The Ninth Sunday after
Trinity, 2012
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10
AM Central Time
The Hymn # 628 Shepherd of
Tender Youth 3:74
The Confession
of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The
Gospel
Glory be to
Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon
Hymn #283 God’s Word 3:90
A Difficult Lesson
The Communion
Hymn # 175 When I 3:93
The Preface p.
24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 50 Lord Dismiss Us 3:86
KJV 1 Corinthians 10:1
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all
baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same
spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with
many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not
lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
KJV Luke 16:1 And he said
also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and
the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called
him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of
thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said
within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the
stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do,
that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their
houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and
said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An
hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down
quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou?
And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill,
and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he
had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser
than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of
the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into
everlasting habitations.
Ninth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast bountifully given us Thy
blessing and our daily bread: We beseech Thee, preserve us from covetousness,
and so quicken our hearts that we willingly share Thy blessed gifts with our
needy brethren; that we may be found faithful stewards of Thy gifts, and abide
in Thy grace when we shall be removed from our stewardship, and shall come
before Thy judgment, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and
reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
A Difficult Lesson
This lesson proves how difficult a parable can be –
impossible for the unbeliever to discern.
Human reason looks at the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward
and says, “This teaches me that I can buy my way into heaven.”
That is why Luther said it must be taught correctly or the
monks and priests would make a lot of money from it.
And that is exactly what has happened among the Lutherans
today.
First we have to understand the meaning of mammon. This
parable is about mammon rather than money itself. Money is a tool for exchange,
something the Greeks under Alexander realized. Rather than hoard gold, as the
ancient rulers did, they coined it to pay for expenses and buy war goods.
Mammon refers to that money which is in excess of normal
needs – food, housing, and clothing.
So the parable seems to say, “Make friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness and you can be welcomed into heaven.”
Luther found people easily drawn into despair over works,
because that was all they learned from the Medieval Church. This parable is
ideal for teaching the wrong lesson.
KJV Luke 16:1 And he said
also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and
the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
First, it needs to be
emphasized that this steward was an unbeliever. He is called unrighteous or
unjust in the parable. His actions are not commended at all, but his shrewdness
is. This can be called an example of arguing from the lesser to the major,
typical in Judaism.
If a dishonest, bad,
unbelieving steward can be so shrewd that he saves his own job, then how much
more should believers be clever in the use of their resources, especially in
taking care of their neighbors and the poor?
The steward is the business
manager of a large family estate. He takes care of all the daily routines and
manages the money. This steward did not do his job well. It was not a matter of
bad luck. “He wasted his goods.” Someone had discovered the dishonesty and
reported him to the wealthy man. “The same was accused unto him”
Lenski:
In his masterly way Jesus places the essentials before us
with a few simple words: the rich man and the dishonest steward. This man’s
business was extensive; he employed a general manager with full power to handle
all affairs as we see from his dealings in v. 5–7, and the values of his
affairs were large. Jesus at once places us into a typically worldly atmosphere
which is unlike that of the preceding parables. This steward is crooked—nothing
new in managers who have powers like his.
Lenski, R. C. H.: The
Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing
House, 1961, S. 823.
2 And he called him, and
said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy
stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
This is not an investigation but a firing – not “Did it
happen?” But “How did it happen?”
The steward has to close the books, give an account of his
management. The steward has one last bit of work to do before he is sent into
unemployment.
3 Then the steward said
within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the
stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do,
that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their
houses.
This is a bit of humor built
into the story. The manager quickly assesses what he has to do because:
- I cannot dig for a living.
- I am ashamed to beg.
As a fired manager, his
prospects are not good, especially since he has probably been living high on
the hog and enjoying a high profile.
But immediately he has a
plan so that he can get another similar plan. He is not going to waste his
energy in sorrow and regret.
5 So he called every one
of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest
thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto
him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to
another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat.
And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
For anyone taught about
honesty, this is a shock. He has already wasted his employer’s money. Now the
manager is reducing the goods owed to the owner – as a final effort in keeping
employed (rather than turning over a new leaf and being a good manager).
The men owing the money are
bound to be pleased by this, since the reductions are considerable. One
receives a 50% discount. Another, 20%. The two mentioned are just samples of
the many who owe the master. He called “every one of his lord’s debtors.”
8 And the lord commended
the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world
are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
Jesus did not say anyone was
a believer or a good person in this parable. The master is shrewd, so he
immediately appreciates the cleverness of his servant.
It reminds me of two dog
breeds we watch over – the Cattle Dog and the German Shepherd. Sassy is a combination of both, and both are known
for “independent thinking.” That is exasperating at times, but also something
to admire. Once Sassy realized that I did not always lock her kennel door, she
began pushing it out each time, to check. Sometimes it is shut but not locked,
to keep Precious from stealing her food. Most of the time I lock it so we can
go out for a time and not worry about her separation anxiety. She is calmer in
her kennel. Sassy knows the implication of each trip. The post office ends in the
dog park, so going to the post office is exciting. Dairy Queen does not imply dog
park, so she is much quieter and calmly waits for her treat at the end. If
I touch an envelope or packing tape, I am going to the post office, so that
means dog park and lots of happy barking. Shrewdly, she looks out the window,
to indicate how much she wants to go to the dog park. Once outside early in the
morning, at 100 degrees, she is not eager to go anywhere.
If someone wants a working
dog, does he want a shrewd, independent one who is more trouble but capable of
solving problems? Or does he want a cute but passive lap dog?
Shrewdness is the issue in
the parable. What is the approach that is admired? What is being criticized?
These two are shrewd in business. The owner does not want someone so clever
going over to his rivals and favoring them in a deal…again. The owner is shrewd
so admires that quality.
9 And I say unto you,
Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye
fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
There is an interesting
parallel, not obvious in the English. The previous verse calls him, literally,
the steward of unrighteousness, which emphasizes his status as an unbeliever.
So the steward of
unrighteousness made friends using the mammon of unrighteousness. Jesus is
saying – Look at how the unbelievers are careful about their resources. The
steward used his position to stay in his job. The owner had a right to fire the
man in anger, but saw more to be gained in keeping him.
Therefore, if the
unbelievers are wise, the believers should also be wise in the same way.
The mammon of
unrighteousness is not “ill gotten gains” but simply extra wealth. But how
convenient it would be to say to a Mafia member or a crooked businessman, “Now
you have this mammon of unrighteousness. Make friends by building this new
college chapel or library. We will put your name on it so everyone knows what a
fine fellow you really are.”
Luther makes a great point
of showing how the Planned Giving Counselors of his age built more
institutions, more churches, while leaving the poor to starve in the streets.
The lesson ends with Jesus
saying, in effect, “When money no longer matters, and you enter eternal life,
the people you helped will speak up for your good works that followed faith. If
mammon can be used to keep a job or build even more wealth, then mammon can
also be used to help people in various ways.”
There is a great contrast
out there today, which I experience daily. One on hand is the false idea that
money will build the church. People pray for grants, because a foundation will
answer their needs. Church bodies fling millions of dollars at projects because
that will make it work. Congregations spend millions to fix up their buildings
because people will attend if they look prettier. Long ago I saw Babtist figures
for spending money on evangelism. Based on ad campaigns, if everyone saw the
slogan, they would reach millions with their clever slogan, which was either “I
found it” or another phrase.
And yet I see congregations
with millions to spend, but they have to urge their members to buy chicken
wings at one particular business to make more money. There is never enough.
Some people recognized long
ago that a congregation relying on rummage sales, and government subsidies, and
insurance goods will still be poor. It is unlike the steward, who was “ashamed
to beg.” Commercialism, government programs, and “grants” for “free” ads are a
message saying to everyone, “We can’t or won’t support ourselves. We need you to
do God’s work for us.”
In contrast, I have seen a
few people spending a few dollars to get some important works about Lutheran
doctrine out in public.
The healthy (sound) doctrine
of the Bible is our most precious treasure. Shrewd people value that treasure,
knowing that it is not lost by being shared.
Many books are quite
expensive. I saw a first edition of Twain for $40,000 but a first edition of Harry
Potter was $160,000. A set of Luther’s sermons can be bought for a few dollars,
a catechism for even less. I bought a few remaining catechisms from one author.
The one remaining went up in price to $80. However, some people have put together
scans so everyone can have (and study) the early catechisms for free.
It depends on what we value.
People say they want the best
for their children, but they do not spend what matters most – their time – with
their children. And they do not give them the best literature to read, the best
doctrine to study, to best music to enjoy.
It is not very shrewd to
waste money on expensive fads that go away when quality is long-lasting and
inexpensive.
1. This parable does not teach us how one should cheat
another; for Christ calls him an unrighteous steward, and numbers him among the
children of this world, therefore his wisdom is praised, not his unrighteous
dealings.
2. Spiritual wisdom distributes temporal
possessions to those who need them, and in their place Christ welcomes the
givers into the eternal tabernacle. For he himself says, Matthew 10:20:
“Whosoever giveth a cup of cold water unto one of the least of these my
disciples in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise
lose his reward,” an. d in the day of judgment he will say, “Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me.” Matthew 25:40.
I. FAITH ALONE MAKES US GOOD, AND FRIENDS OF GOD.
4. The foundation must be maintained without
wavering, that faith without any works, without any merit, reconciles man to
God and makes him good, as Paul says to the Romans 3:21-22: “But now apart from
the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
unto all them that believe.” Paul at another place, Romans 4:9, says: “To
Abraham, his faith was reckoned for righteousness;” so also with us.
Again, 5: “Being therefore justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, 10:10: “For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.” These, and many more similar passages, we must firmly hold and
trust in them immovably, so that to faith alone without any assistance of works,
is attributed the forgiveness of sins and our justification.
5. Take for an illustration the parable of Christ
in Matthew 7:17: “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Here you see that the fruit does not
make the tree good, but without any fruit and before any fruit the tree must be
first good, or made good, before it can bear good fruit. As he also says,
Matthew 12:33-34: “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the
tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit. Ye
offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?”
Thus it is the naked truth, that a man must be
good without good works, and before he does any good works. And it is clear how
impossible it is that a man should become good by works, when he is not good
before he does the good works. For Christ stands firm when he says: “How can
ye, being evil, speak good things?” And hence follows: How can ye, being evil,
do good things?
6. Therefore the powerful conclusion follows,
there must be something far greater and more precious than all good works, by
which a man becomes pious and good, before he does good; just as he must first
be in bodily health before he can labor and do hard work. This great and
precious something is the noble Word of God, which offers us in the Gospel the
grace of God in Christ. He who hears and believes this, thereby becomes good
and righteous. Wherefore it is called the Word of life, a Word of grace, a Word
of forgiveness. But he who neither hears nor believes it, can in no way become
good. For St. Peter says in the Acts 15:9: “And he made no distinction between
us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”
---
Pastor emeritus
Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "
The
Ninth Sunday after Trinity. Luke 16:1ff. The S...":
Ichabod
-
Excellent sermon! It's a type of sermon one is little likely to hear in
most present day "Christian" circles. It is no small wonder when many pastors
step into the pulpit, restless souls become quiet, correctly expecting just
another canned sermon which lulls their consciences to slumber and their minds
to pacification.
Nathan M.
Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.orgwww.moralmatters.org
