The First Sunday after
Trinity, 2013
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Hymn # 427 How Firm a Foundation 2:18
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 #429 Lord, Thee I Love 2.54
Faith and Love
The Communion
Hymn # 311 Jesus Christ 2:79
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 #347 Jesus Priceless Treasure 2:77
KJV 1 John 4:16 And we have
known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made
perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so
are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and
hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he
hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment
have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
KJV Luke 16:19 There was a
certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which
was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs
which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in
hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and
Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on
me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool
my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil
things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all
this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would
pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from
thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send
him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto
them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto
him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay,
father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
First Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech Thee so to rule and
govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear
Thy word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal as to forget things
eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability minister to such as
are in need, and not defile ourselves with surfeiting and pride; in trial and
misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Thy
fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may
overcome all things, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth
with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Faith and Love
KJV Luke 16:19 There was
a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared
sumptuously every day:
This parable is one with
significant details, each detail adding to the lesson taught by Jesus about
faith and love.
The anti-hero of this story
is the rich man. He is not condemned for being rich, but for how he lives and
treats others. Marxists love to condemn wealth, as they did with the Tsar of
Russia. He had an enormous income, but he was also required to support the
entire Russian Ballet by himself, paying all costs. In contrast, the
puritanical emperor, called Julian the Apostate, fired all his staff at once,
throwing them into poverty.
The way this rich man lived
was one of complete hedonism. He dressed in costly garments when such things
cost a fortune and most people had one change of clothing. If you want to see
how few clothes people had, even when they lived in large homes, look at the
size of their closets. Some Civil War veterans wore their uniforms for years
because they no other clothes. One LCMS leader was famous for wearing yellow
leather pants until they were stolen from him so members never had to see them
again.
The rich man also dined
sumptuously every day. This detail – every day – is also important. He might
have thrown feasts for everyone, as important people do. When they show very
large homes on TV, the narrator is always anxious to say how these homes were
used to have social/business meetings of several hundred people at once. I have
seen articles that discuss whether a home was good for 50 to 100 people for a
gathering, or up to 500.
The rich man fed himself
very well – but no one else is mentioned.
20 And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Lazarus is sickly beggar in
this story. He was placed at the gate, where everyone could see him, coming and
going, so he might be given something to eat, something spare to keep him warm.
He would have been glad enjoy some of the leftovers from the rich man’s table.
The stray dogs, which were loathed by the people of the day (for being
scroungers of food and likely diseased) licked his sores, as dogs will. In
other words, Lazarus was so lowly that the lowliest animal took pity on him –
but the rich man did not.
The rich man led an
exemplary life, as Luther noted, because nothing is said about sinful behavior.
He was not a Prodigal Son, not a thief or murderer. But he had no faith, which
is proven by his complete lack of compassion for Lazarus at his gate. This same
behavior is seen today by the clergy who gather the richest rewards for
themselves when their own brother clergy are trying to decide between food and
medicine when they get their pay.
The WELS and LCMS district
presidents dine and live in great luxury on the offerings of members when
taking their winter vacations. Church officials make sure they have the highest
salaries and benefits. Luther noted the same in his day among the unbelieving
church leaders.
Now all unbelieving people are like this rich
hypocrite. Unbelief cannot do nor be different than this rich man is pictured
and set forth by his life. And especially is this
the character of the clergy-, as we see before our eyes, who never do a truly
good work, but only seek a good time, never serving nor profiting any one; but
reversing the order they want everybody to serve them. Like harpies they only
claw everything into their own pockets; and like the old adage runs they “rob
the poor of his purse.” They are not moved in the least by the poverty of
others. And although some have not expensive food and raiment, yet they do not
lack will power and the spirit of action; for they imitate the rich, the
princes and the lords, and do many hypocritically good works by founding
institutions and building churches, with which they conceal the great rogue,
the wolf of unbelief; so that they become obdurate and hardened and are of no
use to anybody.
22 And it came to pass,
that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the
rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The state of each man in the
story is portrayed by their end. Poor Lazarus is a believer who is carried by
the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man is tormented in eternity.
How do we know that Lazarus
had faith? He accepted his life in humility, instead of sneaking into the rich
man’s house to steal from it. I recall a minister in training describing how he
stole from the business where he worked – they paid him poorly and they had
plenty to spare. That is how Lazarus might have been.
How do we know the rich man
did not have faith? If he had genuine faith in Christ, he would have showm
mercy to the man that he and his servants saw constantly at his gate. Faith
necessarily produces love at its first fruit, and that love cares for the
neighbor and seeks to serve him.
Since this is a fictional
story, this details are allegorical but easy to apply as the difference between
faith and unbelief.
How has Lazarus shown love
to others? He was so poor and weak that he could do nothing. Luther noted that
Lazarus has been an inspiration to multitudes ever since - something we can see in our own lives.
There are many like Lazarus
around us. I see one on Facebook. He is a friend of my friends, who became
friends because I know the father, who is a pastor. This modern Lazarus is a
boy in a wheelchair. He has obvious physical problems and that will probably
shorten his life. But in every photo he is beaming with happiness and love, and
so is this married couple with him.
Many people are impoverished
physically, so they invite help in various ways, often simply in providing
company. This is a great experience to learn from such individuals. Those who
help often say, “I gain a lot more than I ever give.”
The rich man wanted the
relief in eternal life that he never gave Lazarus in that man’s short life:
24 And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of
his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good
things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf
fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they
pass to us, that would come from thence.
Jesus often pointed out
those who took comfort in their riches and power, little realizing how such
were not the treasures of life. Today the false teachers gather around the rich
to get great riches for the church by selling them forgiveness for their sins.
The rich love the adoration and foolishly think that the absolution of unbelieving
clergy will do them some good beyond the grave.
The fawning clergy pretend
they are doing good, but they use this gain for themselves and to build fancy
buildings so everyone can admire their good deeds. The SynCons went through
this with the Schwan Foundation money on top of Thrivent grants, and still they
are just as poor financially as they are spiritually.
27 Then he said, I pray
thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come
into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the
prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead.
This is one of the classic
passages about the efficacy of the Word. The rich man now wants Lazarus sent as
an evangelist to teach his brothers the true meaning of life, to warn them and
teach them about faith. Abraham, the Biblical symbol of justification by faith
(Romans 4, Galatians, Genesis 15) says, “They have Moses and the prophets.”
The Christian Church does
not teach that spirits come to earth to teach and protect. That is a Roman dogma
designed to deceive the faithful. Besides, angels protect us and the Word teaches
us.
The rich man’s plea is that
something spectacular will convert his brothers, an interesting foreshadowing
of the resurrection. But Abraham teaches, “If they do not pay attention to
Moses and the prophets, they will not pay attention to someone rising from the
dead.”
So it is today. This parable
teaches us to regard harsh, cruel, and deceitful church leaders as unbelievers,
because they lack the primary fruit of faith, which is love. A man who is so vindictive that he will ruin
a man’s family to get even – that leader has no faith and cannot love anyone except
himself.
When people become angry at
the thought of faith in Christ, when they are furious about the Scriptures being
quoted – those people have demon-faith, as described by James. “They believe,
but their hides bristle.”
SERMON NOTES
The First Sunday after
Trinity
"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His
sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to
bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest
Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: He shall take of the things
of Mine, and show them unto you. Likewise, He works also other gifts, love,
thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept
unless the Holy Ghost is received through faith...Then we learn to know how
flesh, in security and indifference, does not fear God, and is not fully
certain that we are regarded by God, but imagines that men are born and die by
chance. Then we experience that we do not believe that God forgives and hears
us. But when, on hearing the Gospel and the remission of sins, we are consoled
by faith, we receive the Holy Ghost, so that now we are able to think aright.
Augsburg Confession, Article III, #11, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House,
1921, p. 159.
"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when
anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that
not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly
treasures."
What Luther Says, An Anthology,
3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p.
1411f. Ephesians 6:10‑17.
"In matters concerning faith we must be invincible,
unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in
matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and
leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything."
What Luther Says, An Anthology,
3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412f. Galatians 2:8.
"Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs
us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in une
parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum).
Where that happens, love cannot help us at all."
What Luther Says, An Anthology,
3 vols., Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 414. Galatians 5:10.
"The Christian doctrine of Purgatory was not finally worked out
until the sixteenth century by the Council of Trent. Rejected by Protestants,
it was an exclusively Catholic doctrine. After Trent, Bellarmine and Suarez,
who were responsible for Purgatory, put forth several Biblical references in
support of the newly approved doctrine." [references: 2 Macc. 12:41-46;
Mt. 12:31-32; Lk. 16:19-26; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; the Corinthians passage played a
crucial role in the development of Purgatory, p. 43]
Jacques Le Goff, The Birth of Purgatory, trans.
Arthur Goldhammar, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984, p. 41f.
"All believers are like poor Lazarus; and every believer is a
true Lazarus , for he is of the same faith, mind and will, as Lazarus. And
whoever will not be a Lazarus, will surely have his portion with the rich
glutton in the flames of hell. For we all must like Lazarus trust in God,
surrender ourselves to Him to work in us according to His own good pleasure,
and be ready to serve all men."
Sermons of Martin Luther, IV,
p. 24.
