Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

21 September 2021

Text: 1 Tim 4:1-16

In the name of + Jesus.  Amen.

St. Matthew was formerly a despised tax collector for the Romans.  In an unlikely turn of events, our Lord called him to leave his tax booth and follow Him.  In time, Matthew would compile his Gospel, which has first place in the New Testament, whether because it was the first Gospel written, or because it was the Gospel of primary importance to the early church.

Nearly everything we know about Jesus comes from the Gospels, the divinely inspired “biographies” of our Lord: His words, deeds, narrative of His life, account of His death, and confession of His resurrection.  All of the churches accepted Matthew’s Gospel as true and inspired.

St. Paul instructs Timothy (and us) to “have nothing to do with irrelevant, silly myths.”  For we have the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit, confessing the truth of who Jesus is and what He does.  This proclamation has gone forth from the apostles and other pastors from age to age, and will continue until our Lord returns. 

One of St. Timothy’s pastoral duties is the “public reading of Scripture” – which is fitting for the ordained men, like Timothy, to do, along with “exhortation” and “preaching.”  For the pastor’s ordination is no empty ritual.  St. Paul reminds St. Timothy of his ordination, saying: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”  Elder in this case means pastors, as the Greek word is sometimes transliterated as “presbyters” in English.  To this day, pastors lay hands on other pastors at their pastoral  ordinations, giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples, authorizing them to forgive sins in His name.

And the pastoral office is one means by which God works to offer salvation to all who desire it: “Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching.  Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 

By the ministry of Paul, Timothy, Matthew, the apostles, bishops, pastors, deacons, and other ministers of the church throughout the ages, through the laying on of hands and the divine calling of men to preach and teach, the Gospel is shared and eternal life is given as a free gift.  We thank God on this day especially for St. Matthew and his inspired Gospel which points us to Jesus, our Savior!

Amen.

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