In his work, Against the Heavenly Prophets, Martin Luther teaches about the two ways in which we understand the forgiveness of sins that Jesus works for us. Luther says, "We treat of the forgiveness of sins in two ways. First, how it is achieved and won. Second, how it is distributed and given...
Psalm 8:2 sings, "Out of the mouth of babies and infants,have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). St. David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote this Psalm as a psalm of praise to His Lord and our Lord, Whose Name is majestic in...
Today is Maundy Thursday. This is a special day of festive celebration during Holy Week when we celebrate and receive the Lord's Supper. The same Body and Blood that was delivered up for our trespasses on the cross is the same Body and Blood that is delivered into our mouths in the Sacrament of...
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds...
But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more" (Jeremiah 11:19). This...
The Gospel reading for Holy Monday, the Monday of Holy Week, is John 12:1-43. This is a long Gospel reading, but it take us through the events leading up to Jesus entrance into Jerusalem to His sermons once He entered. The key verse that helps summarize His preaching during this time is, "This...
Dr. Luther says, "Consider the price of this ransom, look carefully at this captive. he is The Son of God who is greater than all creation. How will you respond when you hear that such a priceless treasure was paid for your sins? Will you still want to offer your works done under the Law? What...
On Fridays I'm going to start writing little summaries of the Liturgy. These are not meant to be in depth teachings on the liturgy, but rather little summaries that help us meditate a little more on what we are doing on Sunday mornings and throughout the week in our worship life together. Today...
This morning I was on the KFUO show, "His Time," with host Pastor Jonathan Fisk. During the show, Pastor Fisk and I were discussing the reading from the treasury this morning from mark 15:16-32. After reading the verse, "And they clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of...
The Gospel according to St. Mark says, "6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate...