Reformation Sunday (Observed) October 29, 2023
Matthew 11:12-19
Justified by Wisdom
v.19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.
Dear friends in Christ, this day we celebrate the festival of the Reformation. That pivotal moment in church history when God used a simple Augustinian monk to bring the Gospel back to His church, which had lost her way. In theological terms we use the word “justification” quite freely—quite regularly. Indeed, the Reformers spoke of justification as the chief article upon which the church stands or falls. In Article IV of the Augsburg Confession, we learn that Scripture plainly teaches we are all justified by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. But what does it mean, exactly? What does it truly mean to be justified?
Jesus used the word in a seemingly odd way at the end of our text for this morning. He was speaking to a crowd of people about John the Baptist, His cousin, who was now in prison, but who had done his job in preparing the way for the Lord. Jesus says the current generation—those who could neither accept His nor John’s teachings—were like children playing in the streets—unsatisfied with either happy or sad games—just as some people were dissatisfied with either John’s strict proclamation of the Law—nor with Jesus’ joyous announcement of the goodness and mercy of God in the Gospel.
Why? Why were they so unhappy? Why were they so unwilling to accept John’s or Jesus’ teachings? Because they thought that they needed to be a part of their own justification. Ah. There is that word again. What does it mean? Basically, to justify is to “acquit; declare and treat as righteous; to make right or just; put into a right relationship with God; set free from sin; to be imputed with righteousness that is foreign to the recipient.”
Some of the Jews of Jesus’ day—just as some of the Christians in Luther’s day—and some Christians in our own—want to seek out a justification before God that is not wholly reliant upon His grace and mercy in Christ, but which also relies upon our own works or deeds. Even if we just simply start it and God does all the rest—or vice versa—God starts and does 99.9% of the work with just a little bit left over for us to do. We inherently think and believe that there truly is something that we can add to assist in our own salvation.
This is the sinful flesh at work—helped along no doubt by the devil and his evil horde. This is what Jesus came to overcome—this is what Luther sought to proclaim—and what we are called upon to confess as well. For as great and mighty is the central tenet of the Reformation of justification by grace through faith in Christ alone—yet it will invariably be misunderstood apart from the teaching of the complete and utter deprivation and corruption of man due to original sin.
In order for the Gospel to be truly heard with the full sweetness it renders—our hearts must first be broken by the full sternness of the Law that states that no matter who you are—no matter how good you may think you are—you are utterly powerless before God in terms of your own salvation. You are not just sick with sin—you are not merely weak—you are dead in your trespasses and sins—and you need someone from outside of yourself to make you live.
Think of it in terms of an emergency in the hospital. Someone arrives on a stretcher—their heart has stopped—they are dead. What would happen to that person if the doctors and nurses simply charged up the defibrillator machine, placed the paddles on the chest of the individual, and said—“It’s all set and ready to go. We’ve done 99.9% of the work—all you have to do is just press this button to shock yourself back to life. We’re gonna step out now and go and get a coffee.” That person would lie there and nothing would happen. Why? Because they are dead!
They need someone to save them. They need someone to do ALL the work to bring them back to life, otherwise they will remain dead! Such is the case with us. We, too, need someone to save us. We, too, need someone to do ALL the work—and that person is Jesus—God’s Son our Saviour. He who has lived the perfect life we never could—He who has taken our place on the cross—suffered the punishment and endured the death that was rightly ours—He has risen again in triumph and saved us. He truly is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
This is the enduring message of the church—throughout all ages—that of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. He who has saved you with His life, death, and resurrection—calls you from death to life by the power of His Word and Sacraments. With His healing power He has removed the stain of sin from your heart and washed it in His own redeeming blood that was shed on the cross. Though you are a sinner—though you are truly dead in your trespasses and sins—yet God in His grace has set you free—made you alive again—through faith in the Christ who sacrificed Himself for you.
And even your own faith is not your own work or doing, but is something that is worked within you by the Holy Spirit. He comes to you in Word and Sacrament to tell you about Jesus—and as you hear the great good news of all that Jesus has done for you—the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in your heart that you might be saved.
For we are never justified by our own deeds. No, true Christian wisdom is found in fearing and loving God, who has made Wisdom manifest in the flesh of Jesus Christ who came to do the deed that would accomplish our salvation and justify us before God. What He declares to be true—is true. When He says you are forgiven—then you are forgiven. When He grants you life eternal in His name—then life eternal is yours.
Because of what Jesus has done we are justified in believing He is the Messiah—His resurrection has proved that beyond all doubt. What is more He has also proved by His bloody sacrifice on the cross that He is the best of friends to all sinners. For by Him alone have we been made right with God once more. He suffered the violence of God’s full wrath for sin on the cross—giving up His holy body and blood into death—in order that we might eat and drink of Him in His Kingdom—eat and drink of His body and blood in bread and wine—and so receive peace with God—peace with one another.
Having been saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, we hunger and thirst for these rich blessings and mercies which can be received nowhere else than in His own holy church, which is His body. As such, we are now well-prepared to endure violence, hardship, pain, sorrow and suffering—so that we might receive these blessings, which are for our highest good. The Lord turns our selfish natures inside out—to direct us toward Him and His saving work on the cross—that we may enjoy His compassion and peace that He earned with such courage and suffering in His own innocent flesh. For truly, Christ, the wisdom of God, has justified us by His deed. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 11:12-19
Justified by Wisdom
v.19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.
Dear friends in Christ, this day we celebrate the festival of the Reformation. That pivotal moment in church history when God used a simple Augustinian monk to bring the Gospel back to His church, which had lost her way. In theological terms we use the word “justification” quite freely—quite regularly. Indeed, the Reformers spoke of justification as the chief article upon which the church stands or falls. In Article IV of the Augsburg Confession, we learn that Scripture plainly teaches we are all justified by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. But what does it mean, exactly? What does it truly mean to be justified?
Jesus used the word in a seemingly odd way at the end of our text for this morning. He was speaking to a crowd of people about John the Baptist, His cousin, who was now in prison, but who had done his job in preparing the way for the Lord. Jesus says the current generation—those who could neither accept His nor John’s teachings—were like children playing in the streets—unsatisfied with either happy or sad games—just as some people were dissatisfied with either John’s strict proclamation of the Law—nor with Jesus’ joyous announcement of the goodness and mercy of God in the Gospel.
Why? Why were they so unhappy? Why were they so unwilling to accept John’s or Jesus’ teachings? Because they thought that they needed to be a part of their own justification. Ah. There is that word again. What does it mean? Basically, to justify is to “acquit; declare and treat as righteous; to make right or just; put into a right relationship with God; set free from sin; to be imputed with righteousness that is foreign to the recipient.”
Some of the Jews of Jesus’ day—just as some of the Christians in Luther’s day—and some Christians in our own—want to seek out a justification before God that is not wholly reliant upon His grace and mercy in Christ, but which also relies upon our own works or deeds. Even if we just simply start it and God does all the rest—or vice versa—God starts and does 99.9% of the work with just a little bit left over for us to do. We inherently think and believe that there truly is something that we can add to assist in our own salvation.
This is the sinful flesh at work—helped along no doubt by the devil and his evil horde. This is what Jesus came to overcome—this is what Luther sought to proclaim—and what we are called upon to confess as well. For as great and mighty is the central tenet of the Reformation of justification by grace through faith in Christ alone—yet it will invariably be misunderstood apart from the teaching of the complete and utter deprivation and corruption of man due to original sin.
In order for the Gospel to be truly heard with the full sweetness it renders—our hearts must first be broken by the full sternness of the Law that states that no matter who you are—no matter how good you may think you are—you are utterly powerless before God in terms of your own salvation. You are not just sick with sin—you are not merely weak—you are dead in your trespasses and sins—and you need someone from outside of yourself to make you live.
Think of it in terms of an emergency in the hospital. Someone arrives on a stretcher—their heart has stopped—they are dead. What would happen to that person if the doctors and nurses simply charged up the defibrillator machine, placed the paddles on the chest of the individual, and said—“It’s all set and ready to go. We’ve done 99.9% of the work—all you have to do is just press this button to shock yourself back to life. We’re gonna step out now and go and get a coffee.” That person would lie there and nothing would happen. Why? Because they are dead!
They need someone to save them. They need someone to do ALL the work to bring them back to life, otherwise they will remain dead! Such is the case with us. We, too, need someone to save us. We, too, need someone to do ALL the work—and that person is Jesus—God’s Son our Saviour. He who has lived the perfect life we never could—He who has taken our place on the cross—suffered the punishment and endured the death that was rightly ours—He has risen again in triumph and saved us. He truly is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
This is the enduring message of the church—throughout all ages—that of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. He who has saved you with His life, death, and resurrection—calls you from death to life by the power of His Word and Sacraments. With His healing power He has removed the stain of sin from your heart and washed it in His own redeeming blood that was shed on the cross. Though you are a sinner—though you are truly dead in your trespasses and sins—yet God in His grace has set you free—made you alive again—through faith in the Christ who sacrificed Himself for you.
And even your own faith is not your own work or doing, but is something that is worked within you by the Holy Spirit. He comes to you in Word and Sacrament to tell you about Jesus—and as you hear the great good news of all that Jesus has done for you—the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith in your heart that you might be saved.
For we are never justified by our own deeds. No, true Christian wisdom is found in fearing and loving God, who has made Wisdom manifest in the flesh of Jesus Christ who came to do the deed that would accomplish our salvation and justify us before God. What He declares to be true—is true. When He says you are forgiven—then you are forgiven. When He grants you life eternal in His name—then life eternal is yours.
Because of what Jesus has done we are justified in believing He is the Messiah—His resurrection has proved that beyond all doubt. What is more He has also proved by His bloody sacrifice on the cross that He is the best of friends to all sinners. For by Him alone have we been made right with God once more. He suffered the violence of God’s full wrath for sin on the cross—giving up His holy body and blood into death—in order that we might eat and drink of Him in His Kingdom—eat and drink of His body and blood in bread and wine—and so receive peace with God—peace with one another.
Having been saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, we hunger and thirst for these rich blessings and mercies which can be received nowhere else than in His own holy church, which is His body. As such, we are now well-prepared to endure violence, hardship, pain, sorrow and suffering—so that we might receive these blessings, which are for our highest good. The Lord turns our selfish natures inside out—to direct us toward Him and His saving work on the cross—that we may enjoy His compassion and peace that He earned with such courage and suffering in His own innocent flesh. For truly, Christ, the wisdom of God, has justified us by His deed. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.