Don't Be That Guy

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Preaching

Upon accepting his first church, a young pastor asked an elderly board member if he had any wise advice. The elderly man responded, “Son, a sermon is like a good meal; you should end it just before we have had enough.”

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. … through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. … through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Our Gospel reading today brings us back to the Gospel “According to Luke.”

Tradition has been unanimous in attributing the third Gospel to Luke, the “beloved physician” (). Although the author is not named or identified within the book, the tradition has survived critical challenge.

The author writes with remarkable precision and literary skill; he stays in the background and presents Jesus as the Redeemer. The Gospel is addressed to the “most excellent Theophilus,” possibly a Roman official who had become a Christian. Comparison of and supports the widely accepted view that the same author wrote both books, addressed them to the same individual, and intended them as companion volumes. According to 16:10–40, Luke joined Paul at Troas, on his second missionary journey, and accompanied him to Philippi; he then stayed at Philippi until after the third journey and then went with Paul to Jerusalem (and Rome) (20:5–21:18; 27:1–28). Luke was the companion of Paul (cf. Irenaeus Adv. haer. iii.1.l; 3.3; 14.1) and is mentioned as being with him when Colossians, Philemon, and 2 Timothy were written (; ; ). Although Luke’s perspective on such matters as the Apostolic Council differs from that of Paul (e.g., ; cf. ), his unique experiences provided valuable background for writing his two-volume work, which he apparently wrote with the Hellenistic Church in mind. He was the only Gentile author of a biblical book.

Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 667.

Today’s passage is one of those which Luke alone among the Gospel writers presents. We do know that the author states that he diligently sought to get the most accurate information concerning Jesus so that Theophilus “may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” ().

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Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 667.

This passage presents Jesus back in his hometown of Nazareth. He is known as a “rabbi” and reports have reached Nazareth concerning miracles that are attributed to Jesus.

Luke 4:16–20 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

The New Manners and Customs of the Bible 4:16 Public Reading

When the law and the prophets were read in the synagogue, those who read were expected to stand. Not only priests and Levites, but common Israelites were allowed to read the Scriptures publicly. Every Sabbath, seven persons read: a priest, a Levite, and five ordinary Israelites.

I imagine that there was quite a crowd at the local synagogue that Saturday morning. Jesus is famous, He has an entourage, and He has given Nazareth the kind of prominence that the city has not had before. For once, the question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” is being answered with an emphatic “YES!” What would He say; what would He do? I bet everyone expected that this would be a day that people would talk about for years - and so it was.

Luke 4:21–22 UBS4 w/Swanson

21 ἤρξατο δὲ λέγειν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι Σήμερον πεπλήρωται ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑμῶν. 22 Καὶ πάντες ἐμαρτύρουν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος τοῖς ἐκπορευομένοις ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγον, Οὐχὶ υἱός ἐστιν Ἰωσὴφ οὗτος;

I imagine that there was quite a crowd at the local synagogue that Saturday morning. Jesus is famous, He has an entourage, and He has given Nazareth the kind of prominence that the city has not had before. For once, the question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” is being answered with an emphatic “YES!”

“The worshipers (and relatives) of Nazareth would expect Jesus, now a noted teacher (4:15, 23), to read Scripture and give an interpretation. Jesus came to the synagogue of Nazareth in order to read (ἀναγνω̂ναι—an infinitive of purpose) and to declare that the messianic era of salvation now begins in him. This text—and this episode—are programmatic. They reveal what Jesus will preach throughout his ministry.

The first words of Jesus’ public ministry are a reference to the Trinity: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” Jesus means that Isaiah’s words refer to his baptism, where the Holy Spirit descended upon (ἐπί) him and the Father’s voice proclaimed him the Christ, who would accomplish the trinitarian plan of salvation. Jesus’ baptism was an anointing (ἔχρισέν με, “anointed me”). After the reading, he announces that a new era of salvation is present in him: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ears.””

Arthur A. Just Jr., , Concordia Commentary (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 1996), 192.

What were your thoughts as you heard the words of Isaiah 61:1-2 and 58:6 in our reading today?

Jesus declared the words of and claimed them for Himself, not arbitrarily or by arrogation, but rightfully and by virtue of both His office and His vocation. What other prophets were by typology and in part, Jesus was fully and innately. Thus, “no man ever spoke as this Man.” No one did the works that He did. No one could claim to be the Savior of the World like He could, and no one did it and does it even now.

The Word says that “they marvelled at the gracious words...” - literally, “the words of the grace coming out of His mouth.” Had they never heard these word before? Or is it that they never heard them spoken with the gracious authority with which Jesus speaks?

It seems like the incredible grace that Jesus declares is too much for them to handle. Instead of rejoicing in the Word, they deflect: “Isn’t this man Joseph’s son?”

We hear the pure Gospel, but we don’t respond to the Word of Grace with faith. Why do we look for loopholes, try to tear it apart, or deflect into debates about side issues? Instead of seeking to apply God’s grace in our lives, we look for reasons to justify our unbelief! What a waste of time. God wants to bless us, and instead He has to correct us.

Luke 4:23–27 ESV

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

You know what those examples had in common, besides the fact that they were not Israelites? They believed the promise that was given to them, both the widow in Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. God knows our thoughts afar off. God knows our hearts - the sinner is right to say that - and that’s why so many miss out on the grace of God. Their hearts aren’t right, and they are glad about it! There are people who would rather struggle without God, would rather live in bondage without God, and ultimately would rather die without God, than be blessed by God. So God gives them what they want:

Luke 4:28–30 ESV

28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Don’t let Gary be like Nazareth - When God sends His Word, don’t get sidetracked on personalities, don’t get caught up in comparing blessings, and don’t try to push God away. God has pleasures at His right hand forevermore. His yoke is easy and His burdens are light. His mercy endures forever. He is the Prince of Life. Can’t nobody do you like Jesus - he’s your friend!

Where are Jesus’ messengers at?

We need to preach it pure! Don’t dilute the grace of God, don’t mix the grace of God, and don’t hide it behind massive tablets of stone.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

We have Bible Study on Sunday after Divine Service and Monday nights, and next week on Feb 2-3, Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church will host Rev. Geoff Robinson for an Everyone His Witness Workshop.

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

If you don’t know, we will help you to learn. We will help you develop. We will help you grow, by the power of the Spirit and the comfort of the Word. there is no reason for you to continue to bury the ministry of the Gospel out of fear of failure or doubt about God’s desire to use you.

Know this, saints, that the way you can know that God no longer wants to use you, is when He withholds His Word from you. THEN you know that your time is up, but until then, as long as He is giving you His pure Gospel, He still wants to use you, so do not try to throw Him over the cliff - DO NOT BE THAT GUY!

Lutheran Community of Gary - DO NOT BE THAT CHURCH!

Gary, Indiana - DO NOT BE THAT TOWN!

It isn’t too late, the time is right for us to rise.

We can do it! The city needs it! Our neighborhoods need it! We need it!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Don't Be That Guy

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