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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost 

Option One: Rev. Kelly Bedard

"Ministerial Vengeance"
Jeremiah 11:18-20

A. Removing (")Sinners(")
    1. Those who profess God's judgment and wrath on those who have defected
from Him and His grace
    2. Those who plot against God's servants

B. Removing Sin
    1. The Shepherd (Jesus) saves His gentle yet sinful (pet) lambs
    2. The Shepherd becomes a Lamb for us...
        a. Is destroyed on the Tree (cross)
        b. Cut off from the land (Earth)
        c. Judged, tested and suffers God's vengeance on our behalf ...yet bears ultimately bears fruit ("poured-out wine and broken bread" [Oswald Chambers]), lives eternally and His name is remembered forever!

Notes:

1. "...test the heart" = "triest the reins" (KJV)

2. "Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof "(verse 19)-a proverbial expression meaning "Let us utterly destroy him root and branch. Let us destroy both the father and the family" (as when Naboth was put to death for treason, his sons were put to death with him) or, rather, "both the prophet and the prophecy; let us kill the one and defeat the other" (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

3. "Let us cut him off from the land of the living" (ibid): as a false prophet, and load him with ignominy and disgrace, that his name may be no more remembered with respect (Ibid)

4. "Jeremiah's wish for vengeance was not personal but ministerial, and accorded with God's purpose revealed to him against the enemies alike of God and of His servant" (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible [1871])

Option Two: Rev. Wayne Dobratz

Nice Guys Finish...Where???
Mark 9:33-37

I. Worldly Wisdom says they finish LAST
A. As in Gen. 11:4
B. As in 2 Sam. 15:1ff

II. The Bible calls that Self-Deception, Flattery which leads to disaster
A. As in Prov. 25:27
B. As in Isa. 14:13ff
C. As in Obadiah 4

III. Jesus says they finish FIRST, Text vv. 33-37
A. As in Matt. 23:12
B. As in Matt 19:29
C. As in Mk. 8:35
D. As in John 12:24

The Disciples Study Bible comments on  Mark 9:33-37:

"Humanity, Relationships-Pride disrupts relationships between people. It also hinders the relationship between people and God. When pride is cast aside for an attitude of childlike humility, these relationships can stand. In Christ's kingdom the attitude of the faithful, obedient servant replaces that of the egotistical, self-seeking official. Christ teaches only one office-God's slave. See Mt 18:1-5, Lk 9:46-48

The Church, Servants-Greatness in the kingdom is judged by how we receive the weak and powerless. Anyone will accept those who can reward us, but the great ones in the kingdom receive those who cannot give a reward. We live in God's kingdom as we show God's love to those who do not know love. When we seek to build a kingdom of power for ourselves, we have forsaken God's way. See Mt 20:20-28, 23:11.

Copyright 2000 Ministry Health, LLC 
All Rights Reserved
http://ministryhealth.net
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Director

A. Removing (")Sinners(")
    1. Those who profess God's judgment and wrath on those who have defected
from Him and His grace
    2. Those who plot against God's servants

B. Removing Sin
    1. The Shepherd (Jesus) saves His gentle yet sinful (pet) lambs
    2. The Shepherd becomes a Lamb for us...
        a. Is destroyed on the Tree (cross)
        b. Cut off from the land (Earth)
        c. Judged, tested and suffers God's vengeance on our behalf ...yet bears ultimately bears fruit ("poured-out wine and broken bread" [Oswald Chambers]), lives eternally and His name is remembered forever!

Notes:

1. "...test the heart" = "triest the reins" (KJV)

2. "Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof "(verse 19)-a proverbial expression meaning "Let us utterly destroy him root and branch. Let us destroy both the father and the family" (as when Naboth was put to death for treason, his sons were put to death with him) or, rather, "both the prophet and the prophecy; let us kill the one and defeat the other" (Matthew Henry's Commentary)

3. "Let us cut him off from the land of the living" (ibid): as a false prophet, and load him with ignominy and disgrace, that his name may be no more remembered with respect (Ibid)

4. "Jeremiah's wish for vengeance was not personal but ministerial, and accorded with God's purpose revealed to him against the enemies alike of God and of His servant" (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible [1871])

Option Two: Rev. Wayne Dobratz

Nice Guys Finish...Where???
Mark 9:33-37

I. Worldly Wisdom says they finish LAST
A. As in Gen. 11:4
B. As in 2 Sam. 15:1ff

II. The Bible calls that Self-Deception, Flattery which leads to disaster
A. As in Prov. 25:27
B. As in Isa. 14:13ff
C. As in Obadiah 4

III. Jesus says they finish FIRST, Text vv. 33-37
A. As in Matt. 23:12
B. As in Matt 19:29
C. As in Mk. 8:35
D. As in John 12:24

The Disciples Study Bible comments on  Mark 9:33-37:

"Humanity, Relationships-Pride disrupts relationships between people. It also hinders the relationship between people and God. When pride is cast aside for an attitude of childlike humility, these relationships can stand. In Christ's kingdom the attitude of the faithful, obedient servant replaces that of the egotistical, self-seeking official. Christ teaches only one office-God's slave. See Mt 18:1-5, Lk 9:46-48

The Church, Servants-Greatness in the kingdom is judged by how we receive the weak and powerless. Anyone will accept those who can reward us, but the great ones in the kingdom receive those who cannot give a reward. We live in God's kingdom as we show God's love to those who do not know love. When we seek to build a kingdom of power for ourselves, we have forsaken God's way. See Mt 20:20-28, 23:11.

Copyright 2000 Ministry Health, LLC 
All Rights Reserved
http://ministryhealth.net
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Director

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