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October 22, 2026

Broadcast

                         The Vineyard - Part 4
                           Matthew 21:42-43
                              10/22/2026


        42   Jesus said to them, ``Have you never read in the
             Scriptures: `The stone that the builders rejected
             has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's
             doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'
        43   Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be
             taken away from you and given to a people
             producing its fruits.''  (ESV)

        Jesus began His ministry by saying, ``Repent, for the
   kingdom of heaven is at hand.''  The kingdom of heaven comes
   without our works, without our efforts.  It is God's grace, love,
   and mercy in action.  The Father sent His only-begotten Son to
   pay the price of our sin, thus freeing us from the eternal
   punishment we so deserve.  Therefore, we pray:
        O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace
        that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve
        You with a quiet mind.


        Jesus told the rulers of the Temple a parable concerning a
   vineyard and the wicked tenants who desired to usurp the owner's
   authority.  God entrusted to us the care of this world and the
   well-being of our neighbors.  Have we responded any better than
   did the children of Israel who so often rejected God?

        Jesus said to them, ``Have you never read in the
        Scriptures: `The stone that the builders rejected has
        become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and
        it is marvelous in our eyes?'  Therefore I tell you,
        the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and
        given to a people producing its fruits.''


        Today the Church is the spiritual descendant of Abraham,
   joined to God by faith in Christ Jesus.  He was the stone
   rejected by the builders, crucified to protect their political
   power, and now our only hope for salvation.  The kingdom of God
   has been given to all nations, for Christ Jesus died for the sins
   of the world.

        May our Lord grant us faith in Christ Jesus, that we may be
   part of His kingdom.  Amen.

October 21, 2026

Broadcast

                         The Vineyard - Part 3
                           Matthew 21:37-41
                              10/21/2026


        37   ``Finally he sent his son to them, saying, `They
             will respect my son.'
        38   But when the tenants saw the son, they said to
             themselves, `This is the heir.  Come, let us kill
             him and have his inheritance.'
        39   And they took him and threw him out of the
             vineyard and killed him.
        40   When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes,
             what will he do to those tenants?''
        41   They said to him, ``He will put those wretches to
             a miserable death and let out the vineyard to
             other tenants who will give him the fruits in
             their seasons.''  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week is that God grants us forgiveness so
   that we may serve Him in peace and joy, recognizing that He is
   our only hope and comfort.
        O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace
        that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve
        You with a quiet mind.


        Jesus, several days before He was crucified, told the rulers
   of the Temple a parable which explained the coming judgment.  A
   man planted a vineyard and leased it to trusted tenants.  At the
   proper time, He asked the tenants for a share of the fruit of the
   vineyard.  The tenants ignored the request and killed those the
   master sent.

        ``Finally he sent his son to them, saying, `They will
        respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son,
        they said to themselves, `This is the heir.  Come, let
        us kill him and have his inheritance.'  And they took
        him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
        When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what
        will he do to those tenants?''  They said to him, ``He
        will put those wretches to a miserable death and let
        out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the
        fruits in their seasons.''


        Through most of the Old Testament history of the children of
   Israel, we find that they mostly rejected God and turned to false
   idols.  They tortured and killed the prophets sent to give them
   the news of God's grace and mercy.

        The arrogance of the tenants is the cause of their sad end.
   Even the chief priests and scribes recognized the result of              
   killing the Master's Son.  Unfortunately, they did not take that
   lesson to heart.

        May our Lord grant us faith to return to Him, trusting in
   His mercy alone.  Amen.

October 20, 2026

Broadcast

                         The Vineyard - Part 2
                           Matthew 21:35-36
                              10/20/2026


        35   And the tenants took his servants and beat one,
             killed another, and stoned another.
        36   Again he sent other servants, more than the first.
             And they did the same to them.  (ESV)

        In our readings for the next few weeks, we are looking
   forward to the consummation of the age when Jesus returns to
   judge the living and the dead.  Knowing that we cannot earn our
   salvation, we pray for God's grace to keep us in the one true
   faith.
        O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace
        that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve
        You with a quiet mind.


        At Jesus' first coming, those who should have recognized Him
   from their study of the Scriptures failed to see the fulfillment
   of God's promise to send a Redeemer.  The Church turned inward,
   looking at the trappings of power, not at the love of God.  The
   chief priests, the scribes, and the other leaders of the Temple
   lost sight of their stewardship of God's rich blessings, and
   sought to take what belongs to God for their own purposes.

        At the proper time, God the Father sent His Son into this
   world to claim that which is His own.  The love of God's people
   had grown cold.  Although the tenants knew they were not the
   owner of the vineyard, they had been in charge so long they
   actually forgot their obligations.

        And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed
        another, and stoned another.  Again he sent other
        servants, more than the first. And they did the same to
        them.


        Time and again God sent the prophets to say, ``Repent, for
   the kingdom of heaven is at hand.''  He longed to give to His
   people that which was good, both in time and in eternity.  Yet
   His people turned their backs and rejected to call to recognize
   their God.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word of grace and
   mercy.  Amen.

October 19, 2026

Broadcast

                         The Vineyard - Part 1
                           Matthew 21:33-34
                              10/19/2026


        33   Hear another parable. There was a master of a
             house who planted a vineyard and put a fence
             around it and dug a winepress in it and built a
             tower and leased it to tenants, and went into
             another country.
        34   When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his
             servants to the tenants to get his fruit.  (ESV)

        In these last weeks of the Church Year, we look forward to
   our Lord's second coming to judge the living and the dead.  As
   this creation passes away, as we look to the kingdom of glory
   where those who have not rejected God's love live eternally in
   His presence, we ask Him for faith to trust in Christ Jesus as
   our Redeemer.
        O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace
        that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve
        You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
        our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
        Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        Jesus spoke of His return in several parables in the days
   after He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey.
        Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who
        planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a
        winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to
        tenants, and went into another country.  When the
        season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the
        tenants to get his fruit.


        Although this parable was spoken directly against the chief
   priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees, it is a warning for us
   as well.  The master of the house entrusts His creation to us as
   stewards.  We will be called to account for the way we use the
   time, talents, and treasure given to us.  Will the tenants in the
   parable acknowledge that the good vineyard is not their property,
   but simply a lease?  Will they attempt to take that which is not
   rightly theirs, ignoring the owner?

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word, to trust His
   promise that He is coming again.  Amen.

October 15, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 4
                             Matthew 9:5-7
                              10/15/2026


        5    [Jesus said:] ``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.  (ESV)

        [Jesus said:] ``For which is easier, to say, `Your sins
        are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'  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.''  And he rose
        and went home.


        The scribes who watched Jesus heal the paralytic had a
   problem.  Only God can forgive sins.  Only God can heal with His
   voice.  They saw Jesus do both things.  What should they do?
   Should they admit that Jesus is the Son of God, God who took on
   our human flesh?  Should they deny the truth?

        Too often we deny the truth because the truth is difficult
   to believe.  We don't like the idea that God became man, lived
   among us, died for us, and rose again from the dead.  If Jesus
   paid the price of our sin, that means that we do not have the
   power to save ourselves.  That does not fit well with our human
   nature.

        By faith, however, we understand that God so loved the world
   that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for us, to pay the
   price of our sin, and to give us eternal life.  Because we
   believe this, we are bold to pray:
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.


        May our Lord grant us faith to receive this gift of
   salvation.  Amen.

October 14, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 3
                             Matthew 9:2-6
                              10/14/2026


        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.''  (ESV)

        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.''  And behold, some of the scribes said to
        themselves, ``This man is blaspheming.''  But Jesus,
        knowing their thoughts, said, ``Why do you think evil
        in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, `Your
        sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise and walk?'  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.''


        Only God can forgive sins, for only God is holy.  Certainly,
   you can forgive the person who sins against you, but neither you
   nor I have the power, on our own, to speak for someone else.  The
   scribes were correct.  Only if Jesus was God could He forgive the
   sins of the paralytic.

        However, Jesus' actions showed that He does have God's
   creative power.  He healed the man's paralysis with just a word,
   thus showing He has the right and power to forgive sins.

        God has entrusted that right to the Church.  Therefore, when
   you confess your sins to the pastor, they have the authority to
   forgive your sins given to them by God as they act as the agent
   of Christ, Himself.

        Therefore we pray:
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.

        Grant this, Lord, for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

October 13, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 2
                              Matthew 9:2
                              10/13/2026


        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.''  (ESV)

        The message Jesus proclaimed was simple, repent for the
   kingdom of heaven is at hand.  He calls on all people to
   recognize that they have sinned, have ignored God and harmed
   their neighbors.  In confessing, He asks us to trust that He has
   already paid the price of our transgressions.

        This week's prayer reinforces our understanding that only by
   God's grace, mercy, and goodness can we do what is pleasing in
   His sight.  Our good works are a response to His love shown in
   Christ Jesus.
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do.


        Jesus had returned to Capernaum having traveled around
   Galilee teaching and healing the sick.
        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.''


        All people understand that there are consequences to sin,
   even if they do not believe in the Triune God.  Someone who was
   paralyzed would agonize over the cause of his illness.  He would
   be terrified of dying, for he would know he was condemned.  Jesus
   took away that fear.

        May our Lord take away our fear of death by proclaiming that
   we also are forgiven.  Amen.

October 12, 2026

Broadcast

                       Be of Good Cheer - Part 1
                              Matthew 9:1
                              10/12/2026


        1    And getting into a boat [Jesus] crossed over and
             came to his own city.  (ESV)

        Our prayer this week reminds us that God protects us from
   all that would cause us eternal harm.  We are free to respond to
   His love and mercy by serving our neighbors.
        Almighty and merciful God, of Your bountiful goodness
        keep from us all things that may hurt us that we, being
        ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish
        whatever You would have us to do; through Jesus Christ,
        Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
        the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.


        In this week's Gospel lesson, we will see friends of a
   paralytic man who had faith that Jesus could heal all diseases.
   We will see in action the results of the preaching of God's
   kingdom.

        Jesus had been traveling around Galilee teaching and healing
   the sick.  Saint Matthew records: ``And getting into a boat
   [Jesus] crossed over and came to his own city.''  He was about to
   show the meaning of His teaching.  The message of Jesus was the
   same that John the Baptizer proclaimed, ``Repent, for the kingdom
   of heaven is at hand.''[1]

        What is the kingdom of heaven?  It is the undisputed reign
   of Jesus over sin, death, and the power of the devil.  It is the
   application of the Gospel, ``For God so loved the world that He
   gave His only-begotten Son.''  Thus the message is simple,
   ``Acknowledge your sins for Jesus died to pay the price of your
   guilt.''

        May our Lord richly bless us this week as we see this truth
   as recorded in the Bible.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Matthew 4:17

October 9, 2026

Broadcast

                       To Summarize... - Part 5
                             Matthew 22:46
                              10/09/2026


        46   And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from
             that day did anyone dare to ask him any more
             questions.  (ESV)

        This week we have prayed that the Holy Spirit guide us so
   that we delight in God's law, living to serve Him by loving our
   neighbor.
        O God, because without You we are not able to please
        You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all
        things direct and rule our hearts.


        On the last visit Jesus made to the Temple before His
   crucifixion, He clearly summarized both the law and the Gospel.
   He taught that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

        Did the Pharisees repent?  Did they turn from their selfish
   desires and embrace the Word of God, recognizing the Son of God
   as their Redeemer from sin and death?  Will you take these words
   to heart, or will you act like those who ultimately put Jesus to
   death for speaking the truth?

        ``And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that
   day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.''

        Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Today you
   have heard the good news that Jesus is the Son of God, sent by
   the Father to bear the price of your sin.  Today you have heard
   the Word of God, written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, so
   that you may have eternal life.

        Do you wish to know more?  Join us this Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
   at Trinity Lutheran Church as we learn more of God's love, grace,
   and mercy.

        God grant this for Jesus' sake.  Amen.