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Matthew 5:21-37 - Lectionary for Epiphany 6A

2/9/2017

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2/9/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Matthew 5:21-37 contains some of Jesus’ teaching which is the hardest for us to hear today. People will often note that he turns up the heat on a variety of sins. Anger suddenly becomes as bad as murder. Inappropriate desire for a woman becomes tantamount to adultery. We dare not make a promse that is dependent on anyone else, including God’s providence.

This is stern indeed. What could Jesus be doing here? In general there are two responses we can have to these brief paragraphs. We can minimize them, making little of what Jesus says. On the other hand, we can take them quite literally and be left with no excuse.

The person who minimizes Jesus’ warnings will say that he is simply emphasizing the gravity of sin. We just need to build a fence around the actual sins of murder, adultery, or misusing God’s name in an oath. That way we will be sure we don’t accidentally slip into the real sins. This approach assumes that Jesus didn’t mean what he said. It essentially accuses Jesus of being a liar. We cannot minimize what Jesus has commanded.

The person who takes these warnings quite literally will indeed be left with no excuse. Every last one of us is guilty on all counts. I believe this is exactly what Jesus intends in this passage. He wants to leave us no excuse, no wiggle room. There is no space for misunderstanding. We are guilty.

Why would Jesus want to leave us there? He would leave us there because it is exactly where we need to be if we will see that he is the one who forgives guilty sinners. No matter how good a life you or I live, we are condemned by this passage. And the great news of the Gospel is that Jesus forgives condemned sinners. He is the one who gives us his perfect righteousness. He comes to those who need a savior, not to those who have no need of him.

Thanks be to God that he has come to everyone who has ever even entertained ideas of sin. There is no excuse. There is only pardon.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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1 Corinthians 3:1-9 - Lectionary for Epiphany 6A

2/8/2017

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2/8/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The church at Corinth in the time of the apostle Paul was divided. Sadly, much of modern Christianity suffers from schisms today as well. In the beginning of chapter three we read that these divisions are a sign of immaturity. The Corinthians are acting like whining toddlers, throwing temper tantrums about who is the best.

Where do they claim their superiority? They claim it from the teacher they are following. Are you a follower of Paul? Are you a follower of Apollos? We find this today as people will exalt themselves over others. We are so very willing to claim one heritage or another. I can’t go to a pastors’ gathering without hearing it. People will make comparisons of what seminary they went to, whose teachers were superior, what books they are reading, what podcasts they follow or don’t follow.

This poison spreads to our congregations as well. Which study Bible do you use? Do some people actually listen to that program? How could you use a Bible school curriculum from this publisher, or that publisher? Some are superior because their teens go to a national youth gathering, some are superior because their teens would never lower themselves to go to the same gathering.

Does the shoe fit? It certainly fits the situation in Corinth. What is Paul’s corrective? The New Testament has one message. It teaches on Christ crucified for sinners. It teaches one Church in which the people are gathered in one accord. It teaches one Lord of all who is building his saints together into one body.

Some would try to break down the divisions by avoiding the careful teaching of biblical doctrine. This is a terrible idea. This is what brings divisions about. It is by looking together at the one truth, the truth of God in Christ, which reminds us that Apollos and Paul are simply servants of God. It is by looking together at biblical Christianity that we see that the Lord is one, working for the good of his people in this world. This is our cure. There should be no divisions among us. There may be distinctions, there may be different characteristics, but the Lord has made one Church. Only one.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Deuteronomy 30:15-20 - Lectionary for Epiphany 6A

2/7/2017

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2/7/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

This week’s Old Testament passage is Deuteronomy 30:15-20. It lays out before the people of Israel a very simple choice. They can love the LORD, allowing their actions and attitudes to be in accord with His Word, or they can allow their heart to turn away. This is a choice which the passage describes as life and death, a choice of being blessed or cursed. God’s clear stated desire is that the people of Israel should “choose life” (v. 19, NKJV).

This Scripture is often misunderstood in modern American preaching and teaching. A brief corrective is appropriate.

First, some teach that this passage calls people to “decide for Jesus.” The text tells people in verse 16 what God commands the people. However, this passage does not urge anyone to make the kind of decision for Jesus which is often demanded in many church congregations. Put quite simply, this is addressed to the chosen people of God, Israel. All of the people of Israel are, by their birthright, already partakers of the covenant promises of God. They are not asked to opt in. There is nothing contradictory about reminding the people who are already God’s people of their identity and of the importance of remaining faithful to God’s covenants. That is exactly what is really happening here.

Second, some teach that the people in the passage who turn away (v. 17) were not believers in the first place. Yet it is impossible for someone who is not a member of a family to depart from the family. It is impossible for someone who is not a partaker of a covenant to depart from the covenant. Rather, this passage asserts that the people of Israel, God’s covenant people, have a tendency to depart from taking His Word seriously. Therefore they need to be reminded of their identity.

What is the passage teaching? It reminds us that we who are God’s people are obligated to cultivate our attitude of faith toward him. We need to take God’s Word seriously and hold to the great promises he has given. This is how God’s inheritance is delivered.

From the very beginning of the Christian period, Christians have taught that the covenant of God is delivered to all nations through Jesus, identified as God the Son. By trusting that he is the one who has fulfilled God’s law perfectly and on our behalf, we are partakers of all the promises of God. Salvation is a matter of God’s promise, not of our obedience. Our obedience is rightly seen as a response to God’s love for us. It is likewise a sign that we are loving the Lord (v. 16).

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Psalm 119:1-8 - Lectionary for Epiphany 6 A

2/6/2017

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2/6/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our reading from Psalm 119:1-8 points up the importance of God’s Word. Why do Christians dedicate themselves to Bible reading and study? It is because God’s word is good. We confess that the very same Lord who made heaven and earth and who filled them with all creatures is the one who knows how it all works. Where does confidence come from? It comes from walking in the ways of God. Where will our conscience be informed? It will be informed by God’s commands.

Some people complain that it is fruitless to depend on the Bible for a moral code, for ethics, for directions in how to govern life. Why not do what seems right to yourself? My question is how our conscience is going to be informed. If, as the Bible says, humans are born with a sinful nature, our own inborn sensibilities are flawed at best. In fact, when we engage in behaviors which are socially helpful, which care for our neighbor and our world, we are doing things which the Bible clearly says to do.

Why not look to the Bible rather than make all the mistakes ourselves? Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD (v. 1, ESV)!

Before we become arrogant, we should ask about failure. I trust I am not the only one who has failed at being blameless. See how in verse 5 the Psalmist seeks guidance and strength? See how in verse 8 he asks for forgiveness? The same God who gave comands could certainly forsake his people when they are disobedient. He wouldn’t actually have to give a reason. But he has given a way of forgiveness to all who believe. The same Bible that gives God’s commands shows that Jesus fulfilled those commands in the place of all who live and die on this earth. Our forgiveness is found through trust in his perfect obedience. Blessed are those who seek the Lord.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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    About Throwing Inkwells

    When Martin Luther was dealing with struggles in his life he once saw what appeared to be an angelic being. Not trusting that he was going to be informed by someone other than the God revealed in Scripture, he took the appearance to be untrustworthy and hurled his inkwell at it. The chipped place in the plaster wall is still visible at the Wartburg Castle, though apparently the ink stain on the wall has been refreshed periodically by the caretaker.

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