A Devotion for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity
A Devotion for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity
Sunday, October 27 (Trinity 22)
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with Thee, O God of Israel.
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
—Psalm 130:3–4a, 1–2a
A writing for the Holy Gospel, Matthew 18:23–35:
“Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’”
Matthew 18: 32-33
The wicked and unforgiving servant had been forgiven of his debts by his master. He owed his master ten-thousand talents, but he could not pay it. The master originally ordered him to be thrown in jail until the debt could be paid, but after the servant begged and pleaded, the master forgave him the debts and allowed him to remain free.
Yet as the servant departed, he sought out a fellow servant who owed him money. This very servant who had just been forgiven of all his debts by his master demanded that his fellow servant pay the debts he owed to him, but the fellow servant could not. The servant, by some measure of authority, ordered his fellow servant to be thrown in jail until he could pay the debts. When the master heard of this, he was exceedingly enraged by the wicked and unforgiving servant; he admonished the servant and jailed him until the debts of which he had previously been forgiven could be paid—which could have taken any length of time.
Our heavenly Father, much like the master of the unforgiving servant, is exceedingly angry when we do not forgive others their trespasses. For we pray in the Our Father that God would “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.” Yet by our nature, through the stain of concupiscence (that is, original sin), we are incapable of exercising this mercy on others. Forgiveness, mercy, and justice have become foreign concepts, for they by nature mitigate the disease of the flesh and defy the afflictions of sin to which we so often cling.
The parable of the unforgiving servant is preceded by the following question from Peter: “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Our Lord responds, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). But alas, this is easier said than done. It is one thing to say that we must forgive our neighbors of their sins—but when the time comes to do so, we lack the will and the integrity to forgive.
Furthermore, we, like the unforgiving servant, expect from others a far higher treatment than we are willing to reciprocate. We demand to be forgiven of our trespasses against others, but refuse to forgive others of their trespasses against us. We expect mercy, but are unwilling to be merciful. In the unforgiving servant the epitome of sin is realized: man is self-centered, self-driven, and self-seeking. We have twisted our focus inward, seeking to satisfy the self above all else.
This is made painstakingly clear by our Lord, who compares this parable to the kingdom of heaven. “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” That is to say, without a sincere faith and genuine heart of mercy we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Rather, God would bring upon us the same punishment which befell the unforgiving servant. Because of our sinful nature, we are forced to confront the harsh consequences we would certainly face apart from God: eternal separation from Him and unending imprisonment in the grave. For our penalty would likewise hinge on our ability to pay these previous debts, which cannot be done by our own reason or strength.
Luther confesses this in his explanation of the First Article of the Apostle’s Creed, wherein he writes: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.” Indeed, apart from Him, there is no grace, for we could not come to Him. But Luther’s confession does not end there. He continues, “But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”
In today’s Epistle text, the Apostle Paul writes to the Church in Philippi:
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God”
—Philippians 1:3–11
These gifts, the gifts of knowledge and discernment, are given only by the Holy Spirit. By Him alone is faith conferred, on account of Christ, and through faith we are able to approve excellence; not only that, but we are made pure and blameless for the Day of Judgment, on which the Lord will look upon His Church with favor. For to them He would not declare, “You wicked servants! You pleaded and I forgave you, yet you could not forgive your fellow servants?” But rather, “Well done, good and faithful servant. As you forgave others, so also I forgave you.”
Certainly this forgiveness, the forgiveness of sins which we receive through the suffering and death of Christ Jesus by means of faith, is the foundation of our life, for it is the conferment of everlasting life and the deliverance of God’s salvation which Christ won on the cross. For while He looked upon our sins with derision and anger, now does He look upon us with grace and mercy, for by Christ’s atonement, the fruits of which are conferred by the Holy Spirit in faith, we are reconciled to the Father. We are called, sanctified, and enlightened. We are made pure and blameless for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Luther on Matthew 18:23–35:
“Now you see, since this servant is thus humbled through the knowledge of his sins, that the Word ministers very strong comfort to him, when the Lord declares him free, and remits him both the debt and the punishment. By this is indicated that the Gospel does not reach vicious hearts, nor those who walk forth impudently, but only troubled consciences whose sins oppress them, from which they desire to be free; on these God will have mercy and bestow upon them all things.
“Thus this servant now received the Word, and thereby became God's friend. For if he had not received the Word, it would have done him no good, and forgiveness would have amounted to nothing. Therefore it is not enough that God has the forgiveness of sins offered to us, and has proclaimed the golden year of the kingdom of grace; but it must also be grasped and believed. If you believe it, then you are free from sin, and all is right. Now this is the first part of a Christian life, taught by this and all the Gospels, which properly consists in faith, that deals only with God. Besides it is also indicated that we cannot, grasp the Gospel, unless there be present first a conscience that is afflicted and miserable because of sin.
“Now conclude from this that it is nothing but deception that is preached in relation to our works and free will, and if a different way to blot out sin and obtain grace is taught, than this Gospel here advocates, namely, that the divine Majesty looks upon our wretchedness and has mercy upon us. For the text says clearly, that he presents and remits to those who have nothing; and thus concludes that we have nothing wherewith to remunerate God. So you may have free will as you wish in temporal things, in outward life and character, or in outward piety and virtue, as man can have in his own strength, yet you hear now that it is nothing before God. What can free will do here? There is nothing in it at any rate but struggling and trembling. Therefore, if you would be free from sin, you must desist from and despair in all your own works, and cling to the cross and plead for grace, and then lay hold of the Gospel by faith.”
—Martin Luther, “Sermon for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 18:23-35,” taken from Martin Luther’s Church Postil.
Hymn of the Day for Trinity 22*:
1. Have mercy on me, O Lord my God,
According to Thy gracious heart;
Wash, cleanse me from each sinful spot;
I know my sin and feel its smart.
Against Thee only have I sinned;
It weighs upon me constantly.
Before Thee evil cannot stand;
Thou shalt be just if Thou judg’st me.
2. Behold, in sin had I my birth,
In sin my mother did conceive.
The truth Thou lov’st, Thou bringest forth
Thy wisdom’s secret, good reprieve.
Oh, sprinkle me with hyssop, Lord;
Pure I’ll be if Thou washest me,
Whiter than snow; Thy joy afford,
All my bones shall rejoice in Thee.
3. Lord, look Thou not upon my sin,
Blot out all mine iniquity,
And purify my heart within,
A spirit new prepare in me,
Cast me not from before Thy face,
Thy Holy Ghost take not from me,
The joy of Thy salvation raise,
Thy willing spirit keep me in Thee.
4. Transgressors will I teach Thy praise,
By sinners too shall it be learned,
That from their false and wicked ways
They may by Thee to Thee be turned.
O God of my salvation, Lord,
Deliver me from guilt of blood.
My tongue shall sing Thy righteous Word,
Do Thou my mouth with praises flood.
5. No off’ring wouldst Thou have of men,
Else would I fain have giv’n it Thee;
Accept my broken spirit, then,
My heart, contrite and bowed with grief;
Do not despise Thine off’ring, Lord,
Do good in Thy good-heartedness
To Zion, where Thy Christians are,
Who offer to Thee righteousness.
Written by: Erhart Hegenwalt, 1524
Translated by: Christopher J. Neuendorf, 2015
*According to the selection of Nicolaus Selnecker, a writer of the Formula of Concord, who complied the usage of chief hymns for the church year in Leipzig in the year 1587.
Collect of the Day for Trinity 22:
O God, our Refuge and Strength, who art the Author of all godliness, be ready to hear the devout prayers of Thy Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reingeth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
NOTE: The Feast of the Reformation, which many Lutheran churches celebrated today, will be commemorated by a post on its feast day, October 31 (this Thursday). Soli Deo Gloria!
I always marvel at the cleverness of Christ in things like making us forgive as we expect to be forgiven.