Reformation Sunday Matthew 11:12-19

A common motto in the reformation was “the word of the Lord endures forever,” and it was often abbreviated in Latin as VDMA. This quotation from Isaiah chapter 40 was the driving force behind the world-changing events of the Reformation. Martin Luther and others knew that it was not the words of men that had ultimate authority over the church, but the word of God. For there were many in the time of Jesus, the time of Luther, and even now, where God’s word is wrongly made second-class to the opinions of men. For the words and opinions of mortal men can only lead to death, while the word of God is eternal, and produces eternal life in those who believe it. 

At the time of Christ, the people were under the thumb of the Sadducees and Pharisees. These people taught that their obedience to the law was the only thing that could save them. That by attending all the festivals in Jerusalem, by giving the appropriate tithes to the temple and synagogue, doing all the cleansing rituals required of Jews, and finally by perfectly keeping the sabbath, you could be seen as a faithful Jew. In those days, it was more important to follow the teaching of your rabbi than to follow the words of Holy Scripture. The Sadducees and Pharisees took the people captive by saying that their words and wisdom were higher than the words and wisdom of God. 

Undermining the word of God has always occurred throughout history, beginning in Eden. As the man and his wife colluded with Satan. When the serpent said to the woman, “Did God actually say not to eat of this tree?” The tree appeared to be good for food. And so they turned their back on the word and promises of God, as they held their opinion of what is good to be superior to God’s. It is the same spirit that took hold of the people at the time of Jesus.

To save his people from the opinions of men, God must send his Son into the world, who is the Word of God in the human form of Jesus Christ. So God must first send John the Baptist. Yet not all in the Baptizer’s generation received him. As both the leaders and the people held the opinions of men above the word of God that when the word was finally fulfilled after 400 years by the arrival of John, they did not believe in him.

As Christ says, “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to their playmates, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”’ They were unable to acknowledge the fulfillment of God’s word in sending John the Baptist and in the final fulfillment of Jesus Christ because the thoughts of men did not allow it. They had no need for the word of God, then how can they believe in something they did not value? For this is why they say that John had a demon, and they accuse Christ of sin. Even in spite of this, the Word of the Lord endures forever. 

And it was no different during Luther’s time. Still, as people attended church to fulfill their obligations, the church was the most powerful institution of the time. Christians did not know the word of God, for the church kept the word from the people. Therefore, they could not hold the church, the bishops, and the priest accountable to the word of God. The people were obligated to trust what they were told. So the priest told them to devote themselves to the rosary to ask the mother of our Lord for intercession or to buy countless indulgences to get their loved ones out of purgatory; they had no choice. And when Martin Luther spoke about this time in the church, he saw great sin in the highest ranks of the church, but also much shame and vice among the common people. Yet, he ultimately blames this on the pope and his bishops; the word of God that would have taught them these things was kept locked away. This is what makes the reformation so significant: the word of God returns to his people to hear and know so they may live according to it as they are justified by faith given them by the Lord Jesus.

It is for this reason that the church of God is always in need of reformation. To be brought back to the word of God, which is superior to the opinions of men. Look at Christianity as a whole in our present age. There are many who call themselves Christians, but they teach doctrines that are not of the Scriptures. They say that the Bible does not speak to our modern sensibilities and problems. Therefore, we should agree with the culture on marriage and love. Or they say that Jesus is not the only way to God, as there are many other ways. Or it is me and Jesus together that work out my salvation, by my decision and my obedience. That the Christian life is never to be one of suffering, and finally, we don’t need the church and the sacraments to be saved as long as I have some faith in the good, I am able to make it to my rightful place in heaven. 

You will not hear any of these ideas from this pulpit, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t need to be in a constant state of Reformation. Just as Jesus and the Reformation brought people back to the truth of God’s word, this does not mean we do not need reformation in ourselves, either. For when the word of God is taught its truth and purity, it shows us our sin and leads us to repentance, and it brings us the gospel. That despite our sins, we are justified not by works of the law but by the faith given to us by God himself in his Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. It is the faith that is received and not earned that saves us. It is faith in the word of God that justifies and not the works of the law. 

When we speak of our need for reformation, we must always return to the word of God. It is only God’s word that endures, while the opinions of the day are soon gone tomorrow. The world will chase after the next big thing until it finds another. However, the Word of our Lord is a constant assurance, as it points us to our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to die for us to save us. Let the word of God reveal your sins and your Savior. When faced with difficult decisions, turn to the Word of God. When you feel alone and afraid, rely on the word of God. God’s word is given for your good—to shape your life and guide every step. In other words, it is meant to bring reformation—drawing you out of sin and despair into forgiveness and light. So you can walk a new life in Jesus Christ, who has done everything for you and justified you by His own blood. And when darkness tries to pull you away from Jesus, the word of God reminds you that I am saved because of Christ. 

Therefore, do not neglect the word of God, but always gladly hear and learn it. For it is your light and your stay. It is the very words of Jesus for you. And there is no one who can take you away from the word of God that endures forever.