Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Although Jesus does authorize His disciples to discern what is good from what is evil, Jesus does not authorize His disciples to bring the judgment of condemnation. That authority belongs to Him alone. Rather, with their eyes made healthy by the judgment of sin in Jesus’ cross, the disciples of Jesus can see clearly to help others see the forgiveness of sins found in Christ alone.

Rev. Harrison Goodman, Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:1-6.

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Jesus teaches His disciples that trust in the true God instead of any idol brings freedom from worry. He invites His disciples to consider the simple examples of the way God cares for birds and flowers. If God loves such trivial things, He will surely love His dear children. Thus, the disciples are free to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, confident that God will give them all things needed.

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:25-34.

Just as Jesus’ disciples do not practice their righteousness for the sake of being seen, so they do not treasure those things that can be seen. Rather, the true treasure of the Christian is a heavenly treasure, the righteousness of Christ that comes by faith. This treasure is indestructible and makes for a healthy eye, so that we can look upon the things of this life with the proper perspective. This happens as we worship only the true God, instead of worshipping mammon or any other idol.

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Ch...

Jesus expects that His disciples will engage in the discipline of fasting. Abstaining from food for a time reminds Christians that we do not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God. Like other forms of outward piety, Christians do not fast for the sake of being seen by others. Rather, the discipline of the flesh serves to benefit the Christian in deepening dependence upon God alone.

Rev. Doug Minton, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:16-18. <...

Just as Jesus expects His disciples will give to the needy, so He expects that they will pray. He warns against the prayer of the hypocrites, in which an outward show is the goal, and He also warns against the prayer of the Gentiles, in which prayer is heard by an abundance of words. Jesus instead grounds His disciples’ prayer in faith that their heavenly Father loves them, hears them, and already knows what they need. Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray with such confidence, giving them the very petitions that are pleasing to Him.

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As Jesus teaches His disciples how to put His righteousness into practice, He warns them against doing it only for an outward show. They can have that reward, if they want, but then that temporal reward will be all they receive. Jesus expects that His disciples will practice their righteousness by giving to those in need. Such giving is not a matter of publicity, but a matter of showing mercy to the neighbor as God has first shown mercy to us.

Rev. Andy Jagow, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria, VA, joins host Rev...

Jesus ensures that His disciples know that the neighbor whom they are to love includes their enemy. Their Heavenly Father pours His gifts upon the righteous and the unrighteous, and so His Christians are to show the same sort of perfect love. To love only those who love in return is to practice the sort of righteousness that even the pagans already accomplish. God calls His people to His own holiness. Although we never measure up in our actions, He bestows holiness upon us through His grace in Jesus.

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy...

Jesus attacks any attempt to keep the Law as a matter of checking all the right boxes. Oaths are not a matter of using the right formulation. Instead, Jesus’ disciples should let their speech be saturated with the truth as they seek to keep the Second and Eighth Commandments. Even as God limited the retaliation of His people, He commends mercy to His people, as Jesus teaches His disciples to show kindness even to those who mean them harm.

Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hanover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in...

As Jesus continues to expound upon His Law, He deepens our understanding of the Sixth Commandment. Physical adultery does not only break marriage; the lust of the heart already sins against God’s gift of a spouse. Jesus’ disciples shouldn’t just shrug their shoulders at divorce and make sure to go about it with the right procedures. Jesus’ disciples should keep their goal of upholding and protecting marriage, rather than breaking it apart. Although Jesus would not have His disciples engage in self-mutilation, He would have us take steps necessary to remove the causes of sin in our lives so...

When Jesus states what His disciples have heard from the Old Testament, He does not contradict the Word of God but reveals the full depth of His truth. As Jesus begins to teach the true intention of the Fifth Commandment, He states that murder is more than an unlawful taking of life, but begins with anger, hatred, and insults. Rather than allowing anger to fester and grow in our hearts, Jesus teaches His disciples to seek reconciliation quickly.

Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, president at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel...

Jesus prepares for a major section of teaching in His Sermon on the Mount by clarifying His relationship to the Scriptures. He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. He will accomplish all that is written down to the smallest jot or tittle. Thus, none of Jesus’ disciples are free to relax God’s commandments in teaching or practice. Rather, Jesus calls His disciples to a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness that the Pharisees and scribes have. The righteousness of Jesus’ disciples is greater because it is of a different kind—it is the g...

Having blessed His disciples, Jesus gives them an identity founded in Himself. His disciples are the salt of the earth, providing what is lacking in this world by bringing the Word of Jesus in word and deed. His disciples are the light of the world, not meant to be hidden but to be seen by all. Yet, the disciples of Jesus are not to be seen to draw attention to themselves. Their light is to reflect upon their heavenly Father so that the world glorifies Him.

Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church...

Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with nine beatitudes. Jesus speaks these statements of God’s blessing and salvation to unlikely groups, such as the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the persecuted Christians. Apart from their own merit or strength, they receive blessings from their heavenly King both now and in the future. By the end of this section, Jesus blesses not only “them,” but “you.” In this way, He calls each one of us to hear His Word and receive His blessing.

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and S...

Even as a transitional text, these few verses reveal a great deal of the character of Jesus’ ministry. His teaching, proclaiming, and healing all bring His reign near as good news for sinners. Such ministry begins to draw crowds to Jesus from far and wide. Although not all the crowds come to saving faith in Christ, they still hear His teaching. As Jesus sits down to teach authoritatively, His disciples come to Him to listen to Him and receive His blessing.

Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Re...

John’s imprisonment foreshadows the suffering that Jesus will endure, but the time for His passion has not yet come. Jesus withdraws from Antipas’ territory and leaves His hometown Nazareth to adopt Capernaum as a home base. In so doing, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the preaching of the Gospel in Galilee of the Gentiles. There, Jesus preaches the same sermon that John had preached: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus calls four fishermen to follow him and become His apostles who will later preach that same sermon of repentance and faith to the whol...

After heaven opens to Jesus at His Baptism, hell now opens to attack Jesus at His temptation. Jesus goes into the wilderness and fasts for forty days, drawing strength from His Father. The devil tempts Jesus to satisfy His hunger with miraculous bread, but Jesus refuses to use His power for His own benefit. He defeats the devil with the written Word of God. When the devil attempts to twist the Scripture against Jesus, the Lord refutes him once again. Not even the temptation for power and glory now can lead Jesus astray, as He silences and sends the...

When Jesus comes to John for the baptism that sinners have been receiving, John objects and says that Jesus ought to baptize him instead. Yet Jesus’ humility is fitting, for He has come to John’s baptism as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and fulfills all righteousness in the place of sinners. The theophany of the Triune God confirms the importance of Jesus’ Baptism, as the Spirit descends on Him and the Father declares Jesus to be His beloved Son. In this way, God’s Word teaches us of the great blessing He gives...

St. Matthew introduces John the Baptist, moving the account of Jesus’ life forward to the cusp of His preaching ministry. John’s appearance in the wilderness fulfills God’s promise of the forerunner of the Christ, foretold by the prophet Isaiah. John’s clothing marks him as the Elijah who is to come, and his preaching and baptizing of repentant sinners prepares the way for Jesus’ ministry. John meets the unrepentant Pharisees and Sadducees with a strong warning that they must not place their trust in their heritage or self-righteousness. The Lord wants true repentance and faith, and the matter is...

God will not allow Herod to kill the Christ as a baby, so the Lord sends His angel to Joseph so that he will take Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt. This fulfills the Word of God from Hosea 11, showing Jesus to be the people of Israel reduced to one Man. Herod’s foiled plan leads to murderous rage, and he kills the boys of Bethlehem in an attempt to kill Jesus. Even in such evil actions, however, the Scriptures show that the Lord remains present for His mourning people. For all Herod’s raging, he still dies, and...

After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, surprise Gentile seekers come to Jerusalem looking for the newborn King of the Jews. These magi had heard the promise of the ruler’s star from the Holy Scriptures when God’s people were exiled in Babylon. Their search had a rough start when they went to the wrong place and asked the wrong king for help. Herod the Great had other plans for this boy after learning the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. His murderous intent did not stop the magi’s joy, however, as God led them to the Christ Child, whom the...

St. Matthew explains the surprising ending to Jesus’ genealogy by relating the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ conception and birth. The Holy Spirit caused Jesus’ conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary, but Joseph did not know this. In his Christian compassion, Joseph assumed that a quiet divorce of Mary was the correct course of action, but he was wrong. The Lord sent His angel to Joseph in a dream to instruct this faithful man to marry Mary and give her Child the name, “Jesus,” thus adopting Him. Through this, the Lord brought about the fulfillment of His promise from Isaiah 7...

Matthew traces Jesus’ genealogy from Abraham through David and the Babylonian captivity. Drawing from God’s Word in 1 Chronicles, Matthew shows the way God has ordered history to keep the line of the promised Savior going until the birth of Jesus. Some surprising inclusions in the genealogy remind us that Jesus has come as the Savior for sinners of all nations. Hearing that Joseph did not beget Jesus, who was born of His mother Mary, sets the stage for the story of the Virgin Birth.

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX...

Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, to follow Him. In so doing, Jesus changed the course of Matthew’s life entirely, making him an apostle and an evangelist. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry proclaims that Jesus has brought the reign of the heavens to earth as the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. The book begins by introducing Jesus as the main subject. He is the Anointed One who comes as the King greater than David and the Offspring of Abraham who blesses all nations.

Rev. Dr. John Genter, outgoing Assistant Professor of The...

“The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narr...

Psalm 150 brings the Psalter to a glorious conclusion. By calling upon the Church to praise the LORD, Psalm 150 calls to mind the themes of the first two psalms in which we learn to delight in the Word of God and look forward to the coming Christ. The Church praises the LORD together for His atoning sacrifice, for His work of creation, and for His victory over all enemies. The music of the Church breaks forth in response to what the LORD has done, and all creation joins in the praises of the Triune God. Hallelujah!

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David praises the LORD as his refuge and rescuer, for the LORD alone grants victory to His king and His people. This is no small wonder, that the LORD would have such regard for finite humanity, yet because of this wonder, David is bold to cry out for the LORD to come down and combat the lies of the devil with the truth of His Word. The people of God respond with a song of praise, knowing that their true peace is found when the LORD reigns as King. Truly, those people are blessed who have David’s Son an...

David cries out to the LORD for deliverance from violent men. Their violence comes primarily through their wicked words toward David and toward the LORD’s Word. Although they have laid their poisonous trap, David’s confidence remains in the LORD as his God. The LORD is the one who shields David’s head, even as the LORD also brings His fire down upon the head of the wicked. The LORD maintains justice and righteousness for His afflicted people. Even if His people suffer and die in this life, the LORD will bring them to the resurrection on the Last D...

The songs of ascents end with this brief psalm in which the people of God arrive at His holy house to bless His name. In their zeal, they arrive at night to stand watch with the ministers of His house and call upon His name in prayer. Knowing His promise to hear and answer, they continue to bless His name even before their prayer is finished. The LORD has the last word as the Creator of all things blesses His people from Zion.

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL...

Near the end of the Songs of Ascents, the people of God call upon Him to remember David, particularly his desire to build a dwelling place for the LORD. As God’s people remember David’s desire, they share that desire to go and worship at the LORD’s footstool, and they ask that the Church would be present there together: priests, saints, and the Christ. The LORD reiterates His oath to make for David an everlasting kingdom and promises that His people will be clothed with the salvation of Christ.

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Red...

As the people of God go to worship Him, their lives are filled with joy to realize that His gracious restoration is reality. The nations see this same truth and hallow the name of the LORD, even as His own people experience the relief of His grace. God’s people pray that He would bring His restoration suddenly, so that even as they do their work in sorrow now, they will one day reap in a season of joy because God has kept His promise.

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vi...

In this song of ascents, the Christian lifts his eyes toward the mountain of the house of the LORD, for that is the place where God has promised to dwell as the helper for all His people. The Christian then turns and speaks this reality to all who are joining him in worship to speak of the LORD’s help. The LORD does not fall asleep on the job, but He constantly watches over His people. Day or night, the LORD keeps His people’s lives safe from evil wherever they go. The LORD gives His people such safety eter...

Although Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm, its call to praise goes forth to the largest audience—all nations. The LORD, the God of Israel, has steadfast love not just toward one nation, but to all the earth. His faithful acts of salvation extend to all people and for all time. In this way, the worship of God’s people serves a missionary purpose to the nations, so that all people would join together in singing to the LORD: “Hallelujah!”

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to...

Psalm 116 finds its place in the life of the Church both on Maundy Thursday and during the Offertory in the Divine Service. Hearing the psalm first on the lips of Jesus, we hear Him pray for deliverance from death and receive comfort in knowing that the Father has answered Jesus by delivering Him into death for our trespasses and then raising Him from the grave for our justification. This helps us to cry out these same words in prayer to our heavenly Father who rescues us from death for the sake of Christ.

Rev. Harrison...

Even though the prayers of David, son of Jesse, are said to have ended in Psalm 72, the Psalter records more Davidic psalms. In this way, the Psalter teaches us to look for the coming King who is both David’s son and David’s Lord. In Psalm 108, this Davidic king leads the people of God in rejoicing and giving thanks to the LORD for His steadfast love and faithfulness. He has shown His steadfast love and faithfulness to the King and all His people by giving victory to His people over their foes.

Rev. Dr. Adam...

n Psalm 94, we cry out to the LORD as the God who takes vengeance, lest we take it ourselves against the wicked. Although the wicked afflict the weak as if God cannot see, He truly is the One who sees, hears, knows, and rebukes. The righteous receives discipline from the LORD’s hand as a blessing, knowing that following God’s Word during persecution does give rest. The LORD rises against the wicked and wipes them out because He is the refuge for His people.

Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, School...

God sits in judgment above all authorities, and He calls them to account for the injustice they show against His divine mandate. He has called them to give justice to those most in need, but when they act in ignorance of God’s command, they shake the very foundations of life. Those who would set themselves over God’s authority, whether human beings or false gods, are ultimately brought into death. Therefore, the people of God call upon Him to act according to who He is and bring His righteous justice.

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at T...

Psalm 72 prays to the LORD concerning the king to whom He gives justice and righteousness and through whom He brings justice and righteousness to His people and to the world. Although our earthly kings—even David and Solomon—fall short of the ideal God gives in His Word, the Lord Jesus does not. He is the King who perfectly cares for the poor and the needy. He is the King over all kings. He is the King who does wondrous things, whose name is blessed forever.

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and...

David knows that his enemies are secretly plotting against him, and so he asks God to preserve his life. These enemies set an ambush for David by their words, thinking that no one can see them. Yet, the LORD sees and springs His own ambush against these enemies that brings them to ruin by their own plots. When the nations see the LORD’s actions, they fear Him and tell what He has done, even as His own people rejoice and take refuge in Him.

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oa...

As David’s enemies attack him on every side all day long, he puts his trust in God. The Word of God is the Christian’s praise and trust so that there is no need to fear the power of man, which cannot conquer God and His Word. As the enemies of God persecute His people, God personally knows each of their sufferings so that His people can be certain that God is for them and live according to His Word in thanksgiving for all that He has done.

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John...

In Psalm 53, David repeats much of his prayer from Psalm 14 as he speaks about the folly that infects all mankind. Even the smartest of people show their foolishness when they live in the practical atheism that acts without the fear of God. Such folly is the state of all mankind apart from the grace of God. In that grace, God’s people cry out to him to deliver them from evil and bring His salvation through Jesus Christ, the Word dwelling in our flesh.

Rev. Kale Hanson, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Be...