38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:38–42
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The Sign of Jonah
Evil men seek signs. The Lord Jesus will not give in to the demands of his enemies. The Christ must suffer and die for the sins of the world and then on the third day rise again. This is what it means to be the Christ. Just as the Word was performative as it was preached to the city of Nineveh in the days of Jonah, so it is also performative and authoritative in our day. Jonah knew of this Christ. The queen of the south came to see impressive Solomon and now the one that Solomon pointed to has come. This is the joy of the Church and the joy of each Christian: Jesus has come for you. He died and rose again. He ascended to the throne of heaven and rules to all eternity for you. The righteous rejoice in the Word preached. The signs for the Christian are the Means of Grace. The preaching of this Jesus forgives your sins.

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:33–37
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The Heart Revealed by the Cross
Jesus teaches that our words reveal what fills our hearts. We may carefully guard our outward appearances, but our tongues often expose the pride, anger, bitterness, and unbelief that dwell within us. God’s Law leaves us without excuse. Even our best words cannot hide the corruption of our sinful nature. Yet Christ does not leave us condemned beneath the judgment of His Law. The One who knows every careless word also willingly bore our guilt upon the cross. There, Jesus suffered the judgment our sinful hearts and tongues deserve. His blood cleanses us from every sin, including those committed with our mouths. Through Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit gives us new hearts and renews our lives in Christ. Our words do not earn God’s favor; rather, they become fruits of faith. Therefore, repent of sinful speech, trust Christ’s forgiveness, and let His Word dwell richly in you, that your words may serve your neighbor in love.

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:22–32
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The Stronger One Has Come
The Pharisees witnessed Christ cast out a demon, yet they attributed His work to Satan. Their hearts were hardened against the very One who had come to destroy the devil’s kingdom. Jesus exposes their foolishness: Satan does not cast out Satan. The stronger One had come to bind the strong man and plunder his house. We, too, must beware of hearts that resist God’s Word, calling evil good and rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ warning concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is serious. This is not a warning to those who fear they have sinned beyond forgiveness, but against persistent rejection of the Spirit’s testimony concerning Christ. Thanks be to God, Jesus has overcome Satan, not by worldly power, but through His suffering and death upon the cross. There He crushed the serpent’s head and won forgiveness for sinners. Through His Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit brings us to repentance and faith. Cling to Christ. In Him, Satan’s accusations cannot prevail, and forgiveness is freely given.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
            18       “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
      my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
                  I will put my Spirit upon him,
      and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
            19       He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
      nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
            20       a bruised reed he will not break,
      and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
                  until he brings justice to victory;
            21       and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Matthew 12:15–21
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The Servant Who Bears Our Sorrow
Here we see Jesus as the promised Servant of the Lord, gentle toward the weak and steadfast in His mission to save sinners. He does not seek worldly glory or crush those already bruised by sin and suffering. Rather, He comes with compassion, bringing justice and hope to the nations. A smoldering wick gives little light, and a bruised reed seems ready to break. Yet Christ does not cast aside the weak. He comes to restore what sin has broken and to rescue those who cannot save themselves. His gentleness is not weakness but the mercy of God at work for our salvation. This mercy shines brightest at the cross. There, Jesus willingly bears our sin, suffers our judgment, and conquers death through His resurrection. Because Christ has finished His saving work, our hope rests not in our strength but in His promises.

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Matthew 12:9–14
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Mercy Is Never Contrary to God’s Will
The Pharisees watched Jesus, hoping to accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath. They cared less about the suffering man before them than about their own traditions and the chance to condemn the Lord for breaking the Sabbath. Jesus exposes the hardness of their hearts by showing that doing good and showing mercy are entirely consistent with God’s will. We, too, can become more concerned with appearances, rules, and self-justification than with loving our neighbors. Our sinful hearts quickly condemn others while overlooking our own need for mercy. God’s Law reveals this sin and leaves us without excuse. Yet Jesus came not to crush the broken but to save sinners. The hand He restored points us to the greater healing He accomplished at the cross, where He bore our sins and won forgiveness through His death. The crucified and risen Christ gives mercy freely.

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:1–8
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The Lord of the Sabbath
The Pharisees measured righteousness by outward obedience, but Jesus revealed their misunderstanding of God’s Law. When the disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath, their accusers condemned them for violating human interpretations of God’s command. Yet the Sabbath was given as a gift, not a burden. God desires mercy, not empty displays of religious devotion. Jesus declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath. He is greater than the temple and the One in whom God’s promises find their fulfillment. The Sabbath points us to the rest God gives His people through Christ, who fulfilled the Law on our behalf. Our sinful hearts often turn God’s gifts into burdens, trusting our works rather than His mercy. But at the cross, Jesus bore the judgment our sins deserve and won our forgiveness. In Christ, we find true rest, not through our righteousness, but through His.

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25–30
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Rest for the Weary Soul
The world tells us that rest must be earned. We must work harder, do better, and prove our worth. Even our consciences remind us of our failures, our sins, and our inability to fulfill God’s holy Law. Such burdens are too heavy for sinners to bear. In Matthew 11, Jesus reveals that true wisdom is found not in human achievement but in the gracious revelation of the Father through His Son. Christ invites the weary and burdened to Himself, for He alone can give the rest our souls desperately need. This rest does not come through our works, but through Christ’s finished work upon the cross. There He bore the burden of our sins, endured the Father’s wrath, and secured our forgiveness. Through faith in Him, we receive peace with God. Dear Christian, lay your burdens before your Savior. His yoke is gracious, His mercy is abundant, and His rest is everlasting.

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where 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 done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Matthew 11:20–24
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When Grace Is Rejected
The greatest danger is not failing to recognize our sin, but hearing God’s Word repeatedly and remaining unmoved. Jesus rebukes the cities where He performed mighty works because they witnessed His gracious visitation yet refused to repent. Greater revelation brings greater responsibility. We, too, are tempted to presume upon God’s patience. We hear His Word, receive His gifts, yet stubbornly cling to our sins. Familiarity with the Gospel can dull our ears to the very grace that gives us life. But Christ’s call to repentance is not meant to drive the contrite sinner to despair. At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment our sins deserve. The One who condemns unbelief also offers forgiveness to all who repent and trust in Him. In Holy Baptism, He has claimed us as His own, and through His Word He continually calls us back to His mercy. Do not despise His grace. Hear His Word, repent, and cling to Christ.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:34–39
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Not Peace?
The Gospel is jarring. It is a speed bump and a stumbling block to the Greek. It is foolishness to the Jew. The flesh just doesn't like it. For those of us that are being saved, it is the power of God! The Church is always preserved by the pure teaching of the Word and the Sacraments administered according to Christ's command. There is no compromise. There is no backing down or acquiescing. The Gospel cuts us out of our earthly passions and desires and firmly sets us in the hand of the living God. That might set us at odds with our earthly relationships. The Lord will preserve you through them. The Lord offers to you his mercy and love to sustain you and keep you. The One that promises to never leave you or forsake you, makes you to be part of the Church. You are a member of Jesus Christ by his own love shed for you on the cross.

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:26–33
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Every Hair Numbered
There are a lot of things in this life that we fear. Yet, there is not a one that we should actually fear. We do not trust in God as we should. We do not love God as we should. The Gospel transforms us for this. The Lord God is the only one that we should fear. He alone can destroy both body and soul. But God delights in you. He has numbered your hairs, not because he is bored, but because he delights in you. You are his beloved. Fear not, therefore! You are loved greatly by your God. Jesus sheds his blood for you. God gives his Son to the death of the cross to have you. Your heart is filled with his Holy Spirit. You are his own children. What is in our hearts comes forth and is confessed with the mouth. Thanks be to God for his visitation among us!

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matthew 10:16–25
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Lambs Among Wolves
The entirety of the Christian life must be dependent upon Jesus Christ and his Word. The world will cheat us and lie and steal. The enemies of God are now your enemies. If they are against Jesus, they are against you. Even in the closest relationships that you know, even in your own families, there will be trouble. You must trust God's Word only. Even as you know you are entering into danger, as the wolves of this life circle, we fear no danger because of Jesus' promise to save and to keep alive. The Lord Jesus makes you like him. He makes you cross shaped and cruciform. He transforms you from the inside out. He puts his Word inside of your heart and that Word is transformative even as it is performative. His Word forgive sins and makes you alive. Alive in Christ, you are a brother or sister of Christ, and that means that you have life forever in him. 

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Matthew 10:5–15
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The Kingdom Comes to the Unworthy
Jesus sends His apostles to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near. Yet He does not send them because they are impressive, powerful, or self-sufficient. He sends them with nothing to boast about and everything to receive from God. Their mission depended entirely upon God’s provision and authority. The same is true of Christ’s Church today. The Gospel does not advance because of our cleverness, wealth, or accomplishments. It advances through the Word of Christ, proclaimed to sinners who need mercy. Some will receive that Word; others will reject it. The apostles were not responsible for forcing faith into hardened hearts. They were responsible for faithfully speaking Christ’s Word. And what is that Word? The kingdom has come because the King has come. Jesus went to the cross bearing the sins of those who reject Him and those who fail Him. His blood cleanses us, and His resurrection assures us that forgiveness is certain.

10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:1–4
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Called by Christ
Christ did not choose the Twelve Apostles because they were impressive men. Among them were fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, and even Judas Iscariot, who would betray his Lord. Their calling reminds us that Christ does not build His Church upon human greatness, wisdom, or worthiness. He calls sinners and gives them His authority to proclaim His kingdom. “Apostle” means one who is sent. Christ sent these men with His Word and authority. Their confidence was therefore not in themselves but in the One who sent them. That remains the comfort of Christ’s Church. The Gospel does not depend upon the greatness of the messenger. It depends upon Christ crucified for sinners and risen from the dead. At the cross, our unworthiness is exposed, but there also our forgiveness is accomplished. Christ still gathers sinners to Himself through His Word and sends His servants to proclaim that salvation.

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:35–38
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The Lord of the Harvest
Jesus looks upon the crowds and sees more than their outward troubles. He sees sheep harassed and helpless, wandering without a shepherd. His compassion is not sentimental; it moves Him to act. The One who sees the lost is the One who will go to the cross for them. The harvest is plentiful because sinners are everywhere in need of the forgiveness Christ alone provides. The problem is not merely a shortage of religious instruction or moral improvement. We are sinners who need a Savior. At Calvary, Jesus became the Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, bearing their sins and opening the way to eternal life. Jesus therefore teaches His disciples to pray for workers whom God will send into His harvest. Pastors and faithful Christians do not create the harvest or save anyone by their own strength. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. He sends His servants to proclaim His Word, through which He gathers His sheep into His Church.

32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
Matthew 9:32–34
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Silence the Devil
A man is oppressed by a demon and unable to speak. When Jesus drives out the demon, the man speaks, and the crowds marvel. Yet the Pharisees respond with blasphemy, attributing Christ’s work to the prince of demons. The contrast is striking: those in need recognize the Savior’s mercy, while those who should know better reject Him. Jesus has come to destroy the devil’s works and to release those held captive by sin and death. His authority over demons is not merely a display of power; it points toward His greater victory at the cross. There, Christ bore the judgment our sins deserve and crushed the devil’s accusations against us. The resurrection declares that Satan’s reign has been broken. Do not fear the devil’s accusations. Christ is stronger. His Word gives freedom, His blood cleanses sinners, and His victory is yours through faith. Cling to Him.

27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
Matthew 9:27–31
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Have Mercy
Two blind men follow Jesus, crying out for mercy. They cannot see Him, but they confess who He is: the Son of David, the promised Messiah. Their faith does not rest upon what their eyes can perceive, but upon the Word and promise of Christ. Jesus asks whether they believe He is able to heal them. When they confess that they do, He touches their eyes, and they receive their sight. Jesus’ miracles are signs that He is the promised Savior who brings the kingdom of God and has authority over the effects of sin. Yet Christ came to do more than open blind eyes. He came to bear the sin that has blinded fallen humanity to God. At the cross, the Son of David gave His life for sinners, purchasing forgiveness with His holy blood. We too cry, “Have mercy on us.” And Christ answers with mercy. Through His Word and Sacraments, He gives us eyes of faith to see our Savior.

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
Matthew 9:18–26
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Faith That Clings to Christ
Two desperate people come to Jesus with nowhere else to turn. A synagogue ruler comes because his daughter has died, while a woman suffering for years reaches through the crowd simply to touch Jesus’ garment. Both display faith that looks away from self and clings to Christ. Jesus’ authority extends even over sickness and death. He is not merely a teacher who offers encouragement; He is the Lord who gives life. Notice also that Jesus is not repelled by human uncleanness. He enters the house of death and takes the girl by the hand. His holiness conquers uncleanness rather than being overcome by it. This points us to the greater work of Christ at the cross. There He entered fully into our death and uncleanness, bearing our sin in His holy flesh. The One who gives life to the dead has conquered death for us. Therefore, faith clings to Him, even when everything appears lost.

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14–17
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The Bridegroom Has Come
The Christian faith is not an attempt to patch up the old life with a little religion. Jesus does not come merely to make sinners slightly better versions of themselves. He brings something entirely new: forgiveness, life, and salvation. Jesus’ reference to the bridegroom points to Himself and to the joy of His saving presence. Yet the Bridegroom’s joy would lead Him to the cross. There, Christ would be taken away from His disciples, not because He had failed, but because He was bearing the sins of His Bride, the Church. This is why the Gospel cannot simply be added to our works, traditions, or attempts at righteousness. The old garment of our sinful nature cannot be repaired. The old wineskins of self-righteousness cannot contain the new wine of Christ’s grace. At the cross, Jesus gives us what we cannot produce: His righteousness, purchased with His blood and delivered through Word and Sacrament.

9 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 9:1–8
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Jesus Sees
Jesus sees the faith of the men. He forgives the paralytic. It seems mixed up. They brought their friend to Jesus to be healed, not to get his sins forgiven. Yet, the hardest thing, the thing that will land us all in hell forever if it is not addressed and paid for, this is the thing Jesus is worried about. He is worried about you and your sin, too. He forgives sin. He goes to the cross. He sheds his blood. God dies for you and rises again to have you has his own. He grants the paralytic the use of his legs again, too. He shows the scribes his authority because they cannot see faith like him. He shows them a walking paralytic because they cannot see sins being forgiven. All of it, Jesus does because of his great love. His love for you.

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Matthew 8:28–34
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The Demons Know
When Jesus arrives, the demons cry out to him. When no one else knows, the devils know that this is the Son of God. It is the only thing that terrifies them. When the religious establishment did not know Jesus, when his own people did not recognize him, the demons did. They cut through all the rhetoric. They call him who he is, "Son of God." This Son of God comes to defeat the demons and the devil. He comes to stomp the head of the devil and to rescue you from death. He comes victorious over the enemies of God. You know him. This Jesus makes himself known in the preaching of the Word and in the Sacraments. You have life because of this Jesus. You are the forgiven, loved, people of God. Thanks be to God that he comes to make you his own.

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Matthew 8:23–27
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Lord, Save Us
They knew the water, but this storm scared them. The rough times in life can get intense. They doubted and they cowered and they forgot that their God had promised to take care of their every need. We forget, too. We worry and fill our hearts with anxiety. We fear things that cannot harm us. We get caught in troubles when we love things we should not love. Even in the midst of all this, God still loves us. He keeps his promises. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is in the stern of your boat, in the middle of your life, watching, fighting, and protecting. He nourishes you and keeps you by his grace. He strengthens your faith in the forgiveness of sins. Your faith saves you. Your faith grabs ahold of Jesus and will not let him go. It grabs ahold of his blood shed for you. It acknowledges his presence to save you and it rejoices in his good work. 

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18–22
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Foxes Have Holes
Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. He comes as a stranger and a foreigner. His own people do not know him. He comes with intent to save and to make new. He comes to preach. He comes to bring the Word of God to the world. He comes to die on the cross and shed his blood for you and me. Jesus is life for you and me. We who are dead in our trespasses become alive to God because of Jesus' work on the cross and his victory over death as he walked out of the grave. The dead can bury their own dead. The living follow Jesus. It is his Word that grants this life. It turns everything upside down.

14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Matthew 8:14–17
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He Took our Illnesses
The Lord comes to reorder everything that sin and death had destroyed. He submits himself to the humiliation of humanity. He comes down to bear our burdens and to take upon himself our infirmities. He puts himself in places that we don't expect God to be. He shows up in the dirty places, in the poor places, in the presence of demons and devils, he stands by dead men's coffins, and he lays his hands on the feverish and the sinner. He takes it all upon himself. He suffers for you and me. He becomes our sin so that we will become his righteousness. He kills our sin. He destroys death. He stomps out the devil's rule and power. By his stripes we are healed.

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Matthew 8:5–13
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Only Say the Word
The centurion appealed to him. Jesus would have gone. He prayed to the Lord of life because he knew his promises and he clung to his Word. This is what faith does to you and me. It remembers the promises and it clings to God's Word and it insists that he do the things he promises. Not one of us is worthy to have the Lord come under our roof. We are not worthy that he should redeem us and save us. However, Jesus has said the Word. You have been healed. Your sins are forgiven by the blood of his cross. This is the Lord of Life that empties his life for the salvation of Gentile the world over. He dies so that you can live. He lives to live with you and to justify you before God. The Word of God did this. This Word is performative and it has accomplished your salvation for him.

8 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
Matthew 8:1–4
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The Touch That Makes Clean
The leper’s condition left him ceremonially unclean, isolated from others, and unable to restore himself. Yet he came to Jesus in faith, trusting that the Lord possessed both the authority and the compassion to make him clean. Our sin is far worse than any outward disease. It renders us unclean before God, and no amount of human effort can cleanse our hearts or reconcile us to our Creator. Yet Christ does what we cannot. He does not turn away from sinners. He draws near to cleanse, forgive, and restore. At the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the uncleanness of our sin. The Holy One was numbered among transgressors, bearing our guilt and suffering sin’s wages in our place. His blood cleanses us, not because we deserve His mercy, but because He willingly gave Himself for us. The same gracious Lord still comes to us through His Word and Sacraments, delivering the forgiveness He won at Calvary. When guilt weighs heavily upon you, do not despair of Christ’s willingness. Look to His cross. There you see His love for sinners, and there you find the cleansing your soul needs.