[For the foreseeable future, we expect that BFP devotionals will not be posted on a daily basis. Fret not. This doesn’t mean you need to skip your own family devotions. Please avail yourself of the PDF below.]
428. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity. I.
Lord, give us the fear of God,
and make us obedient. Amen.
Gospel Lesson, Matthew 22, 15-22. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
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Lucifer was dissatisfied, revolted, and became a devil. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram could not endure the supremacy of Moses and Aaron, but indulged in a tirade about the holiness of all the people, revolted, and went to perdition. In the days of David Israel had honor, riches, and good fortune; but they listened willingly to the voice of Absalom, became dissatisfied, revolted, and were torn up by internal dissensions. During the reign of Solomon they murmured against him; and after his death the ten tribes rebelled against their rightful ruler. He who is the rebel from the beginning, who hates obedience and subjection, seduced them, and created discontent in their hearts; so, when they refused willing obedience, they were forced to render the obedience of slaves. — At the time of Christ the Jewish people were subject to the Romans. When the multitude, on Palm Sunday, supposed that his purpose was to liberate them from Cæsar, they did homage to him; but because he is the king of true liberty, and demands self-denial, they cried out five days later, saying: “Crucify him; crucify him!” Shortly after this they revolted against the Romans, and were destroyed.
The lesson which history for our warning teaches us in a manner not to be mistaken is taught by the rest of the word of God also in distinct terms. Today we hear Jesus say: “Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” The Lord puts these two duties together. Rendering unto Cæsar the things that are his does not militate against, but is a consequence of rendering unto God the things that are God’s. He only who gives God his own can give Cæsar that which is his. Bow in humility and the fear of God before the high and mighty Lord of heaven; give him the full confidence and love of your hearts; commit yourselves in faith and obedience into his hand; — and then render unto the government which he has placed over you reverence, obedience, and tribute. Obedience to the government as a result of obedience to God, this is the teaching of Christ. Willing submission to every ordinance of man, in that truly royal liberty which no power can put down, is one of the glories of the disciples of Jesus. Disobedience to the authorities, springing out of disobedience to God, is the spirit of Satan. Pride, and lust of power, and discontent; and, with it all, boasting about one’s spirit of liberty, and the promise of ease; — these things are the curse of Absalom and of others who serve the flesh. That which Jesus teaches in our gospel lesson of today he declares also in his reply to Pilate: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” The same truth he taught Paul also by revelation: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers!” Every man is in duty bound to obey the constituted authorities. “For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.” The apostle could not have spoken with greater clearness. “There is no power but of God.” If we believe the word of God, we know who it is has given us our government. “The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. . . . For the power is the minister of God to thee for good. . . . Therefore we must needs be subject, not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.” Thus wrote Paul; and we know that the government under which he lived was heathen, unrighteous, and cruel. To Titus and to all ministers of the word he wrote: “Put the faithful in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.” Now, to be “subject” to them means of our hearts to reverence and honor them as having authority over us in God’s stead. And this is the teaching of all the apostles. Abstain from fleshly lusts, says Peter, and “submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” This is directly contrary to the desire kindled by the devil in the carnal man; directly contrary to the spirit which now, in a higher degree than ever before, holds sway in the children of unbelief. When modern liberty dawned in France toward the close of the eighteenth century, the people deposed the government and Christ at the same time. The Christian doctrine that the powers that be are of God, and are to be honored and obeyed as the servant of God, and for God’s sake, can by no possibility be reconciled with the assertion that there is no government but of the people, and that the people themselves are the supreme power. There is no reason why magistrates may not be chosen by the people; but the Christian religion demands, that while they hold their office, they are to be esteemed and honored and obeyed as servants of God, placed in their positions by the Lord, and exercising authority for him and under him.
False liberty, being slavery, has discontent as its companion; and being an untruth, it begets strife and calamity. Through the revolt of Korah and of Absalom the Jews destroyed themselves by the thousands; and in the destruction of Jerusalem they suffered as much from the internal dissensions as from the sword of the enemy. Disobedience means bitterness and self-destruction. On the other hand, subjection for the Lord’s sake, being true liberty, gives joy and peace; being truth, it brings good fortune to the people. There is One has said: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth!” The expression “father and mother,” however, includes all who have authority over us. The spirit of Christ is love; and love gathers, builds up, and strengthens. Even if the spirit of unbridled license had no evil result other than envy and bitterness in the minds of men, and conflicts between the classes into which society is divided, it would be more than bad enough; but contempt for the authorities brings upon us the judgment of God. — Be on your guard, then, Christian friends, and beware of the spirit of false liberty! This spirit is alluring; the beautiful word liberty is on its tongue always; it is wonderfully skilled in mixing together truth and falsehood; it clothes itself beautifully in the garment of light. I know a sure means of escape: “Bless the Lord alway, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103). Then shall you become humble, and happy, and make peace, and impress on the young the wise man’s words of gold, Proverbs 24, 21: “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change.”
Lord, teach us to know our unworthiness of thy many and great benefits. Give us humility and a submissive spirit; and preserve us from the evil spirit of self-will and bitterness. Give us true liberty in the heart, that we may gladly honor and obey those in authority over us, and cheerfully render to them the tribute imposed on us. Bless all whom thou hast placed in positions of authority over us. Give them wisdom, righteousness, and strength; and prosper their work, that the people may be benefited. We thank thee, O God, for this great mercy, that thou hast so long blessed us with the glorious benefits of liberty and peace. Drive away, we heartily beseech thee, the evil spirit of discord which threatens us; and grant that we may yet a long time lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Accept our thanks, and hear our prayer, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
God bless our native land!
Firm may she ever stand,
Though storm and night;
When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of wind and wave,
Do thou our country save
By thy great might.
For her our prayer shall rise
To God above the skies;
On him we wait:
Thou who art ever nigh,
Guarding with watchful eye,
To thee aloud we cry,
God save the state!
[TLH 577, LSB 965, ELH 602; listen here]
429. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity. II.
Lord, let us find the hidden treasure,
sell all that we have, and buy it. Amen.
Epistle Lesson, Philippians 3, 17-21. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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These unhappy persons of whom the apostle cannot speak without weeping, “the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction,” are none other than they who “mind earthly things.” This statement is one of utmost gravity. Is it, then, so dangerous a matter to “mind earthly things”? Yes; so the word of the Lord says. If the earthly things be your treasure, your heart’s best and dearest possession; your “God is your belly,” you are an enemy of the cross of Christ, and your way leads to destruction. Terrible thought! To be an enemy of the cross of the precious Savior! His blood, which brings salvation, you will have none of it; in your innermost heart there is aversion to a Savior who dies on the cross, and by this means reconciles us with God. And you are reluctant to bear affliction with him; you will not deny yourself, nor walk in his steps through poverty and suffering. Earthly riches, power, and honor are to you better than his love, and of greater value than the benefits of his death and resurrection. Let every one examine himself! We might possibly be these of whom the apostle speaks; for they are “many”. The apostle says that they are many; and so says Jesus also: They are many who walk in the broad way to destruction.
As the people on the crowded streets of a great city divide into two currents setting in opposite directions, so do members of the whole human family. The children of the world hurry onward in their chase after the earthly things, and end in perdition; the people of God walk the way of the cross of Christ, and reach heaven.
Brethren, do not let the children of the world by their number and strength turn you back into the jaws of death. Let neither friendship nor enmity, neither threats nor promises, neither the craft of the Pharisees nor the shouts of the rabble crying “Hosanna,” and then, “crucify him”; neither the spirit of license nor the spirit of sloth, lead you astray, and cause you to turn your eyes away from heaven. The path is narrow; but do you stay always in the company of the disciples, and walk in the steps of Jesus; follow him in obedience and self-denial, and you shall reach the blessed end of your journey. Our portion is not the fleeting good things of this world; “our conversation is in heaven.” Upward, then; and homeward, in the company of all the saints! “He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
Lord Jesus, teach us to know the grace and the power of thy cross; give us the desire to follow in the steps of thy suffering; and grant that we may be faithful therein unto the end. Amen.*
Teach me, O Lord, my days to number,
And when this life I shall depart,
Let me commend my soul to Jesus,
And die with a repentant heart.
O God, when tolls my parting knell,
For Jesus’ sake may all be well!
[Church Hymns 210; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.