The Monday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 25, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 11:16-24 (NKJV)
11:6 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; We mourned to you, and you did not lament.’
18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Devotion
Jesus tells a parable about children playing in the marketplaces. Some try to lead games for the others, but their companions are too stubborn. It does not matter what game they choose—whether a joyful dance with instruments, or a pretend funeral with mourning—the latter children refuse to play along. Similarly, Jesus rebuked the people of that generation for rejecting His Word. It did not matter whether He preached sorrowful Law to them or joyful Gospel—or whether their preacher was a rough man like John the Baptist, or one more common like Himself—the people remained stubborn and unresponsive. They closed their ears, refusing to repent and believe.
Thanks be to God that He has blessed us with ears that hear! Through His Word He has created faith in our hearts which hears the Word of God and keeps it. This is no credit to ourselves. Faith is a gift, as Jesus says in Matthew 13:11, “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Since God has blessed us with such a gift, we should use it! When the Law falls on our ears, we should sorrow over our sins. When we hear the Gospel proclaimed, we should believe it with joy. Finally, if we notice differences in personality and habits among God’s ministers, we should not be offended by these. So long as he calls out a faithful tune, he is God’s servant to you for good.
Collect: O God, Who declarest Thine Almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
