the 13th sunday after pentecost
the PRAYER. . .
O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
the READING. . .
Then Jesus told his disciples, “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”
the DEVOTION. . .
For forty weeks, now, we’ve been making our way through the first gospel. By Thanksgiving, we’ll have read half the book. But this time through, I’ve realized something … Matthew’s a tough gospel! Not as in difficult-to-understand. But tough as in rigid and inflexible and unbending. Like this verse. Matthew 16. 27. It’s the usual weeping and teeth-gnashing kind of stuff unique to Matthew! Rewarding the saint! Punishing the sinner!
But, I just don’t get it why it’s there. After all, it has no redeeming value! Threats don’t change lives. Warnings don’t make anything new. Only love does that. And Matthew has plenty of that, too. Turning the other! Going the extra! Doing unto! Sun shining on evil and good! Rain falling on unrighteous and righteous! Come to me all! But for some reason, it’s the flames – always the flames – that capture our imagination.
Sure, it’s biblical. We can cite chapter-and-verse. And yes, it’s printed with red ink. But truth is, Jesus didn’t come to repay anyone for what they’ve done. That’s not the way it works. Jesus came to forgive! To redeem! To save! But then, that’s the reason he always comes!
Bob Barndt, pastor