Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:1-12.
Only God stands as judge over His creation. His Word sets the standard by which judgment takes place. No Christian dare try to usurp His place in an attempt at self-justification. The posture of Jesus’ disciples toward the world and the Church, therefore, is not standing over them in judgment according to their own opinions. Jesus’ disciples first stand under the judgment of God’s Word, confessing their own gross sins against the rigid standard of His Law. Having received absolution from Him, they proclaim His Word in the Church and to the world, letting His standard alone speak the judgment. To treat brothers and sisters in the faith with an attitude of condemnation would be to throw God’s precious possessions out to be trampled. Instead, Jesus calls upon His disciples to pray. They pray in the confidence that they are speaking to God as their true Father who desires nothing more than to give them good gifts. He has told them what they need, and He promises to give those gifts without fail. Jesus’ disciples are comforted and strengthened to go before God and ask with boldness and confidence, as they seek to live the life that Jesus has given.
“All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike as the fulfillment of God’s saving words and acts throughout the Old Testament. As the Christ in the line of David and Abraham, Jesus is the promised King who comes to bring sinners from every nation to live under His gracious reign.
