Opening Prayer
Lord, chasten us, and give us truth in our inmost heart. Amen.
Text: Mark 7:6-13
He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men – the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” And He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban (that is, dedicated to the temple)”;’ and you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Devotion
“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” That’s true of people who go to church, read their prayers, partake of the Supper, and live decently, but are dead and self-secure. They know neither sin nor grace and they do not want to acknowledge the need for repentance and rebirth. Dear Christian friend, hear these words of the Lord, and examine yourself by them! There are thousands of such among us, and they deceive themselves concerning salvation. But even among those who seem “awake” there are certainly many who are under this judgment: “They honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” They live among the believers, receive “friends” in their homes, and have devotional character in their conversation and conduct, but daily confession of sin and the cleansing grace of Jesus’ blood they do not have, nor do they know love which “does not seek its own, and which bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things” (1Co 13). But they are strong in their judgment about the “children of the world,” are scanty in measures and weights, willing to profit at the expense of others, unhappy to have dealings with them, blind to their own faults, and good in their own eyes, so that they often are like the worldly on the outside. Such people are “the greatest pestilence of the church;” the upright must suffer and God’s name be blasphemed for their sake. Let no one believe that truly converted people are like that, and let no one throw stones at their brothers, but let each one examine himself as in the eyes of God!
These words of the Lord should be a warning to all of us. You know that your “flesh always is a snare,” and that very wicked things come from it. You must watch, and obey the Spirit if you are to live a life pleasing to God and to edify your fellow man. Shun all hypocrisy as Satan’s worst deceit, and get rid of all falsehood among yourselves! I am not encouraging you to neglect the use of God’s Word or to avoid doing good until you can do it with a perfect mind; but I am saying to each of you: Take God’s Word to heart, obey God’s Word from your heart, obey God’s Word as God’s Word, out of fear of God in true uprightness. And give people a good example so that they can see it is love that speaks and works in you, love that never is narrow-minded, but generous and rich; never judgmental, but noble and merciful; and remember that Jesus must be made known by your behavior!
Closing Prayer
God, help us to fear You from our heart and to honor You in truth: Give us grace to live in true holiness, in holy love, so that those who mock our good behavior in Christ must be ashamed, repent, and praise You. Amen.
Hymn
You hear indeed God’s truthful Word,
Eat at the Table of the Lord,
Christ’s holy gifts receiving,
Yet where is the aroma sweet,
The deeds unto repentance meet,
That show you are believing?
Your prayer you speak with empty art
When it does not come from your heart,
And from faith’s purest fountain;
“Lord, Lord,” with idle words you say,
Continuing on your own way
And build sin’s evil mountain.
Where is your glorious bridal dress?
Where is your faith, your righteousness,
Your heart now filled with patience?
Where is your spirit, gentle, kind,
Your love and aid, your helping hand,
Your neighbor’s sure reliance?
Ægidius: Paa Jorden er en liden Hjord L 495:4-6 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Kommt her (ELH 189); alternate hymn: O Love divine, how sweet Thou art ELH 62