κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

When Jesus saw their corrupted thoughts, he said, ‘Why do you reflect on wickedness in your hearts?  [Catechism] For the past month, we’ve been walking through the Ten Commandments. Given our Gospel reading from Matthew 9, we continue that journey today.  Please turn now to Page 321 in your [Lutheran Service Book], and join me in confessing our faithful doctrine on the Fifth Commandment. As the Head of the Family should teach them in a simple way to his household. What is the Fifth Commandment? You shall not murder (Ex 20:13, Dt 5:17 ESV). What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we may not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. 5. It would seem the Fifth Commandment ... Don’t commit murder ... is the easiest of the Ten to keep. I mean, how hard can it be?  In Missouri, there are only two degrees of murder. Both include “knowingly causing the death of another person.” ... So don’t choose a victim. Don’t cho...

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them, saying, ‘What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The [son] of David.’ He said to them, ‘How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet’? If then David calls him Lord, how is [he] his son?’ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor was anyone bold enough from that day to question him any longer (vv 41-46). [Introduction] What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he? These were the questions Jesus asked the Pharisees after they tried to interrogate him. And they are fundamental questions we need to be able to answer reverently and correctly. The Pharisees did not answer the first question. But we will. The answer they gave to the second question ... Whose son is he? ... was faithless. Theirs was incomplete. Christ is not just David’s Son. He is not just an heir to the thr...

And it came to pass, [Jesus] entered into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees during the Sabbath to eat bread, and they were scrutinizing him. And behold, one man with edema was before him. In response to this, Jesus said to the law experts and Pharisees, ‘Is it permissible during the Sabbath to give therapy or not?’ But they were silent. And having received [the man], [Jesus] healed and dismissed him. And to [the Pharisees and law experts he said, ‘Which of you, [when your] son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him up during the Sabbath day?’ And they did not have the strength to answer against these things (vv 1-6). [Prayer] We thank you, Heavenly Father, that you have given us time to hear your Holy Word. Grant that in fear and love of you, we may set aside our work to receive your gifts and be refreshed and renewed with your peace and quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [Catechism] The last two weeks we turned our devotional focus toward th...

Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of YHWH in your mouth is truth’ (v 24). [Prayer] Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from ear to heart, and heart to lip, and lip to life that, it may achieve the purpose for which you give it, through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [Catechism] Last week we focused on the first commandment, the one of the heart: You shall have no other gods before [above or in addition to YHWH] . This week we turn to the second commandment, which our Large Catechism says leads us forward and directs us to the mouth and tongue of God: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God . Please turn now to page 321 in your service book, and let’s remember what th...