Trinity 4

Text: Luke 6:36-42

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)

These words sound like a motto for a coffee mug or a sign to be placed on a shelf in your home. But they are, in fact, imperatives for life, meaning they are orders being given by Jesus.

But it’s hard to keep these words of Jesus, isn’t it?

Consider how you interact with your neighbors or families: Do you hear a child’s dreams and ideas and immediately think they’re ridiculous and nonsensical?

When someone takes over leading an event and prepares to do it differently, do you give them “advice” and then condemn them when they don’t follow it, and things don’t turn out as they had planned?

Do you say, “I told you this wouldn’t work?”

Then what’s most likely to follow? We go and tell itching ears that are ready and willing to hear our laments and condemnation of our neighbors – we find people who will share in our views and critique.

To put it bluntly, we break the Eighth Commandment, and we gossip, slander, and hurt reputations.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

In these ways, we are also attempting to make ourselves superior to our neighbors, and in the process, we’re sinning against them and God.

So, what is it that the Christian is genuinely called to?

Jesus says, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Jesus is instructing the disciples and you to be images of His heavenly Father, your Heavenly Father. You see, “God the Father has had mercy on you that His Son, Jesus Christ, died for you while you were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

A significant challenge with our lack of mercy and forgiveness is that we don't actually trust God. We don't believe the First Commandment with all our hearts. And when one does not “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” then you are not able to love “your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

And when we judge others, we are not showing the same love we wish and sometimes demand to receive.

Justin Martyr, a Church Father, wrote, "We pray for you that you might experience the mercy of Christ. He instructed us to pray for our enemies when he said, "Be kind and merciful, even as your heavenly Father is merciful." We can observe that Almighty God is kind and merciful, causing His sun to shine on the ungrateful and on the just and sending rain to both the holy and the evil. All of them, he has told us, he will judge.”

The quote by Justin Martyr reminds us that we can see God's kindness even in a world that continues to groan from the bondage of sin in how the sun continues to rise, and the rain continues to fall upon the just and the unjust equally.

Ultimately, God will judge man - as we confess in the Creed - “And He will come again, to judge the living and the dead.”

When we attempt to render judgment upon neighbors, when we withhold forgiveness or fail to see the plank within our own eyes – we believe we have outgrown our teacher. Yet, Jesus says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

There is a catechetical aspect to our text today; to learn the way of the Christian life is to know the will of God expressed and given through the commandments. While the commandments render judgment upon us and reveal our sin when we do not honor God, our parents, or our neighbors, the commandments also show and guide us into the way of life and how we are to love and trust in God above all things, how we are to speak well of neighbors and assist them in keeping their lives, their families, and possessions. In these ways, we are guided into the likeness of our teacher, Jesus Christ.

When you were baptized, it was in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this way, you were given the likeness, image and name of God that gives life and salvation to you.

And yet, throughout this life, you still face the temptation to quarrel first with not only one another but, truthfully, the entire world that surrounds you and anything that is not as you would see it.

But we should remember these words Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

In other words, our Heavenly Father has mercy on you, sending His Son to receive the judgment for your sin upon the cross.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it. He completed the greatest work, securing your life and salvation in His death and resurrection on the third day.

For this reason, every time we gather here, we continue to receive a foretaste of the mercy won for us upon the cross in His very flesh and blood at this altar.

As Jesus now comes to you and lives within you, these words of His ring even louder, “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

My friends in Christ, the time is now for us to learn again how to speak and support our neighbors and how to be loving, kind, and merciful—explaining everything in the kindest way.

The time is now for us to confess the logs of our sins so that they might be removed by the blood of the cross.  

And if this isn’t motivation enough, the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And as servants of our Lord, do not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those in opposition according to God's will. If God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, God be praised!” (Paraphrase of 2 Tim 2:23-26)

What a joy and relief it is when things don’t go as we would have them; we are not burdened with rendering judgment or condemnation upon our neighbors.

Rather, in times such as these, we should pray for the Holy Spirit to work within us, leading us to confess the grace and charity of Jesus Christ.

So, turn to the Word of Jesus, have it fill your lips with His mercy and forgiveness. Permit His Word to dwell in your heart richly, guiding you both now and eternally into the way of peace. +INJ+

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI