Episcopal Church of the
Incarnation
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 25](C)
Jeremiah
14.7-10, 19-22 Psalm 84.1-6 2 Timothy
4.6-8, 16-18 Luke 18.9-14
Jeremiah 14.7-10, 19-22
1) Chs. 14 through 17 in Jeremiah focus on crime and punishment, following the prophet’s message that the people have broken their covenant with the Lord.
a) Ch. 14 begins with a description of a great drought, which has resulted as punishment for the people’s sins.
2) The verses in the first part of this lesson are part of a lament. After the nature of the drought has been described, these verses invoke the holy Name of the Lord for salvation.
3) The verses in the second part also form a lament, in which the people collectively recite their woe, and invoke God’s salvation.
a) In reciting that God alone can save, the people reject foreign gods and idols. This is a form of reaffirmation of the covenant.
Psalm 84.1-6
1) A
psalm in praise of
a) This
psalm also reflects a song of pilgrimage to
2) A
repeated theme is the happiness of those who dwell in God’s house. “House” refers both to the
a) V. 5 has an echo of Ps. 23 in it. God provides.
3) All praise involves thanksgiving.
2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18
1) Paul perceives that his death is near, and so hands on his ministry to Timothy and other successors in ministry.
a) If this letter was written by Paul, then these words are a poignant final note.
b) If this letter is written by an admirer and disciple, then the writer has carefully arranged Pauline themes.
i) Libation: see Phil. 2.17.
ii) Contest and crown: see 1 Cor. 9.25.
iii) Race: see 1 Cor. 9.24; Phil. 3.12.
c) At a minimum, therefore, this usage testifies that certain writings of undoubted Pauline provenance were known in the early Church outside of those communities (e.g. Corinth and Philippi) to which they had been sent.
i) This wider knowledge of Pauline instruction testifies to the growth of the idea of a New Testament.
2) The letter describes being written at a time between Paul’s first and second trials.
a) Paul anticipates further trial, and not just in a legal sense.
i) His reference to salvation in the Lord echoes Ps. 22.
(1) Such a rescue does not preclude, in Paul’s mind, the possibility of physical death.
Luke 18.9-14
1) Disciples are to trust in God and not in themselves.
a) Virtuous works will not gain a disciple entrance into the kingdom.
2) Luke plays constantly on the theme of who is righteous (able to stand before God) and who is unrighteous.
a) The tax collector is justified before God due to his repentance. He beats his breast and admits to being a sinner, invoking God’s mercy.
b) Justification is not earned.
i) This theme will be developed later by Paul, to explain that justification is imputed to us by Jesus, when we have faith in Him, and live out that faith.