Sermon for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Someone Else Paid”

Text: Isaiah 55:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21; Romans 9:1-13

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The prophet Isaiah said today: 

He who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

When I was Pastor before here, at my church in New York, I had a little old lady who just couldn’t understand those words. She would always ask me: How can you buy anything if you have no money? She was an immigrant. She knew what it was like to be poor and hungry and have no money and so not be able to get what you need. She knew how the world worked, and this was not it!

And she was right. Mostly. But sometimes it is. There was a thing not too long ago - maybe some folks still do it - when in line at a coffee shop or a toll booth, people would pay for one or two or three people coming after them, but not tell them. Remember that? So when the next people in line came up to pay, their bill was already taken care of. Maybe you were on the receiving end of that. It’s a pleasant surprise. Because mostly, in this world, that’s not how it is. You want something, you gotta pay for it. That little old lady at my church in New York knew that well. She had lived a hard life.

So maybe, when the prophet Isaiah spoke these words that we heard today, they sounded a bit off, a bit wrong to the people back then, too. But that’s exactly why Isaiah speaks them! To grab their attention. To teach them that while this is the way the world works, it is not the way God works. That when it comes to your spiritual life, and the spiritual food and drink you need to live now and forever, someone else paid that price for you. The someone else that Isaiah had just preached a chapter or two before this one. The one who paid the price for your sin. The one who paid the price for your peace. The one who paid the price for your life. That what you need, you have. God was sending His servant to do that for you, Isaiah prophesied.

And that’s what John the Baptist prophesied, too, some 700 years after Isaiah. But not just that God would be sending His servant to do that, but that He had! That servant was here. Now. Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)! Or in other words, the one who has come to pay the price for you. To shed his blood and give His life for you, that you may live and eat and drink in the kingdom of God. A feast you could never afford! But which is now here for you, because of Him. Because of that one. Jesus.

But now, as we heard in the Gospel today, John’s voice had been silenced. Just as Isaiah’s voice had been. Isaiah by being sawn in two. John by beheading. But now that the one they prophesied had come, and God said no more prophets after John, that meant now the time had come. To do it. To pay the price. To fulfill God’s Word.

So Jesus, hearing that John has been killed, withdraws to a desolate place by himself. Not because He’s sad, I don’t think. He knows the ending of John’s life here and now is his birthday in heaven. But the ending of John’s life means the laying down of his own - soon. So Jesus withdraws because going out to desolate places is where God often sends people to prepare them. When people go out to the wilderness in the Scriptures, that’s a signal - something’s going to happen. 

And as we heard, it does! Jesus goes out and the crowds follow Him. In fact, they somehow get there before He does! So that when He goes ashore, He sees a great crowd already gathered there. And Jesus does what Jesus always does: He has compassion on them. He heals their sick. He takes care of them. It’s what Jesus does, as the Good Shepherd.

So what of Jesus’ preparation in this desolate place? Is He robbed of this? OR, maybe He didn’t go out for His own preparation - maybe it was to prepare them. The crowds. The people. To teach them, about Himself. 

So He does as Isaiah prophesied. He gives them food without price. From just five loaves of bread and two fish, He feeds five thousand men plus women and children. He takes the bread and fish, says a blessing, breaks, and then gives. And they all ate and were satisfied. Every. Last. One. Jesus feeding not just a few (as our generosity might), but a great multitude that could scarcely be numbered. And there’s even more. More food left over. The disciples couldn’t imagine feeding so many. Jesus couldn’t imagine feeding so few. He had come to do far more. To provide the food and drink of immortality for the world. For all people of all time. 

Food and drink that is here for you today. Food and drink that not only has been paid for by the Body and Blood of Jesus, but that IS the Body and Blood of Jesus! Where we’re living may not be a wilderness, but it is in some ways. For some, this world is a desolate place. A place of loneliness, of fear, of trouble, of hunger. People living from day to day, wondering what’s next, waiting for the other shoe to drop. A place of sickness and death and uncertainty. 

But in the midst of all that, an altar turned table, by the Lamb sacrificed on it, and now given from it. Food and drink without money and without price, because it has been been paid for not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb of God without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:18-19). The blood of God which is enough to pay for the sin of the world, to give life to the world. And so, Isaiah says, come and delight yourself in this rich food! This rich food here for you. And live. There is no food richer, no food better. O living bread from heaven, how well you feed your guests, we just sang (LSB #642).

Which seems like a no brainer! And yet, somehow, our brains get in the way! Isaiah’s words to the people then hit home for us still today when he says that with all this, 

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

It’s a good question. Why do we keep looking for better? Why do we keep striving for more? Why do we think this not enough? Yes, enjoy the things of this world and life that God has given you, but remember that your life doesn’t come from them. It can’t. You may be successful, you may be admired, you may be happy, you may be living’ the dream! But what happens when you need something money can’t buy? When these things you gave your life for can’t give you the life you need? When sickness or age begins to sap your life or pounces upon you in a moment? Or when death draws near? What then?

This was Paul’s struggle with his fellow Jews, as we heard in the Epistle today. He says: Guys! What are you doing? You have the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and from you has come the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour! The one promised to Abraham, and then to Isaac and Jacob, has come. Why are you turning away? Why? The price has been paid. There is food and drink for you. Jesus died and rose for you. There is life for you. 

And it is all here for you, too. 

So maybe it would be good to take stock of our own lives . . . How are you spending your time? . . . And isn’t that an interesting way to say that? Spending your time! Like we spend money! And to get what? Your effort, your time, your money . . . Are you being wise or foolish? Are you trying to get, to buy, what Jesus has already purchased and gotten for you? Do you think Jesus is just about the next life, but this life is up to me? Can those two be separated? 

Jesus went out to that desolate place to give the people what they needed. He led them to that place of nothingness to give them everything. To give them Himself. That’s why He came into our world. That’s why He comes to you here and now. That’s why Jesus is still today taking, blessing, breaking, and giving bread. That all who feast now, feast with Him forever. Feasting now for the forgiveness we need, the life we need, the salvation we need. All here for you. That when this life is over, we feast and delight ourselves in Him in His kingdom. 

So come! All you who are thirsty. All you who hunger. All you poor sinners who have nothing for God, come, buy and eat! He paid for you. That’s what He spent all He had on! He gave all He had for you.

So come. And as Isaiah also said, listen. And listening, hear. And hearing, believe. Believe those words you hear after receiving that for which you did not pay. That the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ - that purchased you and gave you life - will keep and preserve you - now! - steadfast unto everlasting life. So that you can depart - both this altar and this life - well fed, and in peace.

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

The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Pentecost 10 (August 3-8, 2026)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #717 “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”

Hymns for Sunday: 790, 717, 628, 658, 765, 816

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Psalm 18:1-16

What eight things does the psalmist call God in vs. 1-2? What does this cause him to do? How is the Lord this for us as well? Where do we see that most clearly?

Tuesday: Genesis 4:1-15

What is more shocking: Cain’s anger and murder, or God’s mercy toward Cain? How is this a foreshadowing of God’s mercy to us in Christ Jesus?

Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

What is of “first importance” to Paul? Why without this is Christianity nothing? But with it, what do we have?

Thursday: Job 38:4-18

Why did Job question the ways of the Lord? Why do we? What was God’s answer here? Why should we also keep this in mind?

Friday: Romans 10:5-17

Can the Law give us life? On what condition? How does faith give us life? How is this unconditional? Where does faith come from?

Saturday: Matthew 14:22-33

How did Peter go from fear to faith to fear to faith? Why? Does this ever happen to you? Why? What is the solution?

The Catechism - The Lord’s Prayer: The Second Petition [part 2]: How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when out heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Collect for the Week: Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and guidance for our congregation’s Sunday School teachers.

+ the China Evangelical Lutheran Church, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, wisdom, and strength for our circuit visitor, Ray Malec.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268

Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“My Treasures, My Pearls, My Children”

Text: Matthew 13:44-52; Romans 8:28-39

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We’ve been considering parables of Jesus these past few weeks. Parables that reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God, and that God does things differently than we do. Very differently. 

And honestly, that creates problems for us. In Jesus’ day and in our day. For the Pharisees and Sadducees, even for Jesus’ own disciples. They didn’t understand. We don’t understand. This is not how things work in the world! This is not how we’d do things if we were in charge. So not how we think God should do things. The ways of God seem . . . wrong? silly? backwards? Why are you hanging out with tax collectors and sinners? Why don’t you show your glory more? Why do you keep talking about suffering and the cross? Why don’t you just put an end to suffering and persecution and the evil in the world? Why is my life as a Christian so hard? Why? 

It’s our fault, of course. The world God created was perfect, until we decided we could do it better. That the knowledge of good and evil was better than life. That being our own god is better than living under the one true God. Spoiler alert: it’s not! But we keep thinking that. That’s where all the why questions come from. Thinking that we know better. That Jesus isn’t doing it right! Isn’t doing my life right! Why are you doing that Jesus? Why are you doing it that way? Why aren’t you doing it my way?

But it’s not God who needs to change; we do. A change of thinking. A change of mind. A change of heart. From questioning to repenting.

The parables of Jesus teach us of God’s way. Which brings us to the three parables of Jesus we heard today, that we repent of ourselves and rejoice in Him. 

The first of which is the treasure hidden in a field. When we hear this parable, I think we assume the person who hid the treasure did so because it was valuable, and buried it for safe keeping - like the buried treasure of a pirate! But what if it wasn’t that at all? What if what got buried because it was thought junk? It was no longer wanted. It was rusty, broken, dead, so it got thrown away, buried, landfilled. We’ve all done that.

Now think of all the people in the Bible the world had no use for. The poor, weak, low, despised. Orphans and widows, the blind, deaf, and lame, lepers and sinners. Those who were trampled, enslaved, used, or just ignored. Thrown out, thrown away, disregarded, rejected. . . . What this parable teaches us then is that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. And in God’s eyes, here was a treasure. A treasure worth giving everything for. So He did. He bought the field, the world, not with gold or silver, but with something of far more worth: the precious blood of His own dear Son (1 Peter 1:18-19). So that those nobody else wants, be His. 

The next parable is very similar to that: the pearl of great price. Now I don’t know about you, but all pearls look the same to me! I can’t tell a priceless one from a fake. But the man in the parable could. Which kind of reminded me of a used book store, or a thrift shop, or a yard sale, with all kinds of stuff, all kinds of books there . . . most of which are meh. But occasionally, a treasure. Something someone didn’t think much of, didn’t know its value - but you do! 

But it’s not just stuff that can get lost in a crowd, people do, too. For among the millions, billions in the world, who are you? Who are you to be noticed? But God does. For God sees what others cannot; pearls of great value. A woman in a crowd, bleeding for twelve years, a poor widow who put just two pennies into the offering, a fisherman, a tax collector, a persecutor of the church . . . To the world, nothing, even despised. But to God, priceless. In the first parable, He buys the whole world, the whole landfill, to get the treasure. This one’s a little different, more individual, more personal. But the same price: all He had. God gives everything not just for the world, but for each and every one the world thinks nothing, useless, despised. He wants. 

This is how God sees you. You might see yourself as junk. Others might think you junk and throw you away. You might be just one in the crowd, just another face. But not to God. Not to your heavenly Father. One of the mysteries of the kingdom of God is that God would give everything for you. That He would trade the life of His Son for you. For you, a self-absorbed sinner. A rebel. Someone who lets God and others down on a daily basis. A failure. A burden. 

And yet . . . And yet buried under the rubble of this world, mixed in with all the others . . . God sees what we do not. A dear treasure. A fine pearl. Someone He is willing to give everything for. Which is ludicrous, isn’t it? We should be the ones giving up everything for God, not He for us! But we don’t. And He does. And even if we can’t see ourselves - or others! - that way, He does. That’s how precious you are to Him. And He wants you to know that.

To know that by faith. Because it sure doesn’t seem that way now! It doesn’t seem that way now, while we’re buried in the rubble of this world. It doesn’t seem that way now, while we’re mixed in the great mass of humanity. But it will be seen in the end, when - as the third parable for today says, the parable of the net - when the great net is hauled in, with fish of every kind, good and bad . . . then will be the great sorting out for all to see. But not before then. For now, we live by faith. Faith that God knows more than us, better than us. Faith that His way is better than my way. Faith that, as St. Paul said today, all things are working together for good. 

Which is one of those things that’s easy to say . . . Easy to have on a picture on your wall or a coffee mug with those words on it! But when the sins of others keep burying you, when the evil in the world keeps growing and threatening, when your own sins weigh heavy on you . . . really? What good can God bring out of this? Out of this mess, this landfill, this cesspool of a world?Out of the mess I’ve made of my life?

At just such times, of discouragement and despair and hopelessness, it is the cross and empty tomb that show us that God can. That from the greatest evil can come the greatest good. That from death can come life. And that it will for you. For that’s the price God paid for you. He paid with His life. That’s how precious and valuable and a treasure you are to God. That the Father would give His Son for you. That the Son would lay down His life for you. To rescue you with forgiveness for your sins, and to raise you from death to life with Him. 

That’s why one of my favorite pictures is of the first parable we heard today, the treasure hidden in a field. It shows Jesus pulling His treasure out of the ground - a treasure which is in the shape of a coffin. Jesus purchased and won you from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. So now, because of the price Jesus paid, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, to quote St. Paul again, neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That is, will be able to keep His treasure dead and buried, or just mixed in with the others. You belong to Him. 

That day of resurrection is coming. As sure as the sun rises each morning, the Son of God will return and the dead will be raised. But not yet. Now is still the time of the cross, the time of hiddenness, the time of mixing. But you are not hidden from God’s eyes, and just as Jesus’ cross worked good for you, so will the crosses you bear now in this world and life work good for you. We may think we know a better way, but our ways . . . well, just look around and see what our ways have gotten us, with cemeteries that continue to fill up. Only one didn’t. Only one is empty. Only one is the way that gives us life.

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked His disciples. They said to him, “Yes.” And I think they did . . . some. But like us, they still had a lot to learn. And faith will always be hard, especially when what we see and feel and think is so different. 

But that’s why the final thing Jesus says today: that the master of the house brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. Jesus does not leave us alone to battle and struggle with our faith and doubts and fears - He gives us of His treasure. Just as He once gave Himself for us, He continues to give Himself to us. He puts His cross, His death and resurrection, here for you. Bringing out the old, to make you new. To forgive the old you now. To raise the new you to life now. To feed you now. To strengthen you now. To be with you now. To unbury you now. Treasures for the treasures. 

Which the world scoffs at. That? That’s what you call treasures? Water? Words? Tasteless bread? Bad wine? We have better than that! 

Do you now? Maybe it looks so now. But in the end, we will see rightly. That though for now, we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

More than conquerers. What does that mean? It means that not only are you forgiven, your sins conquered. Not only will you rise to life, the dust of death conquered. Not only will you live forever, our separation from God conquered. But you will do so as God’s treasure, God’s pearl, God’s own child. You may not think you’re a treasure, or a pearl of great price. No one else may either. But the cross teaches us otherwise. That if Jesus would do that for you - not just for the world, but for you - and He has! Then you must be. 

And to believe that, is the change of thinking, the change of mind, the change of heart we need. The change of heart to live differently, confidently, as more than a conquerer. Not questioning, but repenting. Not doubting, but rejoicing. And confident and rejoicing, knowing who we are and all that Jesus has done for us, see others the same way, as treasures, and lay down our lives for them, as Jesus did for us. Not because we have to, but because we are more than conquerers. Because the victory is already ours. Because of who you are: a treasure, a pearl, a child of God. 

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