On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the talents. We learn the difference between law and gospel in the context of this parable. Now we can see how this parable should be preached: the talents God gives are not his commands, but his promises. And so God's promise isn't meager, but fruitful and abundant.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the wise and foolish virgins – although Paulson has a suggestion about how we might rename it. We learn here how to trust in the promises of the gospel while we wait for Christ to return in his kingdom. For the waiting, we rely on the promise of Christ and his Holy Spirit instead of our good works. Only in this way are we sustained in the hope of Christ's coming again.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson talk about the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. We learn how these characteristics of the Christian aren't virtues to be conjured by hard work and devotion, but are descriptions of what happens to the Christian once faith in the promise has been given. We also learn how the Beatitudes link with the Lord's Prayer, and therefore learn how Christians are to speak back to God under the condition of suffering and evil.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the appointed readings for Reformation Sunday. At the center of the Reformation is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works of the law. Using all the texts given for Reformation, this episode examines how preachers can emphasize the difference between law and gospel, and how to give an unconditional promise to those who listen.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the famous conversation of Jesus with the Jewish authorities concerning taxation. We learn that there are two different kinds of authorities to which people submit, not just one. Caesar represents the law in its highest form: taxation, money owed to the state. But God takes from us not our taxes, but our faith, and so rules our hearts by the gospel of his mercy instead of the rule of the law.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, Steve Paulson and John Hoyum discuss Christ's parable of the wedding garment. Here, we learn that God invites all – both good and bad – to the wedding feast of the Son. But even more than just extending an invitation, God gives the clothing to wear for the banquet – which is the righteousness of Christ. All this we receive apart from our own merit or worthiness, but only because of the mercy of Jesus Christ.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the parable of the master and the vineyard. We learn from Luther that this parable really is about the unification of Jew and gentile in Christ on the basis of the gospel instead of the law. The parable picks up on the Old Testament image of Israel as a vineyard planted by God – but not at the expense of the Jews as many interpreters might think, but rather as their unification around the one gospel which saves both.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine an encounter of Jesus with the authorities in Jerusalem who wonder where his authority comes from. Being in the position of skepticism regarding Jesus, we see how Christ reveals how they can think of authority in terms of the law alone. But the gospel has an authority to forgive sin, which is what we see in the preaching of John the Baptist and the reception of forgiveness on the part of sinful people like prostitutes and tax collectors.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the Parable of the Vineyard Workers. However, at the end of the parable, we find that the owner of the vineyard compensates the workers all the same – which means that their reward is based on the right choice of the owner instead of the labor of the workers. Here we see just how the kingdom of Christ is different from the kingdom of this world, ruled by the law: Christ gives freely and chooses freely without respect to work. But here in the old world, both hierarchy and labor remain for a little while.

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On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steven Paulson talk about forgiveness. Peter comes to Jesus with a question about how often he should forgive – just after hearing about the office of the keys from Jesus. Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness, which shows us that there can be no limits placed on the absolution. Instead, forgiveness must be given freely for the sake of sinners.

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What’s New from 1517:

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More from the hosts:

• John Hoyum

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