Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.
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Jesus will not allow His disciples to keep the little children away, because those who enter the kingdom come to Jesus precisely in the dependence and need of such little children. In that context, the rich young man exemplifies the completely wrong approach to Jesus. When this man assumes that his own goodness will earn eternal life, Jesus uses the Law, attempting to lead the man to despair of…
As Jesus draws closer to Jerusalem, Pharisees ask Jesus to give His opinion in an ongoing debate concerning lawful reasons for divorce. Although their question comes from ill intent, Jesus sees through their test. He points them back to God’s institution of marriage. God designed marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman. Although the hardness of sinful hearts may lead to divorce,…
Peter recognizes that Jesus has been teaching about forgiveness, but he has not yet grasped the abundance of God’s mercy. Jesus calls His disciples to forgive freely without measure because God has forgiven us freely without measure. To illustrate this, Jesus tells a parable of a servant whose astronomical debt is forgiven by his master. When that same servant has a fellow servant who owes him a…
Jesus highlights the greatness of His little ones by saying that their angels always see the Father’s face. When Jesus’ disciples focus on their Father, they will share in the concern of the angels for the little ones of Jesus’ kingdom. His care for His little ones shows through His activity as the Good Shepherd who seeks and saves the lost. In the same way, Christians do not neglect sin that…
Jesus’ disciples show their continued misunderstanding of His teaching by their question concerning greatness in His kingdom. Jesus flips their expectations upside down by placing a child in their midst and telling them that those who are needy and dependent like children are the only ones who enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what the disciples must realize about themselves and each other as…
When Jesus descends the mountain of His transfiguration, the nine disciples left below have failed to cast out a demon-possessed boy. After lamenting their lack of faith, Jesus heals the boy and encourages His disciples to have the faith of a mustard seed, that is, faith that grows in trust of His words. Despite Jesus’ teaching, the disciples continue to have distress over His coming suffering,…
After Jesus teaches concerning His coming suffering and death, He takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He shines with the fullness of His divine glory. The presence of Moses and Elijah with Jesus confirms Him as the true God. Peter’s excited but misguided speech is interrupted by the Father’s voice, who commands the disciples to listen to Jesus. Their terror is met by Jesus’…
After Peter’s glorious confession, Jesus makes sure His disciples know what it means for Him to be the Christ. As the Anointed One of God, Jesus must go to Jerusalem to suffer, die, and rise. Peter and the other disciples cannot fathom this, and Peter has the audacity to take Jesus aside and correct Him. Jesus puts this satanic temptation behind Him and tells His disciples to focus on the things…
In a pagan area away from Jerusalem, Jesus questions His disciples concerning what others say about Himself. While the answers given include elements of truth, none are complete. Jesus turns the question to the disciples themselves. Who do THEY say Jesus is? Peter speaks up for the whole group with a confession of faith that comes not from Peter’s wisdom but from God’s revelation. Jesus promises…
The Pharisees and Sadducees continue to refuse to believe in Jesus, and they insincerely ask Him for a sign. Jesus rebukes them for knowing how to recognize the coming weather but for failing to recognize the coming of the Christ. Therefore, Jesus refuses them a sign other than the one He has already offered, the sign of Jonah. The disciples miss what Jesus means when He speaks of the leaven of…
Jesus continues His compassionate ministry in Galilee by teaching and healing great crowds. As they come to Him with great urgency, Jesus heals their disabilities. As the crowds glorify the God of Israel, Jesus tells the disciples His will of feeding the crowds. The disciples forget Jesus’ recent miracle of feeding a large crowd, but their faltering faith does not prevent Jesus from accomplishing…
Historically, the people of Tyre and Sidon were enemies of God’s people. It’s no wonder, then, that the Evangelist draws our attention to the presence of a Canaanite woman there who confesses the truth about Jesus as the Son of David as she prays for His mercy upon her daughter. Jesus’ seemingly enigmatic responses throughout teach His disciples about the nature of His ultimate ministry to…
The opposition against Jesus escalates when the Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands. Although the man-made traditions surrounding God’s Law may have had good intentions, Jesus rebukes these men who have let their traditions replace God’s Word. To the entire crowd, Jesus teaches that true uncleanness comes not from without but from within. Jesus patiently…
When Jesus sends His disciples across the sea by boat, He dismisses the crowds and goes by Himself to pray. As the disciples’ boat goes with difficulty across the sea, Jesus walks on the water to them, showing Himself to be the Maker and Ruler of all creation. The disciples initially react in fear, but Jesus takes away their fear by His Word. He answers Peter's bold request to walk on the water,…
