Each Day in the Word, Thursday, February 16th 

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 12:13-44

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.

And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. 22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. 23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

But after that no one dared question Him.

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

And the common people heard Him gladly.

38 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

A question is posed to Jesus, by the Pharisees, about paying taxes to Caesar. They were scheming to get the Lord to admit to paying the tax, that way they could say He was not really the Messiah — because the Messiah would not hold allegiance with Caesar. The irony in this, however, comes later when, in order to get the Lord Jesus crucified, they themselves claim they have no king but Caesar.

The Sadducees similarly try a scheme of their own. They question Jesus about the resurrection — something they do not even believe in. They only read the Torah, the five books of Moses, and disregarded the rest of the Word of God. Just as He did with the devil in the wilderness when he was tempting Him, the Lord Jesus refutes the Sadducees with the proper use of God’s Word. He is the God of the living. Even after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were many years in the grave, they were still living in Heaven when the Lord spoke to Moses.

As Scripture reveals Scripture, this explains how the Son of David can be the Lord of David, because David was still living in Heaven. The Lord Jesus was Lord over David because He was both God and man. He was the Son who was the Lord. And by His sacrifice on the tree of the cross (which He made holy through His precious blood) He made sin, death, and the devil—His enemies— to serve as His footstool and give you freedom from their power over you. Thanks be to God, indeed!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

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Hold onto what you have

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Rev. Paul Rydecki
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Revelation 2:18-29

Tonight we come to the fourth letter from Jesus to His seven churches in Asia Minor, to the angel of the church in Thyatira. The situation in Thyatira sounds more or less similar to that of the church in Pergamum, which we heard about last week. As we look at this evening’s letter, we’ll note this specific emphasis, that faithfulness to Christ includes watching out for false doctrine and guarding against sinful seduction.

The letter begins, as always, with a part of the vision of Jesus Himself that John saw in chapter 1. Here he highlights the fact that Jesus has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like bronze. He wants this pastor, and us, to remember that, as true God and true Man, He sees all things, knows all things. Nothing is hidden from His sight. He also wants this pastor, and us, to remember that His feet are like bronze, that is, His rule over all things, since “all things have been placed under His feet,” is absolute. He isn’t malleable. He doesn’t tread lightly on His enemies.

This Jesus has words of high praise for the pastor of the church in Thyatira. I know your works, and your love, and your service, and your faith, and your patience, and that your last works are more than your first. Unlike the pastor in Ephesus, who had abandoned his first love, this pastor retains it. He is no detached lecturer on pure doctrine. No, he loves the Lord and the Lord’s people and shows it with his works of love. He watches over the flock as one who serves, not as one who rules. He patiently endures trials. And, like a healthy branch growing on a vine, he is producing more and more fruit, more good works than at first.

But not all is well. I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. If you recall from last week, Pergamum’s pastor was allowing his members to be deceived by outsiders, to be dragged off and seduced to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. This pastor’s members are also being seduced to do the same things, but by a woman within the congregation.

Jesus names her Jezebel, almost certainly a figurative name, because she resembled the wicked queen Jezebel from the Old Testament, the wife of Ahab. She seduced countless people in the northern kingdom of Israel to join with her in her adultery and idolatry. She opposed the prophet Elijah and tried to kill him. She succeeded in killing many of the Lord’s less famous prophets. But in the end, she was thrown down from a window, and the dogs ate her flesh, as the Lord had prophesied about her.

The woman in Thyatira called herself a prophetess. Notice, Jesus doesn’t call her that. He never sent her. She claimed to have special, direct revelations from God, but Jesus later calls her supposed revelations “the deep things of Satan.” Those claims of direct access to God allowed her to teach whatever she wanted under the guise of “God’s Word,” which is what false teachers often do. Sure, the Bible says, “You shall not commit adultery,” but I’ve been told by God that certain forms of sexual activity are actually pleasing to God! She successfully led many of Jesus’ servants astray. And Jesus holds the pastor in Thyatira partially responsible, because he allowed her to spread these false teachings within his church without preaching against her and without disciplining her or excommunicating her. It’s the pastor’s job to do that. The pastor isn’t responsible for the sins that are committed outside his church or for the doctrine that’s preached outside his church and fellowship. But he has the divinely given responsibility to deal with false doctrine and sinful practices that are being spread among his flock.

Now, even a false prophetess like this who was committing such grievous sins and leading others to commit them wasn’t immediately punished by Jesus. He says, I gave her time to repent of her fornication, and she has not repented. So, Jesus informs her pastor of what He is about to do. I will cast her into a bed, that is, a sick bed, a bed of suffering. The very place where she practiced her sexual sins will become her place of suffering. And those who commit adultery with her I will cast into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches will know that I am he who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts.

Now, does this sound at all like the Jesus our world talks about today? Like the Jesus from the Super Bowl commercials, who “gets us”? Far from it! Today’s false prophets depict a Jesus who is just pure love and acceptance of everyone, who would never dare punish someone or threaten someone! In fact, the Jesus who is taught in most “Christian” churches around the world is happy to let people pursue whatever sexual desires make them happy, because all He really wants is for them to be “happy” and to be “themselves.” It actually sounds a lot like what Jezebel was teaching, doesn’t it?

But the real Jesus threatens severe consequences for those who live in these sins. I will give to each one of you according to your works. Now, no one’s works are good enough to save him from condemnation and hell. Outside of Christ, there is no one who does good. But when we are justified by faith in Christ, we are reborn and set free to do the things that please God, with the help of His Holy Spirit. When we do those things, God promises glory, honor, and peace. But those who insist on doing evil, without repentance, will be repaid with evil from God.

But I say to you, that is, to the rest of you in Thyatira, to all who do not have this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they say: I will place no other burden on you. Only hold onto what you have until I come. Here Jesus specifically addresses the rest of the congregation in Thyatira, the innocent members of the church who were not engaged with Jezebel. He doesn’t hold the innocent responsible for the sins of the guilty. You’ll notice, He also doesn’t call upon them to change the world around them. He simply calls upon them to “hold onto what you have,” the Word and doctrine of God, the holy Sacraments, Spirit-wrought faith, and the love that flows from it. Hold onto it, He says. Don’t let anyone move you from it. It’ll be enough to sustain you until I come.

Then Jesus promises two gifts to the one who overcomes and perseveres until the end: As for the one who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; like vessels of clay, they will be shattered, as I have received from my Father. The first gift is the authority to reign with Christ, to share in His authority. Right now, the nations seem to have far too much authority over God’s people, and they certainly abuse it. But in the end, when Christ comes, those who have remained faithful to Him will be the ones ruling.

The second promise: And I will give him the morning star. What does the morning star symbolize? At the end of Revelation, Jesus says, “I am the bright morning star.” He promises to give us Himself. What more could we ask?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

So what is the Spirit saying to our church in particular in this letter that He would have us hear? His praise of the pastor in Thyatira certainly teaches us about the things He desires to see in the ministers of His Church: love, service, faith, patience, and growth in good works. Those are things that Christians should find in their pastors, and things that all godly pastors should strive for. Just notice, it’s Jesus who rightly critiques and criticizes the pastor. He never called on churches to form committees to evaluate and review their called servants’ performance, as many churches (not ours) regularly engage in.

What about the rebuke and warning in this letter? There’s the rebuke of the pastor for tolerating Jezebel’s false teaching and sinful seduction within the congregation. There’s the rebuke of Jezebel herself, and of all who followed her into false belief and into the sins of idolatry and adultery. Those are warnings for us to keep watching out for anyone who would spread false teaching among us, who would encourage us to participate with the world in its sexual sins and in its many forms of idolatry. In particular, Jezebel’s presumption in calling herself a prophetess, claiming direct revelation from God, is a serious problem in today’s churches, where people claim that the Holy Spirit is moving among them, that God is moving among them in some sort of “revival” or something. There’s some of that going on right now, in fact. But we need to hold onto what we have in the sure Word of God and watch out for those who would put obstacles in our way.

As for being seduced into sexual immorality, see how seriously God opposes it in His Word, both for the sins themselves, and because adultery and idolatry go hand in hand. People worship the creature instead of the Creator. Their passions and desires become their gods. We have to be continually on guard against such sins in this corrupt world and in these corrupt times, and Christians have to constantly remember that the culture around us not something to get wrapped up in or to go along with. We are called to be holy people in an unholy world, and also to be humble people in a prideful world. So even as you avoid sexual immorality and idolatry, also avoid boasting about how holy you are, and avoid ridiculing those who are unholy!

Remember, Jesus doesn’t command you to “change the world” or to “fix society” or to “create a slice of heaven on earth.” He doesn’t command you to transform the world. He commands you not to be conformed to it, but rather to be transformed by the renewing of your minds. So watch out for false doctrine and deal with it, if it enters our church in any form. And hold onto the deposit of pure doctrine, of true faith that is accompanied by love and the other virtues. When Jesus comes, you will have a reward, if He finds you still persevering in repentance and faith. May God grant it, for Jesus’ sake! Amen.

 

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Each Day in the Word, Wednesday, February 15th  

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 11:1-33

11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”

6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

And His disciples heard it.

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Lord knows that it is not the season for figs, but the Lord is hungry and decides to use the opportunity to teach. He sees a fig tree with no figs on it and then He curses the tree. This would seem odd to any reader at first. However, there is something hidden in Jesus’ words.  The temple in Jerusalem is located at both ends of this text regarding the fig tree, for Jesus visits the temple before and after the scene. With this in mind, the curse spoken against the fig tree, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again,” is really a curse against the temple in Jerusalem..

Upon His return to the temple the Lord drives out the money changers — the ones who were using the sins of mankind as a means to make a profit. They were profiting off of man’s misery, even though most people just considered them to be providing a service.

The Lord was preparing the way for the true Temple — the Temple of His Body — which will provide the one and only sacrifice needed for the full atonement of all sins. Salvation is revealed only in Christ’s sacrifice for you on the cross. Those who buy and sell forgiveness contradict God’s truth, cause confusion, take the focus off of Christ, and are frauds. They will be held accountable for such false teachings. Salvation is a free gift, given through Holy Baptism and the other means of grace, to all those who flee in faith to God’s Mercy Seat, promised through the One who is just that, Christ Jesus! He is the One who has made full payment for your sins. No other payment can be made (or purchased). Praised God who has supplied the way of refuge and peace through faith in His only begotten Son!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

 

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Each Day in the Word, Tuesday, February 14th

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 10:32-53

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.

Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

You are presented with two very different (somewhat contrasting) scenes after Jesus instructs His disciples in what was about to happen to Him. In the first scene, James and John request that they be given the highest seats of authority in the kingdom — to sit on the Lord’s left and right. They seek power and authority.

Yet again, man’s flesh does not comprehend the spiritual things of God! They have no idea what they are asking. Man’d flesh will ever wrestle with the understanding of God working through crosses (or suffering). To sit with the Lord Jesus means to endure His suffering and pain, His mocking and scourging. Oh, they will, indeed, drink this cup of the Lord, even though it is not what they expect to happen.

The second scene involves a blind man, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. What is his request of the Lord? It is not a fleshly request for glory or fame, but a spiritual petition from the New Man for mercy. He cries out with a loud voice until his prayer is answered, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Bartimaeus suffers blindness as a result of being conceived and born into the darkness of this world full of sin.

James and John, in their spiritual darkness, ask for something fleshly that cannot be given to them. Bartimaeus with eyes of faith, however, sees the Lord Jesus as the source of light. Not only is He the source of light which cures Bartimaeus’ blindness, but He shines in this dark world to conquer sin through His life, death and resurrection, enlightening all those who believe on Him. Rejoice that you are among those enlightened!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Each Day in the Word, Monday, February 13th

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Tom and Karen Klumb

Mark 10:1-31

10 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

2 The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.

3 And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”

5 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. 11 So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Usually when you hear someone quoting the passage “for with God all things are possible” it is meant to imply what great things that individual can do if he just has God working for him (because they take it out of context). When you read this verse in context, however, it is not talking about God making possible what mankind does — rather, it is about salvation!

Only God can save! Mankind cannot do anything that will bring him salvation. Obeying the Commandments cannot do it.   That’s why confessional Lutheran’s are so blessed to have the explanation to the Third Article professed through their lips: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel.” Not even selling all you have and giving it to the poor can do it. With mankind, salvation is impossible, period! But with God, salvation is possible.

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself and became man so that the impossible task of fulfilling the Commandments might be accomplished for mankind (this is called His ‘active obedience’). He even humbled Himself further by selling all that He had, even His very life, to suffer our punishment on the tree of the holy cross to atone for the breaking of the Commandments by all mankind (this is called His ‘passive obedience’). On account of the merits and work of Christ we, believers, now have treasure in Heaven, an eternal life with our Redeemer and all the saints. This why Christ the crucified is the focal point of the Christian Church. His scars are glorious in our eyes of faith!

Let us pray: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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