YouTube -- 7th Sunday after Epiphany (February 23, 2025)

Here is the Divine Service from Sunday, February 23, 2025.

Sermon -- 7th Sunday after Epiphany (February 26, 2025)

LUKE 6:27-38

LOVE GOES BEYOND CONVENIENCE.

In the name + of Jesus.

      In our Catechism Class, we talk about two different ways we sin against God’s Commandments.  They are sins of commission and sins of omission.  Sins of commission are done when you commit the sin against God’s Commandment.  For example, when you tell a lie about someone, that is an act of wickedness.  You have committed the sin.  This is usually what we think of when we speak about sins.  We think of actions that we have taken which go against God’s will.

     Sins of omission, on the other hand, are when we omit the good that God wants us to do.  So, you may not have told a lie about someone, but what if you did not defend the reputation of the person who was being lied about?  That means you did not do good toward that person when you should have.  These are sins, too, and we are right to confess both: “I have done what is evil (sins of commission), and I have failed to do what is good (sins of omission).”

     The Gospel reading for this week highlights our sins of omission.  Jesus said, “I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you.  Pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other too.  If someone takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt” (Luke 6:27-29).  We fail to do what is good because we think that we are excused if we don’t.  It is easy to come up with reasons why we don’t do what Jesus tells us to do.  “My enemy doesn’t deserve it.  People who mistreat me should be cursed, not blessed.  I have a gesture for people who hate me, and it is not prayer.  Why would I turn the other cheek to the one who strikes me?  I am going to hit back, and harder!” 

     We are often blind to the sins we commit against others, but we have an acute sense of justice when we are wronged.  What’s worse is that we seem to be eager to accuse others of wronging us.  Forget about someone taking your cloak and then letting them have your shirt as well.  We become offended over things that are far more petty.  “That guy stole my parking spot.  Someone took the last piece of dessert.  I can’t believe they are making me wait.”  Rather than graciously overlooking these things, we act as if these are grave sins and the height of disrespect.  And then, we want justice.  Actually, we want revenge.  If anyone causes us suffering, we want them to suffer worse.  Anger produces hatred.  Hatred incites violence.  But we call it justice.  And then we have the nerve to claim what good people we are.  Repent.

     Love goes beyond convenience.  Love does not depend upon who people are or how they treat us.  Love does one thing: It seeks the good of other people.  Love goes beyond convenience.  Jesus knows what a convenient love looks like.  He says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  To be sure, even the sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even the sinners do the same thing.  If you lend to those from whom you expect to be repaid, what credit is that to you?  Even the sinners lend to sinners in order to be paid back in full.  Instead, love your enemies, do good and lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:32-35).  

     It is convenient to love those who will love you back.  It is easy to lend to those you know will repay you.  It is convenient to care for people who are grateful and will praise you for your acts of kindness.  Even if your acts of kindness are done anonymously, you are willing to do them because you expect others will gush over your charity. 

     So, what about those who don’t appreciate it or won’t acknowledge it?  How long do we have to put up with that?  Should it matter?  In theory, you might say your love would persist.  In practice?  Such love runs dry very quickly.  But Jesus tells you not to omit the love for your fellow man even when it is hard.  Love goes beyond convenience.  It seeks the good of people whether they are successful or destitute.  It seeks the good of people whether they are well-mannered or crude.  It seeks the good of people whether they are friend or foe.  It seeks the good of people who will respond in kind, who won’t respond at all, or who will respond with obscenities and insults.  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  To be sure, even the sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).  Love does not care what the other person does.  Love only gives.  It does not seek compensation.  Love goes beyond convenience.

     Consider our Old Testament lesson and the love that Joseph demonstrated toward his brothers.  You might recall how their jealousy led to a plot to kill him.  Cooler heads prevailed, but not loving hearts.  They sold Joseph into slavery.  Through a course of events, Joseph had an encounter with Pharaoh which resulted in him being put in charge of the distribution of food during a seven-year famine.  Joseph’s brothers had to come to Egypt to get food during this famine.  Joseph was in a position to exact revenge on his brothers.  No one would have stopped him, and no one would have blamed him.  You could make a strong case that anything he did to them would be justice.  What his brothers did to him was evil, and Joseph did not hesitate to say so.  But Joseph believed that what his brothers needed from him was not justice, but mercy.  Joseph demonstrated an amazing love toward his brothers and their families.  It was not because they deserved it.  It is because it was needed.  Love is not driven by whether someone is worthy or not.  Love is given freely by the one who loves.  And love goes beyond convenience.

     Jesus’ teaching exposes our sinfulness.  He shows us that we are not like God.  Jesus said that “the Most High … is kind to the unthankful and the evil” (Luke 6:35).  It does not matter to God that we are sinners.  “God is love” (1 John 4:16), and so God loves freely, even upon those who are ignorant, ungrateful, or hostile.  Jesus taught the Golden Rule: “Treat others just as you would want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31).  That sounds good, but our love is conditional.  We do not love others the way we would want them to love us; we love others only so far as they love us back.  We omit the good we are supposed to do because we regard such love as risky or dangerous or a waste of our efforts.  But love goes beyond convenience.

     Our Lord Jesus did not just talk about this love.  We can all talk about it, but it is another thing entirely to practice what you preach.  Jesus did both.  Jesus did love his enemies.  Jesus prayed for those who persecuted him, who betrayed him, and who denied him.  Jesus did good to all people, even when he was vilified for it.  Jesus demonstrated mercy to well-known sinners because he knew they did not need to have their sins rubbed in their face.  They needed to have their sins taken away.  Jesus came to do just that.  When his enemies struck him in the face, Jesus offered to them his other cheek also.  He even allowed his enemies to pull his beard and spit in his face.  When they took his cloak, Jesus allowed them to cast lots for his tunic so that he died on the cross completely exposed. 

     As Jesus was enduring the shame of crucifixion and the torment of God’s wrath for our sins, his enemies mocked him.  “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!  …He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him” (Matthew 27:40-41).  Jesus would have had every right to come off the cross and declare, “You know what?  You people are not worth it.  You deserve what you will get for your stubborn unbelief and loveless hearts.  I’m done.”  But he did not.  Even if they withheld their love from him, Jesus would not withhold his.

     He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  Rather, Jesus was treated as our sins deserve.  His love went far beyond convenience.  Like his heavenly Father, Jesus “is kind to the unthankful and the evil” (Luke 6:35).  So, rather than rub our sins in our face, he took them away.  Rather than execute justice and condemn us, Jesus was executed and condemned in our place.  For our lack of mercy, for our slowness to forgive, and for our cold and conditional love, Jesus poured out limitless love, immeasurable mercy, and full forgiveness.  This is not because it is deserved, but because it is needed.  Love goes beyond convenience.

     As our Lord has shown such love and mercy to us, we get to demonstrate that same love and mercy to others.  Love always seeks what is good for others, even if they are unthankful and evil.  But don’t confuse love for your fellow man with acceptance of everything he might do.  When people argue that love means accepting their sins, they like to quote this Bible verse, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37).  They may not know much about the Bible, but they know that verse.  It is intended to shut you up about sins.

     But the reality is you cannot go through life without making judgments.  There are certain things that are good or evil.  If you hear about a murder, you don’t throw your hands up and say, “Who are we to judge?”  No, murder is evil.  Judgments are necessary, but the question is, “By what standard are you making your judgment?”  The only standard that matters is the one used by the one who will judge the living and the dead, Jesus Christ.  The Lord tells us what is good and right versus what is wicked and wrong.  So, we let God remain the judge, and we will agree with him.  Even if God’s judgment shows me I am wrong, I acknowledge that God is right.  I confess my sin, and I repent.  So, when God shows me that I love my fellow man with strings attached, then I repent and put aside my pettiness.  Love means I will view my fellow man with compassion.  Out of love for him, I am not only allowed to call sins evil, I am supposed to.  But love means my goal is not to rub his sins in his face.  My goal is to show him his need for the Savior who died to set people free from their sins.  By doing so, I am seeking the highest good of my fellow man.  That is how the heavenly Father has treated you and me.

      Love goes beyond convenience.  We do not take it upon ourselves to get vengeance upon the wicked; we leave that to our Lord.  Rather than focus on how we are wronged by our fellow man, we focus on how we are loved and saved by Jesus.  We rejoice in the mercies of our Lord, and we are eager for others to know this mercy too.  They will learn of God’s mercies as they see that mercy shown by you.  It may not be convenient.  It is certainly not deserved.  But it is good.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

YouTube -- 7th Sunday after Epiphany (February 20, 2022)

Here is the service from February 20, 2022.

Sermon -- 7th Sunday after Epiphany (February 20, 2022)

LUKE 6:27-38

BE MERCIFUL, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Some of the sayings of Jesus are hard.  Our Gospel lesson is one of them.  One of the lessons highlighted in Jesus’ words is this: We are not like God.  Jesus said, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).  The phrase, “As your Father is,” convicts us.  We rejoice that our Father in heaven is merciful.  If we are children of our heavenly Father, we are supposed to be like him: “As your Father is.”  But we discover quickly that we are not.

     When we think of people who reject the word of the Lord and don’t want to do what God says, we are quick to think of unbelievers.  But Jesus’ words expose our sinful stubbornness.  How warmly did you embrace Jesus’ words when you heard them?  Or did you rather come up with excuses why you are not going to do what Jesus said?  Let’s review: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back” (Luke 6:27-30). 

     Which was your response?  “Amen”?  “Thanks be to God”?  Or “Come on; you’ve got to be kidding?!”  I know what my response is.  “If I do that, people will walk all over me.”  “Why should I give away what I’ve worked hard for?”  “How can I love people who are cruel?  Why should I bless those who vilify me?  And if they keep on vilifying me, will I really keep on blessing and praying for them?  Guess again!”  If we are to call Jesus, “Lord,” then it would be rebellious to tell him, “No, I’m not going to do what you say.”

     Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  “Even as your Father is.”  We do not live up to that.  We confess that we bear his name, and we are right to do so because we have been baptized into him.  If we are children of the Most High God, we ought to act like he does.  But we do not.  We do not forgive freely.  We do not give without expecting repayment.  We would rather slap the other cheek than offer up our own.  We fantasize about harm coming to those who hate us rather than praying for them and blessing them.  “Even as our Father is”?  We are not worthy of the name.  Repent.

     But the Lord does not withdraw his name from us.  Our place in his kingdom is not based on our performance in it.  How could it be?  No one is “Even as our Father is.”  Our place in his kingdom is based on the fact that God is most merciful to us.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  He sent Jesus to be treated as our sins deserve.  Jesus not only preached these hard words, he lived up to them.  When he was reviled, insulted, and falsely accused, he did not respond in kind.  He silently absorbed the abuse and prayed for those who persecuted him.  When he was beaten and punched by soldiers, he fulfilled what Isaiah said he would do: “I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.  But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:6-7).  Jesus entrusted himself to his merciful Father to vindicate him.  When Jesus’ enemies took his cloak, he also let them take his tunic.  Stripped of his undergarment, Jesus was nailed to the cross exposed.  He died a merciless death to pay for every time we withheld mercy from others.  He was condemned for our judging other people as unworthy of our time, our compassion, and our attention.  Your Lord is merciful.  Because of his mercy, you have forgiveness for your sins.

     In fact, our Lord’s mercy is super-abundant.  Jesus tells us how richly God blesses us with his mercy and forgiveness.  He says, “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:38).  The image is of someone who comes with a bushel basket to be filled with grain.  After the grain is poured into the basket, he shakes the basket to make the grain settle.  Then more is put in.  He shakes it and presses down on it.  More is added, and it even overflows.  This is the mercy the Lord has upon us.  We confess our sins to God; for we never measure up to his standards.  When we confess our sins, we never hear God utter in disgust, “AGAIN?!?!”  He continues to pour out his mercy upon us.  He forgives our sins and is faithful to his promises.  Your Father in heaven is, indeed, merciful.

     Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  “Even as your Father is.”  We are usually willing to forgive people because we think they deserve it, or because they can pay us back for the damage they have done.  But that is not mercy at all.  In fact, there is nothing special about that kind of love.  Therefore, Jesus challenges us: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:32-35).  

     Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  The Father’s mercy is extravagant.  It is absurd.  He has mercy on those who hate him, those who attack him, and those who deny him.  Jesus’ death on the cross paid for all the sins of all the sinners.  Sadly, by rejecting the word of the Lord, many also reject the decree of forgiveness and they do not receive the Lord’s salvation.  No one is condemned because God is stingy with his mercy.  God’s mercy is poured out beyond what is needed.  Much of it is wasted and abused.  But see how merciful he is!  His mercy will always be greater than your sins.  Therefore, you are always in good standing with the Lord.  Your sins are forgiven.  Your salvation is sure.

     Now, you are children of the Most High God.  As children of the heavenly Father, your goal is to be like him.  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.  The mercy which spills over from God spills over from us to others.  Forgiveness can be given freely and generously.  For, you lose nothing by being merciful even as your Father is no poorer for graciously giving you all things.

     But mercy is not the same as turning a blind eye to wickedness.  It is true that Jesus said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37).  Sinners seem to know that verse very well, and people use it to defend their sins.  Planet Fitness boasts that they are a judgment-free zone, which makes them appealing to others.  Several churches also have adopted that slogan.  But it is impossible to go through life judgment-free.  If someone slaps you on the cheek, it is not okay.  Violence, abuse, and insulting words are always wrong.  That is a judgment, and few would say that you are wrong.  Jesus does urge us to turn and offer the other cheek rather than retaliate and escalate the anger.  But he does not to say to put up with it because there is nothing wrong with it.

     Judgment is not the problem.  The problem is whose judgment is being made.  Man’s judgment favors himself.  Ask any team that loses and they will tell you how the refs cheated them.  God’s judgment, however, is always true.  He has entrusted all judgment to Jesus Christ.  Since Jesus will judge the living and the dead, we had better be sure that our judgment aligns with Jesus’ words.  Jesus did not turn a blind eye to sins.  He preached, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  Now, if people are told to repent, that means they are under a judgment of guilt over sins for which they must repent. 

     We do not do people any favors by pretending that sins are okay.  If we speak, we let God’s word make the judgment for us.  That way, our Lord remains the judge.  But even when we urge people to repent of their sins, we can be merciful.  We know what it is to find temptations attractive.  We know what it is to be seduced by the devil and the world.  We know what it is to bear guilt over sins.  We are superior to no one.  We dare not judge anyone to be unworthy of God’s word or his forgiveness.  Think of how Jesus interacted with the prostitutes and tax collectors.  He did not turn a blind eye to their sins, but neither did he shoo them away because they were too filthy or too far gone for him.  The Pharisees treated them that way, but not Jesus.

     The Pharisees were good at judging and condemning.  The Pharisees always branded people according to their sins.  Now, it may be true that they were guilty of the sins the Pharisees noted.  But to keep tattooing people with their sins will drive them deeper into despair and further from the kingdom of God.  Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful.  “For he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:36).  The Father sent Jesus because he chose not to look upon people according to their sins, but acted in mercy according to their needs.  Jesus was sent not to condemn, but to save.  People will not be rescued from drowning in a sea of sins by tying an anchor to them, but by giving them a life-preserver which is Jesus’ mercy and by bringing them into the ark of the Christian Church.  Everyone you ever meet is a person for whom the Father sent a Savior into the world.  Everyone you ever meet is a person for whom Jesus bled and died.  Everyone is a person upon whom the Lord desires to have mercy.  Therefore, be merciful to them, even as the Father is merciful to you. 

     Granted, it may not always be easy to be merciful.  Some people will test your patience.  Some will be annoying, obnoxious, and crude.  Some people may even persist in their sin and unbelief.  Do they not need your kindness, patience, and mercy all the more?  If they will be saved, God will do that through his word.  And if they must be judged and condemned, God will do that through his word, too.

     You may find it hard to do what Jesus says the children of God do.  Some people will make it especially hard to do it.  Your heavenly Father, however, seeks the good and the salvation of all.  He wants to be merciful and to forgive.  And finally, this is what saves you.  You are not forgiven because you are so good at forgiving others.  You are forgiven because you have a Savior who has taken away your condemnation.  His mercy overflows to you.  Be merciful, therefore.  For the Father is most merciful.  He saves sinners, and the abundance of his mercy rightly spills over from you to other sinners who need it.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.