Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity

The Sadducees and Pharisees were two rival factions within the Jewish religious system. Perhaps a secular equivalent in our day would be the Republicans and Democrats: always contending with one another, each party looking to gain an advantage, whether materially or in the eyes of the public. In the verses preceding our Gospel text, the Sadducees had come to Jesus with an impossible question, hoping to advance their party. Instead, Jesus easily answered their question and embarrassed them, saying, “You are wrong, knowing neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Mt 22:29).

This was a devastating blow to their pride, and naturally, their rivals, the Pharisees, were delighted. They saw this as their chance to gain the upper hand, “If we ask Jesus a question He can’t answer, we will be exalted in the eyes of all the people.” The Pharisees appointed a spokesman, a expert on the Jewish law, and confronted Jesus with their question: “Which is the great commandment in the Law?”

Now, were they asking this because they cared about the Law of God? No. Were they interested in showing love for their neighbor? Not at all. In fact, they were plotting to trap and humiliate their Neighbor. Was their question motivated by a sincere desire to please God and follow His will? No. They cared only about their positions and status in the people’s eyes. The same could be said for our politicians. When they argue about border policy, it’s not because any of them truly cares about the immigrants. They care about themselves: their reputations, their own interests, and their own pride. The politicians want to win at any cost. The Pharisees and Sadducees want to win at any cost. But let’s not stop there. You too want to win at any cost.

To be clear, when I say you, I’m more properly talking about the sinful nature that lives within you. But sometimes it’s hard to tell where the sinful natures ends and you begin. Yes, that Old Adam was put to death in the waters of Holy Baptism, but, as Luther says, “He is a good swimmer,” and you’ll never be fully rid of him in this life. That proud unbeliever rears his ugly head every day trying to have the last word.

Husbands and wives know the desire to win at any cost. Many marriages are destroyed because of it. But this isn’t just a problem for married people. In any argument it always feels so important to have that last word, to stick it to the other guy, and then to twist the knife—even when you know that nothing good will come of it.

The Sadducees argued with Jesus about the Resurrection. They didn’t believe in it. They said that this life, with all its sorrow and trouble was all there is. Jesus said, “I AM the Resurrection. Whoever believes in me will have life eternal.” What did the Sadducees have to gain by proving Jesus wrong? Nothing. The loss of heaven. Did that stop them from arguing?

The Pharisees were trying to prove that Jesus was just an ordinary man. He told them, “Unless you believe that I AM God, you will die in your sins.” But they wanted to prove Him wrong. What did they have to gain? The loss of forgiveness and the certain sentence of condemnation. Did that stop them from trying? No. They wanted to win at any cost.

And what about you? Are you trying to win an argument with Jesus? Many Christian are. Jesus says, “My words are spirit and life.” But the words of Jesus make sinners uncomfortable. Your Old Adam hates to hear the Law of God. It’s a real downer. Because of this many faithful pastors are run out of their churches. People say, “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it.” But this is nothing new. Time and time again in the Old Testament, the people of God complained to the prophets saying, “Don’t tell us what God says. Don’t tell us the truth. Don’t tell us to repent. We don’t want to hear it. Instead, speak to us smooth and comfortable things. Tell us that there will be peace. Tell us that all will be well.”

Too many Christians say, “Of course we love Jesus, we just don’t want to hear His words—especially not the ones that make us uncomfortable. Don’t preach the whole counsel of God. Don’t give us pure doctrine. Give us encouraging talks that build our self esteem. We don’t want rich and solid hymnody that feeds us the rich food of the Gospel; we want sappy, sentimental songs that make us feel good.

God says to His children, “I am your heavenly Father. I will care and provide for you. I will give you every good thing that you need.” But often His children say, “We don’t trust your judgment. We will decide what is good and what is evil.” Tell me, do you want to win this argument with Jesus? The Sadducees were so eager to win, they were willing to give up the Resurrection. The Pharisees were willing to give up eternal life that only Jesus could offer. What would your sinful nature give up in order to win?

The world, the flesh, and the devil are united in their opposition to the will of God. They want to win the argument with Jesus at any cost, and some people will succeed. God will say to some on the Last Day, “Thy will be done.” Nothing could be more frightening that these words! The desire to win is strong within our sinful hearts, but at what cost? This is why Jesus teaches us to pray to our heavenly Father, saying, “Thy will be done.”

And what is the will of God? His desire for you is far better than what you could arrange for yourself. Why would you need to win an argument with Jesus, when He wants to give you abundantly more than you could ever ask or think. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). The will of God is to give you eternal life and every blessing, now and in the world to come. Your sinful nature would love to argue against Jesus, to say, “No thanks. I’ll make my own way. I’ll provide for my own needs. Winning is more important to me than eternal life.”

But thanks be to God, that old, sinful man was drowned and put to death in the waters of Holy Baptism. Thanks be to God, Jesus and His words could not be overcome, not by all the wiles of the devil, not even by death itself. Jesus could not be trapped by the Pharisees. Instead, he set a trap for them. Why? In order to give them salvation. Jesus wins the argument, but he does so in the last way the sinful nature could ever imagine: He wins by losing. He wins by dying. Even as He hung upon His cross, He looked out at His enemies arrayed against Him and said, “Father, forgive them!”

That’s is God’s will for you and every other sinner. And though you would have resisted it, by His abundant grace, the Holy Spirit broke through your stubborn unbelief and won the argument. How does our Lord win? By giving us eternal life and every blessing. Amen.