Reformation Sermon: Poor Comparison
Preached on Matthew 11:12–19
Reformation Day (Observed)
27 October AD 2019
Title: Click to hear the MP3 of Poor Comparison
Summary: The text is the alternate Gospel assigned for Reformation Day in the Lutheran Service Book Lectionary. It illustrates mankind’s ongoing difficulty with receiving Jesus at His word.
Christ can just as easily compare the people of today — whether of the Church or not — with the same spoiled children He mentions here in Matthew. Too often, we make the same attempts to force God into our expectations or make Him act according to our wishes. Thus when He compares us as we are to us as we should be, we completely fail in comparison.
The faithful Christian realizes, however, that God calls the tune. He continues to play the same two songs of Law and Gospel, condemning our sins in wrath and forgiving them for Christ’s sake.
Text: [Jesus said,] “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
“Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Matthew 11:12-19
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Poor Comparison
NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.
Other Readings: Psalm 46; Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36
Reformation Day (Observed)
27 October AD 2019
Title: Click to hear the MP3 of Poor Comparison
Summary: The text is the alternate Gospel assigned for Reformation Day in the Lutheran Service Book Lectionary. It illustrates mankind’s ongoing difficulty with receiving Jesus at His word.Christ can just as easily compare the people of today — whether of the Church or not — with the same spoiled children He mentions here in Matthew. Too often, we make the same attempts to force God into our expectations or make Him act according to our wishes. Thus when He compares us as we are to us as we should be, we completely fail in comparison.
The faithful Christian realizes, however, that God calls the tune. He continues to play the same two songs of Law and Gospel, condemning our sins in wrath and forgiving them for Christ’s sake.
Text: [Jesus said,] “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
“Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Matthew 11:12-19
Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Poor Comparison
NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.
Other Readings: Psalm 46; Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36
Labels: demon, dirge, drunkard, flute, glutton, Gospel, john the baptist, Matthew 11, poor comparison, Reformation Day
posted by Xrysostom | 11:30
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