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Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 Sermon Commentary
Proper 17B
Commentary: Hear and Live “Hear” is a key word in all of Hebrew Scripture, most notably in the Shema, which is the central prayer of Judaism. Perhaps Christians might think of it also as a credal formulation. It goes like this: “hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love…
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Sermon Commentary
Proper 17B
This passage is a turning point in the Gospel of Mark. After this exchange on living according to tradition, Jesus will start to interact with non-Jewish people. Given the fact that Mark’s gospel audience were likely Gentile, they were hearing an added layer of good news about Jesus breaking yet another barrier to belonging. And…
James 1:17-27 Sermon Commentary
Proper 17B
Were you to ask North American citizens of the 21st century, “What is God like?” you might get, especially in some culturally diverse areas, as many as 15-20 answers. Some of them would reflect long-standing religious traditions. Others might reflect a kind of DIY theology. And some answers might reflect an atheism or agnosticism. Few…
Psalm 15 Sermon Commentary
Proper 17B
We could summarize and simultaneously contemporize Psalm 15 this way: Who may dwell with God on God’s holy mountain? The one who stays off social media. Or at the very least the one who does not do on social media what altogether too many other people have been doing in the years since Facebook and…
Commentary posted on September 1, 2024
Proper 17B Sermon Commentary
The Proper 17B Sermon Commentaries include reflection and illustration ideas for Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 from the Lectionary Gospel; Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 from the Old Testament Lectionary; Psalm 15 from the Lectionary Psalms; and James 1:17-27 from the Lectionary Epistle.
Related Reformed confession: Lectionary Epistle: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 118 (Lord’s Day 45)