Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34/St Mark 12:28-44
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The great commandment of the Law begins with a confession: Shema Israel, YHWH Eloheinu, YHWH Ehad. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” Indeed the greatness of the Law originates in the mind and will of He who alone is great, the Lord our God.
The Law is great because God is great. The Law is love because God is love. The Law, that is to say, the Ten Commandments, or this two sentence summary, is and forever shall be the holy and perfect will of the One eternal, holy and perfect God. It cannot be broken. As you just sang, “The Law of God is good and wise and sets His will before our eyes, shows us the way of righteousness, and dooms to death when we transgress” (LSB 579:1).
How then does this hard reality of our condemnation under the Law coincide with your prayer in the Psalmody? Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering (Ps 26:1). We see the coexistence of this paradox in Joseph’s brothers.
Most certainly they had not walked in innocence. They hated their brother with an unmatched vengeance. They plotted his death; but instead sold him into slavery. They lied to their father concerning his demise. Lest we are too quick to point the finger and lay blame, we are presented with the razor’s edge of the Law from our Lord Christ: You have heard it aid to those of old: “You shall not murder.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says ‘You fool!‘ will be liable to the hell of fire (Mt 5:21-22). We are none of us innocent. We are all cut to the quick.
For it is no different in our families, dear friends. We bite and we scrape; taking to heart every perceivable slight so as to unleash our retribution later. In envy and bitterness we mistreat our loved ones. We do not love our neighbor as ourselves. We love ourselves.
What shall we do? Repent. This is our only hope. Repent and believe the Gospel. This is the purpose and use of the Law. It is the light of holiness which burns the darkness of your heart. The Law kills you, it crucifies you, and it drive you to Jesus. Beware the righteousness of the scribes. Learn from the widow. Follow the example of Joseph’s brothers.
Their behavior here regarding Benjamin’s fate is a sign of true repentance. Previously they behaved with callousness toward their brother Joseph. They had premeditated his murder; only to stop short and sell him into slavery for their own financial gain. Now, though they plead for the life of their youngest brother; their father’s favorite son! What compassion! What change of heart and will.
Such concern for Benjamin’s well-being and disregard for their own safety can only be the result of the Gospel, of repentance and forgiveness of sins, of a heart transformed by the love of Christ. It is written, If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. . . If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (1 Jn 4:12, 20-21). Their compassion is a fruit of repentance and faith. The love of God in Christ, the free forgiveness of sins, compels them to love one another.
Such charity and love move Joseph to tears. Immediately after our verses for this evening, Joseph commands his servants to leave him. He reveals himself to his brothers, weeping for their compassion; overjoyed that they are not only united once more, but they are reconciled to one another in the coming Christ, David’s Son and David’s Lord.
And here in Judah’s actions we see a foreshadowing of Judah’s descendant. This son pledges himself to his father, offering his life in the stead of his brother. And now he acts at mediator between Joseph, who stands in the place of Pharaoh, and his guilty brother Benjamin. He takes the guilt on himself. He pleads for his brother’s life, offering himself as substitute - proof of a new and right spirit.
And from the tribe of Judah comes forth the Lion, the Christ, David’s Son and David’s Lord, who offers up Himself in place of His brothers according to the flesh. For Christ is your Mediator who stands between you and the Father. He has taken your guilt upon Himself. He is your Substitute. He deposited His entire life into the treasury and delivers to you His abundant life and salvation. Your enemies became His enemies, and they are now His footstool - sin, guilt, the terrors of the Law, hell, and Satan. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Beloved He delivers to you here, from His cup, fellowship in His divine life and love. He makes Himself your Servant as He comes to you in His house, and brings you peace from your Father in heaven through His Body and Blood. He who is One with the Father, the Lord our God, gives you His holiness, righteousness, and innocence.
Thus, in Christ, are you able to pray, Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. You are able to pray this Psalm only in and through Christ, who prays all the Psalms for you. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The same words that David spoke, therefore, the future Messiah spoke in him. Christ prayed along with the prayers of David or, more accurately, it is none other than Christ who prayed them in Christ’s own forerunner, David” (Psalms, 159).
You are washed in the innocence of Christ in Holy Baptism and the Absolution. In Him you approach the Lord’s Altar, proclaiming aloud and tell all of His wondrous deeds. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Cor 11:26).
Being served, then, in and with the love of God in Christ Jesus - the remission of all your sins, life, and salvation - you are then compelled in this self-same love of Christ to love your neighbor, your brother. For the innocence that is yours before God in Christ is also your before one another in the Church. This is the evangelical love in which you love one another, as God in Christ has loved you. Such compassion is a result of faith; a fruit, not a cause.
Again learn from the widow. Our Lord praises her for her faith and trust: Out of her poverty she put in everything she had, all she had to live on; literally, “all her life.” She is a living sacrifice in faith and love.
So too you. For the Law has been fulfilled in Christ. It no longer torments you. Joseph forgave his brothers. You are forgiven in Christ, your Brother and Kinsmen-Redeemer. Living by faith toward God, you live in love toward your neighbor. This is how the apparent contradictions of the Law and promises are reconciled - in Christ - who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. He leaves you with a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 13:34). Again, it begins with a confession: “Theos agape estin.” God is love. For in this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:10).
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
The great commandment of the Law begins with a confession: Shema Israel, YHWH Eloheinu, YHWH Ehad. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” Indeed the greatness of the Law originates in the mind and will of He who alone is great, the Lord our God.
The Law is great because God is great. The Law is love because God is love. The Law, that is to say, the Ten Commandments, or this two sentence summary, is and forever shall be the holy and perfect will of the One eternal, holy and perfect God. It cannot be broken. As you just sang, “The Law of God is good and wise and sets His will before our eyes, shows us the way of righteousness, and dooms to death when we transgress” (LSB 579:1).
How then does this hard reality of our condemnation under the Law coincide with your prayer in the Psalmody? Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering (Ps 26:1). We see the coexistence of this paradox in Joseph’s brothers.
Most certainly they had not walked in innocence. They hated their brother with an unmatched vengeance. They plotted his death; but instead sold him into slavery. They lied to their father concerning his demise. Lest we are too quick to point the finger and lay blame, we are presented with the razor’s edge of the Law from our Lord Christ: You have heard it aid to those of old: “You shall not murder.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says ‘You fool!‘ will be liable to the hell of fire (Mt 5:21-22). We are none of us innocent. We are all cut to the quick.
For it is no different in our families, dear friends. We bite and we scrape; taking to heart every perceivable slight so as to unleash our retribution later. In envy and bitterness we mistreat our loved ones. We do not love our neighbor as ourselves. We love ourselves.
What shall we do? Repent. This is our only hope. Repent and believe the Gospel. This is the purpose and use of the Law. It is the light of holiness which burns the darkness of your heart. The Law kills you, it crucifies you, and it drive you to Jesus. Beware the righteousness of the scribes. Learn from the widow. Follow the example of Joseph’s brothers.
Their behavior here regarding Benjamin’s fate is a sign of true repentance. Previously they behaved with callousness toward their brother Joseph. They had premeditated his murder; only to stop short and sell him into slavery for their own financial gain. Now, though they plead for the life of their youngest brother; their father’s favorite son! What compassion! What change of heart and will.
Such concern for Benjamin’s well-being and disregard for their own safety can only be the result of the Gospel, of repentance and forgiveness of sins, of a heart transformed by the love of Christ. It is written, If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. . . If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also (1 Jn 4:12, 20-21). Their compassion is a fruit of repentance and faith. The love of God in Christ, the free forgiveness of sins, compels them to love one another.
Such charity and love move Joseph to tears. Immediately after our verses for this evening, Joseph commands his servants to leave him. He reveals himself to his brothers, weeping for their compassion; overjoyed that they are not only united once more, but they are reconciled to one another in the coming Christ, David’s Son and David’s Lord.
And here in Judah’s actions we see a foreshadowing of Judah’s descendant. This son pledges himself to his father, offering his life in the stead of his brother. And now he acts at mediator between Joseph, who stands in the place of Pharaoh, and his guilty brother Benjamin. He takes the guilt on himself. He pleads for his brother’s life, offering himself as substitute - proof of a new and right spirit.
And from the tribe of Judah comes forth the Lion, the Christ, David’s Son and David’s Lord, who offers up Himself in place of His brothers according to the flesh. For Christ is your Mediator who stands between you and the Father. He has taken your guilt upon Himself. He is your Substitute. He deposited His entire life into the treasury and delivers to you His abundant life and salvation. Your enemies became His enemies, and they are now His footstool - sin, guilt, the terrors of the Law, hell, and Satan. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Beloved He delivers to you here, from His cup, fellowship in His divine life and love. He makes Himself your Servant as He comes to you in His house, and brings you peace from your Father in heaven through His Body and Blood. He who is One with the Father, the Lord our God, gives you His holiness, righteousness, and innocence.
Thus, in Christ, are you able to pray, Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. You are able to pray this Psalm only in and through Christ, who prays all the Psalms for you. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The same words that David spoke, therefore, the future Messiah spoke in him. Christ prayed along with the prayers of David or, more accurately, it is none other than Christ who prayed them in Christ’s own forerunner, David” (Psalms, 159).
You are washed in the innocence of Christ in Holy Baptism and the Absolution. In Him you approach the Lord’s Altar, proclaiming aloud and tell all of His wondrous deeds. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Cor 11:26).
Being served, then, in and with the love of God in Christ Jesus - the remission of all your sins, life, and salvation - you are then compelled in this self-same love of Christ to love your neighbor, your brother. For the innocence that is yours before God in Christ is also your before one another in the Church. This is the evangelical love in which you love one another, as God in Christ has loved you. Such compassion is a result of faith; a fruit, not a cause.
Again learn from the widow. Our Lord praises her for her faith and trust: Out of her poverty she put in everything she had, all she had to live on; literally, “all her life.” She is a living sacrifice in faith and love.
So too you. For the Law has been fulfilled in Christ. It no longer torments you. Joseph forgave his brothers. You are forgiven in Christ, your Brother and Kinsmen-Redeemer. Living by faith toward God, you live in love toward your neighbor. This is how the apparent contradictions of the Law and promises are reconciled - in Christ - who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. He leaves you with a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 13:34). Again, it begins with a confession: “Theos agape estin.” God is love. For in this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:10).
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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