 |
|
|
 |
|
Matthew 7:28-29 The Authority of Jesus 28 And
when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Jesus was not merely a wise teacher, but He speaks with the voice of God. Our Lord and Savior addresses us in the Sermon on the Mount. He declares us blessed and calls us to be lights of the world because we are
enlightened by His Word. I pray: Blessed Lord, grant that I may hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest Your Holy Word. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis,
MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1593. The Holy Bible: English Standard
Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 7:28–29.
Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) Build Your House on the Rock 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And
the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Jesus begins this sermon
by declaring that God blesses the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, and those who are hungry for God’s saving righteousness (5:3–12). These are the ones who receive Jesus and His teaching with understanding (cf 13:23). Saving faith in Jesus
is living and active, eager to do what He says. “Good works certainly and without doubt follow true faith” (FC Ep IV 6). Jesus concludes His sermon by picturing the secure future guaranteed to the wise disciple who hears His words and does them.
I pray: Jesus, my Teacher, and Master, bless my hearing and doing of Your Word. Amen.[1]
Luke 7:21-23 I Never Knew You 21 “Not everyone who says
to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ [1] One of the things that is heart breaking is that many people think that they are going to heaven and their not. This is not my opinion, but the words of Jesus Christ. We are
all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. God wants us to repent of our sins and to turn away from them. Many say they believe in Jesus, but do not repent or turn away. As noted in the Lutheran Study Bible, “Jesus describes the
fate of the false prophets as it will be revealed on Judgment Day. Christ will condemn those who call attention to their own works and expect God to receive them into heaven on that basis. On the other hand, those who are saved will be surprised to hear Jesus
call attention to their good works (cf 25:37–39). God regards those works as good that give evidence of saving faith in Jesus, our Lord.” I pray: I Lord, when I appear before Your throne, Your righteousness shall be my crown.”
Amen.
Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV) A Tree and Its Fruit 15 “Beware
of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs
from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Sorry
about yesterday, I was in the hospital and my mind was not working. I laugh at the things I said! If I had written something, it probably would not have been theologically correct. My mind is working today after a lot of antibiotics. Just
as there are two ways, the good and the bad, so there are two kinds of prophets. One can identify false prophets by what they teach, especially by what they teach about the person and mission of Jesus. Luth: “You must hold on to the chief part, the summary,
of Christian teaching and accept nothing else: That God has sent and given Christ, His Son, and that only through Him does He forgive us all our sins, justify and save us” (AE 21:254). I pray: Preserve me, O Lord, from all false prophets who would take away my trust for salvation in You alone. Amen.[1]
Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV) A Tree and Its Fruit 15 “Beware
of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs
from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Just
as there are two ways, the good and the bad, so there are two kinds of prophets. One can identify false prophets by what they teach, especially by what they teach about the person and mission of Jesus. Luth: “You must hold on to the chief part, the summary,
of Christian teaching and accept nothing else: That God has sent and given Christ, His Son, and that only through Him does He forgive us all our sins, justify and save us” (AE 21:254). I pray: Preserve me, O Lord, from all false prophets who would take away my trust for salvation in You alone. Amen.[1]
You liked this page
|
|
|
|
|
|