“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and...
Pentecost 18 A: Preaching an Ugly Parable
posted by DJL
Dear Partner in Preaching, Let’s just admit it: this is an ugly parable. No amount of generalizing about God’s hospitality or vulnerability or invitation is going to do away with that. In fact, I think that straying into generalities is a huge mistake, as it glosses over the serious nature and inherent danger in passages like this. So I would urge you either to preach this parable in its distinct and unattractive particularity or to choose one of the other three far more attractive and certainly more edifying passages appointed for this day. If you choose to work with Matthew, however, consider these three things. First, in this...
Save These Dates in October
posted by DJL
One of the delightful things about this new role I am playing at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is to be a major promoter of the many wonderful things that happen on our campus. And so as I look ahead to a full and fruitful October, I want to call your attention to three in particular. If you are anywhere in the vicinity, I hope you will drop by. Even if you’re not, two of them will be live streamed as well as recorded for later online viewing, and the other has an online component as well. So, in order of date…. On Tuesday, October 7, Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics at Union...
Matthew 18:21-22
posted by DJL
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” If I wasn’t sure whether or not Matthew had consciously...
Matthew 18:15-20
posted by DJL
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence...