Proper 25A
Notes
Transcript
LCMS Lectionary Summary:
OT: Lev 19.1-2, 15-18 (same) Be holy for I am holy. No partiality, neither to the powerful (which we all understand) or to the poor (goes against grain of modern thought) you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Epistle: 1Th 2.1-8 (L reads through 13 which is good if the sermon is based on the epistle) Paul’s preaching and teaching done to please God. He does not flatter in order to gain (greed). He and his missionary team were gentle and did not make demands.
Gospel 182, 283: Mat 22.34-46 (same) Lawyer asks Jesus “which is the greatest commandment?” Answer “love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind....and a second “love your neighbor as yourself” quoting OT Deu 6.4 and Lev 19.18.
In Divine and Holy Love, the Lord Jesus Sanctifies Us by the Gospel of His Cross
The people of God are to be holy as He is holy. Therefore, we should fear, love and trust in Him above all things, and in such faith “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). Such faith toward God and love for the neighbor are the two great commandments upon which “depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:40). The Lord, our God Himself, has fulfilled His Law on our behalf — in His great love for us, with all His heart and soul and mind, and in a body of flesh and blood like ours. David’s Lord has become David’s Son, so that all our enemies might be put under His feet and that we might be exalted to the right hand of God in Him (Matt. 22:43–45). So His servants bear His cross in faith and love. For the sake of the Gospel, they suffer persecution for their work, bearing their burdens in gentleness, “like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). In like manner and with tender affection, they exhort and encourage “like a father with his children” (1 Thess. 2:11–12).
Summary: Love of Neighbor
Hymn of the Day: 411 I want to walk as a child of the light
579 The Law of God is good and wise
Liturgy:
Summary:The Leviticus passage spells out what to do and not to do, civil law mostly, to love your neighbor — all tied to holiness (consecration, devotion, cleanness).
Lev 19.1-2, 15-18
And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.
“You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
"You must be holy, for I am holy" and then that is spelled out in individual prohibitions, many, sixteen or more. One of the best quick lists (cf the chapter long prohibitions on ceremonial uncleanness, leprosy, etc.). "Tihyu qedoshim
qi qadosh ani Yahweh elohe kem."
Psa 1
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
This is more about the right way than love of neighbor, a lot is the vertical dimension but some is horizontal, wicked and sinners are always looking for ways to cheat others, do violence to them, including tearing them down with hurtful words.
1Th 2.1-8
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain; but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness; nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
Visits by Paul are not failures even if there is much opposition. They were honest and not full of flattery. Honesty, simplicity, humility, directness - that is loving your neighbor. Also care like a mother to her children mentioned in 8, sharing deep enough to include sharing one's own life.
Mat 22.34-46
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet’? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did any one dare to ask him any more questions.
Jesus spells out the ten commandments reduced to 1a and 1b, love God, love your neighbor "the entire law and prophets hang on these."