PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

Tag: Kingdom of God

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament Reading of Christmas Eve (Midnight), Isaiah 9:2, 6–7, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    Note: The Lutheran Missal Project omits v. 3–5 from the reading.

    I. A prophecy concerning Christ and the call of the Gentiles, what great joy will follow thereupon. (v. 2–3)

    II. A description of the abolition of the Mosaic Law, and the spiritual peace, together with the ground on which it rests. (v. 4–7)

    Annotated Text

    2. The * people (Judah and Israel), who walked in darkness (who were stuck in great ignorance, unbelief, misery, and hardship on account of the enduring burden of war, especially during the times of the Maccabees), have seen a great Light (this great Light is the Lord Christ, who is the true Light who has come into the world, John 1:9, and in His coming has brought with Himself the light of grace and the saving knowledge of God as well as the light of joy and life), and over those who dwell in the land of darkness,1 it shines brightly.

    * Isaiah 42:7; Matthew 4:16; Luke1:79 (Ephesians 5:14)

    1 Hebrew: “the shadow of death,” cf. Luke 1:79

    [Verses 3–5 are omitted by the Lutheran Missal Project.]

    6. For1 to us (to the people of God first, but afterword to the Gentiles, and in this way to all men) a * Child is born, to us † a Son (namely, God’s only-begotten Son) is given, whose lordship is upon His shoulder (the burden of the work of the redemption of the human race and the governance of His Church lies upon Him; He bears the cross upon His shoulder  in order to assemble for Himself a kingdom from the human race); and He is called2 (He is in deed and truth, and is also proclaimed, extolled, and praised in the preaching of the Gospel, namely) ** wonderful (on account of His person and His office), Counselor (who has found counsel, how the fallen and lost human race can be counseled and helped  who has revealed the counsel of God concerning our salvation in His Word, John 1:18, 15:15; and who can provide counsel in the greatest needs and also give believers the best and most lasting counsel, as to how they shall obtain a gracious God and be saved), Mighty, Champion (who, through His divine power, can overcome all things and bring them into the right; a mighty God, for God is therefore called “El” in Holy Scripture, because He is an almighty champion against whom nothing can stand), Eternal Father (who has obtained an eternal sonship for believers with God the Father through His merit), Prince of Peace (who to believers gives peace with God in heaven and in their consciences, Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:20);

    1 Here follows an explanation of the previous saying, so that the source of all the joy of believers is now indicated more clearly in Christ.

    * Luke 1:31ff., 2:7, 11

    † John 3:17; Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:4

    2 Hebrew: “They will call His name” (that is, “He will be,” see Isaiah 7:14)

    ** Judges 13:18 (Psalm 40:8; Psalm 45:4–6; Ephesians 2:13ff.)

    7. so that His * lordship will be great (for the Jews and Gentiles will be brought under His spiritual kingdom), and † His peace will have no end, upon the throne of David and His kingdom (so that He will rule in eternity over the members of His kingdom in peace and unity; for the bodily kingdom of David was only a type of the spiritual and eternal kingdom of Christ); that He establish it and strengthen it with judgment and righteousness (in this life, the kingdom of Christ is established with judgment, when He overcomes the prince of this world, John 16:11, and judges and punishes all enemies of His kingdom; it is strengthen with righteousness when He bestows the righteousness which avails before God to the members of His kingdom and gives them justice against all enemies;  and in eternal life, complete rest from all enemies will follow and the members of Christ’s kingdom will obtain eternal joy and salvation) from now until then in eternity (without end and ceasing). The zeal of the Lord of Sabaoth will do ** this.1 (Christ’s burning love toward His Church, and His wrathful zeal against the devil, who has tempted men since the Fall.)

    * Luke 1:32

    † Psalm 72:3, 7, Isaiah 26:3

    ** Isaiah 37:32; 2 Kings 19:31 (Jeremiah 23:5; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Kings 19:31)

    1 Hebrew: “From that time on” (when this kingdom will begin), “and until and as long as the world stands will the zeal of the Lord of Sabaoth do this” (He will continue it and bring it completion). Concerning the zeal of the Lord in love, see Isaiah 37:32; Song of Songs 8:6.

    Useful Applications

    [There are no useful applications for v. 2]

    II. DOCTRINE: That the Son of God, who has been born true man, is the gracious King, Protector, and Savior of all believers. (v. 6–7)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Isaiah 2:2–5 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament of the Ember Wednesday of Advent, Isaiah 2:2–5, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. Isaiah deals with the future calling of the Gentiles to the Kingdom of Christ. (v. 1–5)

    Annotated Text

    1. This is that which Isaiah, the Son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (The prophecy belongs to the New Testament.)

    2. It shall come to pass in the latter time that the mountain where the house of the Lord (the Kingdom of Christ and God, where He will dwell and reveal Himself) shall certainly be higher (Luther: “that one no longer needs to run here and there, but rather will certainly find God,” namely, in the Christian Church, which is built upon Christ as the Rock, Matthew 16:18; the same is also called Mount Zion here because it was first assembled together in Jerusalem at the time of Christ and His apostles and then from there spread itself into all the world) than all mountains and be exalted over all hills (the Christian Church and the Kingdom of the Lord Messiah [Christ] will far excel all other kingdoms and will have a different and better condition than the Church of the Jewish people), and all the Gentiles will run1 to it (Luther: “as water runs with force and freely of itself”);

    * Jeremiah 3:17; Micah 4:1 (Psalm 68:16–17)

    1 Hebrew: “flow” (in heaps)

    3. And1 many people will go forth and say, “Come, let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways, and that we may walk in his paths. For from Zion the Law will go forth, and the Lord’s Word from Jerusalem (the apostles will begin to preach the doctrine of the Gospel at Jerusalem and in the Jewish land, and from there spread it until the end of the world, Acts 1:8).

    (Psalm 50:2; Psalm 110:2; Zechariah 8:23)

    1 Hebrew: “For it will happen…” (This is an explanation of what preceded.)

    4. And He (Christ, to whom His heavenly Father has given all judgment, John 5:22) will judge among the Gentiles and rebuke many people (He will convince them through the preaching of His Word that they have merited eternal damnation, and therefore admonish them that so that they may flee from such condemnation and be all the more eager and willing to accept His Gospel). Then they1 will make their * swords into plowshares and their spears into sickles (Luther: “or reaping hooks.” Jews and Gentiles will in Christ will have love and value for one another, and not, as previously, be hostile toward one another, rather they will have one heart, mouth, and mind according to the Gospel). For no people will2 lift up a sword against another, and they no longer learn war (They will no longer hold so stiffly to pagan idolatry, but rather will give themselves captive with their reason under the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5).

    * Micah 4:3 (Isaiah 11:3ff.; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10, 16:14; Ephesians 2:14)

    1 Hebrew: “for they shall” — (This is Christ’s doctrine of love from true faith, John 13:34ff.)

    2 Hebrew: “shall” — ([At the same time,] lawful governmental war protection, which comes from love toward one’s own, still remains unchanged in times of need according to Romans 13:4)

    5. Come now, you of the house of Jacob, let us * walk in the light of the Lord (Christ; that is, the converted Gentiles will admonish the Jews themselves to true recognition of God in Christ).

    * John 8:12

    Useful Applications

    I. DOCTRINE: Concerning the universal call of the Gentiles to the Kingdom of Christ through the preaching of the Apostles. (v. 2–4)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Matthew 11:11–15 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Holy Gospel for the Wednesday of Populus/Filia Zion (the Second Week of Advent), Matthew 11:11–15, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    II. A glorious testimony of Christ concerning John [the Baptist]. (v. 7–15)

    Annotated Text

    11. “Truly, I say to you, * among all those born of women (according to the common course of nature), there is not one (anyone) who has arisen who (on account of his office) is greater (more eminent) than John the Baptist; but He who is the Least (indeed, smaller) in the Kingdom of Heaven (in the Kingdom of God. Luther: “This is Christ,” who has humiliated himself to the lowest point) is greater than him (for He is not only true man, but also true God in unity of person, who is not only a Prophet and Teacher, but rather also the Mediator, Redeemer, and Savior; He is not the friend of the Bridegroom, as John, but rather is the Bridegroom Himself, John 3:29).

    * Luke 7:28

    12. Now from the days of John the Baptist (from the time in which he began to carry out his office) until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence (the Kingdom of God is preached through the Gospel, and everyone pressed into it with force, Luke 16:16. The people receive the Gospel with great zeal, as one takes a city by force. Luther: “The consciences, when they perceive the Gospel, press toward it, so that no one can resist them.”), and the violent (the repentant sinners, who in true faith stand against the temptations through the power of the Spirit, crucify the wicked lusts of the sinful flesh [Galatians 5:24], and contend gallantly) snatch it to themselves (they press themselves into the Kingdom of Heaven, from which it sufficiently appears that John had accomplished great benefits through his teaching and baptizing).1

    (Matthew 21:31–32)

    1 Greek: Alternatively, “The Kingdom of Heaven presses in with force, and (everyone, Luke 16:16, also) uses force (or have used force up to this point—evil people, tax collectors, soldiers, sinners, indeed, even the Gentiles press into it with force, and) snatch it to themselves (make themselves partakers of it with great zeal, and in this go before the high priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees).”

    13. For all the prophets and the Law had prophesied (that Christ shall come) until John (who pointed to Christ being present).

    14. And, if you are willing to receive it (and believe it) * he (John) is Elijah, who is to come (He is the one of whom the prophet Malachi had prophesied that He shall come in the Spirit and power of Elijah before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord).

    * Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:12 (Mark 9:13; Luke 1:17)

    15. He who has ears to hear, let him hear (mark this and take it to heart, and do not wait with the Pharisees for Elijah the Tishbite to come again on earth in his own person again, or otherwise for the Kingdom of Heaven to appear with worldly pageantry).”

    * Mark 7:16 (Luke 8:8)

    Useful Applications

    II. DOCTRINE: That Christ is the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, and yet at the same time greater than John (who is esteemed by Christ as the greatest among all men); He is the least according to His humanity in the state of humiliation, He is the greatest according to His eternal divinity. (v. 11)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Matthew 21:1–11 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Holy Gospel of the First Sunday of Advent (Ad Te Levavi), Matthew 21:1–11, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    I. The advent of Christ to Jerusalem. (v. 1–11)

    Annotated Text

    1. When * they (Christ and His disciples together with the people that followed Him) now drew near to Jerusalem, and came to (opposite of) Bethphage (and Bethany, Luke 19:29) to the Mount of Olives, 1 Jesus sent two disciples,

    * Mark 11:1; John 12:12

    1 Greek: “And when” [Καὶ ὅτε]

    2. and He said to them, “Go into the town which lies before you (into the market which lies opposite you, Luke 19:30) and immediately (when you come into it) you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it (also bound, on which no man has yet sat, Luke 19:30); loose it and bring it to Me. (For what purpose the Lord Christ intended to use this beast of burden He had not yet indicated to the disciples; but He was intent to hold His royal entry into the city of Jerusalem previously proclaimed by the Prophet.)

    3. And if someone should say something to you (and ask: ‘Why are you doing this?’ Mark 11:3; ‘Why do you loose the donkey and the colt?’ Luke 9:31), then say: ‘The Lord has need of it (for His service); and immediately he will allow it (to follow) you (and send them).”

    4. Now all this happened that it would be fulfilled what had been said through the prophet (Zechariah), when he said:

    5. “Say * to the daughter (the inhabitants) of Zion (of the city of Jerusalem, whose highest part was built upon Mount Zion; however, thereby is understood the Israelite Church): ‘Behold, your (heavenly soul-) † King comes to you (that He might have mercy on you and help you; thus, be for your good before others) meek (humble and lowly), and riding upon a donkey and upon a colt, the load-bearing donkey.” (Christ first rode upon the donkey and afterwards He sat Himself on the colt upon which He rode into the city. By the donkey is signified the Jews, the burden-bearing people; by the untamed colt, the Gentiles.)

    * Zechariah 9:9ff.; John 12:15

    † Psalm 24:8 (Isaiah 62:11)

    6. The disciples went out (from willing obedience, and they found it as He had said; for they found the colt tied at the door, outside at the crossroads, and they loosed it. But as they were loosing the colt, certain ones who were standing there said to them, “What are you doing, that you are loosing the colt?” Mark 11:4–5. And its lords said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” Luke 19:33. But they said to them as Jesus had commanded them, “The Lord has need of it,” and they allowed it, Mark 11:6.) and (those who were sent) did, as Jesus had commanded them.

    7. And they brought the donkey and colt (to Jesus), and laid their * garments thereupon (so that He might ride all the more gently) and set Him thereupon (They cast their garments upon the colt, and He sat upon it, Mark 11:7. But such, what had been prophesied by Zechariah and what otherwise happened here, His disciples did not understood beforehand, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that such has been written concerning Him and that they had done such things to Him, John 12:16).

    * 2 Kings 9:13; Mark 11:7–8

    8. Now many people1 spread their garments on the way (Such they did out of reverence toward this new King, as the like happened to Jehu, 2 Kings 9:13.); others2 cut down branches (green boughs) from the trees and strew them on the way (to adorn Him, to bear witness to their joy, and to confess Christ as a peace-rich and victory-rich king. And many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus had come to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him, John 12:12–13. And as He came near and descended the Mount of Olives, the whole heap of His disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice on account of all the deeds they had seen, Luke 19:37.).

    (1 Maccabees 13:51)

    1 Greek: “most of the people” (who partly came along from Jericho, Matthew 20:29, partly  had already come to Jerusalem for the feast and who went out to meet Him out of amazement concerning the raising of Lazarus).

    2 Greek: “but” [δὲ]

    9. But the (remaining common) people, who went before and followed after, cried out and said, “Hosanna (Luther: “In German, ‘Hosanna’ means ‘Ah, help!’ or ‘Ah, give good fortune and salvation!’—that is what we wish for.”) to the Son of David (to this new King, born of the lineage of David. The Jews had taught their children that when the Messiah would someday present Himself, they should receive Him with these words of the kingly prophet David; thus, because they heard that Jesus of Nazareth wanted to have His entry as the promised Messiah and the King of His Church, they had received Him in such a form)!1 Blessèd is He who comes (as a King) in the name of the Lord (sent by God to His people, that He should be a King of Israel, John 12:13; “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David!” Mark 11:10.)! Hosanna in the highest! (You Son of David who are in the highest, that is, a heavenly King and true God, help us. “Peace be in heaven and glory in the highest!” Luke 19:38. And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Master, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I say to you, if these should be silent, then the stones would cry out,” Luke 19:39–40.)

    (Matthew 23:39)

    1 † Ordinarily, this formula from Psalm 118:25 was used at the Feast of Tabernacles. But the Jews also spoke it at other times on joyful occasions. See 1 Maccabees 13:51; 2 Maccabees 10:6; etc.

    10. And when He had entered into Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred up (frightened and became distressed) and said (all the inhabitants of that city were frightened and said), “Who is this (who comes riding into the city with such a multitude of people and to whom one wishes good fortune as to a king)?”

    11. But the People said, “This is the (famous) Jesus, * the prophet from Nazareth (who was conceived and raised up in Nazareth, Matthew 2:23; Luke 2:51) of Galilee (which city of Nazareth lies in Galilee. But the Pharisees said among one another, “You see that you are achieving nothing. Behold, all the world is running after Him,” John 12:19.).

    * Luke 7:16; John 1:45

    Useful Applications

    I. DOCTRINE: That all things which happened at the time of the revelation of Christ in His received humanity were preached beforehand by all the prophets of the Old Testament, shown here by the citation of the prophet Zechariah concerning the entry of Christ into Jerusalem upon a donkey and a colt. (v. 4–5)

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Jeremiah 23:5–8 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Old Testament Reading for the First Sunday of Advent (Ad Te Levavi), Jeremiah 23:5–8, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.

    III. He sets before them in contrast [to this account of punishment (v. 1–4)], the prophecy concerning the true Helper and Savior Jesus Christ. (v. 5–8)

    Annotated Text

    5. “Behold, * the time (of the New Testament) is coming,” says the Lord, “that I will raise up for David (from his stem and descendants, according to My promise) † a righteous Branch (a Son); and He (namely, the Messiah) shall ** be a (spiritual) King, who will rule well, and establish justice and righteousness on earth (He will acquire perfect righteousness through His obedience and suffering,1 and appropriate it to the members of His kingdom through faith, and protect His Church against enemies).

    * Jeremiah 30:3

    † Isaiah 4:2ff.

    ** Isaiah 32:1 (33:14–16; Psalm 132:17; Isaiah 11:3ff.)

    1 † See Psalm 22:31–32; for He will be a help through an everlasting redemption, v. 6.

    6. At that time * shall Judah (the Christian Church) be helped, and shall Israel (who is each true believer in Christ) dwell secure. And this will be His name (the Messiah’s), that one will call Him (in true faith), “The Lord (the true God), who is our righteousness” (who has brought us eternal righteousness, Daniel 9:24; who also has been made righteousness for us from God, 1 Corinthians 1:30; so that we might become in Him the righteousness which avails before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

    * Jeremiah 33:16; Isaiah 45:24 (Isaiah 53:11; Romans 3:21)

    7. Therefore, behold, * the time is coming,” says the Lord, “that one will no longer say, ‘As true as the Lord lives, who has led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt (in a bodily manner),’

    * Jeremiah 16:14–15

    8. but rather, ‘as true as the Lord lives, who has led forth the seed of the house of Israel (in a spiritual manner according to this type), and has brought them out from the land of the north and from all the lands1 into which I had driven them, so that shall dwell in their own land.’”

    1 † This teaches that the talk is of the general assembly of believers in the New Testament, John 10:16; Matthew 8:11; of which those from the north have been a prelude and a sample.

    Useful Applications

    III. DOCTRINE: That Christ the Son of God who has been sent form the heavenly Father into the world (signified through the true Branch of David), is the King of His believers, by whom they obtain righteousness and eternal salvation. (v. 5–6)