Jeremiah’s experiences as a prophet of God, and the inner and external struggles he experienced, have provided readers throughout the centuries opportunities to relate and deepen their understanding of the nature of God and the very human struggles of one of his ministers. Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet,” for he expresses a deep sense of God’s wrath, along with His…

The text begins the descent toward Jerusalem in the Gospel according to Mark. The event it records occurs right after the transfiguration and is immediately preceded and followed by Jesus speaking of His coming death and resurrection. This death-and-resurrection bookending of the text in the Gospel highlights its events as a proclamation of our Lord, who has come to do what we…

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…