Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – Nov 5

5 November 2019

Text: Matt 23:1-12

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

Most non-Christians – and even many Christians – think that the central message of Christianity, of the Church, and of Jesus is to “be nice.”  And if that’s all there is to it, you really don’t need to go to church, give money to the church, and read that massive book.  Just be nice. 

Today’s reading is one of those times when Jesus is not nice.  There is no way Joel Osteen (the popular TV preacher from Houston with the pearly white smile and books about personal happiness) – would ever preach or speak like this.  If Jesus were on a college campus and spoke these words with this tone, He would, no doubt, be accused of triggering his listeners and perhaps even be guilty of hate speech.  Today’s reading is part of a longer rant called the “Seven Woes” in which Jesus rails against the Scribes and the Pharisees and makes no effort to be nice.  Jesus is not averse to piling on.

And while being nice is overall a fine thing, being sensitive to others’ feelings and being tactful is good behavior in general – there are times when truth trumps politeness.  For Christianity isn’t a call to civility – it is a call to repentance, a call to receive forgiveness, a call to a life of grace that never ends.  And that must begin not with self-esteem, but rather self-examination.  Contrary to the title of the famous self-help book, I am not OK, and you are not OK.  We are dying sinners.  We are broken.  We are mortal.  And no amount of lipstick can beautify this pig, dear friends.

The Law exposes us for what we are: hypocrites who do not practice what we preach, narcissists who revel in attention and titles.  In our wicked sinful hearts, we believe that we are good, and that we deserve to be put on a pedestal.  But Jesus says that we are hypocrites.  We need to repent.

But we do have a Father who is good.  We do have an Instructor who is righteous.  The Lord teaches us the truth – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  And our instructor is the Christ, the Messiah, the one who suffers death on the cross to remove our sin, guilt, shame, and culpability.  He says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

When we confess the truth of our sinful nature – in thought, word, and deed – and when we submit to Christ, the Word of God, as our Instructor, and when we pray to our Father in heaven, when we call to mind our humble baptism – we are exalted, dear friends.  We are exalted by forgiveness, life, and salvation – and we become beacons of hope to a dark world entrapped by hypocrisy and death – even with its fake cult of niceness.

The truth is more important than niceness, but what is the nicest truth of all is that Jesus has come to seek and save the lost, that he gives us life that we may have it abundantly – life that never ends.  Amen!

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.