Series A – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – Sunday, September 27, 2020 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:28 | the holy gospel according to saint |
| 0:30 | matthew the 21st |
| 0:31 | chapter |
| 0:32 | [Music] |
| 0:35 | [Applause] |
| 0:40 | when Jesus entered the temple the chief |
| 0:42 | priests and the elders of the people |
| 0:44 | came up to him |
| 0:44 | as he was teaching and said by what |
| 0:47 | authority are you doing these things and |
| 0:49 | who gave you this authority |
| 0:52 | Jesus answered them i will also ask you |
| 0:54 | one question and if you tell me the |
| 0:56 | answer |
| 0:57 | then i will tell you by what authority i |
| 0:59 | do these things |
| 1:00 | the baptism of john from where did it |
| 1:02 | come from heaven or from man |
| 1:05 | and they discussed it among themselves |
| 1:06 | saying well if we say from heaven he |
| 1:08 | will say to us why then did you not |
| 1:09 | believe him but if we say from man we’re |
| 1:12 | afraid of the crowd |
| 1:13 | for they all hold that john was a |
| 1:15 | prophet so they answered Jesus |
| 1:17 | we do not know and he said to them |
| 1:20 | neither will i tell you by what |
| 1:21 | authority |
| 1:22 | i do these things this is the gospel of |
| 1:25 | the lord |
| 1:26 | in the name of Jesus |
| 1:29 | all right in today’s gospel text we need |
| 1:32 | to be reminded of the fact that we’re |
| 1:34 | reading |
| 1:34 | chapter 21 of the gospel of matthew |
| 1:39 | and Jesus has just made his triumphal |
| 1:42 | entry into jerusalem |
| 1:43 | if Jesus’s life were a football season |
| 1:47 | then this text is the playoffs and we |
| 1:50 | are only days away from the super bowl |
| 1:52 | the day that Christ definitively defeats |
| 1:55 | the devil on the cross |
| 1:57 | so the context of what happened earlier |
| 1:59 | in matthew 21 |
| 2:01 | is going to be vital for a proper |
| 2:03 | understanding |
| 2:04 | of today’s gospel so remember it’s holy |
| 2:07 | week and here’s |
| 2:08 | what it says right before our gospel |
| 2:11 | text this is earlier in |
| 2:12 | chapter 21. the disciples went and did |
| 2:15 | as Jesus had directed them |
| 2:17 | they brought the donkey and the colt and |
| 2:19 | put on them their cloaks |
| 2:21 | and he sat on them most of the crowd |
| 2:24 | spread their cloaks on the road |
| 2:25 | and others cut branches from the trees |
| 2:28 | and spread them on the road |
| 2:29 | and the crowds that went before him and |
| 2:31 | that followed him were shouting |
| 2:32 | hosanna to the son of david blessed is |
| 2:35 | he who comes in the name of the lord |
| 2:37 | hosanna in the highest and when he |
| 2:39 | entered jerusalem the whole city was |
| 2:40 | stirred |
| 2:41 | up saying who is this and the crowd said |
| 2:44 | this is the prophet |
| 2:45 | Jesus from nazareth of galilee and Jesus |
| 2:49 | entered the temple |
| 2:50 | drove out all who sold and bought in the |
| 2:52 | temple |
| 2:53 | and he overturned the tables and the |
| 2:54 | money changers and the seats of those |
| 2:57 | who sold |
| 2:57 | pigeons and said to them it is written |
| 3:00 | my house shall be called a house of |
| 3:01 | prayer |
| 3:02 | but you have made it a den of robbers |
| 3:05 | now that last bit Jesus making a cord of |
| 3:08 | whips driving out the money changers we |
| 3:10 | all remember that part of this text |
| 3:12 | that really stands out even somebody who |
| 3:15 | doesn’t attend |
| 3:16 | church much might know about the fact |
| 3:18 | that Jesus drove the money changers out |
| 3:21 | of the temple |
| 3:22 | but what happens next is |
| 3:25 | vital and this is the part that |
| 3:27 | everybody forgets or even doesn’t pay |
| 3:30 | attention to |
| 3:31 | so here’s what happens in fact let me |
| 3:33 | ask you the question |
| 3:34 | let me just put it out here why did |
| 3:37 | Jesus clear out the money changers |
| 3:41 | well in part because they made the |
| 3:44 | temple into a house of commerce right |
| 3:47 | turn it into a business |
| 3:48 | but it’s more than that Jesus needed to |
| 3:50 | make space |
| 3:52 | did you know that listen to what happens |
| 3:54 | next |
| 3:56 | then the blind and the lame came to |
| 3:58 | Jesus |
| 3:59 | in the temple and he healed them |
| 4:02 | so Jesus clears out the money changers |
| 4:05 | and sets up |
| 4:06 | kind of an old school healing revival if |
| 4:09 | you would except for this is a real one |
| 4:11 | all right Jesus isn’t out there |
| 4:13 | pretending to work miracles you know |
| 4:15 | saying to somebody you know you’ve got |
| 4:17 | one leg longer than another maybe if i |
| 4:19 | do you know none of that kind of stuff |
| 4:20 | none of these kind of miracles hey look |
| 4:22 | isn’t that great nothing like that okay |
| 4:26 | instead people who were genuinely blind |
| 4:28 | who were genuinely lame |
| 4:30 | they came to Jesus in the temple and he |
| 4:32 | healed them |
| 4:33 | but when the chief priests and the |
| 4:35 | scribes listen to the sentence it’s a |
| 4:37 | crazy sentence |
| 4:38 | when the chief priests and the scribes |
| 4:40 | saw the wonderful |
| 4:42 | things that Jesus did |
| 4:46 | usually wonderful is considered to be a |
| 4:48 | positive thing |
| 4:50 | right oh what did that person do oh what |
| 4:52 | they did was wonderful it was wonderful |
| 4:55 | the meal that my wife made the other day |
| 4:57 | it was wonderful now there isn’t a meal |
| 4:59 | that my wife makes that isn’t wonderful |
| 5:01 | i |
| 5:02 | my body can attest to this fact but all |
| 5:04 | of that being said usually the word |
| 5:06 | wonderful is a positive thing but the |
| 5:08 | text says the chief priests and the |
| 5:10 | scribes |
| 5:11 | when they saw the wonderful things that |
| 5:13 | Jesus did |
| 5:14 | and the children crying out in the |
| 5:17 | temple |
| 5:18 | hosanna to the son of david you kind of |
| 5:21 | get the picture of what’s going on here |
| 5:23 | right so there’s Jesus a blind man comes |
| 5:26 | to Jesus |
| 5:26 | Jesus i’m blind and Jesus gives him his |
| 5:29 | eyesight back and the guy says i can see |
| 5:32 | i can see and the kids in the temple |
| 5:34 | that’s right Jesus had a bunch of kids |
| 5:36 | in the temple too |
| 5:37 | he opened it up for the sick the lame |
| 5:39 | and children and when the kids saw Jesus |
| 5:41 | perform a miracle |
| 5:42 | they said hosanna the son of david and |
| 5:45 | it was almost like they were saying come |
| 5:47 | on do it again Jesus do it again |
| 5:48 | and so they bring a lame guy to Jesus |
| 5:50 | Jesus makes him walk |
| 5:52 | i can walk and he’s walking on his own |
| 5:53 | steam the kids are going who’s that |
| 5:55 | is the son of david it’s quite the thing |
| 5:58 | going on here |
| 5:59 | it’s wonderful but when the chief |
| 6:02 | priests and the scribes saw this they |
| 6:03 | were indignant |
| 6:05 | and they said to him do you hear what |
| 6:08 | these kids are |
| 6:09 | saying |
| 6:12 | is this a bad thing did i miss something |
| 6:14 | here |
| 6:15 | but these things are wonderful but Jesus |
| 6:18 | said to them yes |
| 6:20 | have you never read out of the mouth of |
| 6:23 | infants |
| 6:24 | and nursing babies you have prepared |
| 6:27 | praise now just that sentence alone |
| 6:32 | should make you wonder there’s a whole |
| 6:33 | bunch of people out there in the |
| 6:35 | visible Christianity saying children |
| 6:38 | cannot make a decision for Jesus they’re |
| 6:40 | not at the age of accountability yet |
| 6:42 | nobody makes a decision for Jesus |
| 6:46 | infant or adult and yet the text says |
| 6:50 | and Jesus said |
| 6:50 | out of the mouths of infants and nursing |
| 6:53 | babies |
| 6:54 | you have prepared praise so |
| 6:57 | let this whole thing sink in for a |
| 6:59 | second we often remember we talk |
| 7:02 | about the fact that Jesus drove out the |
| 7:03 | money changers |
| 7:05 | and many times we mistakenly think that |
| 7:07 | that |
| 7:08 | was the big offense to the chief priest |
| 7:11 | but it wasn’t |
| 7:12 | that was only half of it after driving |
| 7:14 | them out Jesus then |
| 7:16 | invited like we’ve already noted the |
| 7:17 | blind and the lame think of it this way |
| 7:19 | he invited those whom the pharisees |
| 7:22 | claimed were |
| 7:23 | cursed by god and were being punished by |
| 7:26 | god for their sins |
| 7:28 | and rather than rub their noses in their |
| 7:31 | sin and point to their condition as |
| 7:35 | proof of their inadequacies before god |
| 7:38 | Jesus healed them for free |
| 7:42 | you see he drove out the money changers |
| 7:44 | there was no money exchanging hands |
| 7:45 | you’ll notice that Jesus the text says |
| 7:47 | doesn’t say that Jesus then said |
| 7:49 | reach into your money bag and pull out a |
| 7:52 | thousand daenery |
| 7:53 | seed offering and sow it into my |
| 7:56 | ministry and god will risk me bless you |
| 7:58 | a thousand-fold didn’t do anything like |
| 8:00 | that |
| 8:00 | Jesus healed them totally for free |
| 8:04 | and the result of this was that children |
| 8:06 | who witnessed these things |
| 8:07 | these miracles were crying out in |
| 8:10 | worship |
| 8:10 | and praise to Jesus and saying hosanna |
| 8:15 | to the son of david but the chief |
| 8:17 | priests rather than fall on their knees |
| 8:20 | and joining with the children in thanks |
| 8:22 | and praise to god for the miracles that |
| 8:25 | they were privileged to witness |
| 8:27 | that day they responded with indignation |
| 8:32 | with unbelief now all of this by the way |
| 8:35 | occurred on palm sunday |
| 8:37 | now the next morning monday morning |
| 8:40 | Christ returned to the temple again and |
| 8:43 | this time he was confronted by the chief |
| 8:45 | priests |
| 8:46 | and this is where today’s gospel text |
| 8:48 | picks up the story |
| 8:50 | so when Jesus entered the temple this is |
| 8:52 | day two |
| 8:54 | the chief priest and the elders of the |
| 8:56 | people came up to him |
| 8:57 | as he was teaching and said and you can |
| 8:59 | almost see the sour look on their face |
| 9:02 | by what authority are you doing these |
| 9:05 | things who gave you this authority |
| 9:09 | what a stupid question what a completely |
| 9:12 | bone-headed question |
| 9:14 | who gave you this authority now real |
| 9:15 | quick before we go too far |
| 9:17 | let me ask you this question what is |
| 9:19 | authority |
| 9:21 | what is it well |
| 9:24 | when a pastor pronounces an absolution |
| 9:27 | you’ll note in our liturgy it says |
| 9:29 | the pastor speaks these words in the |
| 9:31 | stead and by the command of Christ |
| 9:33 | and by his authority |
| 9:36 | i forgive you all of your sins when he |
| 9:39 | does that he’s |
| 9:40 | exercising an authority that Christ has |
| 9:42 | given to the church |
| 9:44 | so a good way to think about of |
| 9:45 | authority is to think of it as |
| 9:47 | permission right authority is permission |
| 9:50 | if i have authority |
| 9:51 | to enter a restricted zone |
| 9:54 | i have permission from somebody who has |
| 9:58 | the authority to give that to me you |
| 10:00 | know the power right |
| 10:01 | now think of it this way i don’t know if |
| 10:03 | you guys have noticed but |
| 10:05 | china seems to be in the news a lot |
| 10:07 | lately |
| 10:08 | and uh things aren’t going so well with |
| 10:10 | china things are kind of |
| 10:12 | coming to a head you know and so what if |
| 10:15 | i |
| 10:16 | you know citizen rose bro said that’s it |
| 10:18 | i’m calling it |
| 10:20 | we are now declaring war on china |
| 10:23 | i said you guys don’t look at me |
| 10:26 | why are you looking at me like that all |
| 10:28 | right you see |
| 10:30 | if i did that everyone would scoff at me |
| 10:32 | just like you guys are because i do not |
| 10:34 | have the authority to declare war on |
| 10:36 | china |
| 10:37 | remember this through the united states |
| 10:38 | constitution the citizens of the united |
| 10:40 | states |
| 10:41 | have given permission to the u.s |
| 10:43 | congress to declare war |
| 10:45 | so no individual citizen has that |
| 10:47 | authority |
| 10:48 | or the permission to do so so note then |
| 10:52 | that as you read through the gospels |
| 10:54 | Jesus it is noted |
| 10:56 | spoke as one who had authority he had |
| 11:00 | real power real authority real |
| 11:01 | permission to do some really important |
| 11:03 | things |
| 11:04 | so think of it Jesus would talk like |
| 11:06 | this you’ve heard it |
| 11:07 | said but i say you know Jesus was much |
| 11:11 | different than the scribes and the |
| 11:13 | pharisees and the way he taught |
| 11:15 | all right so keep that in mind so the |
| 11:16 | chief priests after watching |
| 11:18 | Jesus drive the money changers out of |
| 11:21 | the temple and then |
| 11:22 | open up the temple to the blind and the |
| 11:24 | lame and then watching Jesus |
| 11:26 | miraculously heal them all |
| 11:28 | and then hearing little children |
| 11:30 | praising god |
| 11:32 | in response to Jesus’s miracles they |
| 11:34 | decided to play |
| 11:36 | dumb |
| 11:40 | and so the next day they asked Jesus who |
| 11:42 | gave him the authority to do |
| 11:44 | these things but it’s obvious |
| 11:47 | who gave Jesus this authority |
| 11:51 | even sherlock holmes could have figured |
| 11:53 | it out quite easily |
| 11:55 | and by the way it’s the first season of |
| 11:56 | the bbc’s sherlock that’s the best |
| 11:59 | the other seasons it goes downhill from |
| 12:01 | there |
| 12:02 | now so it’s obvious you gave Jesus this |
| 12:05 | authority |
| 12:06 | this is the same Jesus who just a few |
| 12:08 | days earlier had raised lazarus from the |
| 12:11 | grave |
| 12:13 | and this is the same Jesus who |
| 12:14 | miraculously gave sight to the two blind |
| 12:17 | men of jericho |
| 12:18 | this is the same Jesus who cast out |
| 12:20 | demons from countless demoniacs |
| 12:22 | gave hearing to the deaf speech to the |
| 12:24 | mute multiplied five loaves and two |
| 12:27 | fishes in the wilderness |
| 12:28 | and fed a multitude and if that wasn’t |
| 12:31 | enough |
| 12:31 | he duplicated that miracle again in |
| 12:34 | another place across the sea of galilee |
| 12:36 | in pagan territory |
| 12:38 | and in all the history of israel think |
| 12:41 | about this you go back into your old |
| 12:42 | testament in all the history of israel |
| 12:44 | there had never been anyone who even |
| 12:47 | came |
| 12:47 | close to Jesus when it comes to |
| 12:50 | miraculous |
| 12:51 | signs and wonders moses |
| 12:54 | was quite significant but in sheer |
| 12:57 | quantity |
| 12:58 | he was nowhere even near Jesus so you’ll |
| 13:01 | note |
| 13:02 | yet even the least of the miracle |
| 13:03 | workers of the old testament the least |
| 13:05 | of them |
| 13:06 | it was obvious that they were all sent |
| 13:09 | by god so the words of the man born |
| 13:12 | blind from the gospel of john chapter 9 |
| 13:15 | whom Jesus healed by making mud |
| 13:17 | and putting it on his eyes and sending |
| 13:19 | him to the pool of siloam |
| 13:20 | he made it painfully clear how obvious |
| 13:23 | it is who gave |
| 13:24 | Jesus the authority to do what he was |
| 13:26 | doing in his |
| 13:27 | rebuke of the pharisees who were |
| 13:31 | listen to the sentence they were |
| 13:32 | interrogating him for being healed |
| 13:38 | let that sink in this is the nature of |
| 13:40 | unbelief |
| 13:42 | this fellow was mining his own business |
| 13:45 | doing what he had always been doing |
| 13:47 | since becoming an adult as a blind man |
| 13:49 | begging for alms |
| 13:50 | Jesus gives him his sight and he |
| 13:53 | is put on trial like he had committed a |
| 13:55 | capital crime |
| 13:58 | so he was being interrogated for being |
| 14:00 | healed the man born blind |
| 14:02 | in reacting to the pharisees claim that |
| 14:03 | they didn’t even know where Jesus came |
| 14:05 | from he said these words |
| 14:07 | why this is an amazing thing you don’t |
| 14:10 | know where Jesus comes from |
| 14:12 | yet he opened my eyes we know that god |
| 14:15 | does not listen to sinners but if anyone |
| 14:16 | is a worshiper of god and does his will |
| 14:18 | god listens to him |
| 14:20 | and never since the world began has it |
| 14:22 | been heard that anyone |
| 14:24 | opened the eyes of a man born blind if |
| 14:27 | this man were not from god |
| 14:29 | he could do nothing |
| 14:36 | it’s pretty obvious right by the way |
| 14:38 | what happened to the fellow after he |
| 14:39 | said that |
| 14:40 | he was excommunicated |
| 14:45 | all right so the problem that the chief |
| 14:48 | priests were suffering from |
| 14:50 | it was not a lack of evidence |
| 14:54 | it was unbelief and you cannot reason |
| 14:58 | with unbelief don’t believe me try to do |
| 15:01 | it on social media see how far you get |
| 15:04 | facebook is so fun right |
| 15:08 | you see it our the small |
| 15:11 | catechism says it this way i believe |
| 15:14 | that i cannot by my own reason or |
| 15:17 | strength believe in Jesus Christ my lord |
| 15:20 | nor can i come to him but the holy |
| 15:22 | spirit has called me by the gospel |
| 15:24 | and the holy spirit has enlightened me |
| 15:26 | with his gifts and sanctified me |
| 15:29 | and kept me in the true faith you can’t |
| 15:32 | reason with unbelief |
| 15:35 | so Jesus doesn’t even try to reason with |
| 15:37 | him |
| 15:38 | instead he takes their their unbelief |
| 15:41 | and he pushes it into the corner |
| 15:42 | and then gives them no way out and gives |
| 15:45 | them no excuse |
| 15:47 | our text says Jesus answered them all |
| 15:49 | right i’ll ask you one question and if |
| 15:50 | you tell me the answer |
| 15:52 | then i also will tell you by what |
| 15:54 | authority i do these things |
| 15:56 | the baptism of john you know john the |
| 15:57 | baptist from where did it come |
| 15:59 | from heaven or from man did god send |
| 16:03 | john the baptist |
| 16:04 | or was this guy just a lunatic who |
| 16:06 | basically sent himself that’s the |
| 16:08 | question |
| 16:09 | but the religious authorities they knew |
| 16:11 | full well that giving an honest answer |
| 16:13 | to this question |
| 16:13 | either way it would indict them and show |
| 16:16 | the world that they were in the wrong |
| 16:18 | so we now hear their deliberations the |
| 16:21 | text says they discuss this amongst |
| 16:23 | themselves saying well if we say |
| 16:24 | he’s from heaven he will say to us then |
| 16:28 | why did you not believe him |
| 16:31 | that’s quite the admission by the way |
| 16:33 | they just admitted |
| 16:34 | they didn’t believe john the baptist was |
| 16:37 | from god |
| 16:39 | but we know he was he was the |
| 16:41 | fulfillment of the old testament |
| 16:43 | prophecy of the one who would prepare |
| 16:45 | the way of the lord |
| 16:46 | and think of it this way john the |
| 16:48 | baptist and these religious authorities |
| 16:50 | they didn’t get on too well did they you |
| 16:53 | see when they showed up to investigate |
| 16:55 | what was going out in the judea |
| 16:57 | going on in the judean wilderness to see |
| 16:59 | what this john the baptist fellow was |
| 17:00 | all |
| 17:01 | all about they show up wearing their |
| 17:03 | uniforms and john the baptist |
| 17:05 | spits a grasshopper leg at him and said |
| 17:07 | who warned you |
| 17:09 | to flee from the fires of hell bear |
| 17:11 | fruit in keeping with repentance |
| 17:13 | and don’t you dare say to me we |
| 17:16 | are sons of abraham god can raise up |
| 17:19 | sons for may of abraham from these rocks |
| 17:22 | these rocks are smarter than you are |
| 17:24 | right so repent |
| 17:26 | they didn’t get on too well but here’s |
| 17:28 | the thing |
| 17:29 | was john wrong about them |
| 17:33 | no these same fellows who didn’t believe |
| 17:36 | that john the baptist was sent from god |
| 17:39 | do they think Jesus is sent from god no |
| 17:43 | you can’t reason with unbelief man these |
| 17:46 | guys are full-blown |
| 17:47 | unbelievers and they’re in charge of the |
| 17:49 | church |
| 17:52 | think about |
| 17:55 | so they admitted they didn’t believe |
| 17:56 | that he was from god from god |
| 17:59 | so the deliberations continue they say |
| 18:01 | well if we say he’s from man |
| 18:03 | we’re afraid of the crowd for they all |
| 18:04 | hold the john was a prophet |
| 18:08 | so if they said he was if they said he |
| 18:11 | was from heaven they’d have to admit |
| 18:12 | john was right writing calling them to |
| 18:13 | repent |
| 18:14 | of their false religion and confess that |
| 18:18 | their works-based religion that they had |
| 18:20 | concocted |
| 18:21 | that and were holding on to that it was |
| 18:23 | FALSE |
| 18:24 | this would have undermined the entire |
| 18:26 | credibility |
| 18:28 | and the perceived authority of their |
| 18:30 | leadership |
| 18:31 | besides we all know this baptism is for |
| 18:34 | newbies |
| 18:35 | it’s for converts it’s for the initiates |
| 18:37 | not the religious |
| 18:38 | experts that they pretended to be |
| 18:42 | yet it’s kind of fascinating if you |
| 18:43 | think about that fact Jesus submitted to |
| 18:45 | john the baptist’s baptism didn’t he |
| 18:49 | and john protested and Jesus said let it |
| 18:53 | be so now |
| 18:54 | in order to fulfill all righteousness |
| 18:57 | Jesus knew that john the baptist was |
| 18:59 | from god |
| 19:00 | but if they said that it was he wasn’t |
| 19:02 | from god it wasn’t from heaven they knew |
| 19:04 | that merely saying those words |
| 19:06 | that they risked their lives and would |
| 19:08 | have been viewed as blasphemers because |
| 19:10 | the everyday |
| 19:11 | israelite believed john the baptist to |
| 19:13 | have been a prophet |
| 19:15 | and the everyday israelite was right but |
| 19:17 | notice |
| 19:18 | that their deliberations again show that |
| 19:20 | they did not believe john was from god |
| 19:22 | so if this were a game of chess |
| 19:26 | Jesus’s question checkmated the chief |
| 19:28 | priests |
| 19:29 | they just lost the game but here’s the |
| 19:32 | thing unbelief doesn’t care |
| 19:35 | unbelief doesn’t ever acknowledge that |
| 19:38 | it’s possible |
| 19:38 | for it to be checkmated unbelief is |
| 19:42 | incredibly resistant to truth |
| 19:45 | unbelief is resilient |
| 19:49 | to the calls to repent so they answered |
| 19:53 | Jesus we don’t know |
| 19:55 | we don’t know so Jesus said to them well |
| 19:57 | neither will i tell you about what |
| 19:58 | authority i do these things |
| 20:01 | then Jesus goes on to say these words |
| 20:03 | truly i say to you |
| 20:06 | let this one sink in for a second truly |
| 20:08 | i say to you and he’s talking to the |
| 20:10 | chief priests here |
| 20:11 | that the tax collectors and the |
| 20:14 | prostitutes are going into the kingdom |
| 20:15 | of god before you are |
| 20:19 | oh those words had to sting you see the |
| 20:22 | tax collectors were the people who were |
| 20:23 | working for the roman empire |
| 20:25 | the the the nation that was occupying |
| 20:29 | israel |
| 20:30 | and putting them under their boot and |
| 20:32 | well i don’t need to tell you that |
| 20:34 | prostitutes aren’t exactly known for |
| 20:36 | their moral standing |
| 20:38 | right so Jesus said to them the tax |
| 20:40 | collectors and the hookers they’re going |
| 20:42 | into the kingdom before you are |
| 20:44 | for john came to you in the way of |
| 20:46 | righteousness |
| 20:47 | and you did not believe him but the tax |
| 20:50 | collectors and the hookers believed him |
| 20:52 | and when you saw it you did not |
| 20:56 | afterwards repent |
| 20:57 | and believe in him |
| 21:01 | he just affirmed that john the baptist |
| 21:02 | was from god |
| 21:04 | and then noted that sinners of all |
| 21:06 | stripes |
| 21:08 | the the most notorious of sinners of all |
| 21:10 | stripes |
| 21:12 | are pardoned and forgiven |
| 21:15 | upon hearing the preaching of john the |
| 21:17 | baptist they repented and believed and |
| 21:18 | they were pardoned |
| 21:20 | by god now before you think this gospel |
| 21:24 | text is merely about |
| 21:25 | them and that you’re nothing like that |
| 21:30 | remember that your old adam my |
| 21:33 | old adam is just as irrational |
| 21:36 | and unbelieving as the chief priests |
| 21:39 | we concoct the same kind of damnable |
| 21:43 | schemes and questions |
| 21:45 | in order to undermine and deny Jesus |
| 21:48 | authority |
| 21:49 | and the authority of the word of god we |
| 21:52 | bristle |
| 21:53 | at the fact that the scripture says that |
| 21:55 | our favored obsession or pursuit |
| 21:57 | or pet sin is in fact sin |
| 22:00 | so what do we do we attack the word of |
| 22:03 | god |
| 22:04 | and we say stupid things like well the |
| 22:06 | bible was made by fallible men therefore |
| 22:08 | i don’t need to believe that the bible |
| 22:09 | has the authority to call me to repent |
| 22:12 | or they’ll say homosexuality can’t |
| 22:15 | really be a sin that’s such a stupid |
| 22:16 | thing because |
| 22:17 | the bible forbids people from eating |
| 22:19 | shellfish i saw you eating lobster last |
| 22:21 | night |
| 22:23 | this is how they talk right or |
| 22:28 | we play games and we say things like |
| 22:31 | listen baptism i know the bible says it |
| 22:34 | washes away sins but |
| 22:35 | baptism can’t wash away sins and |
| 22:38 | believing otherwise that’s silly |
| 22:40 | it’s ridiculous in our modern age or we |
| 22:42 | say that you know it’s superstitious to |
| 22:44 | believe |
| 22:45 | that the lord’s supper that there’s the |
| 22:48 | body and blood of Christ |
| 22:49 | that’s that’s silly even though Jesus |
| 22:51 | said those words |
| 22:53 | you see these are perfect examples of |
| 22:56 | sinful |
| 22:57 | unbelief acting as if it knows better |
| 23:00 | than Jesus |
| 23:02 | knows better than the word of god over |
| 23:06 | and again this unbelief is nothing short |
| 23:08 | of idolatry |
| 23:09 | and is usually preceded with these |
| 23:12 | foolish words |
| 23:13 | well the Jesus i believe in would never |
| 23:16 | blank the Jesus i believe in would never |
| 23:21 | send anybody |
| 23:22 | to hell well when you start talking like |
| 23:25 | that it’s clear that |
| 23:27 | that Jesus is not the real Jesus and |
| 23:29 | that Jesus |
| 23:31 | not only has zero authority that Jesus |
| 23:34 | has |
| 23:35 | zero existence and that Jesus cannot |
| 23:38 | save you |
| 23:40 | so it’s time for us to over and again |
| 23:43 | repent of all of our trick questions |
| 23:46 | that are designed to undermine |
| 23:48 | and challenge Jesus’s authority and his |
| 23:51 | word |
| 23:52 | and put away all those clever tactics |
| 23:54 | and games of unbelief |
| 23:56 | and return to the simple faith that is |
| 23:59 | found and revealed in scripture |
| 24:01 | and is laid out for us even so |
| 24:03 | succinctly in the catechism |
| 24:05 | this simple faith will not make you |
| 24:07 | appear to be the smartest person in the |
| 24:09 | room |
| 24:11 | far from it you’re going to know i do |
| 24:12 | not have any honorary doctorates from |
| 24:14 | any |
| 24:16 | places you know any religious |
| 24:18 | institutions there’s kind of a reason |
| 24:20 | for that you see this kind of simple |
| 24:22 | faith doesn’t make you look smart |
| 24:24 | to the world it makes you look foolish |
| 24:27 | all right so i assure you though |
| 24:32 | ins instead that |
| 24:35 | this simple faith will assure you that |
| 24:37 | all of your sins are bled for |
| 24:39 | and that you’ve been united with Christ |
| 24:42 | in the waters of baptism |
| 24:44 | and that you have been forgiven and |
| 24:46 | justified and given eternal life as a |
| 24:48 | gift by grace |
| 24:50 | through faith and more importantly |
| 24:52 | you’ll know that Christ has the |
| 24:54 | authority to lay down his life |
| 24:56 | for your sins and he also had the |
| 24:58 | authority to pick it up again and rise |
| 25:00 | from the grave |
| 25:02 | and that no one no human being or demon |
| 25:07 | has the authority to snatch you out of |
| 25:09 | Christ’s hands |
| 25:11 | that’s the important bit you are bled |
| 25:14 | for died for |
| 25:14 | and forgiven even forgiven of all your |
| 25:16 | silly little |
| 25:18 | games of unbelief |
| 25:21 | so ezekiel asked the question why would |
| 25:24 | you die |
| 25:25 | o house of israel says yahweh through |
| 25:28 | the |
| 25:28 | for pleasure in the death of anyone |
| 25:31 | declares yahweh elohim |
| 25:33 | so turn and live |
| 25:37 | trust the lord of your baptism and you |
| 25:39 | will live |
| 25:40 | he is authorized by the father to save |
| 25:43 | you |
| 25:44 | and he has done it so stop trusting in |
| 25:47 | yourself |
| 25:48 | in your clever intellectual games trust |
| 25:51 | Jesus |
| 25:52 | in the name of Jesus amen |
| If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening. |
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