Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Luke 10:38-11:13

³⁸ Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

² So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

⁵ And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? ⁸ I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Martha busies herself with meal preparation while Mary busies herself with the word of Jesus. By telling Martha that her sister has chosen the good part that won’t be taken from her, Jesus is not condemning household duties, meal preparation, and the things of this life. He teaching her that “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Martha is worried worried about earthly food at the moment when the the Lord, Bread of Life Himself, is sitting in her home teaching the words of eternal life. Far from diminishing service to one’s neighbor, Jesus teaches Martha to prioritize His Word when it is preached and taught.

At another time, Jesus disciples approach Him and ask to be taught how to pray. Jesus teaches them to ask their Father in heaven for everything they need, including daily bread. However, before He  teaches them to pray for daily bread He teaches them to pray for the good part that Mary chose. He teaches them to pray that God’s name be hallowed, which means that His Word is taught purely and correctly and that they live holy lives according it. He teaches them to pray that God’s kingdom comes—that God give them His Holy Spirit so that they may believe and live godly lives. He teaches them to pray that God’s will be done—that God would strengthen and keep them in His Word and faith until the end. They also ask for forgiveness, the strength to overcome every temptation, and protection from every evil according to God’s will.

Jesus teaches us to prioritize His Word, for we do not live by bread alone, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. He teaches us to pray for everything we need, especially the Holy Spirit, since it is only by His Spirit that we believe His Holy Word and live holy lives according to it. If we, who are evil by nature, know how to give good things to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father gives us the Holy Spirit through His Word?

Let us pray: Give us Your Holy Spirit, heavenly Father, that we may steadfastly hear Your holy Word, confidently believe it, and live holy lives according to it. Amen

Luke 10:1-22

10 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. ² Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. ³ Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. ⁵ But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. ⁸ Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. ⁹ And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹² But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. ¹⁶ He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

¹⁷ Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

¹⁸ And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

²¹ In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²² All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Jesus sends the seventy disciples to prepare His way in the cities and places where He was about to go. He gives them authority to heal sickness, cast out demons, and trample on Satan’s agents. The casting out of demons is a visible manifestation that the kingdom of God has come to them. It is also a visible manifestation of what the seventy’s preaching does in the hearts of those who hear and believe. The gospel that the kingdom of God draws near in Jesus frees men from the kingdom and tyranny of the devil. The gospel dislodges demons and brings the Holy Spirit to dwell in men’s hearts. It forgives sins and removes them as far as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). It unburdens consciences, brings peace, and empowers believers to live a holy life.

When the seventy return they rejoice in the fact that the demons are subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus tells them what He saw during their ministry. “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Whenever the gospel is preached and believed, Satan falls from his position as accuser of men before God. Those who are freed from the devil’s accusations for their sins can join with the voice which says in Revelation 12:10, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

The seventy are to rejoice, not in the fact that the demons are subject to them in Jesus’ name, but that their names are written in heaven. Christ has revealed God the Father to them and His will that they believe in Christ and have freedom from the devil and victory over temptation in His name. For as awe-inspiring as the ability to cast out demons is, it is but a picture of what Christ does for them—and all who believe the gospel—each day. Through faith in the gospel Satan falls from heaven and his accusations can harm us no longer.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, increase our faith in the gospel so that we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven and be victorious over every temptation. Amen.

Luke 9:28-62

²⁸ Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. ³³ Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” ³⁶ When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

³⁷ Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. ³⁸ Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. ⁴⁰ So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹ Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

⁴³ And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.

But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

⁴⁶ Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

⁴⁹ Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

⁵¹ Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵² and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

⁵⁵ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

⁵⁷ Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

⁵⁹ Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”

⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Today’s reading covers several events that, at first glance, seem unconnected. After Jesus’ transfiguration His disciples are unable to cast out a demon, argue about who among them is the greatest, complain about those who act in Christ’s name without being of the Twelve, and want to retaliate against those who won’t receive their Lord. Then several double-minded men approach Jesus, desiring to be his disciples.

The thread that connects each of these events is the work of  the devil. A demon possesses a boy and Jesus casts out the demon. The devil tempts the disciples to conceit and puffing themselves up over against their brothers. Jesus destroys this thinking by teaching humility. “He who is least among you all will be great.” The devil tempts the disciples to conceit against those whom Jesus hasn’t called to be His apostles and against those who refuse to receive Jesus. In all these temptations, the disciples forget the manner of spirit they are of. Jesus has called them to a spirit of service , humility, and gentleness. The devil tempted the doubled-minded at the end of the chapter to conceit as well, so that they imagined they could follow Christ on their own terms. But such double-mindedness makes one unfit for the kingdom of God, just as the desire to honor oneself over others makes one unfit for the kingdom.

The spirit of service, humility, and gentleness to which Jesus has called them is the spirit in which He serves us. “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” To save men’s lives from the power of the devil, He will be betrayed into the hands of men. There is no conceit in Jesus. Although He possesses divine glory as God’s only-begotten beloved Son, He humbles himself to the point of death so that He might atone for the world’s sins and destroy the works of the devil in those who repent of their sins and believe in Him. Receiving His humble service offered in the gospel, we put aside the temptation to conceit and humbly serve our neighbors as Christ serves us.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, destroy the subtle works of the devil in us, and create is us a single-minded spirit of service, humility, and gentleness toward others. Amen.

Revelation 2:8-11

⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹ “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

¹¹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead but now lives, warns the faithful that they are about to suffer for the Faith. They have already suffered tribulation and poverty (although they are rich in spiritual blessings). Now the devil will whip up the Jews of Smyrna to persecute them so that some are imprisoned. The devil does this easily because the Jews are of his synagogue. They think they are God’s people—Abraham’s seed—but do not believe God’s promise as Abraham did or do his works. Instead they do the work of their father, the devil.

Even if these Christians’ imprisonment ends with their executions, the saints are to be faithful until death. The one who is faithful until death will not be hurt by the second death—the eternal suffering and condemnation of Hell.

Christ strengthens them for their imprisonment and the possibility of death by reminding them of who He is. “These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.” Their Lord Jesus Christ was faithful until death. He did not succumb to the devil’s temptations. He did not give up in the face of persecution from the synagogue of Satan. He was faithful in the midst of temptation, suffering, and death to pay for the sins of the world. He gives the crown of life to all who remain faithful to His promises, endure persecution, temptation, and tribulation, by the strength the Holy Spirit gives.

The Lord uses the devil’s temptations and the world’s persecutions to test all Christians. Though the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh mean to destroy our faith, God works all things for the good of those who love Him. Temptations and tribulations try our faith, patience, and perseverance and show the genuineness of our faith. This encourages us in our weakness. It strengthens others to steadfastness. It glorifies God whose strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Let us pray: O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, forever and ever. Amen.