Fourth Sunday after Trinity (1891)

Unrighteousness gets the upper hand, love grows cold; even though the world speaks of mercy (lodges, clubs). Christians should prove themselves even more faithful in the exercise of God-pleasing mercy. Luke 6:36-42 The Exhortation of the Lord: Be Merciful, As Your Father Also Is Merciful! 1. to whom is the exhortation directed? a. not to those who only should attain mercy, b. but to those who have already obtained it. Luther: "The Gospel indeed says clearly that Christ does not speak with those who should first acquire grace, but to His disciples who are already children of grace and justified...".1 "We need to receive before we give out; before we do mercy, we need to receive it just now from God...".2 2. what does the exhoration include within itself? a. that we prove ourselves as children of God, b. that we do to our neighbor what God has done to us, . not to judge and condemn, . forgive, . give. Luther: "He sees that we are stuck in death; meanwhile He has mercy and gives us life...".3 "Because of your sins you were all under God's judgment and condemnation. And what did your Father in heaven do? Is it not true that He has neither wanted to judge nor condemn you...?"4; 3. what should attract us and make us willing to follow the exhortation? a. the heavenly Father wills it ("be"),5 b. the heavenly Father is praised in this way,6 c. the heavenly Father takes pleasure in it; . He draws His children by that; Luther: "Works are a sure sign and like a seal stamped on a letter, by which I am assured that my faith is right"7, . He will abundantly reward all in grace. G.

1 2

Church Postil, Erlangen Edition, 13:75. ibid, 65. 3 ibid, 63. 4 House Postil, Erlangen Edition, 4:275. 5 Luke 6:36. 6 Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12. 7 Church Postil, Erlangen Edition 13:66.