ones. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Romans 12:9-21

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You know how different versions of the Bible will put headings over portions of Scripture? The ESV titles this portion as “Marks of the True Christian.” Thirteen verses. Depending on how you count, twenty-six rules to follow. So look over the text again. How do you measure up?

Is your love genuine? Do you abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good? Do you outdo others in showing honor? Do you bless those who persecute you? Do you live in harmony with others and peaceably with all? Do you feed your enemy, and give him something to drink? Do you overcome evil with good? Are you a “True Christian”?

If I’m honest, texts like this make me doubt if I can call myself a Christian. Maybe, you are like me.

Let’s consider the options: I could take the commands in this text and make a list of the areas where I need to improve. Start with the one where I’m worst off. Improve there, and work my way down the list. That would be my first option.

But that always leads to lowering the bar. Rather than my love being genuine, I put on a show of love because I get tired of trying to be genuine. And shouldn’t actions count more than attitude? Instead of living at peace with all, I live at peace with those I like. I mean the text says, “if it is possible.” But I use that phrase as a trump card. “Some people are impossible to please, so why bother even trying? It’s their fault.” But God isn’t fooled by my sham love and peace.

The second option when I doubt if I am a “true Christian,” rather than getting upset and bothered at how poorly I do, I can just look at you and take comfort in the fact that at least I do better than you. You know the joke: You don’t have to run faster than a bear, you just have to run faster than the guy next to you.

But what if the Law is a bear that doesn’t stop after eating the guy slower than you? What if the Law picks up your scent and keeps coming until it finds you. That is, in fact, what the Law does. In our Gospel text (Mt. 16:21-28), Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done” (v. 27). Neither of those options – neither self-improvement nor comparing myself to others – offer any comfort or escape.

The problem with both of those options is that you aren’t letting the Law do what God intends it to do. Romans 5:20 says, “The Law came in to increase the trespass.” Rather than trying harder and working more to prove that you are a Christian, you need to die to your works and efforts to save yourself. Listen to what Jesus says, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mt. 16:25). Repent.

Repent of trying to save your life as you know it. Instead of trying to save your life, you are free to die to sin. Believer, your old self was crucified with Jesus in order that your body of sin might be brought to nothing so that you would no longer be enslaved to sin (Ro. 6:6). Because Jesus has suffered, died, and risen again, you who are joined to Him will rise as well.

So you are free to deny yourself, to take up your cross and follow Jesus. Listen to what God says of you, Romans 8:1 says it as clearly as possible, “There is therefore no condemnation for [you] who are in Christ Jesus.” You are free to be the forgiven, righteous, holy person that God declares you are because you are in Christ.

You are free from the Law because you belong to Jesus, the One who died to the Law so that you might bear fruit to God (Ro. 7:4-6).

What does that fruit look like? Well, it looks just like this text describes it. Who would you say that this text best describes? Hopefully, your answer is Jesus. Christ is all those things. Christ’s love is genuine. He abhors what is evil and holds fast to what is good. Jesus was not slothful in zeal. He rejoiced with those who rejoice, and wept with those who wept. He did not avenge Himself. When His enemies were hungry, He gave them to eat; when they were thirsty, He gave them to drink. Christ was not overcome by evil, but overcame evil with good.

Because this is all true of Christ, it is also true of you. This is how you are already in Christ. When God looks at you, this is how He sees you. And the reason you don’t see more of this going on in your life is because your flesh, the old Adam, gets in the way. So it is good to have this text as a constant reminder before your eyes as you take up your cross and follow after Jesus.

Jesus is here once again to overcome your evil with the goodness of His love, forgiveness, and mercy by giving you His Body and His Blood. He feeds you, strengthens you, and supplies all you need so that you are not overcome by evil, but so that you overcome evil with good. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 16:13-20

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

In the name of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Amen.

In Matthew 15:11, 17-18 Jesus says, “It is not what goes into a mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person. Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

What you say reveals who you are and what is in your heart. The hatred and anger toward God and others that is in your heart comes out of your mouth. So when you cannot tell the truth about simple things, when you exaggerate the facts to make yourself look better, when you act like one person but are really another, you feel guilt. Your heart is black with sin and your mouth shows it. Repent.

Repent and hear what Jesus asks the disciples from our text, “Who do y’all say that I am?” Jesus doesn’t ask them if they were nice people or if they were making the world a better place with their good works. Jesus asks the one question that matters, “Who is Jesus?”

Peter answers for the disciples, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Peter confesses, he says the same thing as God says. That’s what confession means. And Peter makes a right confession. A good confession. A Bible-based confession. And Jesus praises him for it, “Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Peter’s confession was not his own. Flesh and blood did not reveal it to him. God did. 1 Corinthians 12:3 says, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit.”

God had changed and cleansed Peter’s heart so that what came out of Peter’s mouth revealed a heart that had been forgiven and justified by God. As Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

So, what Peter could not say on his own, God said for him and through him. God had purified Peter. God opened Peter’s lips that he might declare God’s praise (Ps. 51:15). Even though Peter was a deeply flawed and sinful man – a braggart and a denier – God still used him. God opened Peter’s lips for a right, true confession, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.”

Peter confessed the first apostles’ creed because it was a confession of faith from the mouth of an actual apostle.

From Peter’s mouth came the very Word of God. Upon this rock – upon the Word of God, spoken on the lips of men – Christ builds His church. Jesus is the architect, the builder, and He even provides the material. This is the way God builds. God does what Peter could not do for himself and what you cannot do for yourself.

God still does this. God still builds His church on the right confession of who Jesus is. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses. Jesus is the Redeemer, the good Shepherd, the King of kings. Jesus is the great high priest who intercedes for you before God the Father.

Upon the confession of Peter, the apostles, and all true believers, Jesus says upon this rock He will build His church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.

Remember the Sunday school song? The wise man built his house upon the rock… The foolish man built his house upon the sand…

Jesus is no fool. He will not build His church upon anything but a sure, strong foundation. God does not build His church on what we do or even what we believe. That’s sand.

God builds His church upon the fact and confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Believer, God has given you the same confession as He gave to Peter, to the faithful believers of the Old Testament, and to all believers of all time.

This God-given confession of yours rises up from your heart which has been purified by grace and is uttered by lips cleansed in Baptism and Holy Communion. You too are Petros, a rock of Jesus Christ, and the gates of hell will not overcome you. Amen.[1]

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] Portions of this sermon were adapted from a sermon by Pr. David Petersen.

Listen here.

Matthew 15:21-28

²¹ And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²² And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ²³ But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶ And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine you regularly find yourself tired and worn out. You decide it is worth getting checked out, and you schedule an appointment with the doctor. At the appointment, you tell the doctor, “I can’t enjoy the things I used to. When I go for a walk, I start sweating and can’t catch my breath. When I take out the garbage, my heart starts pounding. Can you help me?”

And imagine that your doctor doesn’t say anything. He just hooks you up to a bunch of wires and puts you on a treadmill. As you walk, you get short of breath, but the doctor turns up the speed. Your heart is pounding. Your lungs are burning, and he raises the incline. You had gone to him for healing, and all he is doing is making you miserable.

But in reality, your doctor is giving you a stress test. He is putting you through all of that so he can figure out why your heart is not working properly so he can heal you. But if you don’t know that your doctor was giving you a stress test, you would think that your doctor is some sadistic mix of two parts lunatic and one part jerk (or vice versa) and torturing you.

If we understand today’s text in any way other than a type of spiritual stress test, we will fall into all sorts of errors. This text is teaching us to trust, to believe, that God’s promises are for us even when all things appear to contradict that fact.

This Canaanite woman comes to Jesus asking for mercy. She wants Jesus to help her daughter who was severely oppressed by a demon. She is going to the right place – to Jesus. 1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Just like Peter sinking in the water last week, Jesus is this woman’s only hope.

Notice her faith, she addresses Jesus as the “Son of David,” and that is a loaded term. In 2 Samuel 7, God had promised David that He would raise up a son of David’s who would sit on his throne forever, and there are many other places in the Old Testament (Is. 9:6; 16:5; 22:22; 55:3; Jer. 23:5; Ezk. 34:23; 37:24; Amos 9:11; Zech. 12:10; Ps. 89:4–5, 50; 132:10–11, 17) where the Scriptures talk about the reign of this Son of David and what God would do through Him.

So, we know that Jesus came to do exactly what this woman wants and that her prayer is pleasing to Jesus. But what does Jesus do? “He did not answer her a word.” Similar to a doctor not telling you about the stress test, Jesus throws her on the treadmill.

Because we know the end of the story, we know that Jesus’ silence is not a refusal to give her the mercy she is begging for, but in that moment, she doesn’t. All she knows is two things: first, her experience – that Jesus is ignoring her; and second, the words and promises of God. Rather than trusting her experience, which must have felt like indifference from the Son of David, she trusts the words and promises of God. She keeps crying out.

She cries out so much that the disciples become embarrassed and tell Jesus to send her away. And notice that still Jesus doesn’t address her. He answers the disciples. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Jesus cranks up the speed of the treadmill.

Now, this woman is not only fighting against her experience, she is also fighting against reason. When Jesus speaks these words, it is reasonable to think that Jesus is saying that He was not sent for her. But she fights against what reason would say and tenaciously clings to the promises of God’s Word. This woman is a fulfillment of Old Testament lesson (Is. 56:6-8) that foreigners would join themselves to Yahweh and love His name and be His servants.

There is no denying that Jesus is putting her through difficulties. But Jesus knows what is good for her. His intent was not that she would give up. Instead, He is exercising her faith and making it even stronger, and her faith in God’s promises persists.

She kneels before Jesus saying, “Lord, help me.” Finally, Jesus gives her attention and answers, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” And that is as insulting as it sounds. Jesus maxes the incline of the treadmill.

In this text, Jesus starts with silence, then dismissiveness, and finally insult. Imagine you are this woman. At what point do you give up? Do you stop asking for mercy when Jesus doesn’t answer? When Jesus says He isn’t there for you, do you go home? When Jesus calls you a dog, are you looking for another Messiah?

And yet, in her humility and trust, this woman accepts the insult. She doesn’t argue with Jesus. She simply reminds Jesus of God’s promise, “Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Luther says that she hears Jesus’ ‘yes’ behind the ‘no’ and that the woman traps Jesus in His word.

In other words, the woman is saying, “Ok, Jesus. If you call me a dog, I’ll be a dog. Just let me have what the dogs get. I’ll take the crumbs that fall while the children eat.” And if you come to our house after a meal and enter our carpeted dining room, you’ll know there are plenty of crumbs.

This text teaches us about prayer. Prayer consists of two things: first, our need, and second, the promises of God. And the main thing to remember in prayer is the second – the promises of God. In prayer, we grab hold to the promises of God and insist that He keep those promises.

In prayers of confession, we say, “Ok, God. You’ve said that You are the Savior. Save me. Deliver me from my sin.” When we pray for health, when we pray for God to provide for our needs, when we pray for God’s protection and healing, when we ask for stuff, we pray, “Ok, God. You call Yourself my Father. Be my Father. Provide all good things for me, Your child.”

Often in prayer, God puts us through a spiritual stress test to weed out anything false that we would put our trust in so that our trust would be only in God and the promises of His Word.

Jesus answers her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. And this is one of only two times in all the Gospels that Jesus praises someone for their faith (the other is also a Gentile centurion in Mt. 8:5-10).

You see prayer and faith go together. Prayer is the first flower that blooms on the plant of faith.

Be like this woman. Trust God to be good to you. Believe that God will keep His promise to deliver you from whatever evil you face. Do not be discouraged no matter how things appear. Don’t trust your reason and don’t trust your experiences. Trust the promises God has given you in His Word. Cling to them. You can even demand that God keep those promises.

You cannot overcome evil and demons on your own. That is why Jesus came. He came to defeat sin, death, and the devil for you. By His death and resurrection, He has reconciled you to God and made you His child. God is now your Father, and there is no good thing He will ever withhold from you (Ro. 8:32).

May Jesus, the Son of David, give us all the faith that tenaciously clings to the promises He gives us in His Word. Amen.[1]

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] I am thankful to Pr. Hans Fiene for the idea of a stress test as an analogy for this sermon.

Listen here.

Matthew 14:22-33

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

²⁸ And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This text comes right on the heels of Jesus feeding of the 5,000. The crowds have been healed and fed. The disciples each have their basket of leftovers. And Jesus gets His time alone to pray. Jesus sends the disciples away in the boat. The wind picks up. The waves get higher. The way Matthew writes, there is are hints that the storm is demonic in nature. The boat is being beaten (lit. tortured, tormented). Tough as this night at sea is, it is not the wind, not the waves, not the storm that frightens the disciples. It’s Jesus. The disciples are afraid when Jesus shows up.

Jesus’ walking over the sea is filled with a meaning that we miss if we don’t understand the mindset of the people of Jesus’ day. In their minds, the sea is the manifestation of death. The sea is what swallows you whole and doesn’t spit you out again (Ps. 107:23-32). That is why in Revelation, when John sees the new creation, there is no more sea (Rev. 21:1). The sea is also the home of the dreadful sea creature, Leviathan (Job 41:ff).

So, when Jesus walks on the water, He isn’t only showing His power over creation; He is showing His power also over death. Jesus is treading under His foot the ancient serpent (Gen. 3:15). But the disciples don’t know that it is Jesus.

So, put yourself in their shoes (or in their boat). You have left Jesus up on the mountain and have been struggling to row the boat across the sea for hours. You are tired, wet, and frustrated. Now, around 3 AM, this figure comes strolling towards you over the sea, death, and the dreadful serpent.

They cry out in fear figuring Jesus was a ghost, a phantasm, maybe even the lord of death himself. But Jesus calls them out of fear and preaches Gospel to them, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

In English, we unfortunately lose the most important thing Jesus says here. Jesus isn’t just saying, “It’s Me.” He is saying, “I am.” Remember when Moses asked for God’s name (Ex. 3:14-15), God responded, “I am who I am.” God gives Himself the name Yahweh. Later, God will define what Yahweh means, “A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6). Jesus is taking the divine name, Yahweh, and applying it to Himself.

Peter pipes up, and we have to dispel a common notion about Peter in this text. Peter walking on the water is not an act of faith. Peter’s request to walk out to Jesus comes from Peter doubting Jesus’ words. “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

It is absurd that Peter makes this demand. Here is Peter doubting Yahweh in the flesh. Doubting the Creator of heaven and earth. Doubting the God who answered Job in our Old Testament Lesson (Job 38:4-18) saying, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the world? Do you keep the sun rising and setting? Did you tell the waters, ‘You can come this far’? Have you been to the source of the sea? Have you walked in the recesses of the deep?”

But does Jesus scold Peter for his doubt? No. Jesus graciously tells Peter, “Come.”

Peter gets out of the boat, and he too treads on the sea, death, and the great serpent. Peter isn’t able to walk on the sea because of his faith. Peter walks on the waters because of the word of Jesus, “Come.” That one word carries Peter from the boat, across the water, toward Yahweh in the flesh.

Peter strides well – for a bit. But then, he sinks. Notice what causes Peter to sink. More doubt. He becomes fearful. Peter doesn’t fear the storm, the waves, or his distance from the boat. He fears what is least threatening to him – the wind.

The same happens to you and me when we lose our focus on Jesus, the Word of Yahweh. If you focus on the things in this world good or bad, when we focus on ourselves and our circumstances, when we start to focus on anything that isn’t Jesus, we fall and sink like a stone.

That is why we need to be here week after week to hear God’s word and receive His grace and mercy. Don’t look to yourself. Don’t look in your heart because your heart will deceive you. Look to Jesus in His Word, in His Sacraments, in the gathering of two or three in His name because Jesus has promised to be there.

If Jesus can make Peter walk on water with the little word, “Come,” imagine what Jesus will do when He returns and says to you, “Rise.” You will.

As Peter sees he is sinking, he no longer doubts Jesus. Notice, he doesn’t cry out, “Lord, if it is You, save me.” Instead, he cries, “Lord, save me!” In that moment, Jesus is all that Peter has. And immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and pulls Peter from the sea – from the jaws of death – and saves him. Whose grip matters at that moment? Only Jesus’.

Jesus asks Peter, “O you little faith, why did you doubt?” That is still a question for us today. Why do we doubt? We doubt because we don’t trust Jesus’ word. Satan’s question to Eve, “Did God really say?” still echoes in our ears.

But listen to what Jesus says to you in His Word, “Because of My death and My resurrection, you are forgiven. Justified. Made right with God.”

Don’t look to yourself. Don’t look at the storms, the wind, the waves, the depths of the sea. Don’t look at how you are doing at any given moment. Look to Jesus.

Truly, He is the Son of God. He is Yahweh who walks on the water, who treads down death, who crushes the serpent’s head. Whatever trouble, trial, or temptation you are facing, all you have in that moment of sinking is Jesus. Cry out to Him, “Lord, save me.” And He does.

Because that is what Jesus’ name means – Yahweh saves. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 14:13-21

¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ¹⁶ But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” ¹⁸ And he said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. ²¹ And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus comes to that desolate place to withdraw. He had just received word that John the Baptizer had been beheaded. He wanted some time away to rest, but the crowd didn’t let this happen. Jesus had healed every cripple, cleansed every leper, and raised every corpse He met, so it was inevitable that people would constantly flock to Him.

Tired as He is, Jesus doesn’t ignore them. He doesn’t tell them to go away. He doesn’t complain or feel sorry for Himself. Jesus has compassion on them and heals them.

Now, we don’t know exactly what the disciples were doing as Jesus healed the masses. Were they sitting and watching? Were they directing traffic, making sure no one cut in line? Were they preaching? Whatever it was, the disciples seem to have some level of “compassion fatigue.”

The disciples know the crowd needs to eat. They don’t want to deal with it, so they make a logical suggestion, “Jesus, send them away so they can feed themselves.”

Jesus has a different idea, “Naw, you give them something to eat.” And the disciples balk at the suggestion. How can they feed the people? All they can see is their limitations and inadequacies. As proof that they can’t do anything, they say to Jesus, “We only have five loaves and two fish.”

Do you notice what they leave out? Sure, they have only five loaves and two fish, but they also have Jesus.

We fall into the same trap. The devil is always trying to trick us into thinking we have less than we actually possess. We look at the things we have – our bank and retirement balances, our house, and car. Then, we look at the things we don’t have. And the devil is pleased when our eyes and thoughts dart between the two. Because when we focus on what we have and what we don’t have, we overlook the needy around us and forget the God who can do more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).

The devil is pleased to keep us focused on these things because then we always insist that we are poor. We figure, “I have to provide for myself and my family.” We worry about what we might not have in the future. So, the food pantry, pregnancy center, and homeless shelter have to get along without our donation, and the church has to get along without our tithe. Repent.

Repent and see again this text. As familiar as it is, maybe you are bored with it. Imagine this scene playing out, and keep your mind’s eye on the disciples’ hands.

Five-thousand men plus women and children – a sea of people, Jesus tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” Twelve disciples equals twenty-four hands, but when you look in their hands, only one or maybe two hands hold a bit of a morsel. The rest of their hands are empty. What the disciples have is inadequate.

Jesus takes the little snack and says a blessing. Now, watch. Jesus puts the loaves and fish back into the disciples’ hands. And the disciples just keep doling it out to the crowds. Their hands deliver again and again and again as the throng eats and is satisfied. Every last one of them, even the gluttons, eats their fill. What goes through the disciples’ hands is enough.

But keep watching. The disciples meander through the crowd and gather the leftovers. They return to Jesus, and now there are no empty hands. All twelve of the disciples use both hands to carry a basket overflowing with leftovers – each basket containing more than they had to start with. What the disciples have now is an excess.

Inadequate, enough, excess – all in the span of a few verses. Jesus meets needs that are out of proportion to the resources available.

When the disciples said, “We have only five loaves and two fish,” they figured it was proof that they couldn’t do anything to meet the need. But Jesus says, “Bring what you have to Me.”

Jesus still says that today. When you look at the needs of your neighbor and see a lack in your finances, time, resources, and talents, Jesus says, “Bring what you have to Me.” And watch as Jesus multiplies what you have to serve those around you.

And when you see your sins, your failures, your hatred, your lust, and your coveting, Jesus says, “Bring what you have to Me.” And watch as Jesus covers them all in His blood.

Jesus doesn’t just meet your needs. He over-supplies, but not so that there is a waste. He fills your cup with His blessings so that it runs over, and the blessings spill out to your neighbor.

And your Savior, is here to pour more into your cup now. Jesus still feeds His people in the wilderness. He is here now to feed you with His Body and give you to drink of His Blood. He calls you to come to Him. “Come, everyone who thirsts. Come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Delight yourselves in My rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live” (Isa 55:1-5). Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Listen here.

Matthew 13:44-52

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Copyright: Edward Riojas. Used by permission

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When it was full, men drew it on the beach and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The kingdom of heaven, apparently, is like a lot of things. This is the third week in Matthew 13 where Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to all sorts of things.

The kingdom of heaven is like a sower who sows seed, and there are enemies of that seed trying to keep it from producing fruit.

Last week, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sows good seed in his field and an enemy tries to mess the whole thing up by sowing weeds in the same field. But the master isn’t willing to wipe the whole field out. Instead, he decides to wait it out, let the weeds and the wheat grow together, until the harvest and sort it all out then.

Jesus also says that the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. When it is planted its teeny-tiny, but it grows bigger than all the other plants. Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a little leaven in a huge batch of dough – it permeates the whole lump.

Today, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, like a merchant in search of fine pearls, and like a fishing net.

To be sure, the kingdom of heaven is the greatest treasure and is of more value than anything you could possibly imagine. In fact, the treasure is so great that everyone everywhere should be willing to give up everything to get their hands on it. As Jesus says later in Matthew, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (16:26). You could have it all, but in the end, if you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have jack squat.

But you and I don’t believe this. And it doesn’t matter how often or how convincingly Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is beyond the greatest treasure imaginable. We aren’t willing to give everything up to attain the kingdom.

We are like the rich young man that comes to Jesus (Mt. 19:16-26) asking, “Jesus, what must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus says, “You know the Commandments. Don’t kill people or commit adultery. Don’t steal or bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. Basically, love your neighbor as yourself.” And the young man says, “Pish posh. I’ve been doing that my while life. There’s got to be more to it than that.” Jesus answers, “If you would be perfect, go, sell everything, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” And the young man walks away unwilling to do what Jesus says it takes.

When we look at the first two parables about the treasure and the merchant searching for fine pearls, our natural inclination is to think that Jesus is telling us to do what He told the young man to do. Give it all up, let everything go, and enter the kingdom. In other words, be perfect and earn the kingdom.

But a vow of poverty won’t get you into the kingdom. Even if you sell everything you have in an effort to gain the kingdom of God, do you notice what you are doing? You’re holding on to something – yourself! You’re just interested in self-preservation, and you haven’t impressed God so that He will reward you.

If you see the parable of the hidden treasure or the merchant in search of pearls as an exhortation for you to give up everything for Jesus, you have it backwards. Repent.

The treasure and the pearl are not heaven or Jesus that we need to find and purchase. The field is not the church or even the Bible. The field is the cemetery where the bones of Adam and all his sons and daughters are buried. Jesus is the one who finds you, goes, and sells all He has to purchase you. The treasure and the pearl are you who are purchased not with silver and gold, but with Jesus’ holy and precious blood and with His innocent sufferings and death. Jesus gave up everything in order to make you His own.

And it probably doesn’t seem right to you, so you are wondering, “Pastor, if Jesus treasured me so much and I am part of His kingdom, why I still have so many problems in this world? Why do I still suffer?” Well, I’m glad you asked.

The answer for suffering and evil was already given, somewhat, in the parable of the wheat and the weeds. But it is also what the parable about the net is also getting at.

When you fish with a net, you catch all sorts of things: good fish, bad fish, eels, empty cans, boots, and tires. God isn’t about catching you each individually with a rod and hook. His love for the whole lot of this fallen world swallows us all up.

Jesus came to save the world – every last one of us. He died for you; He died for all. In Adam, all are condemned; in Jesus, the greater Adam, all are justified (Ro. 5:18). Because of the cross, every sin is answered for, and every sinner is atoned. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself not counting your sins against you (2 Cor. 5:19).

And the day will come when you will be separated from the evil and garbage of this world caused by sin because, “God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession” (Dt. 7:6). God has loved you, chosen you, and in Baptism placed His name upon you.

And, as our Epistle lesson says, everything in this world, even the evil junk that surrounds you, God uses it all for your good (Ro. 8:28-39). Even when you were His enemy, He didn’t spare His only Son, but gave Jesus up for you. So, now that you are His own beloved child, what good thing will He hold back from you? The answer is – nothing, zilch, zip, nada.

You are His beloved treasure now and always. He rejoices at finding you and purchasing you. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.