Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 9:1-17. As Jesus returns to Capernaum, His authority is still on display. Some people who trust in Jesus’ authority to heal bring their paralytic friend to Jesus. Initially, Jesus gives this man what he needs above all: the forgiveness of sins. Though the scribes do not believe that Jesus is God, He displays the truth by making the man able to walk once more, proving that He is able to take the more difficult road of bearing the sins of the world to the cross. Jesus continues to use His authority to save as He calls Matthew with His effective Word: “Follow Me.” Though the Pharisees once again disbelieve, Jesus proclaims the comforting Gospel: He has come to save sinners. This truth cannot be fit into the old religious system of the Law. Feasting, not fasting, is the order of the day when the Bridegroom, Christ, comes to take His Bride, the Church. Jesus must be received on His own terms as

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, and Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 8:18-34. Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him on His own terms. Although this does not bring the promise of all creaturely comforts in this life, only Jesus can make and keep the promise to raise His disciples from spiritual and physical death. With this promise, Jesus leads His disciples across the Sea of Galilee. He sleeps in the boat, both as a man who needs rest and as the true Son of God who trusts His Father perfectly. The disciples faith falters as they fear death and the storm, yet their prayer is true and right. Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves with His powerful Word, showing Himself to be the one true God. As Jesus exits the boat on the other side, He enters into enemy territory. Yet even here as He is confronted by two demon-p

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 8:1-17. Jesus’ Word of teaching has been effective of bringing forth the fruit of faith in the Sermon on the Mount. Now Jesus comes down the mountain to speak His Word of healing that also proves effective in undoing sin and its effects. A leper comes out of the crowd in faith toward Jesus, bowing down in worship and addressing Him as “Lord.” Knowing that Jesus is able, the leper prays that Jesus’ will would be done. As we have learned with the leper from Jesus’ teaching, Jesus’ will is to show mercy, and so He touches the leper, taking his disease and making him clean. As Jesus moves into Capernaum, a Gentile centurion approaches Jesus with the same faith as the Jewish leper. The centurion knows that the Word of the Lord will be effective even from a distance. Jesus marvels at this faith and once again gives according to His will; Jesus heals the centurion’s servant with His Word. Jesus then go

Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:13-29. Jesus, as the one true God, has taught His Law in the Sermon on the Mount in a way that is meant to drive His disciples to Him. Jesus is the narrow door; through Him alone do we enter life. The wide door would allow us to bring our sin and self-justification along with us, but it leads only to death. False prophets will come in Jesus’ name tempting those who hear to forsake the truth. They will be known by their teaching that does not accord with what Jesus spoke and directs people to please God according to the Law. Though such false prophets name Jesus as “Lord,” even their impressive works will not save them, because they are not truly doing the will of the Father. He desires all people to be saved through repentance and faith in Christ. This foundation of Jesus and His Words alone can withstand all things to bring us into eternal life. “All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:1-12. Only God stands as judge over His creation. His Word sets the standard by which judgment takes place. No Christian dare try to usurp His place in an attempt at self-justification. The posture of Jesus’ disciples toward the world and the Church, therefore, is not standing over them in judgment according to their own opinions. Jesus’ disciples first stand under the judgment of God’s Word, confessing their own gross sins against the rigid standard of His Law. Having received absolution from Him, they proclaim His Word in the Church and to the world, letting His standard alone speak the judgment. To treat brothers and sisters in the faith with an attitude of condemnation would be to throw God’s precious possessions out to be trampled. Instead, Jesus calls upon His disciples to pray. They pray in the confidence that they are speaking to God as their true Father who desires nothing more than to

Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus’ gift of the Lord’s Prayer paves the way for His teaching concerning worry. Because God is their Father who provides daily bread, Jesus’ disciples have absolutely no need for worry. Their heavenly Father will assuredly give them what they need for this body and life. Jesus even gently pokes fun and gently teases His disciples concerning their worry, reminding them that worry can truly accomplish nothing. Our heavenly Father gives us vocations in which to work, but because we have His promise, the worry is taken away. Instead of seeking after only food, drink, and clothing according to the consumerism of the world, Jesus calls us to seek after His kingdom and righteousness. His kingdom is His activity of powerfully and graciously reigning over this world. This kingdom is found wherever Jesus is found, and He has promised to be found among us still today reigning through His Wo

Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:19-24. Jesus continues to give us a picture of live under His reign as He speaks about His disciples’ attitude toward possessions. The accumulation of earthly treasure is not the goal of the Christian life. Though sinners default toward looking for security from earthly wealth, and the world openly encourages that sort of faith, Jesus teaches the reality that earthly treasure ultimately fails us. Instead, Jesus calls His disciples to use God’s good gift of possessions with gratitude toward our heavenly Father and generosity toward our neighbor in need. Our true treasure is found in heaven with Christ; this treasure will never be destroyed or stolen. Therefore, Jesus teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and our neighbor, rather than navel gazing at ourselves and our possessions. The reality is that we can only serve one master. Money would rule over us as a cruel tyrant; Jesus instead

Rev. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:1-18. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives a picture of the upside down nature of His kingdom compared to the kingdoms of the world. Whereas citizens of worldly kingdoms seek after their own glory, members under God’s reign live for His. Whether their actions are public or private, Jesus’ disciples do not desire to have the glory that comes from men; they desire the glory that comes from God. The almsgiving, prayer, and fasting practiced by Jesus’ disciples are done with this faith. The promise of His heavenly rewards is not a contradiction of salvation by grace alone; rather, it is a teaching of Jesus that brings comfort in the midst of the crosses we bear for the sake of following Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer is His gift from His heart to the Church. As we see in this prayer a reflection of Jesus’ own baptism and temptation, the Lord’s

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:38-48. Jesus continues to sharpen the focus concerning the Law. The sort of love to which He calls His disciples is not found anywhere else in the world. The default position for people is to take revenge when they have been wronged; the principle, “an eye for an eye,” limited such revenge from getting out of control. Jesus calls His disciples away from such retaliation. Rather than returning evil for evil, Jesus teaches us His disciples to return love for evil. This does not overturn the call Christians have in their vocation to love and protect their neighbors. Rather, Jesus calls us toward that same love that He showed to those who did evil to Him, willingly going to the cross for the very people who put Him there. This call reaches its climax as Jesus startles those who hold to worldly wisdom as He says: “Love your enemies.” This is the love that God has for us sinners in Christ, and it i

Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:27-37. Jesus does not overturn the Old Testament; He fulfills it as He journeys to His cross and empty tomb. In that context, Jesus continues to reveal the true and full intent of the Law to His disciples. Just as the 5th Commandment goes deeper than the physical action of taking a life, so the 6th Commandment goes deeper than the physical union of two people who are not united in marriage. Lust in the heart is already sin in God’s sight. Even though such sin may remain hidden from human eyes, it is known by God. Jesus’ disciples must take the matter very seriously. Jesus teaches that His disciples must do whatever is necessary to cut sin out of their lives, a point that He makes through the use hyperbole. Concerning divorce, Jesus refuses to enter into the debate of His day. He stays above it, teaching God’s true intention for marriage. As we consider this matter today, the only answe

“All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike as the fulfillment of God’s saving words and acts throughout the Old Testament. As the Christ in the line of David and Abraham, Jesus is the promised King who comes to bring sinners from every nation to live under His gracious reign. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:21-26. Jesus begins to expound upon the Law He has come to fulfill. Though the religious leaders of Jesus’ day might have limited the 5th Commandment to the physical act, Jesus proclaims that the matter goes much deeper. With His divine authority, He teaches His disciples that even anger in their hearts has already made them guilty of sin in God’s sight. Though we might like to think we’ve kept the 5th Commandment, Jesus reveals that we have not. His warning against anger, coupled with the rest of Holy Scripture, is an important reminder of how dangerous our anger truly is. Instead of anger and insults, Jesus calls His disciples to reconciliation. The peace that we have with God through Jesus must manifest itself in the forgiveness that is shared among Christians. To worship God while being at enmity with our fellow Christians is entirely inconsistent. The repentance and forgiveness shared i

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:13-20. The doorway of the Beatitudes provides the necessary entrance into the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, lest Jesus’ teaching become no more than moralism. Christians have received Jesus blessing through faith in the Gospel, and so He has made them the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As salt provides that which is deficient in food, so Christians bring into this corrupt world the message of repentance at the reign of God in Christ Jesus. As light makes visible those things that are in the dark, so Christians shine a light on the good news of Jesus that the world otherwise would never see. The works of Christians are good because they flow forth from faith in Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. They are salt and light in this world as they hold fast to all of Jesus’ Word. Their righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees because it is not mere outward perfor

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses. He ascends the mountain to teach His disciples the Word of God that is truly His own. He opens His mouth and teaches with divine authority.. Because this is the Son of God that is speaking, these words are not mere well-wishes, but declarations that accomplish what He speaks. When Jesus declares His disciples “blessed,” this is far stronger than “happy” or “fortunate.” Jesus is the promised Offspring of Abraham through whom the world is blessed. By faith in Jesus, therefore, His blessed disciples are saved. Those whom Jesus declares blessed are surprising according to the world’s wisdom. Neither the wise nor the strong, but those who come before God spiritually empty are blessed now to live under God’s reign. Even though the promises made by God may not have yet been fulfilled, still His people remain blessed right now. This is true as the Holy

Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 4:12-25. Jesus’ public preaching begins not in Jerusalem but in the northern region of Israel. This fulfills the promise God made through the prophet Isaiah. Their darkness was not merely due to the Assyrian conquest. They were dwelling in the darkness of unbelief. That’s why Jesus brings His light, not by a military victory, but by the preaching of His Word. He proclaims repentance so that those who hear Him would know that their sin leads only to death. After convicting with the Law in this way, Jesus raises to new life with the Gospel that His kingdom of grace is here. This is His holy Christian Church, which He begins to found in the calling of His first disciples. He does not choose the wise or educated according to worldly standards; rather, He calls fishermen to follow Him and become fishers of men. They cast the net of the Word into the world, and the Word continues to gather more memb

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 4:1-11. Heaven had been opened to Jesus at His Baptism; now, in His temptation, hell opens against Jesus to attack Him. Through it all, Jesus shows Himself to be the faithful Son of God where Israel had failed. Jesus did not fall for the competing word that Satan offered against the Father’s declaration at Jesus’ Baptism. Where Israel grumbled at a lack of food in the wilderness, Jesus trusted His Father’s Word for life. Jesus did not listen to the devil’s twisting of God’s Word; He did not put His Father to the test as Israel had so often. Jesus would not forsake the way of the cross for an easier road; He would win the kingdom through His suffering, death, and resurrection. From this text, we see Jesus first and foremost as our Substitute. Where we have fallen into idolatry and sin, Jesus has lived in perfect trust and obedience, and He has given us His

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 3:13-17. Jesus’ Baptism stands as the beginning of His public ministry in Israel. At first, John tried to prevent Jesus’ baptism, thinking that Jesus had it backwards. John knew that he needed ministry from Jesus. Jesus’ response to John reveals the significance of the moment. Jesus was here acting within His humiliation for the sake of the salvation of sinners. He came to put Himself in the place of sinners, first at His Baptism and finally at His cross. His Baptism by John in the Jordan River, therefore, was fitting as a part of God’s actions to save sinners in His ministry. In this way, Jesus’ Baptism is not a Law that we must do, but Gospel that He does for us. The theophany that follows confirms this. Heaven opens as God makes Himself present. The Spirit descends on Jesus to equip Him for His work. The Father’s voice procl

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 3:1-12. Matthew seamlessly skips forward almost thirty years from Jesus’ return to Nazareth to the ministry of John the Baptist. This fiery preacher comes as the fulfillment of God’s Word written by the prophet Isaiah. John’s sermon is simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” God is reigning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The only way to live under this reign is in repentance and faith, turning from sin and its ways to Christ and His salvation. John proclaimed this truth as Elijah had before him. Those who heard and believed came to his baptism confessing their sins. However, the Pharisees and Sadducees, as the religious elite of the day, came with a false confidence in their family history. John calls even them to task with harsh words of Law. Judgment will come upon all who do not repent. Yet John does not leave his hearers without the Gospel. He po

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 2:13-23. The shadow of Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection casts over all the events of the Old Testament. Israel’s time in Egypt and rescue in the Exodus had happened as a shadow of the fight of the Holy Family into Egypt and their subsequent return to Israel. In this, Jesus shows Himself to be the faithful Son of God that Israel never was. King Herod viciously attacked this true Son of God. His response to the Magi’s deception was utterly wicked. In an attempt to protect himself, he slaughtered the boys of Bethlehem, an event that finds a sobering, awful parallel in the legality of abortion in our own time. There is no escaping the tragedy of this situation; only in Jesus can we find any comfort. His blood was spared for the moment in order that He could willingly shed that same blood later by His death on the cross to forgive our idolatry and then rise three days later to tri

Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 2:1-12. Jesus is Savior for both Jews and Gentiles alike. Though the Magi seem unexpected visitors, they have rightly come to worship their King. Having seen the promised star, these foreign advisors and dignitaries travel to Jerusalem to Herod the Great, the ruthless ruler placed by the Romans over the region where Jesus was born. Herod’s cruel and powerful rule contrasts with the rule of Jesus, who has come as King who will reign by His sacrifice on the cross. Herod recognizes this as a threat to his own reign, and so he has the scribes search the Scriptures for the place of the Christ’s birth in an effort to destroy this One he sees as usurper to his throne. The Magi go forth in faith, led once again by the Lord’s star. They have come not by their own wisdom, but through God’s wisdom that has led them to worship Jesus as the true King. Their joy upon seeing Him quickly turns into worship. The