Great insight on this text and what a wonderful addition of Noah.

Thanks brothers for your continual work! I plan on preaching it this week for Advent....I think you can really tie this text to the birth of Christ also...God bless!

On the reed shaken by the wind, I think that Mike is on the right track. John isn't a flimsy reed in the wind, he is like an oak of faith. And yet John still doubts and struggles in faith when faced with suffering. In my mind it just further echoes the comparison made to Abraham earlier. If John has doubts, we shouldn't be shocked if we do either. And, thankfully, our Lord does not break off bruised reeds either.

I am an atheist looking for what is missing in my life. I just purchased and started reading the bible. I started with Luke a couple days ago and then you popped up in my KZbin feed...

Wonderful conversation... thank you. I do love the use of the term "fullers' soap" in this scripture reading - an Old English word referring to someone who cleaned and thickened woolen cloth. Apparently we have not found a better word to describe how complete (and unpleasant?) the prophesized cleansing will be.

Would you please add a link or the title and authors of the featured resources? I have less than optimal hearing and don't always catch the information, and the cc displays about what I hear. Thanks

I've always wanted to start off the children's Christmas program with a kid dressed up as John, have him run out in the middle aisle of the church and cry out to the congregation: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Fade to black and come back to the traditional Gabriel appearing to Mary beginning of the program.

Do a part 2 and go on more detail

Teach us how to use the lexicon. For bible study. Maybe using this massage. Help

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The Word entering our ears!!!!! Glory to God!!! What a great revelation

Good stuff guys as always! I enjoyed the commentary also from the new guy! God bless!

You mentioned some resources: Reformation Heritage Commentary? Ancient church devotionals? Would love to know where to find them.

Isn't it supposed to be Luke 21? 25 36

Thanks for walking through this brothers! Merry Christmas and God bless your preaching!

So far as throwing down their outer garments, we have 2 Kings 9:13 where Jehu's cohorts throw down their garments in front of him after he has been anointed king through Elisha. As you noted, Zechariah 9:9 is the prophesy of the donkey. I recall a conversation with a missionary about the donkey (and the upper room) who noted that the language is immediately recognized by the persecuted church. A church meeting might be described as an "afternoon tea". Transfer of reading materials was based on pre-arranged code.

I loved your "Gospel explosion" moving into Baptism and the notion that "the LORD is our righteousness" where He imputes his righteousness to us (those dwelling in the land). By referencing David, the prophesy reflects back to the time when the House of Judah and Israel were united. As such, the righteousness through Judah also apply to the House of Israel (and to those of us grafted on the vine).

Pastor Appreciation Month is October in North Carolina. I thought it was the same throughout the Country. Learn something new everyday.

Looking at this text through the lens of the Advent season in anticipation for the coming Christ on Christmas I am drawn to what Chesterton wrote that we "began to walk backwards through history to the place from which Christmas came." Before we come to the birth of Christ we experience His triumphal entry to death and resurrection. The triumphal entry is truly the first and most pure of all Christmas parades as Christ is escorted to His passion as the lamb led to slaughter all in order to bring forth redemption for humanity. A theme I think I'm going to play with this week is the idea of the Triumphal entry as the first and greatest Christmas parade.

Thanks, lads! I'm using this text for next week and you helped me to round out some of my thoughts! Go Old Testament!

I actually mentioned in my sermon last week (that this is basically a continuation of ... skipping a paragraph or two) that AC 23 has the statement to the emperor that "Your majesty will graciously take into account the fact that, in these last times of which the Scriptures prophesy, the world is growing worse and men are becoming weaker and more infirm."

I liked the comparison of our personal death and Jesus’ return. Every person has a personal “appointed time” when we will leave our bodies here. It would be interesting to expand on “keep watching”. Jesus teaches about keeping watch in various parables, and it could be interesting to explore what His command looks like. In this passage, keeping watch looks like being a servant who continues to do his job without supervision, as if the master was coming soon. Being a doorkeeper sounds like a very boring job if no one is coming and going! Maybe when the master is away is when it’s most important to make sure only those who are working for the master are coming and going!

I enjoy listening to 'Craft of Preaching' in preparation for listening to our own minister. I find your discussions to be helpful and I'm surprised pastors don't make comments. "be on guard; keep awake" is passive? really? Judges 5: "Awake, Awake", Deborah!, "Awake, Awake". Isaiah 51: "Awake Awake", Stand up O Jerusalem. When we look at OT roots, it doesn't sound passive at all. Furthermore, it's impossible to "keep awake" and we know that Jesus isn't against sleep, since he slept in a boat during a storm. So I think you guys nailed it when you asked "what is our job?" "are we being on guard as" doorkeepers? watchmen? like indentured servants, owing our Master everything, Jesus calls us to be his "doorkeepers", always on guard. always 'at ready'. thank you for the insights

Love the content, but the audio really detracts from it. The audio is a bit muddled. Both my wife and I think it sounds like the commentator on the viewer's left sounds like he is drowning (bubbling).

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Amen 🎉

I subscribed but on the video i first encountered your ministry i cant access the comments or comment for some reason but i do see someone elses comment before i click to read the rest or comment myself.

Requesting a favor! Would you mind asking whoever handles your KZbin channel account to review the settings related to (for lack of a better technical term) PAY WALL, revenue stream settings: especially as it pertains to add popping up in the middle of videos? I often listen to your commentary while driving; and, well as places to the beginning of videos do not present the same complications, when the ads pop up in the middle of the video, it requires me to either listen to the whole or reach from my phone to the SKIP button - which, intern, causes me to routinely have to take my eyes off the road in order to bypass these ads: I have become more and more aware than for those who engage your videos while driving, as I do, may more often find themselves in a position, entertain the option to engage in DISTRACTED DRIVING practices. I rely on your video commentary weekly, because I am a lectionary preacher, and your videos have proven highly beneficial within the context of my preparation routine. I do understand the benefits of using the tools available on KZbin to generate ongoing REVENUE STREAMS, I respectfully sent this request, fellow, disciple, and Christian, a lover of the Art of homiletics, above all as someone who not only heartedly love and thoroughly enjoy the great gift and privilege that is PREACHING THE GOSPEL to the precious people of God. Thank you so much for your consideration, and I hope, sincerely, that you can see, as clearly, as I do, the incredible benefit this request, when honored, would be not only for myself - but, for all of your dedicated listeners/viewers (subscribers). Keep up the good work! For preacher, like myself, those who need commentary, they can trust, the video you share, provide wonderful historical background and understanding, unique, and insightful perspectives and understandings, Theological/Homeletical/Exegetical viewpoints, along with real time practical life application connections (just name a few). Have a great Sunday and a truly blessed week. Allow your commitment, perseverance, and dedication to continuing empowering you all to spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ To all the people who engaged with your wonderful offering.

Notice, no floods are included. Perhaps a remembrance of God's promise after the Genesis flood?

I chanced on your website this morning, and clicked on this video because my pastor preached on it last Sunday. The comment by the guy in the blue shirt, that the Pharisees could have bought widow’s houses, promising to take care of them, was new to me. Sounds like something religious men would do! But all the widow had was a two copper coins; they were not taking care of her. Really, they were oppressing her, keeping her in her place. My pastor preached on the way this opens our eyes to the way systems in a society can oppress social groups. God wants Christians to care about oppressed people around us; to see how social norms keep people “out”. The guy with”Love Thy Neighbor” on his shirt was going to talk about what I saw in the passage… the deep trust in God that people with nothing have to have. I was sorry to see the guy in the blue shirt cut him off; I wanted to hear the complete thought. I am struggling with trusting God right now. It’s hard to trust 100% when what you have been longing for has not been given. I wonder if you guys ever have been desperately trusting God? Her giving makes sense when you have been desperate too. It reminds me of the women who poured ointment on Jesus’ feet; it too was an act of crazy desperate faith. I like it when Jesus honors crazy desperate faith. Will He really “pull me out of the miry clay”? Or will I end up being like one of the people in Hebrews 11, where …”none of them received what had been promised…”? That’s the dilemma of crazy faith.

That's correct and a very interesting insight. Paying attention to things like this can be developed into deep reflections in the sermon. As long as they are rooted in the Gospel point and do not create a distraction.

Am I correct that Chapter 7 (the one we go back to) is in Aramaic? While chapter 12 is in Hebrew? The reason I ask is Aramaic (the language of Arameans like Laban and Rebekah) is also the language of commerce, for which government officials (eunichs like Daniel) would be expert in. On the same vein, it appears that direct quotes of Jesus are Aramaic - suggesting a linkage beyond historical accident.

Love your content. If I can make one suggestion: The intro music is way too loud and lasts too long into the start of the content.

I'd like to make a request: please fade the intro music much lower sooner when back to someone speaking. It's hard to hear the beginning of the content after the intro with the music overpowering it somewhat.

Once again, brilliant... While preaching in Nazareth, Jesus references the "widow of Zarephath" - a parallel between "the drought, prophesized by Elijah, in an assault on Ahab's god of fertility Baal" and the lack of faith in Jesus' home town resulting in the providence of the LORD reaching beyond Israel. We might wonder why Elijah was instructed to go to a foreign village - a 65 hour walk from the Brook of Cherith, culminating in the restoration of life to a widow's son who died. Apparently Isaac Newton, in documents bequeathed to the National Library of Israel in 1969, notes that there is a "providence of prophesy": that the purpose of prophesy is not to "predict" but to "show the hand of God". And so, It would be remarkable if it's purpose was so that, 870 years later, Jesus could make an illustration pointing, not just to the providence of the LORD, but also a resurrection for all the world.

Sound checks! Can't hear the guy on the left at all.

I'm hoping you have more videos like this. It was very good... Moses' mission begins with the Burning Bush, "I AM WHO I AM" on Mount Horeb and ends with the Shema Israel "Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad" on the Plains of Moab. I loved the parallel you made between the mazuzah (meaning post) in which the Shema is fastened and the post on which Jesus is crucified.

Ok. So the Commandments of God are simply the 10 Commandments?

I liked your reference to "in the garden". In your discussion of "the garden of Eden", the consequence is deadly - rotting DEATH. When Adam sins, the LORD's question, "where are you?" is the question of a parent who needs to present the LAW to the child who thinks he/she is hiding. You cannot escape the consequence. But when the LORD "passes over former sins", He delays the consequence. So "on that day", Adam is dead, but the LORD is not finished. You're already DEAD but He creates a LIFE after DEATH.

coming back to the beattitudes is a great point

Thank you gentlemen. This was very helpful! Blessings on your preaching as well

4 mins 27 the guy on extreme right interrupts the gentleman on the extreme left in such a jarring way, also kind of strange to see such a strong positioning of alcohol on the set? I don't get it... good ideas all the same.

28th Ord. Time - y'all provided a great homily for this day. I can't get to church this morning, but I hope our priest can come up with something as genuine as your thoughts. Also, the psalm for today - 90: Fill Us With Your Love - is an excellent pairing with this gospel reading. Thanks guys!

“You guys with your fancy computers …” then finds it faster with the old reliable printed Word! Computers are amazing, but there is something to still have the old school skills as a foundation.

Dennis Prager says "follow your heart" is one of the worst expressions around.

Thanks for pointing to Jesus

When higher critical scholars talk about "deconstructing" the text they use their own reason to throw out things they do not want to believe. As you said the problem with that is that they are playing god. Faithful Lutherans want to understand what God says in the text and then believe.

Hosea and Gomer

So since my wife divorced me mary another man and 10 years I am still single then I'm good and she is not?

Good stuff, guys! The Pharisees wanted to use the Law to draw lines by which people could be kept from God and the gift of righteousness. Jesus says to let helpless sinners in, not excusing sin but forgiving it. And yes, I'm running late this week.