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Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:36-56. Jesus continues to fulfill the Scriptures and His own Words as He goes willingly into His Passion. As Jesus revealed Himself as God to Peter, James, and John in the glory of His transfiguration, now Jesus reveals Himself as God to the same three in the weakness of Gethsemane. Jesus’ prayer to the Father in both trembling and resolution brings us to marvel and rejoice at the mystery of the personal union of the divine and human natures in Christ. His three closest disciples fail to stay awake and pray, even as Jesus continues to fulfill the will of God for the salvation of sinners. Judas transforms the sign of friendship as the sign of betrayal, which Jesus receives willingly. He will not have His disciples prevent this with the sword, for His kingdom must come through the Word, not with force or violence. As Jesus continues forward in fulfillment of God’s Word, He does so deserted by His discipl

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:20-35. As the Passover meal approaches, Jesus continues to direct the events. He knows what is happening, and He goes forward willingly to save sinners. He declares to His disciples that one of them will betray Him. Though they all would feign greatness, Jesus reiterates that one of those who has eaten with Him will betray Him. Worse still, woe is declared to this one because he will never return from his evil deed in faith to the Lord. Judas reveals himself to be the one when he addresses Jesus as a mere rabbi. Such betrayal does not deter Jesus, however. He gives to His sinful disciples, those who are about to desert Him, the most precious meal. Jesus gives exactly what He says. With the bread, He gives His Body. With the wine, He gives His Blood. Even as the night progresses and Jesus informs the Eleven that they will all fall away, including three denials from Peter, this precious gift of

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:1-19. The Gospel of Matthew has been pushing to this moment. Jesus has concluded His ministry of teaching and now enters into His time. Though the chief priests and elders think their plots can bring Jesus to an end, He goes to His passion, death, and resurrection willingly. He directs the events toward the fulfillment of the Scriptures. At the home of Simon the leper, an ordinary event becomes extraordinary when a woman anoints Jesus with very expensive ointment. Thinking only of the things of man, the disciples consider it a waste. Jesus calls them to the perspective of the things of God. This event has prepared Jesus for His burial. By her action, the woman has proclaimed that the most precious treasure is the salvation that Jesus is about to win. Although Judas uses it as the occasion to enter into a contract to betray his Lord, Jesus remains in control of all of the events of His passion,

Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus concludes His final discourse by teaching His disciples about His coming in glory on the Last Day. Though Jesus compares the Last Day to a shepherd separating sheep and goats, this is not a parable; rather, Jesus is describing what will actually happen on the Last Day. As God and man, Jesus will sit on His glorious throne and separate those who have faith in Him from those who do not. The sheep are those blessed by God with the gift of faith in Christ. They will inherit the kingdom the Father has prepared for them from before the foundation of the world. Their works of love for their neighbor have been done because they are in Christ; all that has happened to Him has happened to them. The goats are those cursed because they have rejected Christ’s salvation. Though they assume they have done good works, they h

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 25:14-30. What does it look like when God reigns as King? Jesus’ parable of a gracious master who entrusts his property to his servants paints the picture. Just as the master knows his servants perfectly in the amounts he gives, so the Lord knows His disciples perfectly. Just as the master gives abundantly to his servants, even to the one who will misuse his gift, so the Lord gives abundantly to His people. The Lord’s abundance is seen in His Word, His Sacraments, faith, and mercy that He gives to His people. The third servant does not put the master’s talent to use because he does not truly know his master, nor does he rightly believe his identity as a servant. However, when we know Jesus as the gracious Lord and believe the identity He has given us as His servants, we put His gifts to use, confident in Him. We eagerly anticipate that Day when He returns and welcomes us home into His et

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 25:1-13. Jesus continues His parables concerning His coming on the Last Day. He sets before His disciples the need for watchfulness by comparing the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins awaiting a bridegroom. The difference between the foolish and the wise was their readiness for the bridegroom’s coming. The foolish who have no oil provide a picture of those who would attach themselves outwardly to the Christian church without true faith. The wise who buy oil ahead of time provide a picture of those who have received the Holy Spirit’s gifts in the means of grace through faith. The Lord keeps His bride, the Church, in such wisdom through the Word of Christ crucified preached and heard. Those who have spurned these gifts in this life will find out it is too late on the Last Day, while those who have been kept by the Holy Spirit in true faith will be welcomed on the Last Day into the marriage sup

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:36-51. Jesus shifts from speaking about the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 to the topic of His second coming on the Last Day. His disciples had asked Him about both prior to His discourse. Jesus told them what would happen prior to the destruction of the temple, but when it comes to His second coming, Jesus answers: “There will be no sign. Watch!” Only the Father knows the Day of Jesus’ return. As in the days of Noah, unbelievers were going about daily life with no thought to God’s Law or Gospel, so the Son of Man will come suddenly to bring salvation to His people and judgment to unbelievers. This calls for readiness for Christians. As a thief in the night comes unexpectedly, so Jesus will come unexpectedly. To be ready for His return, then, is to have faith, the gift of God. In such faith, we know that Jesus is our gracious Master. As He has freely given to us, we live now in faithf

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:15-35. Jesus continues speaking to His disciples concerning the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in AD 70. This terrible event portrayed God’s judgment on the generation of those who rejected His Son in the flesh, became a visible manifestation end of the Old Covenant because of Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice, and provides a picture in miniature of the Day of the Lord on the Last Day. Jesus warns His disciples ahead of time about the events leading up to Jerusalem’s fall in order that His elect will be able to flee and so have their lives spared. As Jesus continues to speak, some of His Words seem to point toward not only the events of AD 70, but also the Last Day. For us Christians who eagerly await the Last Day now, our foundation is the same as those who anticipated the fulfillment of Jesus’ words against Jerusalem. We trust His Words

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 24:1-14. Jesus leaves the temple for the last time on Tuesday of Holy Week and tells His disciples that this grand building will one day be destroyed. God’s presence dwells in Jesus; therefore, the foundation of the disciples’ faith is not a building, but Jesus’ words. They ask Him two questions in response to this shocking statement, perhaps with some misunderstanding concerning the connection between the destruction of the Temple and the consummation at the end of the age. Jesus answers both questions throughout His discourse in Matthew 24-25, though we may sometimes have difficulty discerning which question He is answering. Jesus first warns His disciples concerning false teaching, which presents an eternal danger to His disciples. Wars and rumors of wars and famines will all happen before the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, but Jesus comforts us not to be alarmed and inste

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 23:13-39. Jesus speaks a series of seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees. Such words are far stronger than bad news; Jesus tells these false teachers that they are on the broad road to eternal death. Woe is theirs because they have rejected the saving grace of Jesus and have taught others to do the same. Woe is theirs because they have been more concerned about their own gifts and works than the One who gives and works for them. Woe is theirs because they have neglected the weightiest matters of God’s Word. Woe is there because they have only concerned themselves with outward righteousness while remaining inwardly sinful because they have rejected Jesus’ cleansing. Woe is theirs because they are about to fulfill the deeds of their fathers by crucifying Jesus. Throughout these woes, Jesus does not share the hatred of the Pharisees and scribes. Rather, He

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 23:1-12. Throughout Jesus’ Holy Week teaching, the scribes and Pharisees have continued their angry unbelief toward Him. He now turns away from them to address those who have been receptive to His teaching. He warns His disciples and the crowds concerning these false teachers. When they speak as heirs of Moses’ teaching, repeating the Word of God, that Word does continue to bear authority that must be heard and believed. But the false deeds and actions of the scribes and Pharisees must not be followed. They only add burdens to people, demanding a righteousness that comes through the Law, without giving any aid to people, because they lead people away from Christ. Instead of doing good works in service to the neighbor, the Pharisees and scribes are only concerned with being seen and praised by others. Jesus warns against such misuse of the vocations that He has given. Those who would be

Rev. Jason M. Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 22:23-46. Jesus’ opponents continue their attempts to trap Him during Holy Week. The Sadducees, deniers of the resurrection of the dead, pose a ridiculous scenario to Jesus concerning the Old Testament practice of levirate marriage. Their mistake was equating life in this age with life in the age of the resurrection. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Sadducees’ question and calls them to learn the truth from God’s Word that the resurrection is a reality because God is God of the living. After the Sadducees fail to trap Jesus, the Pharisees send one of their best against Jesus to see if they can bait Him into denying part of God’s commandments. Jesus expertly avoids their trap and summarizes the Law quite beautifully and simply. He teaches u

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 22:1-22. Jesus continues preaching against the Jewish religious leaders on Monday of Holy Week by telling the parable of the wedding feast. God the Father is the King, Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church is the Bride. Those who are invited first but refuse to come are the Jewish religious leaders who would not listen to the preaching of John the Baptist and the apostles. They would not believe the invitation to the wedding feast: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The judgment against this rejection of Christ will be severe in AD 70. Still, God desires all to be saved, and so He sends the Gospel call out to all. Those who believe in Christ for salvation are those who wear the clothes of His righteousness; those who do not believe in Christ for salvation will be cast into eternal judgment. The warning of the parable is clear: do not spurn God’s invitation to receive His means of

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 21:23-46. Jesus’ authority has been on clear display at the beginning of Holy Week, and the chief priests and elders are quick to challenge Him. Jesus’ question in return only escalates the matter of authority. If these religious leaders had been exercising true authority, they either would have believed in John as a teacher from God, or they would have rejected him outright as a liar. Their failure to do either shows that the only authority they have comes from their manipulation of the crowds. Jesus refuses to answer to such false authority and launches into two parables against them. The first parable exposes these religious leaders who have aligned themselves against God’s will because they rejected John and Jesus. This contrasts with the tax collectors and prostitutes, whose lives had first rejected God’s will but now have aligned themselves with God’s will by believing the preaching of Joh

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 21:1-22. The triumph of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is not that of a conquering Roman emperor. Instead, He comes to conquer sin, death, and the devil by His own death on the cross. The donkey on which Jesus rides marks Him as the King greater than Solomon who has come in humility to serve sinners by giving His life in the place of theirs. The crowds rightly acclaim Him with shouts of “Hosanna” and praises from the Psalms, even if they do not fully grasp the truth they are proclaiming. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, He reveals Himself as King, Prophet, and Priest. He goes to the Temple, not merely to reform it, but to replace it as the once-for-all final sacrifice for sins. Though children believe and sing Jesus’ praises, those who should have recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament refuse to believe. Jesus gives a picture of the judgment that awaits them in the fruitless fi

Rev. AJ Espinosa, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA and host of Thy Strong Word on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 20:17-34. For the third time, Jesus tells His disciples of His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection. Although Jesus goes into greater detail this time than the previous two, His disciples still fail to grasp what He means. Their conception of the Son of Man does not involve the suffering and death of which Jesus continually speaks. This becomes apparent as the mother of the sons of Zebedee asks Jesus that her sons, James and John, would be granted to sit at Jesus’ right and left when He comes in His kingdom. Jesus tells them that they do not know their request; His cup to drink is the cup of God’s wrath for sinners. Though James and John will share in their Lord’s suffering, the places of glory for which they ask are not Jesus’ to grant. When the other disciples become indignant at James and John, Jesus teaches them all concerning true greatness

Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 20:1-16. Jesus tells a parable to illustrate His saying at the end of chapter 19: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Jesus’ parable does not illustrate sound business practices for a vineyard, but life in the kingdom of heaven. The master who calls workers to go into his vineyard throughout the day teaches us that God loves to give. He continually calls sinners into His kingdom completely by His grace. Salvation is only His to give; it is never something that sinners earn. The workers hired at the beginning of the day lost sight of this truth when they grumbled at the master giving the workers hired at the end of the day the same wage. This stands as a warning to Christians who would begin to think that their work has earned some sort of payout from God. He gives what is His freely through the death and resu

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 19:16-30. A rich young man comes to Jesus acknowledging Him as a teacher and questioning Him about eternal life. The question becomes: “Will this rich young man believe the answer Jesus gives?” As Jesus engages the man, He calls him into a deeper understanding of Jesus’ identity not just as a Teacher, but as God Himself. Jesus first reminds the man of the commandments that deal with outward love toward the neighbor. When the man thinks he has kept these, Jesus goes to the matter of the heart. Jesus calls the man away from the idolatry of his possessions and instead tells the man to follow Him. The man’s refusal to forsake his idolatry becomes the occasion for Jesus to teach His disciples concerning the obstacle that wealth is to entering the kingdom of heaven. The only way anyone is saved is not by their own efforts, but solely by the grace of God. He has accomplished this i

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 19:1-15. Jesus begins His journey south toward Jerusalem. On the east side of the Jordan River, the Pharisees confront Him to test Him concerning matters of marriage and divorce. Their approach to the Law is wrong from the start; they come at God’s Law looking for ways by which they can bend it and justify themselves by their outward behavior. Jesus does not play this game with the Pharisees. He calls them not to start with matters of casuistry in the outward civil Law, but rather to start with what God has done from the beginning. Jesus plainly states the good gift that God has given in marriage. God unites one man and one woman as one flesh for the rest of their lives. This good gift of God is where all conversation concerning marriage must start. That is true both for those who are married and those who are single; in either case, Jesus calls H

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 18:21-35. Peter probably thought he was being generous in suggesting forgiveness for his brother seven times. Jesus’ answer is far greater, teaching Peter and all His disciples of the boundless forgiveness of God. The parable Jesus tells highlights the forgiveness of the king. The first servant has racked up a debt that is unimaginable. When the king calls him to account, he begs for patience and promises to pay back everything. This is laughable, but the king in his compassion forgives the entire debt. Amazingly, this same servant goes out and demands repayment from a fellow servant of a debt that is minuscule compared to his own. When patience is begged, the first servant refuses to forgive. His lack of forgiveness shows that he thinks he can pay back the king for his debt, and so the king gives him what he desires by throwing him into jail. The entire parable is a picture of God’s forgivene