ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
We are wandering in a maze when we do not think of life all around us as the intricate work of Creation.
We had wonderful warm, sunny weather when another round of freezing hit. The daffodils were flat on the ground this morning, as if they surrendered to the cold. But this afternoon they were upright again and more flowers were coming up.
Freezes and rain threats are good reasons to put extra bird (and squirrel) food out. I put some on each of two barrels, some on a broken chair, some scattered in the lawn. Right now they are shelled peanuts. Peanuts in the shell are great for attracting larger birds (grackles, starlings, cardinals, blue jays). Raw peanuts are attractive to all creatures great and small. Squirrels are omnivorous, so they eat anything and everything.
God has built in their needs, their nesting habits, food favorites, bathing style, and songs. Bethany Lutheran Church now has a bird choir that sings during the broadcast. They get up every morning, without food prepared, and sing the Matins service. They create happiness in all they do.
A powerful and influential Lutheran layman suggested daily Biblical or Lutheran quotations, so I decided to use Luther's Sermons as my quotation source. There will continue to be those quotations each day and also conveniently in the masthead.
Posting on the main page means the RSS reader will pick it up, perfect for charter members of RSS.
Copying to the masthead means having it easy to spot, whether there are two or ten posts that day.
The entire sermon is linked in both places, assuming some want it read it all.
Luther's Sermons are great resources for pastors, who are then relieved of copying from each other - a strange and dishonest practice in WELS, encouraged by the Mordor faculty.
1. This Gospel teaches how hardened persons become the more furious, the more one teaches them and lovingly stirs them to do their duty. For Christ asks them here in a very loving way for a reason why they still disbelieve, since they can find fault neither with his life nor with his teaching. His life is blameless; for he defies them and says: “Which of you convicteth me of sin?” His teaching also is blameless; for he adds: “If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?” Thus Christ lives, as he teaches.
2. And every preacher should prove that he possesses both: first a blameless life, by which he can defy his enemies and no one may have occasion to slander his teachings; secondly, that he possesses the pure doctrine, so that he may not mislead those who follow him. And thus he will be right and firm on both sides: with his good life against his enemies, who look much more at life than at his doctrine, and despise the doctrine for the sake of the life; with his doctrine then for the kind of life he leads and will bear with his life for the sake of his teaching.
Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her: all ye that love her.
Rejoice for joy with her: all ye that mourn for her.
Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me:
Let us go into the house of the Lord.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
KJV Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Fourth Sunday In Lent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son didst feed five thousand men in the desert with five loaves and two fishes: We beseech Thee to abide graciously also with us in the fullness of Thy blessing. Preserve us from avarice and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things perceive Thy fatherly goodness, through Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God world without end. Amen.
Jesus' Commentary on Moses' Miracle
KJV John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
Introduction
The Gospel of John is best understood as a commentary, as the fulfillment of the Five Books of Moses. The content and structure of the Fourth Gospel is different in many ways from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but also in harmony with the first three. John's Gospel gives us more of the meaning of Jesus' ministry, with the assumption that we know the other three Gospels. The sermons and sayings of Jesus are prominent in John and so is the impact of very simple words and grammar, but profound and easily remembered.
If the Five Books of Moses are the foundation of God's work, from Creation to the Promised Land, then the Fourth Gospel fulfills what the Torah scrolls predicts. When we read all of John, we are not just learning about the Son of God in those days but also about the Trinity going back to Genesis 1:1 - the only other place where the book starts out the same as John - "In the beginning..." As Luther wrote, the divinity of Jesus is mined from the gold of the Torah - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Those raised in Judaism can see how the Old and New Testaments are unified, not two different Testaments. Those brought up without the basic truths of the Old Testament are assured that Jesus' ministry was already predicted - not just in the prophetic books - but all through the 39 books, starting with Genesis 1, John 1 together teach us that Jesus is the Creating Word...in the beginning. If the Holy Trinity is invoked in Genesis 1 and John 1, then it is taught in both Testaments, too.
John 6:1 reminds us that the Israelites followed Moses, such a multitude that they needed food (manna) and water (from the rock) - also referenced in John.
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Because Jesus went up the mountain, the disciples could see the multitude following Jesus - because of the miracles He had performed. Jesus asked Philip and therefore the disciples - How can we buy enough bread for this multitude - knowing what was about to happen. That would make everyone follow Jesus' own observation and end conversation about this or that. It places us in the same place, imagining what it would be like to have this enormous crowd coming to Jesus.
Luther wrote about poverty and Jesus, since the Messiah and His disciples had very little. In this case, some loaves and fishes. Our tendency is to find comfort in money rather than in faith that God will care for us. The richest church in America is in NYC, Trinity Wall Street, worth a billion or so. Yes, the parish is torn up by conflict.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
I consider Philip the chairman of the finance committee. Every church has one. I nicknamed one The Bad News Bears, because they started every council meeting with doom and gloom. A consultant said these committees made everyone depressed before they got going. "They should end the meeting, not begin it."
Philip said - A large amount of money is not enough! Hopeless!
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Andrew clinched the fears by saying they had a little but not enough. During high interest times, a congregation told the synod they would build a new addition for cash. And they did. Years later they dissolved as a congregation and sold the property to a social agency. What was missing? Faith. How could I know that, so far away? It is because faith in Christ and attention to that singular purpose will take care of matters.
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
They had all the water they needed - we know because grass was growing. Jesus first gave thanks, which is another sign today, whether faith or no faith. The more rationalistic people are, the less they give thanks, the more they despair and get angry. There is a major difference between Moses and manna from heaven - and Jesus the Bread of Life. Moses asked for a miracle from God. Jesus performed the miracle before 5000 families. Moses prefigured the fulfillment of this great miracle, and Jesus displayed its completion, which made His opponents furious. This is like Holy Communion in many ways, but is not. Both are miracles and both are given by the power of God's Word.
Those who deny this miracle lack faith, and ultimately they reject most or all of the treasures of the Bible.
One anonymous reader sent this -
"I notice that they treat Jacobs much like they treat the King James. They say we just cannot read English from a 100 yrs ago. Maybe somebody should ask "Does 1 plus 1 equal 2? It did a 100 yrs ago. As far as I know still does."
Those who deny the faith simply wear themselves out proving their denials are valid. They are like the Calvinist minister in the plane who dismissed the corruption of the Westcott-Hort-Nestle-Aland Greek text. And - he said, "We have to reach the younger generation." I replied, "The only have to is teaching the Word. That accomplishes God's will." But he kept saying we have to, we have to, we have to. (Conferences to show how to have to are expensive.)
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Clearly they had more at the end of the miracle than before. God does not waste anything. We can see that in God's Creation all around us. I put orange peels outside after I am done with the fruit. The next morning, the peels have been cleaned completely of all the leftover pulp, thanks to Possum Pete. Apple cores disappear completely. Pineapple, mostly the triceratops hide, is placed outside with some pulp on it. A squirrel will sit on the barrel and delicately remove the pulp from woody outer label. The large birds (grackles, crows, cardinals, blue jays) take the peanuts in a shell. The tiny birds take the fragments - sparrows, chickadees, etc.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Some self-made experts like to pick away at the titles of Jesus. I found one source that listed 150 titles of majesty. Another has 200. These are all encompassing, not to pit one against another. Prophet, preacher, Son of Man, Son of God.
KJV Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
It does not take long to find out what the skeptics have done with the titles of majesty.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Knowing the minds of people following Him, Jesus realized that they would work to gather a force to make Him king and take on the occupying forces. This is exactly what happened after His death and resurrection. The people had a skirmish with local Roman forces and thought they won. Then the Roman Empire marched down with slaves and profession soldiers to surround them with a wall, starve them, and tear down the Temple, the source of their pride.
The Believers Sought Jesus without Food
We should not forget that this enormous group followed Jesus for the spiritual food He offered. They saw His miracles, which built upon the Star of Bethlehem 30 years before, the prophecies of Isaiah 40, and John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord - crying out in the wilderness (desert).
We live in an impoverished time. The basics of human life are ridiculed and a reason for suing and jailing citizens. The WalMart funded/owned public schools here were teaching "34 genders" to elementary school children 10 years ago. That is perhaps the ultimate disgrace, but more could be named.
God still protects believers and brings down the proud and deceitful. As it was in Jesus' time, so it is today.
TEXT: John 6:1-15. After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down.
Now there was much grass in the place: So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.
Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.
I. THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND.
1. In today’s Gospel Christ gives us another lesson in faith, that we should not be over-anxious about our daily bread and our temporal existence, and stirs us up by means of a miracle; as though to say by his act what he says by his words in Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” For here we see, since the people followed Christ for the sake of God’s Word and the signs, and thus sought the Kingdom of God, he did not forsake them but richly fed them. He hereby also shows that, rather than those who seek the Kingdom of God should suffer need, the grass in the desert would become wheat, or a crumb of bread would be turned into a thousand loaves; or a morsel of bread would feed as many people and just as satisfactorily as a thousand loaves; in order that the words in Matthew 4:4 might stand firm, that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” And to confirm these words Christ is the first to be concerned about the people, as to what they should eat, and asks Philip, before they complain or ask him; so that we may indeed let him care for us, remembering that he cares more and sooner for us than we do for ourselves.
2. Secondly, he gives an example of great love, and he does this in many ways. First, in that he lets not only the pious, who followed him because of the signs and the Word, enjoy the food; but also the slaves of appetite, who only eat and drink, and seek in him temporal honor; as follows later when they disputed with him at Capernaum about the food, and he said to them in John 6:26: “Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves,” etc., also because they desired to make him king; thus here also he lets his sun shine on the evil and the good, Matthew 5:45.
Secondly, in that he bears with the rudeness and weak faith of his disciples in such a friendly manner. For that he tests Philip, who thus comes with his reason, and Andrew speaks so childishly on the subject, all is done to bring to light the imperfections of the disciples, and on the contrary to set forth his love and dealings with them in a more beautiful and loving light, to encourage us to believe in him, and to give us an example to do likewise; as the members of our body and all God’s creatures in their relation to one another teach us. For these are full of love, so that one bears with the other, helps and preserves what God has created.
3. That he now takes the five loaves and gives thanks etc., teaches that nothing is too small and insignificant for him to do for his followers, and he can indeed so bless their pittance that they have an abundance, whereas even the rich have not enough with all their riches; as Psalm 34:11 says: “They that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing; but the rich must suffer hunger.” And Mary in her song of praise says: “The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” Luke 1:53.
4. Again, that he tells them so faithfully to gather up the fragments, teaches us to be frugal and to preserve and use his gifts, in order that we may not tempt God. For just as it is God’s will that we should believe when we have nothing and be assured that he will provide; so he does not desire to be tempted, nor to allow the blessings he has bestowed to be despised, or lie unused and spoil, while we expect other blessings from heaven by means of miracles. Whatever he gives, we should receive and use, and what he does not give, we should believe and expect he will bestow.
II. THE ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION.
5. That Christ by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand has encouraged us to partake of a spiritual food, and taught that we should seek and expect from him nourishment for the soul, is clearly proved by the whole sixth chapter of John, in which he calls himself the bread from heaven and the true food, and says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled. Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.” John 6:26-27. In harmony with these words we will, explain also this evangelical history in its spiritual meaning and significance.
6. First, there was much hay or grass in the place. The Evangelist could not fail to mention that, although it appears to be unnecessary; however it signifies the Jewish people, who flourished and blossomed like the grass through their outward holiness, wisdom, honor, riches etc., as Isaiah 40:6-7, says: “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.” From the Jewish people the Word of God went forth and the true food was given to us; for salvation is of the Jews, John 4:22. Now, as grass is not food for man, but for cattle; so is all the holiness of the outward Jewish righteousness nothing but food for animals, for fleshly hearts, who know and possess nothing of the Spirit.
7. The very same is taught by the people sitting on the grass; for the true saints despise outward holiness, as Paul does in Philippians 3:8, in that he counted his former righteousness to be filth and even a hindrance. Only common and hungry people receive the Word of God and are nourished by it. For here you see that neither Caiaphas nor Anna, neither the Pharisees nor the Scribes follow Christ and see Christ’s Signs; but they disregard them, they are grass and feed on grass. This miracle was also performed near the festive time of the Jewish passover; for the true Easter festival, when Christ should be offered as a sacrifice, was near, when he began to feed them with the Word of God.
8. The five loaves signify the outward, natural word formed by the voice and understood by man’s senses; for the number five signifies outward things pertaining to the five senses of man by which he lives; as also the five and five virgins illustrate in Matthew 25:1. These loaves are in the basket, that is, locked up in the Scriptures. And a lad carries them, that means the servant class and the priesthood among the Jews, who possessed the sayings of God, which were placed in their charge and entrusted to them, Romans 3:2, although they did not enjoy them. But that Christ took these into his own hands, and they were thereby blessed and increased, signifies that by Christ’s works and deeds, and not by our deeds or reason, are the Scriptures explained, rightly understood and preached.
This he gives to his disciples, and the disciples to the people. For Christ takes the Word out of the Scriptures; so all teachers receive it from Christ and give it to the people, by which is confirmed what Matthew 23:10 says: “For one is your master, even the Christ,” who sits in heaven, and he teaches all only through the mouth and the word of preachers by his: Spirit, that is, against false teachers, who teach their own wisdom.
9. The two fishes are the example and witness of the patriarchs and prophets, who are also in the basket; for by them the Apostles confirm and strengthen their doctrine and the believers like St. Paul does in Romans 4:2-6, where he cites Abraham and David etc. But there are two, because the examples of the saints are full of love, which cannot be alone, as faith can, but must go out in exercise to its neighbor. Furthermore the fishes were prepared and cooked; for such examples are indeed put to death by many sufferings and martyrdoms, so that we find nothing carnal in them, and they comfort none by a false faith in his own works, but always point to faith and put to death works and their assurance.
10. The twelve baskets of fragments are all the writings and books the Apostles and Evangelists bequeathed to us; therefore they are twelve, like the Apostles, and these books are nothing but that which remains from and has been developed out of the Old Testament. The fishes are also signified by the number five (Moses’ books); as John 21:25 says: “Even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written” concerning Christ, all which nevertheless was written and proclaimed before in the Old Testament concerning Christ.
11. That Philip gives counsel as how to feed the people with his few shillings, and yet doubts, signifies human teachers, who would gladly aid the soul with their teachings; but their conscience feels it helps nothing. For the discussion Christ here holds with his disciples takes place in order that we may see and understand that it is naturally impossible to feed so many people through our own counsel, and that this sign might be the more public. Thus he lets us also disgrace ourselves and labor with human doctrines, that we may see and understand how necessary and precious God’s Word is and how doctrines do not help the least without God’s Word.
12. That Andrew pointed out the lad and the loaves, and yet doubted still more than Philip, signifies the teachers who wish to make the people pious and to quiet them with God’s laws; but their conscience has no satisfaction or peace in them; but only becomes continually worse, until Christ comes with his Word of grace. He is the one, and he alone, who makes satisfaction, delivers from sin and death, gives peace and fullness of joy, and does it all of his own free will, gratuitously, against and above all hope and presumption, that we may know that the Gospel is devised and bestowed, not through our own merit, but out of pure grace.
13. Finally, you see in this Gospel that Christ, though he held Gospel poverty in the highest esteem and was not anxious about the morrow, as he teaches in Matthew 6:34, had still some provisions, as the two hundred shillings, the five loaves and the two fishes; in order that we may learn how such poverty and freedom from care consist not in having nothing at all, as the barefooted fanatics and monks profess, and yet they themselves do not hold to it; but it consists in a free heart and a poor spirit. For even Abraham and Isaac had great possessions, and yet they lived without worry and in poverty, like the best Christians do.
Nothing seems more ridiculous than gardening - when the work is being done. Yesterday I had a box of earthworm compost... You are laughing already. It was a big, heavy bag, so I slid it into a a large bucket to carry around the garden.
I scooped the compost onto my recently dug bareroot roses. I was satisfied for the moment. Many would question my efforts, but I remember the dry autumn, when the crew was again digging in more daffodil bulbs, just as I did. Now there is a continuous blooming and new stems coming up every day. The newest efforts last fall meant bulbs rising up later in spring, and the older bulbs increasing their own blooms and coming up earlier from soil heaving. How many bulbs altogether? - hundreds. Daffodil bulbs multiply on their own, IF they are planted.
KJV 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Our little group has no property, apart from a spare room in a rented house. The staff car is paid for, 20 years old. However, we sow the Gospel bountifully because money and property are sterile and provide nothing for eternal life. We scatter the Word because we know that gains make up for the losses, many times over.
Someone suggested a daily Bible or doctrinal quote, so the Luther sermon selections began. Another suggestion was putting the masthead quotes into the body of the blog so people could use RSS feeds, so that was added. I have used the Lenker Luther Sermons set for decades, and copy-pasting-publishing the quotations is a constant source of Biblical knowledge for me and others. Graphics of the sermon quotes torment the crypto-Calvinists in Lutherdom and embed the content in my long-term memory.
Norma A. Boeckler has her own free service of designing Biblical graphics for everyone to use and enjoy - all KJV quotations.
Appalled by another CPH "elephant laboring and giving birth to a mouse," we began our own blog-published Luther's Large Catechism.
I am not overlooking the Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry, which consistently tops CPH on a Google search - and stands out as #1. That alone holds a wealth of free Lutheran material and quite a few low-cost print books.
The synodicals are not admitting this, but their glory-mongering about previous new buildings is now filling them with dread, nightmares, and mental paralysis. From the LCMS Purple Palace down to the latest WELS Martin Luther College fiasco, they must pay for their baubles. They placed their trust in a rich adulterer who destroyed his marriage. And where is the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie (Bethany)?
Growing up as the heir to the Melo-Cream Donut fortune, I knew that overhead was and remains everything. My father loved to point at malls and say, "See those new stores? They have to pay high rent just to be in the mall. They have to spend a lot on overhead before they make a dime of profit. As soon as one drops out, another one moves in to lose their money." He would say today, "I told you!" because there are websites featuring photos and videos of so many malls closed all over the US.
Lenker Luther plus the Postils.
I send free books and free KJVs around because I enjoy spreading the effective Word and the Means of Grace.
One anonymous reader sent this -
"I notice that they treat Jacob's much like they treat the King James. They say we just cannot read English from a 100 yrs ago. Maybe somebody should ask "Does 1 plus 1 equal 2? It did a 100 yrs ago. As far as I know still does."
12. That Andrew pointed out the lad and the loaves, and yet doubted still more than Philip, signifies the teachers who wish to make the people pious and to quiet them with God’s laws; but their conscience has no satisfaction or peace in them; but only becomes continually worse, until Christ comes with his Word of grace. He is the one, and he alone, who makes satisfaction, delivers from sin and death, gives peace and fullness of joy, and does it all of his own free will, gratuitously, against and above all hope and presumption, that we may know that the Gospel is devised and bestowed, not through our own merit, but out of pure grace.
13. Finally, you see in this Gospel that Christ, though he held Gospel poverty in the highest esteem and was not anxious about the morrow, as he teaches in Matthew 6:34, had still some provisions, as the two hundred shillings, the five loaves and the two fishes; in order that we may learn how such poverty and freedom from care consist not in having nothing at all, as the barefooted fanatics and monks profess, and yet they themselves do not hold to it; but it consists in a free heart and a poor spirit. For even Abraham and Isaac had great possessions, and yet they lived without worry and in poverty, like the best Christians do.
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