LESSON: ISAIAH 55:1-7

“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many; and at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant.” Luke 14:16-17

Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast.” Matthew 22:1-3

This invitation was sent out in the manner described in this Gospel. The man sent out his servant to invite guests to this great banquet. The Apostles were sent out by Christ into all the world with one and the same message: to invite men to this heavenly banquet with one voice, with one Gospel, with one message.

If St. Peter had ever preached at a place where St. Paul had previously preached the Gospel, it would have been one and the same proclamation, the one like the other. It would not have been difficult for the hears to declare, “Peter preaches exactly the same message that we heard from Paul. They agree perfectly; they proclaim one and the same message.”

To indicate this basic sameness in the proclamation of the message, the evangelist says here, “At the time for the banquet he sent his servant.” He does not say “servants” or “many servants,” but “servant.”

SL 11:1211 (4)

PRAYER: We thank and praise You, heavenly Father, for the one, clear message of salvation, which You have given us in Your Gospel of salvation. Strengthen us in such a way that we always cling to this with our whole hearts, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 4:33-38.

LESSON: LUKE 14:16-21

“A man once gave a great banquet.” Luke 14:16

In this Gospel, as well as in the remainder of Holy Scripture, we must make an effort, to the best of our ability, to grasp the true, simple meaning of the text and to rest our heart and conscience on it. Anyone who wants to do battle with the devil must not waver to and fro or totter, but must be sure of his ground, armed with clear and certain Scripture. Otherwise, when the devil gets him on to his fork by means of an unsure understanding, he will toss him to and fro like the wind tosses a dry leaf.

In this Gospel we must also obtain a sure understanding so that we may stand our ground. It has nothing at all to do with the Lord’s Supper, as has sometimes been claimed with the assistance of some really hair-splitting exegesis.

The sum and substance of this Gospel is that the Gospel has been preached and proclaimed in all the world, but only few accept it. It is called a “banquet” or a supper because the Gospel will be the last, final word and doctrine which will bring this world to a close.

This supper, then, is nothing else but a rich, precious meal, which God has made ready by means of the Gospel, through Christ, in which He sets before us great blessings and rich treasures.

SL 11:1210 (1-3)

PRAYER: Lord, You have set before us great blessings and rich treasures in the banquet prepared for us through Your Son and offered to us in Your Gospel. May we never lose sight of these blessings and treasures but ever regard them as our highest good, in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 4:33-38.

LESSON: HEBREWS 3:7-15

Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them … If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:29, 31

In this Gospel you see how Abraham refuses to send someone from the dead to teach the living at the request of the rich man. He reminds the rich man that the living have Moses and the prophets to whom they should give heed.

In these words, we are also reminded of God’s prohibition against any kind of consultation of the dead on the part of the living (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10-12). It is certainly a devilish apparition when spirits make themselves known to men in response to various invocations, and request men to offer up masses for the dead, to undertake pilgrimages for them and to perform other works. There have also been claims that they have given assurances of success to those who have heeded their instructions.

In this way, the devil has misled men into putting their trust in works and drawn them away from faith. He has created the illusion among men that works can perform great wonders. What St. Paul foretold is being fulfilled, that God sends upon those who perish and refuse to love the truth and be saved “a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).

Therefore, be well advised and learn that God refuses to make known how the dead fare after this life. Here the only thing that can help us is faith through God’s Word, faith which believes that after this life God receives believers into blessedness and condemns unbelievers. This is made abundantly clear in the Gospel of the rich man and poor Lazarus.

SL 11:1207 (31-32)
AE 78:65

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You are with us throughout our life; abide with us also at our death. Grant us not to die eternally but to rise to life everlasting with You and in You, who live and reign in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one God, forevermore. Amen.