Pentecost 2 [series A] - preached June 22,2014 @ Emmaus Lutheran Church

Sermon Text:      Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

Title:           “Who’s the Head of Your House?”

I.        To make Satan the head of your house means death.

II.       To make Jesus the head of your house means life.

THROUGH THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU HAVE REMAINED FAITHFUL AND NOW ENTER YOUR HEAVENLY HOME

In the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The sermon text for this 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, is taken from the Gospel lesson.

 

 

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them…“²¹ Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²² and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant^[e] above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign^[f] those of his household.
²⁶ “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.^{[g] 29} Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?^[h] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

In our text today Jesus says…

A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

Jesus is saying here that a student or disciple believes, teaches and confesses that which his teacher believes, teaches and confesses.  So it is also with the slave, for a slave is owned by the master and will do the master’s will – not his own. One theologian puts it this way, “Neither disciple nor slave is above his teacher or master. If he ceases to believe, teach or confess as does his teacher or if he substitutes his own will for that of his master, he ceases to be disciple and slave.” (Buls’ Notes).

Then Jesus says…

It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

In other words – it’s ok for disciple and servant to be like teacher and master and to share in their lot in life.

Then Jesus says…

If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

Here’s where the Law starts to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus is saying if the head of the house is called Satan, then it follows that those who are of the same house as the head of the house will follow suit. Makes sense and at the same time scares the dickens out of us.

Why? Well – because as we take a good, long, hard look at ourselves, we see that we seem to set Satan up as the head of our household many times don’t we? Throughout the days of our lives we are continually setting our will before the will of the LORD.

I want to do what I want to do. I want to sleep in on Sundays. I want to give less to church. I want to say no when asked to serve at the church. I want to drink until I get drunk. I want to scream at my spouse and kids. I want to be lazy at work. And the list goes on and on and on doesn’t it? And if I’ve missed your particular sin, feel free to add it to the list in your mind. 

For none of us sitting here today can escape the accusations of the Law. None of us can look at the Law and honestly say, “Nope, didn’t break any of these.” Not one of us can say, “Holy Scripture isn’t talking about me when it speaks of the sins of man.”

No – not one of us standing on our own merits and worthiness can stand before the Law pure and Holy. Instead we stand accused, tried and convicted of breaking not just one of these, but all of them millions of times over, and in fact we were conceived in this condition.  There hasn’t been one millisecond in our life – even in our mothers’ womb – where we weren’t guilty of the charges leveled against us.  This is our condition – guilty and awaiting the executioner’s axe.

II.

And even though there is seemingly nothing to save us from this verdict and sentence – in steps our Savior – Jesus. He climbs the steps of the gallows He lifts you off of your knees and leads you away from the chopping block and then He goes back and kneels in your place. He is guilty of none of what you have been accused. He is spotless and perfect – without defect. He deserves none of this – and yet there He is ready to take the punishment – your punishment. He is ready to die.  And so He does.

The Father looks at you in your rags and the filth of your sin and He cuts your bonds holding your hands behind your back. You are no longer a prisoner bound by the shackles of sin. He embraces you and calls you child. Your Father washes the dirt from your soul with the waters and the Word of Holy Baptism. He gives you His Holy Spirit – so that you may call Jesus LORD. Your Father gives you something to eat and drink to nourish you – the very Body and Blood of His Son Jesus. He stands ready to clothe you in the white robe of Jesus’ righteousness – which is now yours through faith! 

And you stand in utter awe and disbelief. You say to yourself, “How can this be?”  You look at your hands and wrists. Gone are the biting, red, swollen marks. Gone are the rags. Gone is the dirt and filth. You stand before the LORD washed, fed – perfect. You stand in hope. You know it wasn’t your doing but that of Jesus – the One who went to the gallows in your place – for there is nothing you could have done to accomplish this. And now your risen LORD Jesus Christ stands there ready to welcome you into the Kingdom of Heaven.  For you have – through the gift and peculiar work of the Holy Spirit – remained faithful.

In Christ Jesus and His work on the Cross – you have – through the power of the Holy Spirit – made Jesus the head of your house! And now are welcomed by Him to enter your heavenly home, forever and ever. Amen.

The peace of the LORD which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.        

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +