1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Matthew 8:1-13

How should we pray? Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

In Matthew 21:21-22, after the disciples saw a fig tree which Jesus had cursed wither away, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

James writes (James 1:5-8): “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

But what is it to pray in faith? Today’s Gospel provides two excellent examples.

In Matthew 8:2-3, we read: “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

In this first example, we see the faith of this leper in the person of Jesus and in His power to heal. He had confidence that Jesus, if He was willing, could cleanse him of his leprosy.

This reminds me of the words of Jeremiah in chapter 32, verse 17: “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.” Jeremiah prayed with the confidence that the God who created the heavens and the earth could certainly answer his prayer.

And thus we pray in faith, not that God will grant our every desire and request but in the confidence that God is able to do so and will as a loving heavenly Father answer our prayer in a way that is best for us.

We ask this in the Lord’s Prayer when we pray: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). We pray in the confidence that God hears and is able to grant our requests but also trusting that God’s perfect will is best for us.

It could have been God’s will that the man with leprosy not be healed, and the leper was willing to accept that. He prayed in the confidence that Jesus’ will was best for him — “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Consider the Apostle Paul who prayed three times that God would remove his thorn in the flesh, and God’s answer to him. He wrote: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:7-9).

There are, however, many things for which we need not pray, “If thou wilt,” for we already know from the Scriptures that God desires such. This is true when we pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness, for stronger faith, that God would keep us in the true faith through His Word and Sacraments, etc. And, since Jesus gave to us the Lord’s Prayer, we can certainly pray each petition in the confidence that we are praying in accord with God’s perfect will.

Then, in Matthew 8:8-9,13, we read of a Roman centurion who prayed to Jesus on behalf of his servant: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. … And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

The centurion, though he was praised and counted worthy by the Jewish leaders in Capernaum, recognized his unworthiness to come before Jesus, the eternal Son of God in human flesh. He sent elders from among the Jews to Jesus to request His help (cf. Luke 7:1ff.) and then, before Jesus arrived, sent friends to Jesus acknowledging his own unworthiness and professing faith that Jesus could just say the word and his servant would be healed. “And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

So also, we are unworthy sinners. We deserve nothing but God’s wrath and eternal punishment (cf. Rom. 3:23); and yet, for Jesus’ sake, God hears and answers our prayers.

Jesus made full atonement for our sins when He suffered and died on the cross and, through faith in Him, we have God’s pardon and forgiveness (Rom. 3:21-26). We are counted righteous and holy and acceptable in His sight (Col. 1:19-23; Eph. 1:6-7; 1 John 1:7 — 2:2). Through faith in Christ Jesus, we become God’s children and can come before Him with our prayers and praises (Gal. 3:26ff.; Heb. 10:19ff.).

Dr. Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, explains the introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven,” in this way: “God would by these words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”

John writes in his first epistle: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him ” (1 John 5:11-15).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we hear Your Word and learn of You that we might acknowledge our sinfulness and trust in You as our Savior and pray to You in faith and with confidence. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:1-8

Can a man do good works in God’s eyes without having saving faith in Jesus Christ? Many would say yes to this question, but Jesus says no.

In the Parable of the Vine and the Branches, Jesus teaches us that only those who abide in Him – those who are connected to Him through saving faith – are able to produce fruit acceptable to the LORD God; and God the Father will cut off those branches which produce no fruit for Him. He also prunes and purges those branches which do produce fruit that they might bring forth more fruit for Him.

Those who through faith are joined to Jesus Christ have forgiveness for all their sins and evil works. They are clean through the Word of the Gospel spoken to them – all their sins are washed away by the precious blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross for the sins of the whole world!

As long as they have true and saving faith in Christ and His redemptive work, they will be fruitful and do works that are acceptable and pleasing in God’s sight. This is so because Christ, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, abides in them and empowers them to live for Him, and because the sin and impurity yet in their works is forgiven and not held against them.

Apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ, one cannot do good works in God’s sight, for one remains spiritually dead to God and unable to truly love Him and honor Him with pure and holy works. He is like a branch that has been severed from the grapevine. It will not produce grapes but will wither up and eventually be thrown into the fire and be burned.

So also, the one who does not trust in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for forgiveness and life will not only be unable to do good works in God’s sight, he will be gathered up on the Last Day, together with all others who were unbelieving and fruitless, and be cast into the eternal fires of hell!

Abide with richest blessings among us, bounteous Lord; let us in grace and wisdom grow daily through Thy Word. Abide, O faithful Savior, among us with Thy love; grant steadfastness and help us to reach our home above. Amen. (“Abide, O Dearest Jesus,” quoted from The Lutheran Hymnal, #53, Verses 4,6)

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

These words of Jesus do not forbid us to judge another’s public doctrine for Jesus says, just a few verses later in His Sermon on the Mount, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (15-16a).

They do not forbid us to judge between right and wrong and to admonish our brother when he sins for Jesus also tells us, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone…” (Matt. 18:15ff.).

So, what does Jesus mean when He says, “Judge not…”? A reading of the verses which follow provides the answer. Jesus is warning against our propensity to pick out and condemn the faults in others, no matter how small, and to overlook our own sins and shortcomings, even when they are large.

Thus, He says, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

It is hypocritical of us to condemn the faults of others while, at the same time, overlooking or excusing our own.
And Jesus warns, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

It often happens in life that we end up being treated in the same way that we have treated others. Thus, if we have been overly critical and judgmental, we are likely to learn what it is like at the hand of others.

But, of far more serious consequence, is God’s judgment. If we condemn the sins of others and are unwilling to forgive them, our Father in heaven will condemn us for our own sins and not forgive us either! Jesus says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15).

Rather than being overly critical and judgmental of others, we should first look at ourselves in the light of God’s Word; for when we compare our thoughts and desires, as well as our words and deeds, to God’s commandments, we all come far short of God’s holy expectations.

The Scriptures say, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20; cf. Rom. 3:23).

Rather than look at the sins and shortcomings of others, we ought to agree with God that we are sinners and acknowledge and confess our sins before God, trusting that He will forgive us and cleanse us for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in our stead (cf. 1 John 1:7 – 2:2).

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures … he was buried, and … he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

Rather than being judgmental and unforgiving toward our fellow sinners, God’s Word tells us to “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you ” (Eph. 4:32).

O dearest Jesus, forgive me for being quick to judge and condemn others when I myself am a sinner and full of faults deserving of Your just punishments. For the sake of Your holy life and innocent sufferings and death upon the cross for the sins of the world, forgive me and cleanse my heart and soul. And, move me to love others and seek to bring them to You that they too may know Your love and forgiveness and walk with You unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:6-8 (read 1-8)

The LORD God created us to be His own, do His will, and walk in His ways. When we rebelled against Him and turned to our own evil ways, He gave His only-begotten Son to redeem us that we might not be condemned but repent and turn to Him in faith and be forgiven, be His people, and have everlasting life (cf. Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Cor. 5:15).

But is He pleased with us if we only pay Him lip service and yet continue on in our own disobedient ways, doing our will and living according to our own sinful desires?

God’s people did this in the days of Old Testament Israel and Judah. They claimed to be God’s people and they worshiped Him outwardly with sacrifices and burnt offerings, but their hearts were far from Him. Instead of walking in His ways, they turned aside to their own ways and lived according to their own sinful desires (cf. Matt. 15:7-9; Isa. 29:13ff.).

What does God say? “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

God does not desire sacrifice or just going through the motions of confession. He desires that His people repent of their sinful ways, trust in Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, and, as a fruit of His grace and mercy toward them for the sake of Christ our Savior, walk according to the LORD’s commandments, do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God.

In His Word, He has shown us what He requires and expects of His people. Rather than being dishonest and unjust, He desires that we live justly. Rather than being harsh and unmerciful, He desires that we be merciful and forgiving toward others as the LORD has been merciful to us — that we be “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven” us (Eph. 4:32).

And, rather than walking in pride and self-righteousness and thinking we can earn God’s favor with our works and service, He would have us walk humbly with our God, acknowledging our sinfulness and unworthiness and trusting in His grace, mercy, and forgiveness for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that “the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18; cf. 1 John 1:7 — 2:2). And, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5; cf. Matt. 5:1-12).

O LORD God, my only Hope and Salvation, grant that I trust in You and Your mercy for Jesus’ sake and walk humbly in Your ways, looking for and awaiting that Day when You will receive me into Your glorious kingdom which has no end. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Sad to say, many people flit from one congregation to another as if they are free to leave one church and join another at the slightest whim – perhaps they don’t like something the pastor said in a sermon, or they find a church doctrine or practice too restrictive. It might even be that the church holds too closely to a literal interpretation and application of the Bible’s teaching. And, it often happens when a pastor rebukes a sin in their life that they just leave and go somewhere else where their sins and evil are tolerated and accepted.

Perhaps even more shameful is the fact that other churches welcome them and take them in without rebuking their sins or even enquiring of their previous congregations in regard to their reasons for leaving.

This sad state of affairs calls for a reminder of the truth from God’s Word. And, in cases where people leave churches that are faithfully preaching and teaching God’s Word and rightly administering the Sacraments, a rebuke and call for repentance.

Christians are called upon by Scripture to leave congregations and church bodies that are unfaithful to the Bible in doctrine or practice, but resignation from a church that faithfully teaches and preaches God’s Word and practices according to it, unless it is to join another orthodox and faithful congregation, is in itself sinful. It is separating one’s self from the body of Christ in that place!

If one’s church errs in doctrine or practice, the first duty of a member is to point out the sin or error and seek to restore the church to the truth of God’s Word, leaving only after all such attempts fail (Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:1-16; Matt. 18:15-18; Acts 18:24-26).

To leave an orthodox church to join a heterodox church is sinful because it is disobedient to God’s Word, which tells us to beware of false prophets and teachers and withdraw from them (Matt. 7:15ff.; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). And, to leave a church to escape being held accountable for sin is impenitence and leads to eternal destruction.

The Bible teaches that the Church is to be subject to Christ “in everything,” and Jesus commanded that we teach “all things” He has commanded (Eph. 5:23-24; Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42).

This means that we, as Christ’s Church in this place, are commanded to teach all that the Bible teaches, neither adding to God’s Word nor taking anything from it (cf. Deut. 4:2). We are not permitted to add our own views or the prevailing views of the world to God’s Word, nor are we permitted to soften or take away from that which God’s Word teaches. To be anything less than faithful to Christ and His Word would make us heterodox and unfaithful.

As a reminder that this is nothing new, I cite some questions and answers from “A Short Exposition of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism” (prepared by the Synodical Conference and published by Concordia Publishing House in1912):

192. Who do we call the true visible Church? The whole number of those who have, teach, and confess the entire doctrine of the Word of God in all its purity, and among whom the Sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s institution.

366) Matt. 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

193. When do we properly use this doctrine of the Church? When we take heed to be and remain members of the invisible Church; when we, to this end, adhere to the Church of the pure Word and confession, contribute toward its maintenance and extension according to our ability, and avoid all false churches.

367) 2 Cor. 13:5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

368) John 8:31-32. If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

369) 1 Cor. 9:14. The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.

370) Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

371) Matt. 7:15. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

372) 1 John 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

373) Rom. 16:17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 Cor. 6:14-18. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Cod, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

For those using “A Short Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism” (published by CPH in 1943), see Qu. 186.