Here is the latest installment in a look ahead at the readings and themes associated with this coming Sunday’s worship according to the 3 year lectionary. Thanks to Pastor Bednash we have an new working title “Pericope Particulars” (A pericope (/pəˈrɪkəpiː/; Greek περικοπή, “a cutting-out”) in rhetoric is a set of verses that forms one coherent unit or thought, suitable for public reading from a text, now usually of sacred scripture. Also can be used as a way to identify certain themes in a chapter of sacred text.)
Please let us know your thoughts about this effort by Pastor Bednash and me. We are truly interested.
Again, the first resource comes from Issues Etc. Issues, Etc. is a ten-hour weekly syndicated radio talk show and podcast. The program features expert guests, expansive topics, while extolling Christ (their own tag line, but very fitting). The program is hosted by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Jeff Schwarz. There is a running series on the show called Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (3 Year Lectionary) in which guest Dr. Carl Fickenscher presents the readings and themes associated with the specific Sundays of the church year. Below is the link for this coming Sunday.
Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (3 Year Lectionary): Pentecost 24
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament Reading: Zephaniah 1:7-16
The Day of the Lord Is Near
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. 8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. 9 On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s[a] house with violence and fraud. 10 “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. 11 Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders[b] are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off. 12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent,[c] those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ 13 Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.” 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. 15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.
New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Day of the Lord
5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[a] you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30
Meditation: Matthew 25:14-30 – Rev. Bednash
This week’s Gospel lesson is a continuation of an uninterrupted teaching of Jesus. Therefore our Pericope Particular will continue to take a look at the Gospel lesson, the Parable of the Talents. For it will be like a man going a journey… (Matthew 25:14). First, it is important to know the main message of this parable and the major difference between the first two servants and the third servant; use your life for Him and His will.
Oftentimes the focus of this particular parable is upon the amount of talents and their usage. The christian reader or preacher, at times, might even misinterpret this parable to be about financial stewardship exclusively. Instead, the focus should be upon the reasoning behind why the Master is upset with the third servant. The Master is not upset with the third servant only because he returned back what was entrusted without growth. Rather, the third servant did nothing with what he was given because of slothfulness, laziness, and fear. The servant not only misunderstands his own identity but is disrespectful and careless with what is the Master’s.
This parable is directed towards the disciples as they are prepared for ‘the master’s leaving’ as Christ will soon be arrested, put on trial, crucified, risen, and then ascended into heaven during the next chapters of Matthew (chapters 26, 27, and 28). Jesus is leaving them behind but will entrust to them the specific task of spreading the Good News of His resurrection and fulfillment of the Scriptures. The Lord (the Master) will send these apostles the Holy Spirit and they will be given spiritual gifts; gifts of understanding, preaching, ordaining, healing, etc. These gifts are provided by the Holy Spirit. Christians throughout the history of the Church will be given different skills, gifts, and capabilities each according to his ability. (Matt. 25:15).
These things that we are given may vary according to each individual, but we should not despair or rejoice according to the amount we have been entrusted. Instead we should ευθεως – “immediately” (greek word used in Matt. 25:15-16 concerning the first two servant’s response of receiving their talents) seek ways in which we may use them to the glory of God!
We are all called to repent and turn from our sins. We are all called to live within the forgiveness provided by Jesus’ sacrificial death up on the cross. We are to rejoice in the resurrection that we look forward to at the end times. During our waiting for Christ’s return; we are not to be unprepared nor are we to be slothful and lazy with what He has given to us. We have each been given different talents each according to our own abilities. Thanks be to God! He provides us with exactly the perfect amount that we can handle.
Unlike the wicked slothful servant, we do not disregard what the Lord entrusts to us. Servants ought to represent who it is they serve. The Master’s qualities, morals, ethics, commandments, character, etc; is represented in the servants. Therefore, to understand the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as “only One God, there is no other” [the first commandment] means that we, because of Christ’s righteousness given to us, act accordingly. This parable is to convey the fact that we (specifically pastors but also all Christians) should understand our identity as servants entrusted with what is the Lord’s. (Matthew 13:10-17)
When you combine these two parables, the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Talents, we see that the Lord is teaching His followers preparedness and fidelity. We are called to endure and thrive as we await His second coming. Christians endure and thrive, even in the face of persecution and destruction. Let us pray that the Lord continues to use us as His servants who are prepared and will immediately utilize His gifts entrusted to us to His glory. Amen.
Bibliography
“Matthew 25: 14-30 – English Standard Version.” Bible Gateway, Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, 2016, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A+14-30&version=ESV. Accessed 14 11 2020.
“1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 – English Standard Version.” Bible Gateway, Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, 2016, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5%3A1-11&version=ESV. Accessed 14 11 2020.
“Pericope.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericope. Accessed 14 11 2020.
“Zephaniah 1:7-16 – English Standard Version.” Bible Gateway, Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zephaniah+1%3A7-16&version=ESV. Accessed 14 11 2020.