LutheranLectionary.org

Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:17	hello today let’s talk about your
0:21	identity the text before us is Matthew
0:25	1.041666667
0:27	14-30 introduction
0:30	by the year of his death in ad. 155
0:34	Pastor polycarp was 86 years old he was
0:37	the bishop of Smyrna a city in what is
0:40	now turkey and polycarp was probably the
0:43	last surviving person to have known an
0:45	apostle of Christ personally he had been
0:48	a Protegé of the Beloved Apostle
0:51	John the early church had often faced
0:54	persecution in the middle of the 2
0:56	century polycarp was charged with the
0:59	crime of atheism that meant that he
1:02	would not worship Caesar as a God for
1:06	that reason he was called an atheist by
1:08	the Roman proconsul and was sentenced to
1:11	death but polycarp was a kind gentle and
1:15	amiable old man and it seemed that no
1:18	one really wanted to kill him what
1:20	follows is an excerpt of an account
1:23	written by an eyewitness it recounts the
1:26	dialogue that polycarp had with the
1:28	proconsul who was responsible for his
1:33	martyrdom the proconsul urged him harder
1:37	take the oath and I’ll let you go curse
1:42	Christ for 86 years I have served him
1:46	and he never did me any wrong said
1:48	polycarp how can I blaspheme my king who
1:52	saved me when the proc counil kept
1:55	insisting swear by the divine power of
1:58	Caesar polycarp answered if you vainly
2:03	suppose that I will swear by the divine
2:05	power of Caesar as you say and if you
2:08	pretend that you do not know who I am
2:10	then listen
2:11	plainly I am a Christian and if you wish
2:16	to learn the Christian message arrange a
2:19	meeting and give me a
2:21	hearing I have wild animals the proc
2:24	counsel said I’ll throw you to them
2:27	unless you change your mind
2:31	call them in polycarp
2:34	replied for we are not allowed to change
2:37	from something better to something
2:40	worse Scorn the wild beasts I’ll have
2:43	you burned alive if you do not change
2:46	your mind polycarp said you threaten
2:50	with fire that for a short a short time
2:53	Burns and is soon
2:55	quenched you do not know about the fire
2:58	of the coming judgment and eternal
3:00	punishment that awaits the
3:03	wicked but why are you waiting
3:06	come do what you
3:09	will the eyewitness continued polycarp
3:12	radiated courage and joy as he said
3:15	these things and many other things not
3:18	only did his face show no sign of
3:20	distress it was so full of grace that
3:22	the proconsul was
3:25	astonished and he sent his Herald into
3:27	the middle of the Arena three times to
3:29	announce polycarp has declared that he
3:33	is a
3:35	Christian beloved today’s Gospel lesson
3:40	is a parable that Jesus told about a man
3:43	who had an identity
3:45	crisis polycarp knew his identity he was
3:49	a
3:50	Christian but the fellow in the parable
3:53	did not know who he was and he did not
3:55	know whose he was because he did not
3:58	know his master or himself he was a
4:02	truly tragic
4:05	figure point one the Master’s
4:09	generosity Jesus begins the parable by
4:12	telling us about a most wise and
4:14	generous Master he brought his servants
4:17	together and he entrusted his
4:19	possessions to them he gave each of them
4:22	a gift to one he gave five talents to
4:25	the next he gave two talents to the last
4:27	he gave one Talent now here’s the
4:30	surprise a talent is a measure of weight
4:36	75 lbs to be precise so to the first
4:41	servant the master gave
4:44	375 lounds of what I suspect was gold
4:50	approximately $12
4:52	million worth the second servant to him
4:57	the master gave 150b of gold gold
5:00	approximately $5 million worth and to
5:03	the third servant the master gave 75 lb
5:06	of gold approximately
5:09	2.4
5:10	Million
5:13	worth the first point that Jesus is
5:15	making is
5:16	obvious this master is incredibly
5:20	gracious he’s glad to share his precious
5:23	possessions and entrust them and their
5:26	management into the hands of his
5:29	servants
5:30	each one is given more value than he can
5:32	possibly
5:33	imagine the second point is that the
5:35	master also is wise enough to know the
5:38	ability of each one of his servants so
5:40	he entrusts the correct amount into the
5:43	hands of each one in that way they each
5:46	have enough to become a great success
5:49	but not so much that they become a great
5:52	failure the master has not given one
5:54	less because he dislikes him more than
5:57	the other but because the master is wise
6:00	and fair to them all finally Jesus is
6:05	showing us that the master made sure
6:07	that the servants never needed to worry
6:11	what they must do in order to get a
6:14	great gift but instead what they could
6:17	do with the great gift that they already
6:20	had been
6:22	given point two the servants response
6:27	the parable continues with each of the
6:29	servants going away to manage the
6:32	treasures that they each had been
6:35	given presumably by now each one has
6:37	already learned that his master is by
6:39	nature kind and generous for the master
6:43	has given them the chance of a lifetime
6:45	ENT trusting them with Incredible wealth
6:49	and truly incredible
6:52	opportunity they can trust their Master
6:56	also it’s clear that their Master trusts
6:59	them them he looks upon them with
7:02	confidence believing that they will do
7:04	their best to keep the faith that he has
7:06	entrusted to them they will use their
7:09	varied abilities and strengths to bring
7:11	blessing to their Master even as their
7:15	master has blessed each of
7:17	them but you remember the parable that
7:20	Jesus taught he explained that though
7:23	one servant traded and made five more
7:26	talents and the next servant gained two
7:28	more talents
7:29	the third servant did not act
7:33	accordingly Jesus draws our eye to that
7:36	third servant so that we will notice his
7:39	unwillingness to use his gift the third
7:42	servant becomes the focus of our
7:43	attention because he literally buries
7:48	his gift he hides his master’s
7:51	money when the master returns each
7:54	servant comes to present the master with
7:57	the results of his efforts the first
7:59	servant has made five more talents the
8:02	second servant has made two more talents
8:05	but the third
8:06	servant well he has a different
8:09	response he has not used his gift at
8:14	all he has not increased it in the least
8:17	but notice he does not apologize he does
8:20	not assume any responsibility nor any
8:23	blame for his lack of
8:26	effort instead he actually blames his
8:31	master
8:32	master I knew you to be a hard
8:36	man
8:37	really I don’t think we’ve seen that in
8:40	fact we’ve seen just the opposite the
8:42	master has been kind and generous but
8:46	the third servant
8:48	continues well I was
8:50	afraid I went away and hid your talent
8:52	in the ground see here you have what’s
8:58	yours it’s almost as if the third
9:00	servant is saying the blame is not mine
9:04	the blame is yours it’s your fault that
9:06	I did nothing with
9:08	it I imagin the master thinking now wait
9:11	a minute if I’m so scary why are you
9:15	speaking to me with such
9:18	disrespect and if I’m such a hard
9:21	Master why did you not at least invest
9:23	my gift so that I would receive some
9:26	interest no you see I think something
9:29	more is going on
9:32	here point three lost
9:36	identity a story is told of a young man
9:40	who got involved with
9:42	drugs then he became associated with
9:44	some fellows who were stealing in order
9:46	to pay for their drugs the young man
9:48	fell in with them and when they were
9:51	caught he was sent to prison
9:55	too after his sentence was served and he
9:58	was released he had had no idea where he
10:01	would go or what he would
10:03	do but a storekeeper in the town offered
10:08	him a job
10:11	wow what a
10:12	gift he could work in the store as a
10:15	stock clerk and after a number of years
10:18	the young man had proven himself to be
10:20	so trustworthy he had become the
10:22	assistant manager of the store but then
10:26	the unthinkable happened the store was
10:29	robbed the safe was broken and a whole
10:32	week’s profit was stolen the young man
10:35	thought he would surely be accused and
10:38	after all he had been a thief himself he
10:40	had broken safes he had stolen money he
10:44	was so scared and so angry and so
10:46	confused he he just decided to run away
10:50	but the storekeeper spoke to him
10:54	no stay here wait it out I will St stand
10:59	with you everything will be all
11:03	right it was a terribly long week but
11:06	eventually the real thieves were caught
11:10	and the young man breathed a huge sigh
11:12	of relief the shopkeeper said to him I
11:15	am so glad that you did not run away and
11:18	the young man said how could I I
11:20	remember the gift that you gave me when
11:23	you first hired me you’re the only one
11:26	who has ever trusted me
11:30	in much the same way the first two
11:32	servants in the parable acted Faithfully
11:35	because of their Master’s trust in
11:38	them they knew who they were because
11:41	they knew whose they were they had a
11:44	sure and strong identity because of the
11:48	gifts and because of the trust that
11:51	their Master had given to
11:53	them but you see I think that the third
11:56	servant never really knew his Master he
12:00	had a false understanding of his
12:02	master’s identity and the third servant
12:05	had a false understanding of his own
12:07	identity he rejected his master and
12:10	ultimately was removed from the master’s
12:15	presence
12:17	conclusion in the year 155 ad a pastor
12:22	named
12:23	polycarp was martyred for his faith
12:27	polycarp had no doubt about his identity
12:29	he knew who he was because he knew whose
12:33	he was I am a Christian he boldly
12:37	declared I believe in Jesus Christ now
12:42	if you want to learn more just ask me a
12:44	question if you want me to die for my
12:47	faith then bring out the
12:51	Lions today Jesus taught us about
12:53	another man one who was unsure about his
12:56	master and unsure about himself his
12:58	identity was uncertain he did not trust
13:01	his master he did not trust himself here
13:05	is the meaning of the
13:07	parable this is a story about
13:11	salvation Jesus teaches that salvation
13:15	is not a question about what you must do
13:18	to get the gift it is a question of what
13:21	you will do with the gift you already
13:24	have been given and it’s not about the
13:27	question have you done enough
13:29	but instead have you done
13:32	anything do you serve because you trust
13:36	the master who trusted you or do you
13:38	fear and hate the master and refuse to
13:41	serve him at
13:45	all Jeffrey Gibbs in his wonderful
13:48	commentary the Concordia commentary on
13:52	Matthew suggests an alternate ending to
13:55	this Parable the first servant came to
13:57	the master and he said Lord you
14:00	entrusted me with five talents and I
14:02	have gained you five more but Lord there
14:05	is so much more I could have
14:09	done I know child said the master but
14:13	well done good and faithful
14:16	servant enter the joy of your master the
14:20	next servant came forward and he said
14:21	Lord you entrusted me with two talents
14:23	and and I have gained two more but Lord
14:26	I was tempted and foolish and could have
14:29	done so much
14:30	better I know child I remember every
14:34	time that you failed said the master but
14:39	well done good and faithful servant
14:43	enter the joy of your master if only the
14:46	third servant had confessed his weakness
14:49	and trusted his master if only his
14:52	identity had been secure in the trust
14:55	and the love that his master had for him
15:01	the parable
15:02	teaches that you already have received
15:06	weighty gifts from God you have received
15:10	forgiveness and mercy life and love and
15:14	salvation by grace through faith your
15:17	identity is secure because it was given
15:21	to you as a gift by the one who loves
15:23	you and saves you because of his cross
15:26	and his death and his resurrection
15:29	for you your salvation is never based
15:32	upon how much you do but is based upon
15:36	all that he has already done for you so
15:41	you respond with faith and trust in the
15:43	one who has entrusted his gifts of grace
15:46	to you
15:49	why because you are a
15:52	Christian and that is
15:54	your
15:57	identity amen