Proper 26A

LCMS Lectionary Summary:

OT: Mic 3.5-12 (same) Prophets pronounce shalom on those who give them food but war to those who refuse to do so. Leaders of Israel have built Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption, and take bribes, only teaching God’s laws for a price. Because of you (both groups?) Mount Zion will be plowed, reduced to ruin, including the Temple.

Epistle: 1Th 2.9-13 (L reads beginning with 1 and ends at 12 which we won’t do since 1-8 is read Proper 25A), 13 can be cut off or not, I earlier thought the theme changed because of the (RSV) paragraph break but it is about receiving the word Paul taught them, same idea.

Gospel 284: Mat 23.1-12 (same) Jesus doesn’t say anything critical of the scribes and Pharisees’ teaching, but they don’t practice what they preach, so J warns the crowds and his disciples not to follow their example. However, it seems some of their teaching is off, since they “lay heavy burdens” on the shoulders of those they teach. Maybe the teaching as they are reading Moses, is fine, but they’re adding their own laws to that (probably the Mishna). 13-36 the Seven Woes is not read for a reason, a much more condensed form of what Matthew writes is in Mar 12.37-40 read 27B.

In Faith and Love, the Christ Has Fulfilled the Law and Removed Our Heavy Burdens

The prophets lead the people astray when they do not speak “with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8), but rather according to their own whims, to please the people and to satisfy their own desires. By such abuse of their office, they bring disaster upon the people, so that “Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins” (Micah 3:12), and there shall be “no answer from God” (Micah 3:7). God does not call His people to follow the lusts of their fallen flesh, “like the Gentiles who do not know God,” but to live “in holiness” and “to love one another” (1 Thess. 4:5, 7, 9). In the humility of faith before God, the teachers of the Law should be heeded and obeyed, because they “sit on Moses’ seat” (Matt. 23:2). Yet “you have one instructor, the Christ” (Matt. 23:10), who has humbled Himself to “be your servant” (Matt. 23:11), even unto death, and who has been exalted in His resurrection. He has fulfilled the Law, removed your heavy burdens and raised you up as a child of God. 

Summary: The Law and Obedience to It

Hymn of the Day: 585 Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide

Liturgy:

Summary

Mic 3.5-12

Micah 3:5–12 RSVCE

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong. Its heads give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for hire, its prophets divine for money; yet they lean upon the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No evil shall come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Also about false prophets, but here while the falseness of the prophecies ie mentioned, it is as if they are still depending on listening to the Lord, i.e. some of their prophecies may have non-false, where they passed on true words from the Lord. That's because the Lord in judging them will 1) bring darkness (6) and 2) God will stop speaking (7b). But the picture is of total, thorough, deep, irredeemable corruption (10 and context). I wonder if we as Christians in the U.S. need to see the corruption that is do deep, affecting both parties, the establishment and the deep state, their actions are hidden, and people's lives could be at stake for speaking out.

Psa 43

Psalm 43 RSVCE

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from deceitful and unjust men deliver me! For thou art the God in whom I take refuge; why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise thee with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

We read the Psa 42-43 refrain "why am I cast down" but forget (at least I do) the context, enemies hounding the psalmist, oppressing him, God seemingly not answering, he is walking in darkness. Here we see a darkness allowed in the sovereignty of God on good people, in Mic darkness came to the false prophets in judgment.

1Th 2.9-13

1 Thessalonians 2:9–13 RSVCE

For you remember our labor and toil, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our behavior to you believers; for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Paul and his evangelism traveling companions worked (tentmaking) so they were esp. busy.

Mat 23.1-12

Matthew 23:1–12 RSVCE

Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Although this is from the same book that had chapter 6 about don't pray in public, showingly, or fast and make a big show of it, or give alms and make sure everyone sees you do it - this is in the same vein. Would like to see the parallel Gospels view, whether or not these are close than here in Mat where they are separated by 17 chapters.