The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
The readings today really provide a nice little sermon for us to ponder.
The Old Testament gives us the Law, including the Ten Commandments. The Epistle explains how we should be dead to sin and alive to God. Finally, the Gospel shows how Jesus fulfilled the Law.
For this sermon, we will start with the Old Testament reading from Exodus. These words from God remind Israel of how He rescued them from Egyptian slavery, highlighting His greatness as a God and Father. They also present the Ten Commandments, which show what service in God’s kingdom should look like, both to Him and to others.
However, as we know, we do not always follow the law as we should. We fail to act morally; often, our actions can’t be justified. Our words lack decency and grace.
Reflect on the commandments. Do you avoid adultery in thought, word, or deed? What would your phone or computer search history reveal?
Do you use the Lord’s name in vain? Let’s listen to your child’s speech and find out.
What does someone’s church attendance reveal about remembering and observing the Sabbath Day?
How are your parents? Do you listen to and obey them, children? What about you older children, do you still call your parents and help them as you should?
Have you coveted or stolen a neighbor’s property? Should we check out your garage?
Or what about murder? Have your words spoken in the darkness, the gossip of your lips, slain your neighbor?
The Law is meant to show you how to live as a child of God. However, because you can’t do this perfectly, the Law exposes your sin and the ways you’ve fallen short of keeping the commandments.
You don’t like this, and I understand. None of us usually enjoy being told we’ve failed, and none of us appreciate the disappointment in a parent’s look.
Sometimes, you encounter folks who I want to believe are well-meaning, saying that the Ten Commandments don’t apply to us today. They claim the commandments were strictly part of the Old Testament, and after Jesus came, they no longer matter.
We call these people antinomians — anti-law. They downplay the law so you can live guilt-free.
However, does Jesus say that the law doesn’t matter?
No, in the Gospel today, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)
Even more, Jesus says, Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19)
Alright, so the law, the Ten Commandments, still matter to us today.
But they are not what the Scribes and Pharisees thought, something to be achieved. You can’t achieve the Ten Commandments or live a perfect life.
Jesus will emphasize this through His teaching on anger.
You see, those who believe you can achieve or fulfill the Law often see it narrowly as only the outward acts of man. But Jesus wants the Scribes, Pharisees, and you to understand that transgressions not only include but also begin within the heart, as He said.
‘You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!’ (or insults his brother) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Murder starts in the heart and mind, with your thoughts before it turns into gossiping words, and God forbid the physical taking of a life.
And so you don’t become a hypocrite in the temple or congregation of the Lord, Jesus says,
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. (Matthew 5:23-25)
To oversimplify these words: You cannot rightly approach God’s altar to offer Him praise or receive His peace if you have not first reconciled with those you have trouble with, those you are at odds with.
Often, we believe the false idea that if we simply don’t say something or avoid reconciliation, time will heal all wounds. However, without reconciliation, not only is the sin still very present, but you also cannot properly approach God’s presence, and you should fear His punishment.
However, it’s often our inability to stay silent and refrain from speaking that not only gets us into trouble but also leads to the spiritual harm of our neighbors through gossip. In many ways, what drives gossiping? Jealousy, insecurity, fear, anger?
If this is the case, then there is a great need for confession, for all of us, including myself. Because this way of life and these actions reveal hearts caught in sin. This is why the Law, the Ten Commandments, are still necessary to show us our sin and lead us to confess the sins of the heart before God and our neighbors alike.
If only there were a place where we could meet our neighbor to confess our sins, receive their forgiveness, and be reminded of how we have been united with them in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Oh wait, this is what the Epistle reading illudes to: the place where we all die to sin, because in Holy Baptism we have died with Christ, so that we may be raised to new life through the forgiveness of Christ, the forgiveness that makes us new creations—new men and women, able to reconcile with one another.
This image represents the Christian life because in Holy Baptism, you are united with Christ. If you refuse to forgive, you deny Christ and your Baptism, and you act as if God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, do not matter. This is a very bad idea.
Instead, revisit and relearn the Ten Commandments. See how they guide your way of living, how they aim to steer you away from sin, and how they reveal the sins you need to confess before your neighbor and before God.
Confess these sins, then look to the cross and see how your Father in heaven loved you. Man, did He love you. He sent His only Son to die for you, to forgive you, and to enable you to forgive one another.
And finally, you’ve heard it a million times, and you’ll hear it another million. But as you walk past the font, remember your baptism—recall that you have died to sin and risen to new life in Christ. Then live as a new creation, putting away sin and reconciling with your neighbors—because that is what it means to be a Christian. To be Christlike. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Website: www.goodsheptomah.org
The Shepherd’s Voice Podcast: https://goodsheptomah.podbean.com/
