In the Old Testament Reading, the basis for this study, we hear how the Lord will reverse all the ramifications of sin for His people. This happens in Jesus, the Messiah. During his ministry, He foreshadowed what is to come on the Last Day as He cared for those who cried out to Him in their physical needs (cf Lk 7:18–23). We…

The Pharisees and scribes had gathered to Jesus when they witnessed His disciples eating with defiled, unwashed hands. This contradicted the tradition of the elders. They questioned Jesus for allowing His disciples to do this. Jesus called them hypocrites. This “heart” of the Pharisees and scribes, and really of all mankind, Jesus speaks to specifically in our Gospel text today. Link to…

Each congregation has its own local customs and traditions, many of which will likely be used in the Divine Service that will surround the reading of this Gospel. Ideally, these traditions serve the Gospel by pointing God’s people to the works of  Jesus Christ and His salvation, which is received only by faith in Him. Link to Service video on Vimeo Link…

Each of our readings for this Sunday contains an invitation to a unique relationship with God. To understand the connections between our Old Testament Reading from Proverbs and the other readings, we must understand the nature of wisdom. More than just a collection of clever sayings or even a knowledge of the truth, wisdom is knowing God, and that knowledge comes as…

The hymn “Es ist genug” expresses the same feelings Elijah cries out in our text, even using the same words of his lament, “It is enough” (1 Ki 19:4). Ironically, our hymn “I Am Content!” by which we know the tune from this sad hymn is a song of victorious Easter confidence. Thus, the tune forms a bridge from the words of…