Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 10 - "...Oh, if you only knew what belongs to your peace, that you might not be destroyed, but be preserved with both temporal and eternal peace..."

 

Josephus left a vivid account of Jerusalem's destruction, which Jesus foresaw and described in this lesson.

Complete Sermon - Luke 19:41-48. 

Tenth Sunday after Trinity

PART 1. THE PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

1. This Gospel presents that which took place on Palm Sunday, when Christ rode into Jerusalem. On this occasion, he preached two or three days in the temple, which was more than he ever did before at one time.

The sum and substance of this Gospel is, that Christ grieves and laments over the afflictions of those who despise God’s Word.

2. Now you have often heard what the Word of God is, what it brings us, and what kind of scholars it has. Of all this nothing is said here. Only the punishment and distress which shall come upon the Jews because they would not recognize the time of their visitation, are here described. And let us well consider this, because the time of their visitation also deeply concerns us. If they are punished who do not know the time of their visitation, what will be done to those who maliciously persecute, blaspheme and disgrace the Gospel and the Word of God? However, here he only speaks of those who do not know it.

3. There are two methods of preaching against the despisers of God’s Word. The first is by threats, as Christ threatens them in Matthew 11:21-24: “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long’ ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shail be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum (which was his own city, where he performed most of his mighty works), shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto hell; for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day. But I sos’ unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” With these threatening words he would frighten them to their senses, and not to cast to the winds the Word which God sends them.

4. The other method the Lord gives here when he weeps, and shows his sympathy for the poor blinded people, and rebukes and threatens them, not as the hardened and stubbornly blind; but when he melts in love and compassion over his enemies, and with great heart-rending pity and cries, he tells them what shall befall them, which he would gladly prevent, but all is in vain. In the passage just quoted, Matthew 11:21-24, where he rebukes them, he does not treat them in love, but in the severity of faith.

However here, it is all sincere love and mercy. This is worthy of our consideration.

5. First, as he approached the city they went before and followed him with songs of great joy, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David? and spread their garments in the way and cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way; the whole scene was most glorious. But in the midst of all this joy he begins to weep. He permits all the world to be joyful, while he himself was bowed with grief, when he beheld the city and said: “If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things that belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”

6. As though he would say: Oh, if you only knew what belongs to your peace, that you might not be destroyed, but be preserved with both temporal and eternal peace, you would yet this day consider, and redeem the time! And now it is high time for you to know what is for your highest welfare. But you are blind, and will neglect the opportunity, until there shall be neither help nor counsel.

 

ELCA Bishop Ann M. Svennungsen oversees the district where the Sparkle Creed was proclaimed from the altar of Edina Community Lutheran Church. "Bishop Ann Svennungsen was re-elected to a second six-year term on May 5, 2018 by voting members of the Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly. Her original election was an historic vote, making her the first woman to serve as bishop in any of the ELCA’s six Minnesota synods."

"Consider It a Badge of Honor and Blessing To Be Kicked Out or Off of Christian News." - Former Reader of the Esteemed Journal

Cub editor of the Calvinist News, cleverly disguised as Christian News, Phil Hale sells the Apostate Beck Bible the same way he sells out Justification by Faith.



Seldom do such great experts come together at the same time. Cascione interviewed the least capable person to praise his book, a legendary hot air merchant.

Stars - Papal Hall of Fame

 

Efficacy As a Greek Term in the New Testament - But Somewhat Hidden in Its Translation - "Because the Holy Spirit always works with the Word and never apart from the Word, the Scriptures are effective and powerful."

 

The Byzantine Empire lasted 1100 years, using the Greek language and preserving the Apostolic Text (Traditional Text). The modern Bad Bible Boosters  - like the Beck Bad Bible - favor the frauds like Vaticanus and Sinaiticus.

Because the Holy Spirit always works with the Word and never apart from the Word, the Scriptures are effective and powerful. Below is the list for starters. The theme of efficacy goes beyond the word group itself.

Bible
Effectual, powerful: energes

1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV) For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and many adversaries.

Philemon 1:6 (KJV) That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Operations, working: energema

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

To show forth, work: energew

Matthew 14:2 (KJV) And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Mark 6:14 (KJV) And king Herod heard ; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

Romans 7:5 (KJV) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

1 Corinthians 12:6 (KJV) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (KJV) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

2 Corinthians 1:6 (KJV) And whether we be afflicted, for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, for your consolation and salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:12 (KJV) So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Galatians 2:8 (KJV) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Galatians 3:5 (KJV) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians 5:6 (KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:20 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set at his own right hand in the heavenly ,

Ephesians 2:2 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 3:20‑21 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, {21} Unto him glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of good pleasure.

Colossians 1:29 (KJV) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received not the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth , until he be taken out of the way.

James 5:16 (KJV) Confess faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Effectual, working: energeia

Ephesians 1:19 (KJV) And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us‑ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 3:7 (KJV) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Ephesians 4:16 (KJV) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Philippians 3:21 (KJV) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Colossians 1:29 (KJV) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Colossians 2:12 (KJV) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

2 Thessalonians 2:9‑12 (KJV) , whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, {10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [Note 2
Thessalonians 2:7, the mystery of iniquity already at work.]

 Here is the concept expressed vividly.

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 2023. The Parable of the Unjust Steward

 

Link to Vimeo 

Trinity 9 Service, 2023

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #613           Jerusalem the Golden       

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Behold, God is mine Helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in Thy truth, O Lord.

Psalm. Save me, O God, by Thy name: and judge me by Thy strength.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth: 

who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: 

that delighteth greatly in His commandments. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #426         The Lord My Shepherd Is - Watts

        

Unjust Steward - Unrighteous Mammon

The Communion Hymn #339        All Hail the Power

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 #46              On What Has Now Been Sown

Prayers and Announcements

• Sarah Buck; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader; Kermit and Maria Way.
• Ranger Bob is in the hospital after a very serious operation on his leg.
• Pastor Jackson has been kicked off the free Christian News list for criticizing Objective Faithless Justification and the horrible Beck Bible, which is no better than the Evil Four - RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV.

            

 

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.

        

Unjust Steward - Unrighteous Mammon

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.

Luther - First Sermon for Trinity 9

I. OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON.

1. This is truly a Gospel for priests and monks, and will bring them money, unless we prevent it. Before entering upon the consideration of it, we must accustom ourselves to the language used, especially the word mammon.

Luther's humorous introduction to this sermon should be noted and remembered, because this parable is a trap for those who do not understand it and difficult for those who try. Like all of the "hard sayings" of Jesus, this one opens up the meaning of the story, in an unconventional way. Two terms must be understood - the Unjust Steward and the Mammon of Unrighteousness.

1. Unjust Steward - Key Person

The steward - or manager - in this story is unjust, and not a believer. He is dishonest in his dealings and in his fake repentance. Nothing he does is commendable, and that is why the rich man appreciates the steward's dishonesty. We have to remember that the Rich Man only cares about cash flow, not honesty.

2. Mammon of Unrighteousness - Key Meaning

Mammon is not money but extra money, more than we have to have, beyond our normal expenses. That means it is neither bad nor good. 

Luther was very much against the righteousness of works, which is so easy for the bishops to use against the people. "Build this chapel to St. Matthew the Rotund and God will reward you with grace." 

In this parable the steward (manager) is seen by the others as being wasteful. They report him to the Rich Man, who threatens the steward with expulsion and its consequences, poverty.

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.

Unstated is the fact that the Rich Man did not become wealthy by being a choir boy, as they say. An estate owner would always be eager to capitalize on bargains, droughts, weather calamities, and changes in currency. A written bill has a lesser value as a debt than cash. A dishonest eye practice tried to make money from a bill when they had already admitted malpractice. The bill collector thought he had a pile of money to use, just for making a phone call - $800! I said, "They admitted their errors and canceled the $200 bill. You paid something for the piece of worthless paper, so you get to eat it." The bill collector was not happy since he wanted to cash in on the dishonesty.

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.

The founder of the University of Phoenix wrote in his book that he and other higher education businessmen routinely gave money to the right people to make their schools legitimate. The right people hold the power in granting certifications with its complicated rules and demands, varying state by state, a lot of hungry mouths to feed. The founder gave one lobbyist $500,000 to get one of those certifications done. Everyone in the education business knows. One LCMS college thought the sure way to success was something called HotChalk, an integrated system of online education in one package. Now they want their $300 million from the college.

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.

Here we have to say, with Luther (see the linked sermon) that the conclusion is not parallel to the Rich Man and the Unrighteous Steward. This is a very condensed way of saying, In spreading the Gospel, share what you have with the poor.

Luther:

12. Luke has described the fruit of faith thus: Give to the poor and make to yourself friends. As though he would say: I will not now speak of faith, but how you should prove your faith. Wherefore do good to your neighbor, and if you can give from the heart you may be assured that you believe.

Thus the Scriptures speak at one time of fruits, at another time of faith.

Again, they also speak of fruits, when they teach, Matthew 25:42, how the Lord will speak to the lost on the last day: “I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was athirst, and ye gave me no drink,” and the like.

This means, you have not believed, as I will prove to you by your own works.

13. The Scriptures in some passages speak of the outward conduct, and in others of the inner. Now if you will apply that which is said of the outward to the heart and confuse matters, you pervert it and do wrong. Hence you must let the distinction remain, and observe it. These expressions: I have been hungry, thirsty, shelterless, naked, sick and in prison, and you have shown me no work of mercy, refer to the external conduct, and signify as much as: you have never exhibited any outward conduct by which you have shown your faith; and to prove this, I appeal to the poor as witnesses.

Therefore, faith alone must be present first to make us good, after that good works must follow to prove our piety. This now is one point, namely, concerning works.

14. The second point is far more difficult, when the Lord says: “Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.” You say, our adversaries cry: you say a person shall not do good works to obtain eternal life; behold, here it reads differently. Now, what shall we answer?

This is Jesus chiding the disciples to spread the Gospel by caring for the poor. The scribes and Pharisees stayed back because they wanted to treat Jesus as unclean. The poor crowded around Him and asked for healing and understood through His miracles that their sins were forgiven through faith, something far more powerful than the righteousness of works.

 CFW Walther's nephew read a lot of Luther - and it shows.

Efficacy - One Word To Cure the Ills of Christendom.

This is the beginning of a series on the efficacy of God's Word. The quote above is an excellent expression of the Bible's extensive teaching about the term, starting with Genesis 1.

I was disgusted by the embrace of Church Growth in WELS (and other foul places) in 1987. The Change (as in Church and Change, Inc) is no better 36 years later, except for the transition of many advocates to the place where they belonged. Their alma mater (nursing mother) continues to be Pasadena - though they denied studying there, drooling, lit up like freshmen on their fifth bowl of weed.

Pastors were actively exchanging essays on what was wrong in the 1980s. Their insights about worship, Law and Gospel, and other Biblical issues were good, but the authors were scared away by the Church Growth Movement saviors bullies. I found that efficacy was foundational and Biblical, from the term itself often used in the New Testament to the many other ways it was used in both Testaments. An LCA bishop said to a group of us, "It's all about the Word. Nothing happens without the Word."  But the WELS-ELS-LCMS-ELCA leaders cannot get their minds or mouths to say that.

The issue of efficacy is not exclusively Lutheran but applies to all of Christendom, whether the people and pastors agree with that or not. Unfortunately, the others are even worse.

The Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry is a treasure-trove of great authors who have been abandoned, ignored, or forgotten. The online books are free and easily shared with others at no cost. Consider along with Schmauk:

1. Henry Eyster Jacobs
2. Krauth
3. Loy
4. Melanchthon
5. Chemnitz
6. Gerhard
7. And many more.

The Solution Is Clear for Everyone - Start with the Divine Nature of the Scriptures

  

Worse Than Silence about the Efficacy of the Word - Repudiated Through Rationalism and Marketing

A number of our members have said, "I never heard of the efficacy of the Word until I read about it from your blog."

I can understand that, because I went to the library of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and found almost nothing among all the "Biblical scholars." Kittel's famous volumes - on all the terms in the New Testament - were very thin on the entire word group. 

The Greek word for energy is actually "energy,"  ἐνέργεια, but the genius scholars of today even have trouble with "virgin" παρθένος in Matthew and Luke. Nobody saw the Parthenon, even in photos? (The temple honors the virgin goddess Athena, but who needs Greek when we have Tik-tok and video games? Parthenos in Greek is virgin.)

Efficacy is one of those perfect words, conveying the Holy Spirit at work in the Word and never apart from the Word.   

The entire Bible teaches that this Book alone is the established revelation of God, written by men through the power (energy) of the Holy Spirit. 

If this power, clarity, and harmony is set aside, the Bible is little more than a quaint book of wisdom, a cultural icon.

That has set "Biblical scholars" free to explore their creativity, since nothing is real except their latest suffocatingly dull publication. Yale Divinity School's own Professor of Weirdness must have 100 publications in its CV.

The Evil Four Plus One 

Scorn the Bible

The National Council of Churches' RSV, NRSV, ESV, repudiates the Bible - not to mention

The NIV!

"That they were from many denominations—including Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Brethren, Christian Reformed, Church of Christ, Evangelical Free, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Wesleyan and other churches—helped to safeguard the translation from sectarian bias." 1984 Preface, no really, Lutherans - no bias!

Plus One is the Beck-Otten Bible, sold dishonestly in every issue of the Christian News. The Beck-Otten has all the flaws and lies of the Evil Four.

Nota Bene - The Christian New$ - known for promoting Objective Faithle$$ Ju$tification - has canceled my free copies of the overpriced CN  issues online. Sob! I was just telling a member about the "husband of one wife" featured in the tabloid, a pastor on his third wife. But that is the criterion in New Haven (not to be confused with Yale University's campus). Anyone who graduated from a Missouri seminary is righteous for life.

How do people read this gibberish without laughing out loud? This was published in LutherQuest. One reader asked, "Have they found Luther yet. They are on a quest, after all."

 Calvin? Knapp? Hale? That is how they pick editors in New Haven, stuck on Calvinism and Objective Faithless Justification.

Let the Walther inbreds crow about their infallible, inerrant Bibles, arguing only about which bad Bible they love the most. Each one of the Evil Four Plus One drops verses, words, even the resurrection of Jesus Christ in Mark 16. The ending may be separated, or dropped in a footnote, or vanished - the message is the same: "We do not believe in the Empty Grave. Seminex has won. ELCA - give us a smooch of victory."

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - First Sermon, Trinity 9 - "Thus the Scriptures speak at one time of fruits, at another time of faith."

 

First Sermon - Parable of the Unrighteous Steward - Luke 16

I. OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON.

1. This is truly a Gospel for priests and monks, and will bring them money, unless we prevent it. Before entering upon the consideration of it, we must accustom ourselves to the language used, especially the word mammon.

The Jews were acquainted with this word from the Hebrew, and it has come down to us, just like other Hebrew words, as Halleluja, Amen, Kyrie eleison. In German mammon means riches, not simply riches, but a superfluity of riches, whatever is beyond our needs. However, that which is called mammon and that which is not called mammon are distinguished in a twofold way. First, if the estimate be according to that of our Lord God and of the truth, there are many who possess mammon. But if the estimate be that of the world and of man’s mind, there are few who possess it. For our leaders in thought have taught in the high schools and even from the pulpit, that everyone should see to his station in life, what he needs, and adjust his possessions accordingly. If he be a man with wife and children, he needs more, for where many persons are there much will be needed.

And when we reckon thus, no one has anything to spare, but everyone would rather have more. If one has two thousand guilders he says, this I need for my family, to support myself, my wife and children.

2. In the second place they have taught that one is not bound to help, except in cases of the greatest need. Such teaching entirely overthrows the Gospel, so that no one has been helpful to another; but they have in the meantime built churches; and yet in doing so they did not even wait for the greatest need, until the arches were rent asunder and churches became roofless, but they gave to great excess, spreading their gold upon the walls.

To sum up the whole matter, mammon properly means, that a man has more than he needs for his support, so that he can help others without injuring himself.

3. Hence the Lord calls it “The mammon of unrighteousness,” because it is daily made use of by the wicked; as it is said: riches develop courage, and the heathen have also called it irritamenta malorum, riches tempt to evil.

Again St. Paul says, 1 Timothy 6:10: “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” whence cometh strife, pride, war and bloodshed.

Therefore it is also called here the unrighteous mammon, because it is applied to such evil uses, and is a great cause of evil to men.

4. Nevertheless it is God’s creature like wine and corn, and the creatures of God are good. Why then does he call them evil? Because they tempt us to so much evil, as Paul says to the Ephesians 5:16: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Not that the time or days in themselves are evil, but because great evil is done in them. He also says to the Romans 2:5: “The day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”

Although the day is good, but because God’s wrath will be revealed on that day, the day must take its name from it. And thus, since mammon runs into the service of evil, Christ calls it mammon of unrighteousness, namely, that which we have above our needs and we will not use in helping our neighbor; for this we possess unrighteously, and before God it is stolen goods, for in the presence of God one is bound to give and lend, and suffer himself to be deprived of it. Therefore as the saying runs, the greatest owners of property are the greatest thieves; because they possess far more than they need, and give the least possible to others. So much on the meaning of the word; we now return to the Gospel.

5. We take this parable in a common sense way, without seeking any subtleties in it, as Jerome has done, for it is not necessary to seek a subtle meaning, the pure milk is sufficient. The parable in itself teaches how the steward deprived his master of his property, and artfully, but deceitfully and falsely, appropriated it to himself. For it is not right, that he, who previously cheated his master out of his property, should also act most deceitfully to secure for himself easy days all his life; let us abide by this explanation. For the Lord concludes that the unjust steward did wisely. He does not praise the thing in itself as good, but blames him for previously squandering his master’s goods, and afterwards shrewdly appropriating his property. This however the Lord commends, namely, that he did not forget himself, praising nought but his cunning and shrewdness. Just as when a flirt draws the whole world after her, and I say: she is a clever flirt, she knows her business. The Lord further concludes, that just as the steward is wise and shrewd in his transactions, so should we also be in obtaining eternal life.

...

12. Luke has described the fruit of faith thus: Give to the poor and make to yourself friends. As though he would say: I will not now speak of faith, but how you should prove your faith. Wherefore do good to your neighbor, and if you can give from the heart you may be assured that you believe.

Thus the Scriptures speak at one time of fruits, at another time of faith.

Again, they also speak of fruits, when they teach, Matthew 25:42, how the Lord will speak to the lost on the last day: “I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was athirst, and ye gave me no drink,” and the like.

This means, you have not believed, as I will prove to you by your own works.

13. The Scriptures in some passages speak of the outward conduct, and in others of the inner. Now if you will apply that which is said of the outward to the heart and confuse matters, you pervert it and do wrong. Hence you must let the distinction remain, and observe it. These expressions: I have been hungry, thirsty, shelterless, naked, sick and in prison, and you have shown me no work of mercy, refer to the external conduct, and signify as much as: you have never exhibited any outward conduct by which you have shown your faith; and to prove this, I appeal to the poor as witnesses.

Therefore, faith alone must be present first to make us good, after that good works must follow to prove our piety. This now is one point, namely, concerning works.

14. The second point is far more difficult, when the Lord says: “Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.” You say, our adversaries cry: you say a person shall not do good works to obtain eternal life; behold, here it reads differently. Now, what shall we answer?

There are many passages here and there, showing how we wish to have merit on our part. By quoting these passages they intend to disprove to us God’s mercy, and to lead us to satisfy God’s righteousness by our good works. By all means beware of this, and insist that it is nothing but pure grace and mercy alone, and say: I am a poor sinner, O God, forgive me my sins, gladly will I say nothing about my merit, only say thou nothing of thy judgment! Thus David said: “Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living is righteous,” Psalm 143:2. And just for this reason Christ is given to us as our Mediator. If we wish to enter into judgment before God with our good works, we cast Christ aside as our Mediator, and cannot stand before God. Therefore let him remain our Mediator and abide thou under the shadow of his wings, as Psalm 91:4 reads: “He will cover thee with his pinions, and under his wings shalt thou take refuge.” Therefore speak thus: O God, I would not merit anything before thee by my own works, but will employ them only to serve my neighbor, and I will depend only upon thy mercy.

15. You must hence remember that eternal life consists of two things, faith and what follows faith. If you go and believe and do good to your neighbor, everlasting life must follow, although you never think about it.

Subordinate Gardeners - Charli Sue, Lady, and Fats

 

 Veterans Honor Rose is close to perfection.

Ranger Bob is recovering from very serious surgery, so I have his rescue dog Lady and his 13 year old cat nicknamed Fats. I heard a meow sound that was somewhat like the squeaky ball's noise. But no, Fats used her needle claws to start climbing the bed quilt.

The boss - Charli Sue - is having a good time with Bob's pets. Fats has the seniority by far, but Charli's Patterdale Terrier mix is unrelenting. She quietly began moving Fats down the blanket to the floor.

Charli is a true gardener, young at heart and full of energy. She tells off the male dogs that look and bark at her from three neighbor yards. She races Porchi the Great Pyrenees up and down the fence, barks at Pug, and responds to Shorty the Corgi. Her true love is chasing squirrels and revising mole runs. Charli also fetches fallen apples and eats them.

Lady does not have the energy to keep up with Charli but loves to find and chew the squeaky ball indoors. It is 100 degrees today, so her reluctance to stay outdoors is justified.

How does the ancient cat fit in? Fats set herself up on the bed to enjoy one of the gardening shows on Prime, a long-running show packed with information and new plants to grow. Charli and Lady had to find places on the bed to cuddle as well.

Gardeners have trouble scowling, because the worst disasters are balanced by miraculous recoveries. The Mountain Mint we buried - by mistake under wood mulch and cardboard - became two tall sections growing chest high, hosting bees and butterflies in the bright sunlight.

Someone recently said, "Your garden is filled with more birds and butterflies and bees and fragrance than I can find anywhere else." I said, "Thank you! That comes from the plants I brought in. 

A neighbor from a block away walks over to see what is blooming. Veterans Honor is blooming late, but perfectly - as always. Enchanted Peace is prolific again but facing Japanese beetles again.

 Enchanted Peace makes people say, "Look at that one! No, no, don't cut it."

Roses need and want cutting, and that is why I keep 50+ party cups for vases. They fit in the car beverage slot and everywhere else.

"KJV Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

More can be accomplished through forgiveness and a merry heart than continuous angry, blaming, bitterness, and revenge. If the bad responses were effective, we would have a much happier, free, and productive life.

A gardener will break an expensive piece of marble from some spiffy furniture and say, "I can use that for the garden path." 

Mountain Mint makes bees and butterflies happy when other mints have faded for the summer. The often ignored tiny flowers of many plants like mint, borage, and bee balm will feed a lot of God's Creation.