Sermon 6Th Sunday Pentecost

“The Peace of the Lord!”

Series A

Matthew 10:34-42

34 “Don’t think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn’t come to bring peace but conflict.

35 I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 A person’s enemies will be the members of his own family.

37 “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple.

38 Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple.

39 The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.

40 “The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

41 The person who welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. The person who welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

42 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward.”[1]

Intro

        C.F.W. WALTHER, the American Luther, said, “Comparing [mirror] Holy Scripture [Bible] with other writings, we observe [see] that no book is apparently [mirror] so full of contradictions [opposite or conflict] as the Bible, and that, not only in minor [small] points, but in the principal [important] matter [teach], in the doctrine [teach] how we may come to God and be saved. In one place the Bible offers forgiveness to all sinners; in another place forgiveness of sins is withheld [keep] from all sinners. In one passage [verse] a free offer of life everlasting [forever] is made to all men; in another, men are directed [tell] to do something themselves towards being saved. This riddle [question on forehead] is solved [melt] when we reflect [remember] that there are in the Scriptures [Bible] two entirely [very] different doctrines [teach], the doctrine of the Law [teach] and the doctrine [teach] of the Gospel.”[2]

        Verses 34-36 of our reading show us an apparent (mirror) contradiction (opposite) or conflict in the Bible. Jesus says, “Don’t think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn’t come to bring peace but conflict. I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person’s enemies will be the members of his own family.” ?What? Jesus came to peace! ?Right? ?How is it possible for Jesus to bring conflict or a sword? Hmm! This doesn’t seem (mirror) the same as the Jesus I know and believe. Curious!

        The Bible calls Jesus the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. When (happen) Jesus was born on Christmas morning the angels sang a song, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will (Luke 2:14)!”[3] After (finish) Jesus arose (live again) on Easter morning, Jesus came to his 11 betraying (mock) disciples (friend). John 20:19, “That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them [11 friends] and said to them, “Peace be with you!”[4] Clearly, Jesus has brought (finish-bring) PEACE! ?How can we understand this apparent (mirror) contradiction (conflict) in the Bible verses. ?How can Jesus bring both a sword and peace? Impossible! ?Right?

No! Jesus can do the impossible! We must understand about the peace from the Lord. Jesus brings a sword or war to the kingdom of evil. The Kingdom of Heaven is at war with (against) the kingdom of darkness and sin. Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle [war] is not against flesh and blood [people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms [kingdom].”[5]

Our war is not fought (fight) against people…flesh and blood. No! Our war is against evil living in people! Our war is NOT fought (fight) with WEAPONS from earth. Our sword is the Word (Bible) and Sacraments (Baptism & Lord’s Supper). Our and Jesus’ war is not fought (fight) the same as the MUSLIMS fight with bombs, knives, and guns. No! Jesus told Peter in Matthew 26:52, “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away! All who use a sword will be killed by a sword.”[6] Flesh and blood will fail against Devil’s kingdom. Earthly WEAPONS the same as bombs, guns, and knives will fail against the Devil. The Devil cannot be beaten, hacked, or blown out of people by (thru) this world’s WEAPONS. Only the Word of God can chase evil out of the human (people) heart. ADAM and EVE failed against that Old Snake, the Devil! However, Jesus conquered (beat) the Devil with the Word (Bible) of God. Jesus said many times to the Devil, “(Finish) It is written…!” We too (same) must do and say the same as Jesus and tell the Devil, “(Finish) It is written…!”

        This will not be an easy war. War is HELL (hard)! The war of heaven against evil is the most hellish (full hard)! Jesus says, “A person’s enemies will be the members of his own family.” Wow! Terrible! The evil of unbelief will be present in the people we love most. We will have Civil War! We will be at war in our homes! People we love most will think we are against them. People we love most will think we are criticizing them. People we love most will think we are foolish. People we love most will hate us. People we love most will reject us! Wow! Terrible! Most terrible of all, people we love most will hate and reject Jesus! Terrible! Terrible! Terrible!

We must not give up! We are at war against evil!  We must fight hard and not let anything get in our way (block). Verses 37-38 our reading Jesus says, “The person who loves his father or mother more than me [Jesus] does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me [Jesus] doesn’t deserve to be my disciple.”

We must not let anything stop us. We are at war! We will face a cross. We have an opponent (enemy) worse than OSAMA. The flesh, world, and the Devil are our enemy. The dark kingdom is our enemy! The kingdom of sin is our enemy! Jesus knows and we should know too (same) with the Bible (words) we can chase the Devil out. God’s word will make the evil runaway (escape). Imagine (idea)! We tell our fathers, mothers, brothers, sister-in-laws, friends, or whomever Jesus’ word and those people also believe! Wow! Joy! Joy! Joy!

The Kingdom of Heaven has come to the ones (people) we love…our family and friends. Our family and friends have (finish) become friends with God. Our loved ones (people) have peace! God has cast (thrown out) the devil and sin from their lives! Our loved ones have new life in Christ! Rejoice! God’s powerful Word has brought (finish bring) our loved ones (people) in Kingdom of Heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”[7]

We must not worry about the war. We must not worry about our life. We must not be afraid of the Devil. The Devil can only kill our bodies when (happen) God permits. Our souls and bodies belong to God. God is holding us in His almighty hand. We have nothing to fear. Jesus says in verse 39, “but the person who loses his life for me will preserve [keep] it.”

A person believing and following Jesus will never lose their gift of salvation. We have the peace from the Lord! All is well (good) with us! We know the Lord is working His best for us! We have confidence (brave) and peace! Our hearts are full of joy to face everything the Devil throws at us! We smile and praise God for our victory. We pray for God’s continued strength. We pray for our brothers and sisters who do not yet know Him. 99% of our deaf brothers and sisters need to see Christ on our hands and in our hearts.

We rush to front of the war and fight the GOOD fight. The fight of Word (Bible) and Sacraments (Baptism and Lord’s Supper). We carry our flag, the Cross! We carry our WEAPONS, Word and Sacraments! We carry the peace of the Lord to all those people believing and trusting in Jesus! We carry the peace of the Lord through our Sign Language and life. We know and trust Jesus to give us His peace, the Peace of the Lord…and carry us home…VICTORIOUS! Amen!

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[1]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Mt 10:34-42). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[2]Walther, C. F. W. (2000, c1929, c1986). The proper distinction between law and gospel : 39 evening lectures. Forward by Jaroslav Pelikan. Includes index. (electronic ed.) (Page 6). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

[3]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Lk 2:14). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[4]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Jn 20:19). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Eph 6:12). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

[6]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Mt 26:52). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (2 Co 5:17). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.