O
The ILC Journal is the official publication of the Illinois Lutheran Conference and is published bi-monthly from Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin
______________________________________________________________________
O
O
O
St. James Lutheran Church -- Laporte, MN
(TLH 290 vv. 1&4)
____________________________________
A Sermon
(Reprinted from the LRH Hewsletter - November 1996)
Jesus and The One Who Would Work His Way to Heaven
Text : Luke 10:23-37
(Please read the text in your Bible)
When Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem for the last time, He sent messengers before Him. They were to seek lodging in Samaria for the evening. But the Samaritans did not want Jesus in their country because He was a Jew and Samaritans hated Jews. When James and John learned of this insult, they asked the Lord if they should call fire down from heaven as Elijah did to consume these stubborn Samaritans. Jesus answered: "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." This statement of our Lord we should remember when we deal with our fellow man. Many times we feel like calling fire down from heaven when people disagree with us, especially when it comes to matters of religion. It must have hurt the Lord to be refused entry into that village in Samaria, and at times refusals will hurt us, but that does not give us permission to deal unkindly and shortly with someone who is groping for the way of salvation. Let us note Jesus and His marvelous patience and love in our text today as we see Jesus And The One Who Would Work His Way To Heaven.
We will see that Jesus deals kindly with this lawyer, and again that Jesus would lead this lawyer to repentance.
In the beginning of our text Jesus is telling His seventy chosen students that the things they see with their eyes were eagerly desired to be seen for 4000 years by believers waiting for the Savior. David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, and Moses were all waiting for the Messiah. Certainly they knew of Him from the promises, but these seventy were with God made man, the Savior of the world, and their eyes and dear Christians our eyes, their ears and our ears are going to observe and listen to the kindness and love never before shown on this world from the lips of God Himself, our Savior Jesus Christ. (read vv. 23-24.)
This love and kindness is made known to us as Jesus deals with a certain lawyer in our text (v.25). This lawyer rose up from the crowd assembled around the Lord and asked a question of Jesus. This question was not one merely for information though, for Luke tells us that this certain lawyer stood up in order to tempt Jesus with this question. Now, certainly Jesus knew the intentions of this young man although the others perhaps did not sense the trap. Yes, Jesus knew this man was tempting Him, and yet the Savior does not cut him short or breathe threatenings against him. Jesus deals kindly with him because Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Also, the question of the lawyer reveals that he was a serious man and had thought quite deeply about eternal life and how one should obtain it. "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" he asks. Notice he is not asking how he should get to heaven. His mind is made up already, you get to heaven by doing works "What shall I do...?" he asks. He just wanted to see if Jesus would go against Scriptures and mention some new way to get to heaven. As far as he was concerned a man had to work his way to heaven by doing good things, by keeping the Ten Commandments. But what does Jesus answer him? Jesus replies, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" So, the lawyer summed up the Ten Commandments. (v.27) This lawyer was surprised when Jesus said that he was correct in quoting the Law. The lawyer expected to trap Jesus into denying the Law, but Jesus actually replies with the Law - "this do, and thou shalt live [i.e. be saved]."
But now you and I are confused. -- It sounds as if all a person has to do is keep the Ten Commandments and he works himself to heaven. But then why is there a Savior? Why did He have to shed His blood for us? If the way to heaven is by the Law then Christ's coming was absolutely useless and His death ridiculous. Jesus said that the lawyer should; yes, must keep the Law perfectly to be saved. In other words, every one of his thoughts must be toward God every second of the day, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind;" Not one thing could he do without having God in mind. Not ever one evil thought about anything; not one scowling expression; yes, not one movement of his hand, unless it were to God's glory. This fulfilling of the Law the man did not see. Such a fulfillment of the Law is completely out of man's range because man is sinful. And only God, the "Lord Thy God" purely out of His grace sent someone to keep that law for us; our Lord, Jesus Christ.
See, the trap set by this lawyer was skillfully disarmed by the Savior. Now the lawyer felt rather silly because Jesus had him answer his own question with words that he as a lawyer was expected to know. And just as we ourselves, when we are caught in something we have said or done, this man seeks to justify himself and to put Jesus on the spot again.
He thought he pleased God constantly by His works, but he was a little worried about whom his neighbor was, and so he asks, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus answers with the illustration of the good Samaritan. Let us remember well that the only reason Jesus uses this illustration is to show this lawyer how far short he comes from loving his neighbor as himself as God's law demands. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a dangerous one; among rocks, caves, and canyons. This man, undoubtedly a Jew, was traveling this dangerous road and was attacked by robbers. They took everything he had, even his clothes and beat him up and left him half dead. In the extreme need of this man, we are relieved to see a priest from the temple come along. Certainly here is help. He knew the law, he taught that commandment, "Thou shalt love...thy neighbor as thyself", in the temple. But when he saw this man, he crossed over and went as far to the other side of the street as possible, also a Levite, one who worked in the temple, did the same. It would be nice to help the wounded man, the priest and Levite may think, but then the robbers might attack them, and anyhow, they did not know him. How often this attitude is displayed by drivers coming upon the scene of an automobile accident. Maybe they could help, even save a life, and yet many go by because they might have to testify at a trial or get their clothes dirty and after all, the people may be from out of state and they will never see them again. Yet, dear Christian, this is done thousands of times in our land; and often by people who point with pride to the good works they do.
Finally, a Samaritan came by and helped the man. Oh, if we could only see and sense the hatred between these two nations then we could see why it is so much more remarkable that a Samaritan would stop to help a Jew. But he was moved with compassion, dear friends; and compassion is a quality of the heart, and true love for our fellow man can only come from a heart filled with the knowledge of God and what he has done for us. This Samaritan poured oil into the wounds to soothe them and wine containing alcohol to disinfect them, then he placed the man upon his own beast of burden, and not only took him to an inn, but paid for two months stay there for him, and not only that, but he promised the inn keeper that whatever more expense the man might incur would be taken care of by him on his return journey. This was true love for a fellow man; an example of the love God requires from all men for all other men in His law. And yet, is it not plain to see that such love for a fellow human being cannot be legislated into action by any written word? The priest and Levite memorized the law; knew how to apply it, and yet their heart was not touched by it. The same thing applies to this lawyer; yes, and to all who would get to heaven by following some rule performed by themselves.
Only a heart moved by love and thankfulness, for the love God has shown the world in His Son, can produce such acts of love, and even then, these acts do not gain heaven for us. Heaven has been won for us by Christ on the cross and has become ours through faith in His work. The good works of a Christian flow from love and gratitude for this free gift of salvation, and never are done with the idea of getting some favor with God. Now Jesus drives home the point of this illustration to the lawyer. (v.36-37) The lawyer answered correctly and Jesus says, "Go, and do thou likewise." This was a call to repentance for this lawyer. Jesus was dealing kindly with him and was showing him how futile and foolish it is to try to get to heaven by doing works! When Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise" the lawyer must have thought in his heart: "Why, who can ever do something like that; can God expect that of me?"
Man is absolutely helpless to do one good thing in God's eyes, and man must learn of this utter helplessness from God's Word of Law; and from the ashes of our misery over sin the Word of the Gospel makes us new creatures before God; creatures washed by Christ's blood and molded unto good works done out of love and gratitude to Him who gave us everything necessary for our eternal life!
May the Holy Ghost teach us to deal kindly with those who are blinded by error and lead them to repentance by patient explanation of God's Word. Amen.
w.a.p.
_______________________________
h o g
The ESV Examined
What is the ESV? The ESV is the latest translation of the entire Bible to be marketed as of the date this review is being written. (May 2002) The ESV has been available to the public for several months now, almost a year. The letters "ESV" stand for: English Standard Version, and for the remainder of this article, "Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved." Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611/1769, the Authorized Version.
What does the ESV tell us about itself? On the dust jacket of the copy to which I will be referring, it states: "The English Standard Version (ESV) is an 'essentially literal' translation of the Bible, emphasizing word-for-word accuracy and precision along with literary beauty and readability. Based on these classic principals of translation, the ESV Bible is ideally suited for personal reading, for public worship, for in-depth study, and for Scripture memorization– a Bible translation for all of life." Wow! The ESV sure makes a lot of claims for itself; we will see if these claims actually hold-up upon examination of the facts.
In order for any Bible translation to actually BE a BIBLE translation, it must BE a translation of the BIBLE, that is, it needs to be translated from the original languages and Words which God gave to us in the first place.
The Old Testament MUST BE translated from the traditional, preserved-by-God, Hebrew Masoretic text, and the New Testament MUST BE translated from the traditional, preserved-by-God, Greek Textus Receptus (Received Text). The King James Version (KJV) has the proper foundation, being based on the God-given and preserved Greek and Hebrew Texts ; the English Standard Version (ESV) does not.
What foundational texts does the ESV rest upon? The ESV answers this question on page nine of it's preface: "The ESV is based on the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as found in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (2nd ed., 1983), and on the Greek text in the 1993 editions of the Greek New Testament (4th corrected ed.), published by the United Bible Societies (UBS), and Novum Testamentum Graece (27th ed.), edited by Nestle and Aland... In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or, if necessary, to support a divergence from the Masoretic text. Similarly, in a few difficult cases in the New Testament, the ESV has followed a Greek text different from the text given preference in the UBS/Nestle-Aland 27th edition. In this regard the footnotes that accompany the ESV text are an integral part of the ESV translation..." So, the ESV is translated from MODERN, CRITICAL EDITIONS of the Hebrew and Greek texts, and then – whenever they wish to call a passage a "difficult case" – they vary from their chosen foundation in preference for a reading or readings from several other sources! Thus, the ESV's foundation is one made of the shifting sands of man's arbitrary reasoning and philosophy. The ESV is not built upon the rock-solid foundation of the God-given and preserved Hebrew and Greek, hence the structure itself (the ESV translation) cannot be found solid either– and you will shortly see that this is the case.
Page seven of the ESV preface relates the following information: "...each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek..." [emphasis mine M.E.L.]
COMMENT: The ESV is NOT based on the original Hebrew words (which contains some Aramaic which is cognate to Hebrew), and Greek words; so, how can it have been carefully weighed against the original words?
The ESV preface continues: "The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work... [emphasis mine M.E.L.]".
COMMENT: With the RSV as a starting point the translators were in trouble from the start!
Again, page seven of the ESV preface relates: "The ESV is an 'essentialy literal' translation... as such, it's emphasis is on 'word-for-word' correspondence...". Let us test that claim of precision right now with a passage of Scripture that we are all familiar with:
John 3:16
| ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | KJV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." |
COMMENT: The ESV leaves out the word "begotten" in it's translation of the Greek monogenhv MONOGENES, which is, by the way, the same Greek word even in the critical Greek text which the ESV New Testament is based upon. The Greek word "MONOGENES" is a compound of two Greek root words: "MONOS" and "GENOS"; "monos" meaning– only, alone; "genos" meaning– offspring of the same nature, begotten, born. Consequently, the ESV has failed to be "essentially literal" in translating this Greek Word.
Now we will consider one Old Testament passage:
Psalm 16:10
| ESV "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." | KJV "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. |
COMMENT: The ESV fails to translate the Hebrew word lwav SHEOL and merely transliterates the word, that is, they merely put it into the letters of our English alphabet. The ESV is propounded to be a translation of Hebrew and Greek words into the English language yet the translation team of the ESV failed to translate the Hebrew word "sheol" into English at all!
What about the publishing team of the ESV? There were more than one hundred people included on the team and there was a fourteen-member "Translation Oversight Committee". The preface on page ten states that the "team... shares a common commitment to the truth of God's Word and to historic Christian orthodoxy, is international in scope and includes leaders in many denominations". There is a problem with that statement in that it is quite vague. The "team" does NOT declare belief in VERBAL and PLENARY INSPIRATION, and it is quite obvious that they do not hold to the doctrine of the divine preservation of Scripture either.
Several more passages of the ESV compared with the KJV follow:
Job 19:25-26
| ESV "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in [footnote: "Or without"] my flesh I shall see God". | KJV "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God". |
COMMENT: The ESV footnote allows the reader to reverse the meaning of the text at his or her discretion. The reader is free to believe in the resurrection of the body or in no resurrection of the body. Hence, the ESV is a multiple-choice "Bible" where one is free to simply believe that only as a disembodied spirit will they see the Redeemer, therefore denying Jesus' returning and standing upon this earth and raising men bodily on the day of judgement. Yet, the ESV publishing "team" considers themselves as sharing a commitment "to historic Christian orthodoxy". In these verses the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Micah 5:2
| ESV "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days." | KJV "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." |
COMMENT: 1) Bethlehem is not "too little to be among the clans of Judah" as the ESV says; it is simply "little among the thousands of Judah" exactly as the KJV and the Hebrew Original states! 2) "Ancient days" is not the same as "everlasting". This passage speaks of the human and divine natures of the Lord Jesus. The human nature is spoken of in the KJV words, "Bethlehem Ephratah... out of thee shall he come forth". The divine nature is spoken of in the KJV words, "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting". The ESV's use of the term "ancient days" gives the impression that the Lord was a created being and not true God begotten of the Father from eternity! Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Matthew 1:25
| ESV "but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus." | KJV "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS." |
COMMENT: The true Greek and the KJV have "firstborn son", which guarantees the Virgin birth of our Lord. The ESV and the false Greek text that it is based upon have "a son", which could be one among others. The fact that Jesus was Mary's FIRSTBORN Son and the fact that Joseph "knew her not till she had brought forth" Jesus, proves that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary, as is taught elsewhere in Scripture. Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Matthew 6:13
| ESV "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.[?]" [footnote: "some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] |
KJV "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." |
COMMENT: As far as the ESV is concerned, you may add the doxology of the Lord's prayer back into the text if you wish, but they don't really believe that it is God's Word– pick what you want, believe whatever you want! Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Mark 16:9-20
ESV Places these verses in double brackets [[ ]], and separates them with the following note: "Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20." The reader is then referred to note #1 also, which reads: "Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9-20 immediately after verse 8. A few manuscripts insert additional material after verse 14; one Latin manuscript adds after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Other manuscripts include this same wording after verse 8, then continue with verses 9-20."
KJV Includes verses 9-20 without question.
COMMENT: Mark 16:9-20 is contained in the vast majority of Greek manuscripts, early Church Fathers, early Lectionaries, and early Bible Versions (written from approximately 100 to 600 A.D.). Mark 16:9-20 is without a doubt the Word of God! The ESV in this passage of Mark's Gospel displays multiple-choice-options in the extreme! Again in these verses the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Luke 2:14
| ESV "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" | KJV "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." |
COMMENT: The ESV has added words which no Greek Text contains! The point of the passage is God's good will towards man in that He sent us a Savior! If God was pleased with men He would not have needed to send a Savior! Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Acts 8:37
| ESV | KJV "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." |
ESV Omits this verse in the text, but adds the following note at the bottom of the page: "Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he replied, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'"
COMMENT: This verse is in the true Greek Text; it is in many Greek manuscripts and is cited by the following early Church Fathers: Irenaeus (178AD), Tertullian (220AD), and Cyprian (258AD), as well as others. Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
Romans 1:16
| ESV "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." | KJV "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." |
COMMENT: The true Greek text and the majority of Greek manuscripts have "gospel of Christ", for that is the only Gospel that can give salvation! The Bible speaks of "another gospel" in Galatians 1:6-7 (KJV), "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." The Holy Ghost works faith in men's hearts only through the Gospel of Christ! No other "gospel" will do! Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
1 Timothy 3:16
| ESV "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." | KJV "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." |
COMMENT: In this verse the "mystery" referred to is the fact of "God" being manifest in the flesh; "He" in the ESV is no mystery, for you and me are also manifested in the flesh. However, "God manifest in the flesh" is a wonderful mystery for we cannot comprehend such a miracle! Again the ESV attacks the deity of Christ! Again in this verse the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
1 John 5:7-8
| ESV "For there are three that testify: [?] the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree". | KJV "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." |
COMMENT: The ESV omits the precious words referring to the Holy Trinity, the three Persons constituting the One true God. The ESV does not even make mention of the missing words in a footnote! The true Greek text has the words, several early Church Fathers quote the words, and several early versions contain the words. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith! Again in these verses the ESV is not orthodox or for that matter even Christian.
CONCLUSION: Unfortunately, the English Standard Version (ESV) is just another perversion masquerading as a Bible, like all of the other New "Bibles" that have come to see the light of day. The ESV is built on a FALSE FOUNDATION OF FALSE HEBREW AND GREEK TEXTS AND IS THEREFORE A FALSE "BIBLE"! We have looked at it and found it to be NEITHER ORTHODOX OR CHRISTIAN despite it's claims, for God says in Deuteronomy 4:2 (KJV), "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." The ESV has violated God's directive on both counts– it has added and taken away from God's Word. STAY AWAY FROM THE ESV, DON'T USE IT!
Pray for all those who have perverted God's Word that they would repent and amend their lives while they still have time! May we all remember and heed the words of Revelation 22:18-20 (KJV), "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." YES, LORD JESUS, DEAR SAVIOR, COME QUICKLY!
m.e.l.
______________________________
~ v ~
FIRST THINGS FIRST
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
W hat a blessing those have who put first things first in their lives. Far too often the things of the kingdom of God: the preaching and teaching of His Word; the reception of the blessed Sacrament; the careful training and tutoring of the children God has given us are crowded out in our thinking and planning in the mad dash to keep up with the latest this world has to offer our children and families. Surely we will become backward, ignorant and totally blind if we do not, for example, honor the new communication god of this jaded age, the Internet. What gems mined from the shafts of the cult of self este(a)m; what prime tidbits of pornography; what terrible losses in fractional buying and selling of shares on the stock market we will suffer if we should fail properly to honor our new god in favor of that ancient, old fashioned, antiquated and politically incorrect, male chauvinistic book called the Bible. Surely many are bent on perishing encased in flesh and the things of the flesh.
M ay our dear God graciously banish all "anxiety and panic attacks" as well as all other "problems" used in psychobabble verbiage, from our minds and hearts by His dear Word and give us confidence, trust, faith and conviction in and of an eternal life in and through the shed blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Then we can use everything rightly, even that impressive gift of cyber-space, the Internet together with Virtual Reality; digital TV, and whatever other choice morsels the 3-1/2 pound brain of man is able to invent and produce. Let us heed the Savior's command to seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, for then we, indeed, will have all other things added to us.
(Reprinted from Sept-Oct 1996 ILC Journal) rws
____________________________________________________________
The Illinois Lutheran Conference is a non-profit organization.
If you would like to receive this FREE publication regularly, please send a note to:
Our mailing lists are NOT available to anyone outside our fellowship and all inquiries are kept strictly confidential.
|
|