First Sunday in Advent (1880)

Matthew 21:1-9 The fact that we are entering again today into a new liturgical year, though not based on a divine commandment, but only on an old church institution that is so meaningful that we maintain it with joy; indeed we are able to weave it into really beautiful, pious considerations.1 But that we celebrate the Church's New Year much earlier than the civil New Year, this circumstance may remind us that we focus our thoughts not so much either on the nature of children of the world2, on worldly news, new plans, new hopes and the like, but rather, above all things, we should seek to obtain a new heart, a new, right spirit, to become new creatures, and then to plow a new thing, in short, that we should first of all seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Today's Gospel gives us this salutary reminder at the beginning of the new liturgical year for the journey; for in this it describes the King of grace, our Lord Jesus, and His spiritual rule, as well as describing subjects of His Kingdom, it precisely extols for us the exceedingly glorious Kingdom of the Grace of Christ, and delightfully stimulates us that we seek this with renewed zeal in the new Church Year. To this end, let us today consider: The Kingdom of Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We hereby deal: 1. with the King of this Kingdom; a. who this is: Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, Who . is employed for this purpose by the Father from eternity3 and anointed for this purpose by the Holy Spirit according to human nature4; . is foretold as such, accurately described and extolled5, . was publicly declared as such in the fullness of time6; b. how He had established His kingdom, namely: . not with temporal power, not with unfolding earthly pomp and glory. The Lord holds his entry into the royal city without striking a blow, for the very poor7, and in the form of a servant, without all earthly splendor and pomp8; . but by the particular effects of his grace and mercy, because He
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Cf. Lehre und Wehre 16:334f.; Magazin 4:151f. Cf. Acts 17:21. 3 Psalm 2:6; Ephesians 1:22; Psalm 118:26. 4 Psalm 45:8; cf. Acts 10:38. 5 E.g. Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 1:33; Psalm 45; Psalm 24. 6 Luke 2:11; Matthew 2:2, 6:11; John 1:49, 12:13; Mark 11:10; John 18:37, 39; Matthew 27:28, 29, 37; John 19:1922; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 7:2. 7 Zechariah 9:9 8 Matthew 17:27; Matthew 20:21-22; Luke 17:20-21; John 18:36; Matthew 26:51ff.

. has redeemed the poor world from the devil's kingdom by His blood and death.9 For this very purpose He entered into Jerusalem and wanted to show precisely His warm willingness to suffer through His thereby revealed omniscience and omnipotence10, . makes people willing, that they (who indeed by nature have neither desire nor force to come to Him) recognize Him (when He comes to meet them) as their King11 in faith, and therefore are members of His Kingdom of Grace.12 He arranges this: aa. by the glad tidings of the Gospel, as the ordinary means by which the Holy Spirit works13; bb. through his called servants, as intermediaries14; c. how He reigns in His kingdom. Not with fleshly arms15, but as His kingdom, so His rule is a spiritual one and pure grace, for . He lets His subjects enjoy the glorious privileges of His kingdom16, . His righteousness, in that He abundantly, daily forgives all their sins, because He is gentle, a righteous One, and a Helper17, . His joy, joy with God, joy in the conscience; for He is the Prince of Peace, His path is strewn with olive branches and leads to the Mount of Olives, for He will make and declare peace as the means between God and men18, . Joy in the Holy Spirit Who in the Gospel encourages afflicted hearts to greater joy and works joy of faith with faith, also always creates new joy in the cross through the strongest consolations19; . he leads with the straight scepter of his Word and indeed gently with the staff, i.e., with the Holy Gospel, which is strong
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1 Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 2:14; 2 Peter 2:1. Isaiah 50:5; Psalm 40:9; John 10:18; Luke 18:31ff. 11 Matthew 21:5. 12 Colossians 1:12-14. 13 Say to the daughter of Zion, etc. cf. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15f., Ephesians 5:25ff. It does not say "The Lord demands it" but "the Lord has need of it." Therefore the owner not by constraint [Law] but is willing to entrust [Gospel] the animal to the Lord. 14 Matthew 21:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:18ff.; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Mark 16:20; Matthew 28:20; Luke 10:16; John 20:23. 15 2 Corinthians 10:4. 16 John 10:11; Ephesians 1:3, namely also Romans 14:17. 17 Cf. Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 33:15-16. 18 Psalm 72:7; Luke 2:14; Luke 19:38; John 14:27; John 16:33; Philippians 4:7. 19 Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:37; Luke 2:10; Isaiah 9:3; Psalm 97:8; Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:13; John 16:22.
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enough, indeed alone strong to keep them steadfast in faith in Him and in His faithful following20, . He mightily protects them against all their enemies21, keeps His kingdom of grace until the end of time22, strengthens His own and maintains them firmly in His word and faith to their happy end23 and brings them home at last to His kingdom of glory that they may live and reign with Him24; 2. with the subjects in this kingdom; a. who these are: . not all people, even though all are redeemed and He is Lord of all; but most (especially among the great and wise of this world) do not want to live in His kingdom under Him and serve Him.25 . only the truly faithful who belong to the daughter of Zion, to the community of saints26, who heartily embrace the gift of redemption from the devil's kingdom with the word "your King comes to you", and rejoice over and take comfort in Him, that Christ is their King, and have set up His kingdom in their hearts in Holy Baptism; b. how they prove to be as such. Not according to their own thoughts, but in willing obedience to His Word, for which both the disciples27, as well as the crowds of people moved by the Spirit of God and reminded by Psalm 24, Psalm 118:25-26, Zechariah 9:9, etc. represent a lovely example to all subjects of the kingdom of Christ, that they therefore: . rightly deny the evil desires of the Old Adam28, . offer green branches to their King, namely: . namely palm branches29 as a sign of victory over their enemies, therefore they now want to serve Him willingly and follow faithfully, even in confession and suffering30,

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Psalm 110:2; John 10:4, 27; Psalm 119:105; Romans 1:16; Acts 20:32; James 1:21. Luke 19:39-40; Matthew 21:15-16; Psalm 45:5; Psalm 72:4; Psalm 110:2; Psalm 72:9; Revelation 3:9; Isaiah 8:10; Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20; 2 Samuel 17:14; Psalm 91:15; Psalm 2:4-5, 9; Matthew 22:6-7; Luke 19:27. 22 Psalm 46:5-6; Matthew 16:18. 23 Deuteronomy 33:3; John 10:28; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5. 24 2 Timothy 4:18, 2:12; 1 Corinthians 15:24. 25 Matthew 21:15; Luke 19:14; 1 Corinthians 1:18ff. 26 Revelation 15:3. 27 Matthew 21:6. 28 Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 5:24, cf. Luther's "secret interpretation" of Matthew 21:7. 29 John 12:13. 30 Luke 1:74-75; Psalm 110:3.

. Olive branches31, for a sign of peace that they enjoy through Him, and that they also gladly now want to pursue with each other, . May-branches (which were used to adorn houses and the temple32) for a sign that they want to change their way of life for glory in Him in all things with "sprigs of godliness", . prepare your garments on the way before Him, i.e., gladly use their temporal goods for the benefit of the poor and the promotion of Christ's kingdom33, . sing a happy Hosanna to Him, i.e., proclaim and petition His praise, that His kingdom will evermore spread, and that it should come to them and to their children.34 So make sure and examine yourself, whether you all are wholehearted companions of Jesus Christ. Bear in mind: the King of the Kingdom of Grace is He Who knows hearts, and therefore know how it stands with everyone among us in this all-important question. He is also the Almighty, for eternal horror for all adversaries.35 O let us all in daily true contrition and repentance renew the rendered oath of allegiance in baptism to our heavenly King, as long as the doors of His Kingdom of Grace are open to us, so that we are not, like so many, similar to those fickle people who cry out "Crucify Him" so soon after "Hosanna"! Yes, if you first want to enter into the Kingdom of Glory from the Kingdom of Grace with your King, then it is important that you are faithful in this last hour, gallantly wrestle, remain vigilant and incessantly implore the duke of your salvation: Herrsche auch in meinem Herzen ber Zorn, Lust, Furcht und Schmerzen; la mich deinen Schutz genieen, glubig dich ins Herze schlieen, ehren, frchten, loben, lieben und mich im Gehorsam ben; hier mit ringen, dulden, streiten, dort mit herrschen dir zur Seiten. Fr. S.

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Luke 19:37 (Genesis 8:11). Psalm 118:27. 33 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 25:40. 34 Matthew 21:15. 35 Psalm 2:5, 110:1.