LESSON: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:8-15

“There was a rich man … who feasted sumptuously every day.” Luke 16:19

When we measure this rich man by the fruits of faith, we shall find a heart and a tree of unbelief. The Gospel reproaches him for feasting sumptuously daily and for decking himself out in costly apparel. Reason does not regard such matters as especially great sins. It could even be that a man imbued with the idea of work-righteousness would regard all this as perfectly in order, imagining that he had deserved all this by his holy life, without any real conception of committing sin by such conduct because of his unbelief.

This rich man is not really reproached for his costly food and his splendid attire. Many holy men and women, king and queens in times past, have worn costly attired like Solomon, Esther, David, Daniel, and many others.

The rich man in this Gospel is reproached for setting his heart on these things—seeking, choosing, and clinging to them; finding all his joy, pleasure, and relish in them; and making idols of these things.

This is what Christ indicates with the expression “every day.” He lived in this glorious manner “every day.” He sought and chose this way of life deliberately. He was not forced to accept it by circumstance or because of his office. This way of life could not redound in any way to the welfare of his neighbor. He was simply concerned about fulfilling his own pleasure. He lived for himself and served no one but himself.

Herein we see the secret sin of his heart, his unbelief and lack of true faith manifesting itself in selfish, sinful, and wicked fruits.

SL 11:1196 (4)
AE 78:56

PRAYER: Open our eyes and hearts to the needs of our neighbor, heavenly Father, that our lives do not simply become a continuous exercise in self-interest and routines which promote nothing but ourselves, but keep our hearts open to receive Your love for service to our neighbor, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

LESSON: LUKE 16:19-31

“There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen.” Luke 16:19

We must not simply form an opinion on this rich man from his external conduct. He is dressed in sheep’s clothing, and his life outwardly glitters and seems beautiful, covering the wolf to perfection.

The Gospel does not accuse him of adultery, murder, robbery, or violation of law. It brings no charge against him with which the world or reason could find fault. He was just as honorable in his life as the Pharisee who fasted twice in the week and did not do what other men did, and of whom Luke also writes in his Gospel (18:11-12). Had he committed any gross crime, the Gospel would undoubtedly have mentioned it. It describes this man in such detail that it even mentions his “purple” clothing and what kind of table he kept.

These are external matters, and God does not necessarily judge any man according to them. In all probability, this rich man led a fine, holy life outwardly and according to his own thinking and that of other men, keeping the whole law of Moses. He cannot be judged simply by external appearances. One must look into his heart and judge him according to his spirit.

The Gospel has very sharp eyes; it looks into the depth of the heart. The Gospel can fault works of which reason may approve. Nor is the Gospel fooled by the sheep’s clothing. It knows how to regard the fruit of a tree, whether it is good or bad, as the Lord also says in Matthew’s Gospel, “Every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit” (Matthew 7:17).

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AE 78:55-56

PRAYER: You can read our hearts, O God, and know what we really are. You are never deceived by sheep’s clothing. May we always act in love and truth towards all our fellowmen and thereby demonstrate by fruits of faith that we are Your true children by faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

LESSON: EPHESIANS 6:13-18

Be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

In the very first chapter of the Bible we are told, “The Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). This passage is not quite as clear as Matthew 28:19, because the Jews make it a little shaky for us when they tell us that the word for Spirit in Hebrew can also mean “wind.” David’s statement is clearer: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the Spirit of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6, RSV has “breath of his mouth”). From this passage, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is God because the heavens and their host were created through Him.

David also says, “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!” (Psalm 139:7-8). This is no language for a creature! No creature is to be found in all corners of the world, and no creature fills the whole world. This can only be affirmed of God, the Creator.

Accordingly, we stick to the Scriptures and the statements of Scripture which attest the threefold person of God and say, “I know for sure that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are a living reality, but just how they are truly one I do not know and will never know.”

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PRAYER: Holy, almighty, eternal, divine Spirit, of one authority and dominion with the Father and the Son, set up Your throne in our hearts. You who are pure, purify us! You who are light, enlighten us! You who are Lord and giver of life, grant us the true life which knows no end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.

LESSON: MATTHEW 3:13-17

“This is eternal life, that they know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” John 17:3

You can have no more sure and certain basis for the deity of Christ than to wrap up your heart in clear passages of Scripture and, in this way, also lock up this truth in your hearts.

Scripture begins in a very gentle manner and introduces us to Christ as a man. Then it brings Him before us as the Lord of all creatures. Finally, we are shown quite clearly and expressly that Christ is God. In this way, fine progress is made, and we learn to recognize God.

The philosophers and worldly-wise men begin at the top and make fools of themselves in the process. You must begin at the bottom and make your way up so that Solomon’s words are not fulfilled in you: “It is not good to eat too much honey, and he who investigates difficult matters will find the going too hard” (Proverbs 25:27, Luther’s translation).

Our faith in the two persons of the Father and the Son has been adequately grounded and established on clear passages of Scripture. On the third person, the Holy Spirit, we may well quote Christ’s words on sending out His disciples, “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” (Matthew 28:19).

Here Christ assigns deity also to the Holy Spirit, inasmuch as I can trust or believe in no one else but God alone. I always need one who is mighty over death, hell, and the devil. He must also be able to rule over all creatures so that they cannot harm me and so that He can always pull me through. I must have one on whom I can freely build. Christ decides that we should believe and trust in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be God.

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PRAYER: Almighty and everlasting God, in Your mercy You have granted us the faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity. Keep us steadfast in this faith which leads us to the salvation which You have prepared for us in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.

LESSON: PSALM 8

He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Revelation 17:14

In the second psalm, God says to His Son: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth as your possession” (Psalm 2:8). Here He is clearly appointed as the King of all things because He is God’s Son. There has never been any ordinary prince or king to whom the whole world has been subjected.

In a similar way, David openly calls Him a God when He says, “Thy throne, O God (RSV margin), endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows” (Psalm 45:6-7).

God appoints no one as such a king who is not Himself God. For He will not release the bridle from His own hands. He wants to remain Lord over heaven and earth, death, hell, the devil, and all creatures. Inasmuch, then, as God has made Christ Lord over all that has been created, Christ must certainly be regarded as being Himself true God together with God the Father.

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PRAYER: Almighty God, so reign in our hearts and souls that Christ may have the sole dominion there. Grant that we may sincerely embrace Him with our whole hearts as King of kings and Lord of lords and continually glorify Him by our works of faith, together with Yourself, O Father, and the blessed Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.

LESSON: PSALM 145

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:14-15

Paul says in Romans that God promised the Gospel beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, “the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:2-4). According to the flesh, then, He had a beginning, but, according to the Spirit, He has existed in eternity, although beforehand this was not clearly recognized.

It was not necessary for us to make a God of Him; we simply declare Him to be God’s Son and accept Him as such. This is also the concern of the Holy Spirit. John says, “When the Spirit of truth comes … He will glorify me” (John 16:13-14).

In another context, the evangelist John writes that Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made” (John 17:1-5).

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PRAYER: Christ Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, through whom the invisible and most high became visible to mortal men, grant that by Your grace and power we may so live on this earth that we never lose the eternal treasure reserved for us in heaven, where You live and reign with the Father and the Sprit, one God, forevermore. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.

LESSON: EPHESIANS 1:3-14

[Jesus Christ] is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20

God has forbidden us to worship any strange gods. Now we are told in John that it is God’s will that His Son should be honored with the honor with which He Himself is honored. John reports Christ’s words to the Jews.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel.

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgement to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:19-23).

These are, I believe, crystal clear words about the deity of Christ. Inasmuch, then, as God commands us to have only one God and to give to no other creature the honor which belongs to God or is God’s due, He nevertheless bestows this honor upon Christ; Christ must be God.

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PRAYER: You have shown us in many clear statements and testimonies, Lord God, that Your Son Jesus Christ is true God and deserving of the full honor of the godhead. Keep us ever mindful of the exalted nature of Your Son, that we may also be thereby encouraged to place all our faith and trust in Him as our Savior and Redeemer, in whose name we also ask this. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.

LESSON: PSALM 110:1-4

He [Christ] reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature. Hebrews 1:3

The Old Testament sets forth many clear testimonies on the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. David says: “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.’” The “right hand” means the royal throne, and this passage indicates that David’s “Lord,” Christ, is a Lord and King over all creatures and that everything is to be subjected to Him (Psalm 110:1).

In another psalm we read: “What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him little less than God and dost crown him with glory and honor. Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea” (Psalm 8:4-8). In other words, God has made Him Lord over the whole world.

The apostle Paul refers to this psalm in Ephesians and Colossians and gives a masterly interpretation of it (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:9-10). If God has set Him at His own right hand and made Him Lord of all things in heaven and on earth, He must be God. He could not sit at God’s right hand and have authority over all creatures if He were not God. For God will not share His glory with any else, as He states in Isaiah 48:11.

So, there are two persons, the Father and the Son, to whom the Father has given as much as He himself has. To sit at God’s right hand means being the equal of God and having authority over all God's creatures. The One to whom this has been assigned must be God.

SL 11:1148 (4)

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as true God together with Your heavenly Father, You are fully worthy of all honor and worship. Open our hearts at all times to the majesty of Your person and the scope of Your authority and power. Grant us this in Your mercy and grace, Lord Jesus, You who live and reign with Your Father and the Spirit, one God, forevermore. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:405-411.