Sermon: Proper 15A (Gospel)
17 August AD 2014
Pentecost 10
Theme: Crumbs for the Dogs
Summary: While long-time and life-long Christians sometimes get a feeling of entitlement, Jesus and the Canaanite woman remind us that we are all beggars before God. Not one of us merits mercy from the Lord, the son of David.
However, Jesus showers mercy on us. Rather than treating us lower than the lowest dogs, He chose to have compassion and to take our sins, our weaknesses, and our sorrows upon Himself. His Father assigns to each of us the value of the Son’s body and blood, His life and death.
Yet we too often treat forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life as mere crumbs and grumble that God doesn’t give us more. In so doing, we forget that without Christ’s forgiveness, we would remain outside the gates of life, unable to join the eternal heavenly banquet. We would be forever numbered among “the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:15)”
Crumbs? Every bit of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, given in Word and Sacrament, is a richer feast than anything this earth can offer.
Text: And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
But he did not answer her a word.
And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28
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 Crumbs for the Dogs.
Other Readings: Psalm 67; Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32
Tags: Proper 15 | Tenth Sunday after Pentecost | 10th Sunday after Pentecost | Pentecost 10 | Three Year Lectionary | 3 Year Lectionary | Series A | theology | Jesus | Jesus Christ | Christ | Law and Gospel | Law | Gospel | crumbs | dogs | children | food | feast | banquet | Word | Sacrament | 17 August 2014 | August 17, 2014 | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Christian | Christianity | Matthew 15 | sermon | preaching | text | theme | topic | Crumbs for the Dogs | audio | mp3 | Pastor Snyder | Pastor Walter Snyder | Walter Snyder | Ask the Pastor | Happenings
Pentecost 10
Theme: Crumbs for the Dogs
Summary: While long-time and life-long Christians sometimes get a feeling of entitlement, Jesus and the Canaanite woman remind us that we are all beggars before God. Not one of us merits mercy from the Lord, the son of David.However, Jesus showers mercy on us. Rather than treating us lower than the lowest dogs, He chose to have compassion and to take our sins, our weaknesses, and our sorrows upon Himself. His Father assigns to each of us the value of the Son’s body and blood, His life and death.
Yet we too often treat forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life as mere crumbs and grumble that God doesn’t give us more. In so doing, we forget that without Christ’s forgiveness, we would remain outside the gates of life, unable to join the eternal heavenly banquet. We would be forever numbered among “the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:15)”
Crumbs? Every bit of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, given in Word and Sacrament, is a richer feast than anything this earth can offer.
Text: And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”But he did not answer her a word.
And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:21-28
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 Crumbs for the Dogs.
Other Readings: Psalm 67; Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32
Tags: Proper 15 | Tenth Sunday after Pentecost | 10th Sunday after Pentecost | Pentecost 10 | Three Year Lectionary | 3 Year Lectionary | Series A | theology | Jesus | Jesus Christ | Christ | Law and Gospel | Law | Gospel | crumbs | dogs | children | food | feast | banquet | Word | Sacrament | 17 August 2014 | August 17, 2014 | Lutheranism | Lutheran | Christian | Christianity | Matthew 15 | sermon | preaching | text | theme | topic | Crumbs for the Dogs | audio | mp3 | Pastor Snyder | Pastor Walter Snyder | Walter Snyder | Ask the Pastor | Happenings
posted by Xrysostom | 11:00
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