Monday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 5, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 11:16-24 (NKJV)
11:16 “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
Our Lord Jesus Christ preaches condemnation against the people of these cities because they did not repent. That is the great and terrible sin that mocks God. The ancient story of Sodom’s downfall is widely known, even in our time. Even though their deeds and intentions were horribly evil, our Lord emphasizes that lack of repentance is the worst of all.
If the clear commands of our Lord are proclaimed and the response is, “No thanks, this is fine; there’s nothing wrong here and we don’t want to hear about how we’re wrong,” then there is profound danger. Pride and obstinacy reject the help and blessings that come from God. Rather than listen and submit to the truth, the people to whom Christ was speaking had condemned and slandered John the Baptist, and the Lord Himself!
Even our Lord’s warnings are part of His love and mercy. Our flesh hates to hear rebukes of woe and condemnation, but God sends His servants to call us to repentance and right works because there is still time! Our Savior Jesus Christ most certainly died and rose from the grave to take away the sins of the whole world, but the wrath of God abides on those who resist His Spirit and reject the Son (see John 3). Through His Church He continues to call sinners to repent and have faith in Christ crucified so they may be saved, forgiven, and made true saints in His kingdom.
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.
