κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

[Jesus said:] Do not think that I came to invalidate the Law or the Prophets. I came not to invalidate but to fulfill (v 17). [Introduction] When we talk about the Gospel, it is good, right, and salutary that we focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus and what it means for you. Why ... you may ask ... is it so important for me to remind you some 70 times a year that there is no other Gospel than this ... Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and he was buried, and he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and he was seen ... (1 Cor 15:3-5a)?  Brothers and sisters in Christ, the answer is quite simple. This is the centerpiece of the Gospel that the Law and the Prophets foretold and Christ fulfilled. The fact that Jesus was pierced for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities means you won’t be. Because Jesus shed his blood in accord with the Law, you are forgiven. Because Jesus was forsaken by our Heavenly Father in ac...

For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of the heavens (v 20). [Prayer] Heavenly Father, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, died for the unrighteous and declared all of humanity righteous by shedding his blood and his resurrection. Grant us the faith to receive this gift of eternal life through your means of grace and enable us to serve You in righteousness ... in Jesus’ name. [Introduction] I’m going to start this by saying something you might find controversial ... America, with its multiculturalism and freedom of religion, could use more scribes and Pharisees. Why? Because if our nation had more scribes and Pharisees, this country would be a more pleasant place to live. In saying that, I am not advocating BY ANY MEANS that we become a scribe or Pharisee. I’m saying ONLY that our world would be a more pleasant place to live with more of them. Think about it, the scribes and Pharisees were well liked. ...

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way ... What are the Ten Commandments? You shall have no other gods. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.  Now, I invite you once again to open your service book, this time to Page 322 and join me in confessing the faithful doctrine of the Close of the Commandments. What does God say about all these commandments? He says, ‘I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me...

  I came ... to fulfill. It’s no wonder that anyone who’s ever wanted to follow Jesus, to get close to Jesus, to be like Jesus, to know Jesus, to understand Jesus, to come to Jesus ... that they have looked to words like those in our Gospel reading today.  Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew Chapter Five comes from the midst of the Sermon on the Mount. There are no words of Jesus that are as revered as these words. Even the world that doesn’t believe in Jesus thinks these words are golden. These words ... all 2,380 or so ... comprise the first and longest discourse of Jesus. More books and articles have been written about these words than any other in the Bible. More sermons have been written on these words than I could imagine. But I promise to give you just one today. Jesus has already done all the heavy lifting.  Jesus has fulfilled them.  In the verses preceding our reading, you can find the beloved Beatitudes. In the words following you can find our beloved Lord...