# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1860_S4
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 4 —

— His own did not receive Him; the crucified Christ was, to the Gentiles,
further, foolishness, and to the Jews a stumbling block; but to those who
for that reason became His chosen, holy people — however many out of the
nations of the earth received Him and believed on His grace-bringing name —
He was the power of God and divine wisdom. He gave them, as the
only-begotten, the right and the power to become children of God.

But this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and
mankind loved darkness more than the light; for whoever has it — in the
Word, whose preaching leads to the one Christ — to him more will be given,
so that he has abundance; but whoever does not have it, from him even
what he has will be taken away.

Let us in this hour consider the comforting and yet fearsome import of
this saying of the Redeemer, and thereby hallow God the Lord in our
hearts for the blessed beginning of the day's work to which we are
presently assembled. We beseech Him for this in quiet, devout prayer.

Text: Matthew 13:12.

To arrive at the right understanding of the words just read, beloved
friends in Christ the Lord, we must first of all examine the context in
which they were spoken. The Lord Jesus had spoken to the people in the
parable of the fourfold field; and when His disciples asked Him why He
did so, He had answered: To you it is given to know the mystery of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. According to the Gospels
of St. Mark and St. Luke He adds, among other things: Take heed
therefore what and how you hear. And then He says: For whoever has, to
him will be given, so that he has abundance; but whoever does not have,
from him even what he has will be taken away. With this same remarkable
turn of phrase He closes His parable of the entrusted talents, which is
of particular importance for all who are called to perform the duties of
an appointed office in the church of the Lord, and also to come together
with one another at certain times and in certain places. Let us then
first ask: what is the gift of grace of which our text speaks; second,
who has it — by which we mean at the same time for what purpose and how
he has it; third, what shall further be given him; fourth, who does not
have it; and finally fifth, what shall be taken from this one.

But Thou, O Savior of the world, enlighten our eyes, that they may not
fall asleep in death; make known to us the way to life, on which fools
may not go astray, and pour out Thy Spirit upon the thirsty, that their
peace may be as a river, and their righteousness as the waves of the
sea, that they may take great delight in Thy commandments. Let us behold
Thy countenance and be satisfied when we awake after Thy likeness,
eternally. Amen.

I.
All grace, dear friends and brothers, that comes to us from God the
Lord, is nevertheless contained in the Word of Christ, which is the
gospel of our salvation. That is the divine seed which, upon the