Lesson: Matthew 10:16-23

16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. 20In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.

21 “Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father will do the same with his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. 23And when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Amen I tell you: You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Prayer of the Day:

Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Verse of the Day:

Alleluia. If you continue in my Word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Alleluia. (John 8:31,32 cf. RSV)

Sermon Text:

Early on October 31, 1517, those nearest the church may have been awoken by a few short strokes of a hammer driving nails into the door. Another message to read as we gather for worship today was probably all they thought as they rolled over or perhaps they crawled out of bed to prepare for the day.

Little did they know what was happening. A monk in Wittenberg, he’d had enough as the indulgences were being sold in the territories around them. While the selling of indulgences wasn’t happening in Wittenberg, Elector Frederick had his own hefty collection of relics to be viewed and didn’t want competition; people were heading out to other territories to purchase them. And when these poor presents came back telling Luther they no longer needed to repent because they bought a piece of paper from Johann Tetzel, well he was understandably troubled. Heaven wasn’t and isn’t for sale. So the bold monk and priest tacked the 95 thesis, sentences, to the door written in Latin so that a discussion on the Catholic church’s practice regarding indulgences, repentance and absolution could be had.

It was at the Diet of Worms, in 1521 that Luther stood before the Holy Roman Emperor and the representatives of the pope who demanded that he recant his writings. Having asked for time, he was granted a day and on April 17 came his reply. His writings he declared were of three types. The first defended the truths of Scripture in such clear simply form that even his enemies had called them useful. To recant these writings would be to go against the clear teachings of the Word of God. The second had attacked the tyrannical practices of pope and papal authority and to recant these would be to encourage this tyranny. The third had set on refuting individuals, “here”, he said, “he could confess that he had perhaps been too harsh in tone” and yet he could not retract these for they refuted those who defended the papacy. The papal representatives would not be drawn into a discussion of kinds and types and demanded a simple answer “will you recant or not.” Luther answered without “horns or teeth”.

Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear and distinct grounds and reasoning – and my conscience is captive by the Word of God – then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience. Then he added the, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen!”[1]

He was allowed safe passage under a previously standing agreement but declared an outlaw who, after 21 days, could be hunted down and killed. He would live under this declaration for the rest of his days.

I don’t think that Monk thought any of it was coming. Nor did he understand what would come thereafter: excommunication, a world on fire, but a Word restored to the people of God. There will always we hardship it would seem. Listen carefully to the words of our lesson, yes, the words of Holy Scripture as Christ himself makes it possible for us to join in with Reformation confidence in that final line of our previous hymn, “Though all may be gone, our victory is won; the kingdom’s ours forever!”

As we listen to our Savior God send out His twelve disciples in our lesson today, He reminds us that standing will be necessary. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. Oh, and lest we think this is us verses the world so I can simply shut my door and ignore this request of Christ, He also announces, 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

This struggle, known so well by Martin Luther, will be unavoidable. It will be experienced in every level of society. It may even drift into the living rooms of our homes. Don’t think so? Let’s talk about the teachings of Scripture for a moment – Does God actually assign divinely established roles and yes, therefore differences between men and women? What does God say about marriage, living together, sexual relationships in 2011? Is man really and truly completely sinful at birth or are we all basically good? Do you want to haul any of those out this year when you gather together for Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthday parties … why not? It’s probably because we know full well that Jesus is right, and if I speak His Word there may at times be trouble and not a little but a lot of it.

Yet, nowhere does our Savior tell us to hide on account of this. Instead, He urges us to speak, to talk as long as there is a glimmer of hope that some might hear this message and through the power of the Holy Spirit believe. It is only when this message is utterly rejected that we flee and then not to hide but to do it all over again in another town in another city for other people. Sound ridiculous? Sure! Sound like it may bring more than one anxious moment? Absolutely! Aside from the glory of the cross of Christ, have you ever seen a greater picture of love?

One phrase in our lesson changes the way we look at all this and directly ties to that great Reformation prayer. Jesus tells us, he who stands firm to the end will be saved. This cannot mean that we must do something in order to enter heaven, or Scripture stands opposed to itself. Paul clearly writes, by the inspiration of God, “it is by grace you have been save through faith and this not of yourselves it is a gift of God not by works so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-9)” and again, “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace (Rom. 11:6).” So what is Jesus saying here?

It’s really “sola Scriptura” (we are saved by Scripture alone) is it not? If we do not listen to the clear words of Scripture, then the basis for every other teaching disappears. Faith is no longer founded on the rock of the Word but the shifting sands of emotion and human will and grace becomes an easy cover-up for rampant and impenitent sin. However, when true faith clings to the solid foundation of the Holy Scripture, no longer must it waver with the emotion and will but it controls and rules it that every ounce of our sinful self may cling to the grace of the cross and the comfort of salvation full and free. And instead of covering up sin expose it for my own sake and for the sake of my fellow man that with repentant hearts we might return again and again to the saving grace of God and the comfort He alone can provide. Or to say it succinctly, he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Do I believe this will be easy? No, in fact I believe this is impossible for us to do. What’s more, I believe Martin Luther thought so too. He asked for time, he looked for help, He was given an answer. In one of Luther’s sacristy prayers, a prayer he prayed just before church began, he would speak to God saying,

Lord God, You have appointed me as a Bishop and Pastor in Your Church, but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task. If I had lacked Your help, I would have ruined everything long ago. Therefore, I call upon You: I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you; I shall teach the people. I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon You Word. Use me as Your instrument -- but do not forsake me, for if ever I should be on my own, I would easily wreck it all.

So, should we give up in despair, for to stand is too great a task for the sinner to accomplish? Absolutely not! Luther’s prayer as well as his words at Worms echo the promise of Christ.

Our Savior promises He will give us the very words. Christ gives us this promise in our lesson, 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Grace is it not? That God would allow us to speak for Him, to serve as His instruments before Kings and councils and, more importantly before spouse and children, this is not something we deserve and the words escape us when our minds would look for them. Christ supplies them. No, I’m not talking about speaking in tongues while tongues of fire dance upon our heads although clearly God is able to make such a thing happen. Again, we’re speaking of the inerrant Word of God, graciously given to sinners that we might speak with the authority of the angels in heaven.

Make no mistake about it, God is not here enabling a lazy use of His Word as if to say don’t study it and don’t worry about it because I’ll just put you on auto pilot in these moments anyway. Again that would stand against other areas of scripture which tell us, be prepared. This time Peter trumpets the truth, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).” As we stand on the Word, as we live in the Word, God prepares us, God instills the answers and the truths so that should we find ourselves before kings and councils, spouses or children we will need not fear for God’s Word is with us, His answers and not our own are upon our lips.

As you and I stand in the means of grace – we are saved. Living the repentance gifted through faith in holy Baptism we plunge daily beneath the waters of the Word for the forgiveness it alone grants as it washes away each sinful stain in the blood of Christ. Daily devouring the very Words of our God we grow up into Christ who sends His Spirit to strengthen our Faith and grant us hearts which stand on the Word and lips which boldly proclaim it in season and out. When we limp in weary from the battle needing peace in the persecution, Bread and Wine, connected to the Word offer us the very Body and Blood which binds up our wounds and promises peace with God in forgiveness each time we receive it. All this is not because I have done a thing – if it were up to me I would have wrecked it all long ago, no all this is only because of my good and merciful God in Heaven Who cements my feet through faith in His Holy Word.

And that’s when the picture changes. No longer do I quiver and shake because all I see is violence and hardship. Now in love, I praise God for the opportunities to proclaim this saving message to others, whether they like it or like it not. Persecution is not a call for panic but praise because it means the message is going out and being heard by those who need it just as we do every day. Persecution proclaims this love of Christ, because it focuses not on self but on the eternal salvation of my neighbor in whatever corner of the globe they may be, with whatever result the proclamation of this saving message may bring.

I regularly marvel at Luther’s boldness and His ability to stand in the face of foes greater in strength than anything I have ever had to imagine. After reading our lesson, I believe Luther would have chastised me – reminding us all that this power was not in himself that we should praise the man but rather it existed solely in the message. This message was not Luther’s anymore than it is yours or mine. Rather it is the powerful Word of God which gives us all that we need and answers our prayer perfectly, in peace or in persecution, “Though all may be gone, our victory is won; the kingdom’s ours forever!”

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Matthew 10:16-23 - Though All May Be Gone, Our Victory Is Won; the Kingdom's Ours Forever!