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From the days of John the Baptizer until now the kingdom of the heavens is itself being forceful, and the violent have seized it (v 12). There was nothing nice and soft about John the Baptizer. He was bold and forceful in everything he said and everything he did. Matthew recorded his first word as Repent! That’s right, Repent! For the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near (3:2). There are not many words that are more forceful than repent.  Like his bold and forceful call for reform, because repentance is reform, there was nothing nice or soft about his appearance. He had long hair and a long beard because he was a Nazirite by birth. That means he never cut it. He arrived along the banks of the Jordan River wearing rough camel hair clothing. His diet was just as wild and rough: grasshoppers and honey; so he was probably a stringy looking man. Yet everyone who was anyone wanted to see and hear him preach, including those of the establishment ... the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Th...

On account of this, I tell you that the Kingdom of God ... will be given to a people producing its fruits (v 43). 1. Please now open your (Lutheran Service Book) to page 324, and join me in confessing our faithful doctrine on the Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer. As the Head of the Family should teach it in a simple way to his household, what is the Second Petition? Thy kingdom come . What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also . How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. 2. Brothers and sisters in Christ, God has been very good to you. Very, very good. The Lord God Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, has created the very best for you. He gave us paradise, and it is very good. He hedged it in to protect us, and it is very ...

Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven, or arise and walk? (v 5) It seems to be such a simple question. Which is easier? Is this a trick question? Which is easier to say? Jesus doesn’t spell out the answer. Which is easier?  For Jesus ... to forgive sins is difficult. He had to die to do that.  At the same time, for you and me, it is also difficult to tell someone paralyzed by sin to rise and walk. So I was definitely impressed by my confirmation class at Trinity in Clinton on Thursday. I asked each of the students this question, and I was pleased to hear all of them say, with little if any hesitation, it is easier to say, your sins are forgiven.   If only we all had such childlike faith to believe this Gospel that Jesus not only has the authority to do this ... he fulfills our most pressing need, forgiving our sins ... that is, sending away the very thing that paralyzes you ... and then having forgiven you, he enables you to do as he says, to be raised and go fo...

[Jesus said,] Come toward me all who are laboring and have been burdened and I will rest you. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me that I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your whole being. For my yoke is good, and my burden is light (vv 28-30). 1. Please note turn to page 326 in our (Lutheran Service Book) and join me in confessing our faithful doctrine on the Office of the Keys.  What is the Office of the Keys? The Office of the Keys is that (unique) authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent . Where is this written? This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22–23) What do you believe according to these words? I be...