Dear Christian friends:

Dr. Thomas, when he was Bishop of Salisbury, used to tell the following story:

"While I was a chaplain to the British factory at Hamburg, a gentleman belonging to the factory died at a village ten miles away. Application was made to the pastor of the parish for permission to have the deceased buried in his churchyard; but on being told that the deceased was a Calvinist the pastor refused, 'No,' said he, 'there are none but Lutherans in my churchyard; and there shall be no other.'

This being told to me, I resolved to go and argue the matter with the pastor, but found him inflexible. Finally, I told him he made me think of a circumstance which happened to myself when I was a curate in Thomas St. I was burying a corpse, when a woman came and pulled me by the sleeve in the midst of the service, saying, 'Sir, sir, I want to speak to you,' I said, 'Woman, wait till I'm done,' 'No, sir, I must speak to you immediately,' - 'Why, then, what is the matter?' - 'Sir,' says she, 'you are burying a man who died of small pox next to my poor husband who never had it.' The story had the desired effect; and the Lutheran pastor permitted the body of the Calvinist to be buried in his churchyard."

This story shows how bigoted and offensive people can be at times, even dedicated pastors and church members. In our text, which is the Gospel Lesson for this Sunday


He warns us about giving offense to others. In our text we see that Jesus' disciples were giving offense to others. They had offended a fellow believer in Jesus because he was not a member of their group. (verse 38)

It was strange that one who was not a professed disciple of Christ should yet have power to "drive out demons" in Christ's name, for that seemed to be the unique power of those whom Jesus called directly. (2 Corinthians 6:7)

However, it seems that this man made use of Jesus' name, believing Him to be the Christ, to perform a healing miracle on a demon possessed man. And why might he not receive this power from Christ, whose Spirit, like the wind, blows where it wills? Christ's grace is not tied to any certain visible church.

Jesus rebukes his offensive disciples, saying, (read verses 39-40). The rebuke Jesus gave them was like the check Moses gave Joshua in the Old Testament Lesson. Joshua was upset when Eldad and Medad did not come to the door of the tabernacle as they were told to do, yet they also received the Spirit as did the sixty-eight others who showed up, and they prophesied. Joshua also said, "Moses, my Lord, stop them! Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!" (Numbers 11:26-30)

That which is good and does good must not be envied or prohibited, though there be some defect or irregularity in the manner of doing it. (We may also give offense to other Christians.)

We, like these offensive disciples and Joshua, are apt to imagine that those who do not follow Jesus with us do nothing well because they do not jump through the same hoops as we do. But the "Lord knows them that are His," regardless of what church they may be in.

Today Jesus would caution us to be careful lest we offend true believers in other denominations in our zeal for unity and pure doctrine. Not that we should be indifferent to false teachings. But we should always speak the truth in love and with humility, being careful not to give offense if at all possible.

The key word here is that people, these people do their services in Jesus' name. John said that the man was driving out demons in Jesus' name. (verse 38) And Jesus said, "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me." (verse 39) Then Jesus continues, "I tell you the truth, anyone who gives a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward." (verse 41)

These people, although they are not one of us, serve in Christ's name and belong to Christ even as we do. Therefore they should not be discounted or discouraged, but encouraged in their ministries.

Jesus gives a strong warning to us concerning giving offense to those whom we in pride might consider to be the least of believers. (read verse 42) When Jesus here refers to "these little ones who believe in him," He could mean little children and young people. He could also mean adults who are new to the faith and not as learned as we might be. He could be referring to the man who drove out demons in verse 38.

The punishment for giving offense to other Christians is severe, it could be the death and ruin of your soul more terrible than the death and ruin of your body by drowning. When we go about in sinful pride we are in danger of losing our faith and soul.

So we need to take care that we don't offend others. We also need to be concerned about those things that may offend ourselves.

Jesus also warns us about taking offense. If we must take care of doing anything to hinder others from doing good and causing them to sin, much more careful must we be to avoid everything that might take us from our duty, or lead us to sin. Jesus says in Mark 9:43-48, "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched."

When Jesus says, "Cut it off!" He is using hyperbole, a figure of speech that exaggerates to make a point. He is emphasizing the need for drastic action. Often sin can be conquered only by radical spiritual surgery.

Suppose that the impure corruption we indulge in is as dear to us as an eye or a hand. Or that it is a temptation to sin or an occasion for it. Suppose the beloved is become sin, or the sin is beloved. Suppose we cannot keep that which is dear to us, because it is a snare and stumbling block; suppose we must part with it or part with Christ and a good conscience. What must we do in that case according to Jesus' word here?

"Pluck out the eye, cut off the hand and foot, mortify the darling lust, kill it, crucify it, starve it," make no plans for it. "Let the idols that have been detestable things be cast away; keep at a distance from that which is a temptation, though ever so pleasing.

Why must we take such drastic painful measures? The flesh, the sinful nature must be mortified that we may "enter into life" (verses 43-45), "into the kingdom of God" (verse 47), Jesus says.

By abandoning sin, we may for the present, feel ourselves as if crippled and blind, yet it is life, eternal life; it is for the kingdom, "the kingdom of God," which we cannot otherwise obtain. These maims will be "marks of the Lord Jesus," will be in the Kingdom scars of honor.

There is a grave danger if we do not take these painful drastic measures. We must put ourselves to pain, that we may not bring ourselves to ruin; self must be denied, that it may not be destroyed. If we let Delilah lie in our bosom, she will eventually betray us. If we be ruled by sin, we will inevitably be ruined by it. Our Savior often pressed our duty upon us by threatening us with the torments of hell. He emphasizes the terrors of hell by repeating here three times: "and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." Jesus quotes these words from Isaiah 66:24.

The reflections and reproaches of the sinner's own conscience are as the worm that does not die, which will cling to the damned for all eternity. They will accuse, upbraid and condemn themselves with their own follies, which in this life seemed so pleasant and delightful but will at last "bite like a serpent," and "sting like an adder."

And the wrath of God, fastening upon the guilty, polluted conscience, is the "fire not quenched," for it is the wrath of the living God, the eternal God, "into whose hands it is a fearful thing to fall." The Gospel will not be preached to the damned in hell, and therefore there is nothing to appease the wrath of the holy God in that place "prepared for the devil and his angels." "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!"

So our Savior, Jesus, presses upon us the need for us Christians to expect and accept the fire of suffering and purification here and now, lest we suffer the fire not quenched in the hereafter. Jesus has given us the negative motivation for mortifying our sinful flesh; now He gives us the positive motivation. He says, "Everyone will be salted with fire, etc." (verses 49-50)

It was commanded by the law of Moses, that every sacrifice should be "salted with salt," not to preserve it, for it was immediately consumed, but because it was the food of God's table, and no flesh is eaten without salt; it was therefore especially required in the meat offerings. (Leviticus 2:13)

So what Jesus means is this: As every sacrifice had to be salted to be acceptable to God, so the followers of Jesus must be purified by the fire of self-denial to be acceptable servants. The "salt" is the grace of God, which motivates.

Our chief concern should be to present ourselves "as living sacrifices" to the grace of God. Paul in Romans 12:1 says "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." In view of God's grace and mercy shown us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died to make atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world, we out to thankfully and gladly do this.

In order for this to happen we must be salted with salt. Our corrupt affections must be subdued and mortified and we must have in our souls the sweet smell and taste of God's grace to motivate us to do this. God's grace is the salt.

Jesus says, "Have salt in yourselves." That means have God's grace in your heart, which works out all corrupt dispositions and everything in your soul which tends to stink, and would offend God, your conscience and other people. This gracious salt will keep your own conscience free of offense and it will keep your conversation with others winsome so that you don't offend any of Christ's "little ones", but may "be at peace with each other." (verse 50)

We must not only have this salt of God's grace, but we must be careful to retain a relish and savor of it. Jesus warns, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?" (verse 50) If a Christian revolts from his Christianity, if he loses the savor of it, and he is no longer under the power and influence of the Word and the Sacraments, what can recover him, "how can you make him salty again?" You can't. He's a goner.

Now, I'm sure that you all must be feeling somewhat uneasy and guilty. And you should. For we all don't do a very good job when it comes to this business of offenses, and sin in our lives. We, no doubt have failed miserably in this respect. But thank God, Jesus did not fail.

He never in sinful pride gave offense to anyone. He never offended any of God's "little ones." He never offended His own conscience by indulging in darling sins. He always resisted and overcame all temptations of the devil, the world and His flesh. He presented Himself as a living sacrifice to God in order to make atonement for our failure to do this, for He "is the Lamb of God (the Sacrifice of God) that takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

Through faith in His name we put on His perfect righteousness and become as sacrifices pleasing to God with a sweet smelling aroma, although we really aren't. Praise God!

"The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say, "No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14)

Amen.