Jesus Calls Sinners to Repentance and Newness of Life in Accordance with His Mercy. In calling Matthew the tax collector to follow Him, Jesus demonstrates that He has come “not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:9, 13). As a good physician, He comes not to confirm them in their sins, but to heal them with His grace, calling them to repentance, faith and newness of life (Matthew 9:12). He puts them to death by the preaching of His Law, in order to raise them with His Gospel, to live before Him in the righteousness of His resurrection (Hosea 6:1-2, 5). It is in this way that God “gives life to the dead,” that is, through faith in Jesus, “who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:17, 24-25). Thus, sinners from all nations are called to share the same faith as Abraham, the father of all who trust in Jesus (Romans 4:16-18). And as our Lord in mercy thus welcomes us poor sinners to recline at the table in His house, so does He “desire steadfast love and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:10, 13; Hosea 6:6), that we should have mercy on our neighbors and forgive their sins against us for Jesus’ sake.
Next Sunday, June 7, we will begin a new study on Genesis–Book of Beginnings. Martin Luther devoted a great deal of time to teaching classes on this Biblical book and the first eight volumes of the American Edition of Luther’s Works are all his Lectures on Genesis! Why such an emphasis on this book of the Bible? Because it lays the foundation for all that follows, both in the Bible and our entire world since. Join in Sundays following worship beginning next Sunday for Genesis–Book of Beginnings.
Because of various family commitments Pastor Vogts has over the summer we are taking a summer break with no Midweek Matins or Men’s & Women’s Bible Studies during June and July, and the normal Wednesday schedule resuming in August.
