Daily Readings for August 14-20, 2011 Looking ahead to the 9th Sunday After Trinity

NEXT WEEKS LESSONS: THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 “The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails. These are our escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).

Collect: Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 22:26–34

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:6–13

Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1–9 (10–13)

2 Samuel 22:26-34: This passage of Second Samuel records for us part of the text that Jesus used in teaching the parable of the Unjust Steward. It speaks of how the Lord Himself is more shrewd and clever than even the most shrewd and clever of men: "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 28 You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down" (vs. 26-28).

1 Corinthians 10:6-13: St. Paul uses the example of Old Testament Israel to warn the Corinthian Christians against the  danger of idolatry (false faith and worship) which evidences itself in sexual immorality, murmuring, and complaining against the Lord. The end of such idolatry is the loss of faith and eternal death. This warning against the danger of idolatry is intended to draw us to the One Man, Christ Jesus, who alone can deliver us from these dangers in the time of such temptation: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (vs. 12-13).

Luke 16:1-13: “The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward's shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master's name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father's possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord's Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when the earthly fails. These are our

escape in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:26–34).—Excerpted from the LSB hymnal project

Readings for the Week of 7th Sunday after Trinity

August 14                        Beware of False Prophets—Matthew 7:15-23

                                                      1 Samuel 14:47—15:9, Acts 24:1-23

August 15                Paul’s First Missionary Journey–Acts 12:25–13:12

                                                   1 Samuel 15:10-35, Acts 24:24–25:12

August 16  Paul Preaches in the Synagogue of Antioch—Acts 13:13-42

                                                           1 Samuel 16:1-23, Acts 25:13-27

August 17     Paul and Barnabas Preach in Iconium—Acts 13:42—14:7

                                                             1 Samuel 17:1-19, Acts 26:1-23

August 18   Paul and Barnabas Mistaken for Greek Gods–Acts 14:8-28

                                                     1 Samuel 17:20-47, Acts 26:24–27:8

August 19                                   The Jerusalem Council—Acts 15:1-21

                                                      1 Samuel 17:48—18:9, Acts 27:9-26

August 20                                                                   Sunday’s readings

2 Samuel 22:26–34, 1 Corinthians 10:6–13, Luke 16:1–13

Sermon for August 13-14, 2011

Trinity 8      August 13-14, 2011    Matthew 7:15-23

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

We need to let these words have their way with us. The common view of heaven is that all decent people go there when they die. It is not so. It is not the repository of all the dead minus truly heinous men. It is not even the abode of most of the dead. Most men in this world do not cry to Jesus, “Lord, Lord.” And without Him, apart from His Name, no man enters heaven. It does not matter how pious or sincere or good a Muslim or a Bhuddist or a Mormon is. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. There is no other Name under heaven by which men are saved. But worse than that, not even everyone who is baptized, everyone who calls “Lord, Lord” enters into the kingdom of heaven. Who enters? Only those who do the will of the Father.

Repent. Heed the warning. Sin is a wily seductress. She corrupts the hearts of men. She turns fathers and husbands into craven, lying, sneaks who seek their thrills in the dark and destroy their children and their wives. It is not merely the arrogant, or the rich, or the weak, who are susceptible. It strikes the Ministers and Laity, men and women, adults and children, rich and poor. It turns them inward, fills them with anger, lust, and greed. It never delivers. It never satisfies. It only breeds discontentment while hardens consciences with multiple excuses.

Repent. Pornography kills. Gossip destroys. Pride crushes all virtue. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Repent. Now is the hour of Salvation. Tomorrow it may be too late. Repent.

No man can stand against the Law. It is a standard, a demand, too perfect and holy for us. Any comparison we make with our lives is damning. It always accuses us. For we are fallen, sin-infected men. That is why we are tempted to try and abandon the Law or make up new Laws that are easier to keep. But that does not remove the Law’s condemnation. It is just another excuse. It is just a temporary delusion that will be stripped away in Hell’s fire. Repent.

And notice this: those who are saved, who are entering into the kingdom of heaven, are not saved by saying, “Lord, Lord.” They are saved by Our Lord saying, “You are forgiven. Take, eat. Go in peace.” They are not saved because of what they have done, prophesying, casting out demons, or performing other wonders. Those who are saved are passive. They do not save themselves, they are saved. They are saved by the Lord. He is the Actor and rather than them crying “Lord, Lord,” they hear Him calling their names.

Where can those weary of the Law’s demands and their failure find rest? Where is help for those who cannot help themselves, who are accused and dying? Rest here, ye weary ones, in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has come into the world and taken up your Flesh in order to fulfill the Law for you. He has not come to condemn or to accuse you. He has come to save you. He has reconciled you to the Father. He has declared you righteous. Not for any merit or worthiness or faith in you, not by your calling our “Lord, Lord,” but from His Fatherly, Divine mercy and goodness alone. He has intervened on your behalf. He has called you by name, brought you to Himself through the waters of Holy Baptism. He has planted and nourished your faith. He pardons your sin, removes your guilt, and welcomes you into the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, into His kingdom.

The will of His Father for you is that you turn from sin, repent, confess, and throw yourself upon His mercy. The will of His Father for Our Lord is that He go to the cross as a sacrifice for your sins and that His love wash and cleanse you until you are as Holy as He is. It is not His will that you pay for or even answer for your sins. The Lord has answered for you. His will is that Jesus do your work and pay your penalty so that you would get the benefit and reward. Those who do the Father’s will, that is, those who are washed in His Blood, who eat and drink the gift of the Holy Cross, the cup of wrath turned to the Cup of Blessing, they enter and abide in the Kingdom of heaven. By grace they call Him, “Lord,” but only after He has called them by His Name. You are there now, in the kingdom. For behold, he Kingdom of heaven is within you. It is Jesus Christ. You are His Temple, His chosen vessel. Jesus Christ abides in you and will not let you go.

Sin is dangerous and it is frustrating. Living by faith is a gut check, a test of patience and endurance. Lawlessness is always a temptation. It tries to tell us that we Christians are missing out, being denied something, that the pleasures of the flesh could be ours and could satisfy us. We aren’t having as much fun as we might. But it is a lie. The girls in the pictures aren’t interested in you. The people at the bar aren’t your friends. Your mistress doesn’t love you or she would not be destroying your family and hurting your children. You need the Law to have its way with you. You need to be accused and exposed you so that you would see your desperate situation for what it is and cry out to the only One who can help you, the only One who does love you, the only One who saves: Jesus Christ, Our Lord. You cry not, “Lord, Lord, look what I have done, casting out demons and performing wonders,” but you cry out, “Lord have mercy!” Our Lord wields the Law for the sake of mercy. He is like a shepherd sending out the dogs to drive the sheep into the pen. Anyone who waits on Jesus, who trusts His Word, is like a man who built his house upon a rock. The Law, sin, death, and hell cannot wash it away and all their vain threats and violence ultimately make us ever and every more aware of the foundation.

The kingdom of heaven is here by grace and for your eternal good. Come and eat what the Lord gives and receive strength and faith to face the enemy and carry on where He has placed you.

In + Jesus’ Name. Amen.