Hold onto what you have

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Rev. Paul Rydecki
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Sermon for Midweek of Sexagesima

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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Hear God’s Word in a way that actually saves

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Rev. Paul Rydecki
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2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9  +  Luke 8:4-15

Sometimes I’ll begin a sermon by asking you why you’re here, to get you thinking about it, thinking about why you set aside this time on a Sunday morning to come to Emmanuel (or to tune in to this service online). There are bad and silly reasons to come to church; there are several good reasons to choose from, too. But I hope that one of the main reasons you would give is this: I’ve come to hear God’s Word! Simple! Straightforward! A good answer! Faith comes by hearing! You know that! Sadly, I think fewer and fewer people who identify as Christians would even give that answer anymore, and even more sadly, even if they went to church to hear God’s Word, chances are they wouldn’t hear much of it during a typical service. Such is the state of the external Christian church.

But I’m confident that you, who have been instructed and trained in the Christian faith, would confess that, yes, you’ve come to hear God’s Word. Now, if that’s the case, then hear what Jesus teaches you today about hearing. Hear His warning in the parable of the sower and the seed, that hearing His Word is essential, but that hearing is not enough. You have to hear the Word of God in a way that actually produces fruit. You have to hear in a way that actually saves.

Now, in the parable, which Jesus explains to His disciples who asked Him the meaning, the seed is the Word of God as it is preached. So, first, understand, God doesn’t plant the seed of His Word by dropping Bibles down upon the world. The written Word in the Bible is essential and God-given and our only source of doctrine and our most reliable source of the knowledge of God. But God plants His Word by sending preachers to speak it. To speak it broadly, to toss it out into the world and a sower tosses seed from his pouch. For there to be a harvest, the seed has to be sown. For souls to be saved, the Word of God has to be preached, and people have to hear it.

Let’s make sure right from the beginning that we understand what the “Word of God” is. In one sense, it’s everything in the Bible. But the Word of God that is preached, that lands in the ears of men, and that has the power to create faith and produce fruit is the message of who God is, what He requires of us, and what He has done for us and has promised to do for us. It’s the message of sin and grace, Law and Gospel, the threat of judgment, the call to repentance, and the promise of forgiveness and help through Christ Jesus. It’s the message of the cross. It’s the preacher, sent from God, applying the message of sin and grace to individuals. That is the Word of God that has to be preached, and that people have to hear.

But the Lord describes four kinds of hearing in our Gospel, and three out of four don’t result in a harvest. Three out of four don’t result in salvation for the hearer, not for any defect or ineffectiveness in the seed, but for the condition in which the Word of God is heard. In all three of those cases that don’t result in salvation, there is a common thread: The seeds hits the ground, but it doesn’t take root, and three different reasons are given for that.

The first reason, the first obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell along the walking path. It never penetrates into the ground. Instead, it sits on top and is either trampled by men or plucked away by the birds. Those along the path are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

This is hearing without listening. Hearing without considering, without pondering, without learning. It’s showing up to church and then letting your mind wander to other things. This is also what happens when people hear God’s Word but then they let fallible men, along with the devil himself, come along and trample it and pluck it away. “You can’t believe that Bible stuff! Believe in science! Believe in reason! Fall in line with the rest of the world, not with these religious nuts!” Also in this category would be those who hear God’s Word, not to learn, but to judge. This is how many of the Pharisees heard the word of Jesus, in order to catch Him in a trap, in order to find something to disagree with. Those who listen like that will never send down roots, will never grow, will never produce fruit, will never be saved.

The second obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell on the rock. Those on the rock are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. But they have no root; they believe for a while, and in the time of temptation they fall away.

This is a very common form of hearing the Word of God, common among so many who identify as Christians. They hear the message of sin and of God’s grace in Christ, and it sounds good to them. But it’s all superficial. They are not concerned with growing in grace and in the knowledge of God, with deepening their faith, learning the doctrine of Christ, regularly hearing God’s Word and receiving His Sacraments. They go to church when they feel like it and don’t go when they don’t. They think of themselves as Christians, but they’re not even sure exactly what that means, and that’s okay with them, because, hey, they “believe in Jesus” and that’s enough. The problem is, it won’t be enough, Jesus says, when temptation comes along, or persecution, or the troubles that come with faithfulness to the Word of God. You cannot survive as a believing Christian without being firmly rooted in the Word of God and in the Christian faith. If you remain a superficial believer, you’re tempting God, which He commands people not to do. If you remain a superficial believer, you will fall away.

The third obstacle to the seed taking root and producing a plant that produces fruit, is represented by the seed that fell among the weeds. As for that which fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear and, as they go along, are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to maturity.

This, too, is a common way of hearing God’s Word. You hear it. You believe it. You even desire to grow in it. But as you go along, you let other things take priority, good things, like family and work, or bad things, like indulging in the sinful pleasures of this world. And hearing God’s Word becomes just one task among many, just one activity that has little or nothing to do with how you actually live the rest of your life. And faith is chocked. And love grows cold. And salvation itself is lost to the cares and riches and pleasures of this life.

Now, I want you to understand that Jesus doesn’t tell this parable in a fatalistic way. That is, when you hear God’s Word, you are not at the mercy of the devil. You are not bound to hear it in a bad way. As He kept crying out, Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! The Spirit’s power is in those words! Jesus tells this parable and explains it to you have sought the meaning of it, so that, as you hear, you take it to heart and seek to avoid the obstacles that would prevent the Word of God taking root in you and growing into a mature and healthy Christian. That’s what it means for the seed to fall on good ground. But as for that which fell on the good ground, these are the ones who hear the word with a good and noble heart, hold fast to it, and bear fruit with patience.

So hear with a good and noble heart. Hear and pay attention to God’s Word, and watch out for  the lies of men and of the devil. Hear and make it your priority to study and learn and grow, so that you can withstand all the trials and temptations that will come at you from the devil, the world, and your own sinful flesh. Hear and, instead of letting your earthly life drown out God’s Word, let God’s Word drown out the world. Watch out for the weeds, and if you notice them creeping in, get rid of them quickly.

Hear God’s Word in a way that actually saves. Hold fast to it, and bear fruit with patience, slow and steady, over the years, over the decades, over a lifetime, allowing God’s Word to form you into the image of Christ, letting the love of Christ spill over into your words and actions toward others. Pray for strength, for yourself and others. Make regular worship your priority, as you already have been doing. And when you think of coming to worship, don’t think about what you’re coming to do for God. Think of it as coming to the place, to the field, where God, through the preacher whom He has called, will scatter the seed of His Word into your ears and hearts. And let the people around you know why you go to church. Let them know that you go to hear God’s Word! And let that be true! And then, as always, invite them to go and hear it with you! Amen.

 

 

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