Luke 3:14-21

Epiphany 3, 2022 | Psalm 19 and Luke 3:14-21 | by Evan McClanahan |

Law and Gospel…If you are a lifelong Lutheran, those words should strike a familiar tone. If you are not a lifelong Lutheran…well, consider this an orientation. Knowing the importance of both – but the difference between the two – might sound easy or obvious, but in truth it is, in many ways, your life’s work as a follower of Jesus. Err too far on one side or the other and you have really missed the boat. Too much emphasis on the Law puffs up and either drives you to despair of your sinfulness or convinces you that your obedience makes God happy. Too much emphasis on the Gospel might convince you that you are completely free and God’s laws are little more than advice from the Bronze Age that we can now dispense with.

So, we live in this constant tension of striving to be obedient to God’s will, but understanding that perfect obedience is not possible and, therefore, we are in need of God’s forgiving grace. Martin Luther said this about the importance of making this distinction: “Distinguishing between the law and the gospel is the highest art in Christendom, one who every person who values the name Christian ought to recognize, know, and possess. Where this is lacking, it is not possible to tell who is a Christian and who is a pagan or Jew. That much is at stake in this distinction.”

Well, I thought it was time for such an old-fashioned reminder because of two texts this morning. One seems to extol the law as good and helpful and the other seems to emphasize the Gospel. Are they at odds with one another? How do we make sense of them? Are they compatible?

Let’s start with Psalm 19. This psalm is really a 2-parter. The first part deals with the obvious reality of God existence, discernible by merely looking to the heavens. “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” Indeed, it is often said that God is revealed in two books: the book of nature and the book of scripture. Or you might say “general revelation” and “specific revelation.” Psalm 19 declares that to observe the created order – which we now know is infinitesimally complex and also perfectly designed for the sustaining of life – is to observe the handiwork of God.

The sun and moon does not speak with an audible voice; they are silent witnesses to God. Their voices “go out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” This is why Paul says in Romans 1 that man knows that God exists and he is without excuse when he says God does not exist and/or they fall into idolatry: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” And this is why Psalm 14, begins by declaring that it is the fool – that is, the willfully stupid – who says there is no God. Because the heavens declare the existence and handiwork of God.

But God reveals himself not only in his creation, but also through words. His specific revelation as found in His Law. You see the change in verse 7: “The law of the Lord is perfect.” Indeed, this is just the first of several attributes to God’s Law that Martin Luther would have known well, but are usually ignored. That is, we place such an emphasis on the Gospel these days that declaring that the Law is actually good, pure, or perfect is just not something that comes from many Lutheran pulpits. The Law is assumed to be the enemy, from whose dangerous tentacles we are saved by the Gospel.

The only problem with that message is that it is not Biblical. As I have already said, Psalm 19 describes the Law of God not only in glowing terms, but as the pathway to a profitable life. And no, Psalm 19 being placed prior to the Gospel of Matthew does not make it obsolete, for if the Law of God reveals God’s character and nature, then it can only be beneficial for us.

Let’s just quickly key in on four verses.

7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

Well, not much in this life is perfect, though Amanda’s chocolate chip cookies come pretty close. And yet, God’s Law is. In fact, if you can believe it, it revives the soul. Felt down in the dumps lately? Maybe depressed? Study God’s Law, even the bits that have surely been fulfilled by Christ, like Temple sacrifices. Perhaps introspection and psychotherapy – as useful as those may be – cannot solve the problem of melancholy. But God’s Law, according to this psalm, can at least help.

8the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

The author goes so far as to say that God’s precepts “rejoice the heart” and “enlighten the eyes.” Why? How? I thought the Law of God was a boogeyman that only sought to scare us and keep us under it’s thumb? I think it has to do with our being made in God’s image. Learning God’s law reconnects us to our Creator. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but when we know a person better, our relationship is more satisfying. And sure enough, the Law is a pathway to knowing God better.

9the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

Studying God’s Law puts us in touch with something that is pure. How often do we really encounter that which is pure and undefiled? Let’s be honest. We live in a consumeristic age. We are just dollar signs to corporations. Our friends can betray us and use us. Even our churches are far from perfect. Purity is rare. Even the silver I buy on occasion only promises .999% purity. Close, but no cigar. But God’s specific decrees – again, even the ones that have been fulfilled in Christ – are “true and righteous altogether.” Like merely being in the presence of a wise and caring person can brighten our day, so just studying God’s Law brings us joy, because we are reminded of the kind of being that we are: more than an instinctive animal.

10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

I hope this verse is familiar to you. But do we remember the context? It’s isn’t some vague notion of God that is to be desired more than gold. It is His specific decrees.

“Oh, but pastor, don’t you know that preaching on the goodness of the Law in this way will only lead people to – gasp – legalism?? Don’t you know the law does not save?” Oh yes, I’m well aware. And this text doesn’t say that the Law does save. It says that it is good. And so it is.

But like any good thing, it can be abused. And there can be no question that in Jesus’ day, it was, just as in Martin Luther’s day, it was. Remember, Jesus ministered during an era of significant observation of the Law. This was a second chance for the Jews who had already been kicked out of the promised land by an enemy invader for their unfaithfulness. They did not want that to happen again. That explains groups – like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes – who are especially committed to the keeping of God’s Law. And they definitely miss the mark by overshooting it considerably. Hence, Jesus’ ministry includes not only exhortation, but the message of forgiveness, mercy, and grace. For while the Law is good, there is only one who can keep it perfectly, save for Jesus himself.

And so, in Luke 4, Jesus sits down and reads from Isaiah, what can only be described as pure Gospel: Jesus has been sent “to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” It’s true, as good as the Law is, it does not save. We are born indebted to sin and it has a hold on every aspect of our being: our minds, our hearts, our souls, our bodies. Even perfect obedience, were it possible, could not pay off that debt, for death would still be our destiny. Even Jesus died!

And yet, we do proclaim a message of freedom. Because of the death of Jesus, because of his resurrection from the death, those who trust in Christ alone receive the gifts of God. The elimination of the accusing voice of shame; the promise of eternal feasting; the promise of a glorified body that doesn’t break or get cancer or get dementia; the promise that with the Spirit’s help, temptation need not make us a slave. In other words, real and true freedom. It’s almost too good to imagine.

So, you see, Law and Gospel. Both good. Both important. Despising the Law of God is not what the Gospel should bring about. Quite the contrary. Those saved from the damnation of the Law give thanks to God, and out of love for their neighbor, seek obedience to God’s Law. Which, by the way, brings about a good world. Ignoring the Law or, much less, mocking the Law, should never be acceptable for Christians. And it remains true that we cannot escape the penalty of sin through perfect obedience. Only Jesus did that. So, thanks be to God he has indeed come to proclaim us free from our captivity and oppression! For he was perfectly obedient to the Law and he even conquered sin’s grandest penalty, death itself. Amen.

First Lutheran, Houston

Pastor Evan McClanahan