The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Trinity 9 – July 28, 2024

Psalm 54; 2 Samuel 22:26-34; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

St. Luke 16:1-13

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

To understand the parable before us today, it is necessary to understand the words that are used in the parable. A “steward” is someone responsible for using and caring for the possessions of someone else. In the case of the parable, the steward is responsible for managing the money of the rich man. Your accountant is the steward of your finances. Parents, when you send your children to school, the teacher is the steward of your child. Hiring Door Dash is hiring someone to be the steward of your supper. A steward is responsible for the use and care of some else’s possessions. “Stewardship” is simply the way of describing the way in which the steward cares for those possessions. It does not necessarily only mean money.

The word “shrewd” might have negative connotations. It sounds evil, or at least mean. Perhaps it even rings in your ears as someone who is miserly and lashes out at those around him. The word just refers to practical wisdom, knowing what actions to take in a particular situation. This is different from the “wisdom” we usually think of. Wisdom is generally reserved for theoretical wisdom, that is, having the knowledge of the best course of action. To be shrewd is to have practical wisdom of the situation and knowing the best steps to take.

For example, it might be wise for a carpenter to soften the corners of a table to give it a finished, beautiful appearance. It is shrewd of the carpenter to soften the corners and the edges to reduce splintering. The wise Christian knows the value to his body and soul of attending the Divine Service every Sunday and every other day it is offered. The shrewd Christian bathes the children the night before so that Sunday morning is efficient and attends the earliest service so that the children are still slightly subdued by the early rising.

“Mammon” refers to all earthly possessions: clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods. In itself, mammon is good because it is a creation of God. However, Christ calls it “unrighteous mammon” in the parable. That is because, in this context, “unrighteous” doesn’t mean “evil;” it means “something that can’t save you.” Righteousness is not found in mammon, therefore it is “unrighteous mammon.”

We may now begin to understand the parable. The master discovers that his steward has been stealing his money and wasting it on extravagant living. Because the master can’t trust the steward, he fires him and demands the steward return the master’s ledger (the book where the master’s money is recorded). On his way to get the ledger, the steward quickly calls those who owe the master money and lowers their debts. This, of course, makes the debtors happy. The steward does this so that when he is forced out of the master’s house, he can go to the debtors and say, “Hey, remember how I got you a break on your debt? How about you help me out by giving me a job, a place to sleep, or at least a meal.” The debtors, remembering what the steward did for them, will certainly welcome the steward into their homes.

Now, we know that the steward is a scoundrel. He is dishonest. He had been stealing from his master and his last act as steward was to cheat the master out of even more money. And yet the master commends his shrewdness, his wisdom.

Neither the master, nor Jesus, commends the steward for stealing or lying. He is to be commended for his wisdom; for thinking ahead; for striving so hard for what matters to him most. It is this effort, this wisdom, that our Lord is commending to us today. ‘Do you see,’ He says, ‘what lengths the steward was willing to go to in order to reach his goal? Think now of your goal, baptized child of God. How does your goal (eternal life in the presence of and in communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost) affect your actions and the way you use the gifts of this life: clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all your goods?’

 These things, this mammon, cannot save you. Every possession in this world is mammon, it is unrighteous because it cannot save you. But all mammon can certainly damn you. It is dangerous. All earthly possessions are dangerous because they so easily become idols. Thanks be to God He has given to His children the Holy Ghost, by which we are made wise. We are wise as serpents and innocent as doves.^[1]

Then again, we must use this wisdom, this shrewdness, given by the Holy Ghost to “make friends” by means of unrighteous mammon. What does it mean to “make friends” in this context? It doesn’t mean buddies. It doesn’t mean lifelong friendships. The goal of the steward is that when his lifelong career fails, he is received into the homes of others that will care for him the rest of his days. The goal of the Christian is that when you fail, that is, when your body gives up its final breath, you will be received into the everlasting heavenly mansion prepared for you by Christ.^[2] You will be received into the bosom of Abraham, gathered into the general assembly and church of the firstborn, to God the Judge of all, and to Christ the Mediator of the new covenant, whose blood of the sprinkling speaks better things than that of Abel.^[3]

The friends you are to make are those who are gathered into glory. Some of our theologians consider these friends to be the poor to whom you’ve shown charity by giving your mammon to them. That could be, but I am inclined to see these friends as the general assembly and church of the firstborn, that is, your fellow Christians, the martyrs, and the faithful poor; as well as the Holy Angels and the Triune God.

To make friends with them by means of unrighteous mammon is not to earn their favor by storing up good works or merits. Rather, to make friends with them is to show that you are of one mind, one spirit, one Baptism into one Lord. This is seen in how you order your life. What is most important? Nostalgia? Longing for the past? A comfortable life? An easy life? Or is eternal life most important? Longing for unity with the general assembly of the firstborn? The worship of the Triune God? Citizenship in heaven? Receiving the forgiveness of sins? Repentance for the times you’ve fallen short and the many ways in which you have failed to be shrewd?

The parable of the Shrewd Manager is about the orientation of your life, shown through your use of the things of this world. Is your life oriented toward God or does your life only pay Him lip service? Do you care about pure doctrine or your own opinion? Is a college education more important than faith? The sons of this world are incredibly shrewd in striving for their goals, more shrewd, in fact, than the children of light. Perhaps, there is something to be learned from them, afterall.

In + Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. Matthew 10:16.

[2] St. John 14:1-3.

[3] St. Luke 16:22; Hebrews 12:22-24.

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity – July 21, 2024

Psalm 48; Jeremiah 23:16-29; Romans 8:12-17

St. Matthew 7:15-23

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The phrase, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” is often used to describe someone or something that outwardly appears good, helpful, pleasant, or beneficial, but turns out to be harmful, dangerous, painful, or evil. Such a common use of the phrase is good. It reminds us that Western society is founded on the words of Scripture. But the common use of this phrase is lacking the intensity with which our Lord first spoke it. The result of listening to these false prophets is not bad feelings, sadness, or even death. It is eternal death, condemnation in hell.

Pure doctrine is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. Just before the Gospel text for today, our Lord says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”[1] This sets the stakes for dealing with wolves in sheep’s clothing.

When you stand before Jesus Christ on the final day, it will be your doctrine that is judged. You cannot blame your misunderstandings or false doctrines on your parents or pastors.[2] Those given the office of preacher will be judged more harshly for they are responsible for communicating the Word of God but that does not excuse the hearer.[3] You must stand and confess your faith on your own.[4] It is your responsibility to maintain the true faith once delivered to the saints.[5]

Pure doctrine is not just facts or words to be memorized. Pure doctrine is to come to know the God who created, redeemed, and sanctified you most intimately. Learning pure doctrine is drawing near to the God who took on your flesh to die for your sins. Knowing the Word of God is knowing that Word that is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

For this reason, it is necessary that all Christians know the doctrines of Scripture. It is necessary that all Christians be able to evaluate, or judge, the doctrine of your preacher. How do you do that? By comparing his doctrine and life to the Word of God. The fruits of the good tree and the evil tree are both the teachings and actions of the prophets. Does he teach the Word of God? Are his teachings in line with the teachings of Scripture? Or does he tell you what you want to hear?[6] Does he tell you what is comfortable instead of what God has stated? Does he let sin go unjudged or does he call you to repentance? Does he lead a life that brings honor to the office of Christ? Is he pious and living outwardly such that he is above reproach? Or does he preach against adultery while committing sexual acts with someone other than his wife?

Now, none of this is to be judged by how you think or feel, what is comfortable or novel. It is to be judged by the Word of God.[7] For this reason, it is necessary that the sheep know the voice of the Good Shepherd; that you know the Scriptures for it is they that testify of Christ.[8] Do you rely on “what you’ve always thought,” or “what you’ve always been told”? Or do you search the Scriptures, seeking wisdom and strength?[9]

This is a difficult task. It is an essential task, but it is a difficult one. It is made even more difficult because the false prophets, the wolves, wear sheep’s clothing.[10] These wolves do not wear undershepherd’s clothing, but they hide among the sheep. What does that mean? It means that the false prophet will often hide his false teachings and his wicked life as being common, being “just the way things are done.” He might claim, “well, the Scriptures say that only men are to teach in the church, but that isn’t true here; we’ve always had women read the lessons.”

Such false doctrine is most obvious in the mainline denominations today.[11] Look at how quickly denominations have capitulated not only to women’s ordination, but to accepting, blessing, and upholding homosexuality. A hundred years ago, very few in the church would’ve dreamed of talking about such degeneracy, let alone blessing it. A hundred years before that, and it would be common for preachers to speak of strict legal punishment for such sins because they harm our society, our families, and our children, even if we, ourselves, don’t participate.

“But pastor,” you might say, “are you saying that only Lutherans go to heaven?” By no means! There are Christians in every denomination who confesses the doctrines of Scripture.[12] The Church is not constituted by human organizations. The Church is wherever Christians gather to hear the Word of God taught in its truth and purity and to receive the Holy Sacraments rightly administered.[13] However, every false doctrine they believe is like a dead bug in your soup. Can you survive eating one dead bug? Probably. What about two? Three? Each false doctrine believed by a denomination adds to the filth of their teaching until the whole soup is ruined. Jesus said, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”[14]

“But pastor,” you might say again, “what if you are in one of those denominations (let’s say, the Methodists) but you don’t believe that false stuff. What then?” Thanks be to God you do not believe the false doctrines of the Methodists, but I would ask why you are still in fellowship with them? To be a member of a congregation is like being married to it.[15] If you are publicly married to one congregation but claim to believe differently, then you are secretly in bed with someone else, some other church. Make it right by joining yourself to the Church which teaching the purity of God’s Word.

What then are you to do, or what is a congregation to do, should you find yourself being led by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a false prophet who is teaching evil doctrine or living a wicked life? The first thing to do is talk to him.[16] Call him to repentance. Make sure that in doing so, you are able to show him from the Scriptures where his error lies. Make sure it isn’t something that you just don’t like or are unhappy with. Which commandments is he breaking? Which doctrine is he violating? Where in Scripture is he wrong?

If he repents of his false doctrine, thanks be to God! You have won your brother from the fires of hell. Depending on the severity of the false doctrine or the manner in which it was taught, it is then incumbent upon him to publicly repent and teach the proper doctrine.

If he repents of wicked living, the matter is a bit more difficult. Was his sin something that disqualifies him from the Office of the Holy Ministry? If so, then the fruits of his repentance is to resign. If his sin was not to that degree, then again, rejoice for you have won your brother’s soul from hellfire.

If you show your pastor where he has clearly erred – in doctrine or life – and he refuses to repent, then take it to the elders of the congregation and possibly involve the Circuit Visitor. If he still refuses to repent, then it is necessary that the congregation remove him from the Office. This should never be taken lightly, nor should it be the goal of calling the pastor to repentance. Just as the goal of excommunication is the salvation of souls, so too the removal of pastors is for the repentance of sins.

How do you arm yourself to judge the doctrine of your pastor? Immerse yourself in the teachings of Scripture. Too daunting? Begin with the Small Catechism. It is the summary of all doctrine necessary for salvation. Begin there and with reading God’s Word. Read the Bible from beginning to end. Start with the Gospels, then the histories of the Old Testament, then the Epistles, and finally the prophets. Pray the Psalms and the Proverbs. Do this over and over again and you will be equipped with everything to need to judge doctrine.

“We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of Your temple. As Your name, O God, so Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filed with righteousness.”[17]

In T Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] St. Matthew 7:13-14.

[2] Ezekiel 33:1-11.

[3] James 3:1.

[4] Galatians 1:8.

[5] Jude 1:3.

[6] 2 Timothy 4:3.

[7] 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

[8] St. John 5:39.

[9] St. Matthew 22:29.

[10] St. Matthew 7:15.

[11] Ephesians 4:14.

[12] St. Luke 9:50.

[13] Ephesians 4:5-6; AC VII; SA XII.

[14] 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9; St. Matthew 16:5-12.

[15] 2 Corinthians 6:14.

[16] St. Matthew 18:15-20. What follows is an outline of the teachings of this passage. It should be noted, though it was outside the scope of this sermon, that public sin (such as public teaching) does not always require private admonition. What is contained in this sermon assumes an existing relationship between the pastor and the parishioner.

[17] Psalm 48:9-10 (the antiphon to today’s introit).