Epiphany Lutheran Church- New Salisbury, IN

08/05/2026

Join us Sunday mornings at 9 am for Bible Study (we are currently in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew) followed by Divine Service at 10 am!

"But He (Jesus) answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

07/25/2026

9th Sunday after Pentecost July 26, 2026
Title: The Pearl of Great Value Text: Matthew 13:44-52 (ESV)

Today we’ll be examining three short parables of Jesus: "The Parable of the Hidden Treasure," "The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value," and "The Parable of the Net." These parables are different from the previous ones in Matthew. For one thing, they are much shorter – only a few sentences per parable. Also, only one of these three parables has an explanation.

The disciples didn't ask Jesus to explain the first two parables. Jesus followed up with, "Have you understood all these things?" and the disciples answered, "Yes!" So, we’ll do a little better to understand the first two of these parables.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure is the most challenging of the three. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (v.44).

The difficulties of interpreting this stem from determining what the “treasure” and the “man” represent in this parable. Many understand this parable to mean that the “treasure” is the Gospel, heaven itself, or some other spiritual blessing. The “man” in the parable, then, would be US.

Interpreters have often read these parables as symbolic narratives that describe what the individual believer does or must do when recognizing the good gifts God provides in Christ. Thus, God’s gifts are viewed as the “treasure” hidden in the field – the “pearl of great value”

This interpretation considers the two parables as a motivation for people to discipleship and commitment to follow Christ. This would suggest we ought to be willing to do anything and give up everything to get the “treasure” of Christ. On the surface, that seems logical. It’s easy to view the person in both parables as representing us.

The problem is: YOU CAN’T DO WHAT THIS INTERPRETATION REQUIRES OF YOU!

The Bible frequently tells us we can do NOTHING to obtain spiritual gifts. You can’t earn gifts. Scripture says our sinful nature rejects God's gifts. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

What are we to do? Paul tells us that by nature we don’t even want God’s spiritual gifts. So why, in this parable, would Jesus require us to sacrifice everything for spiritual gifts? That doesn’t make sense.

One answer lies in today's O.T. reading from Deuteronomy 7:6, “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” From this, we realize that the “treasure” is NOT some sort of spiritual blessing we must sacrifice in order to obtain.

Instead, YOU ARE THE TREASURE!

The Savior, Jesus, is the “man” who purchased the field to have YOU! The “pearl of great value” is YOU! You are the “person” of great value! Our O.T. reading reminds us we are precious to God, BUT NOT because of us.“

The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was NOT because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set His love on you and chose you, BUT it is because the Lord loves you” (Deut. 7:6-8).

We are God’s “treasure” because He chose us to be His “treasure.”
Instead of us being the “merchant” willing to give up everything we have in order to possess the great treasure of Jesus, it’s the other way around! Jesus is the “merchant” who gives up all He has to pay the price for a precious treasure – a lost and dying world! Jesus Himself is the “man” in both parables. Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory from eternity & He emptied Himself. He “made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant” born in human form.

The Parable of the “Pearl of Great Value” repeats this interpretation. Just as God calls us His treasure in the first parable, so now He calls us His precious pearl. Again, the “merchant” expends his entire life’s savings to obtain this precious pearl. God spared nothing, NOT even His only Son, to defeat the powers of sin, death, and the devil.

The Father even removed His presence from His Son as He was dying on a cross. Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" That’s how treasured and valuable you are to God!

In these parables, the impact on Jesus’ disciples, then and now, is one of ASSURANCE and ENCOURAGEMENT for the challenging life of discipleship. Each parable starts with the words, “The kingdom of heaven is like....” This is an indirect way (Matthew writing primarily to Jews who are deeply respectful of saying “YHWH” [GOD]) of saying “the kingdom of GOD is like.” Jesus’ parables tell us how GOD rules and operates in His kingdom.

The reign of GOD concerns what GOD is doing to rule in the hearts & minds of His fallen creatures through the work of Jesus. God acts, reigns, and rules through the perfect words & deeds of Christ. The reign/rule of GOD is about WHAT GOD is doing in Jesus. The “kingdom” parables, especially when they involve a “lone character” in the parable who takes action, point to what Jesus was doing in His earthly ministry of words and deeds.

Today’s parables, with their language of “selling everything” and “buying,” show themselves not to be about discipleship, but about Jesus Christ! No sinful human is able to give anything as an exchange for their life. The sinless Jesus alone has come for this purpose, that is, “to give His life as a ransom (payment) for many” (Matthew 20:28).

The Parable of the Net makes it clear what will happen on Judgment Day. Jesus compared the people of this world to a net filled with fish. As a fishing net gathers up all things in the water, Judgment Day will gather up all people. As fishermen sort the contents of the net, separating bad fish from good fish, God will send His angels to sort evil from righteous.

The righteous are those who have been made right w/God through the Holy Spirit's gift of faith. They are God's treasure - His “pearl of great value.” The evil are those who reject Jesus and rely on their own good works and good intentions for salvation.

These parables of Jesus offered to His disciples and to us this morning give us the assurance, comfort, and confidence in God’s love. God considers us as precious and priceless – even in our sinful condition. He spares nothing to rescue us from damnation – so we can live with Him forever.

We know that the perfect life & death payment of Jesus was victorious! He did NOT remain in the grave, but rose to life on the third day. His resurrection declares that all people are treasured by their Creator! You are His “pearl of great value.”

His resurrection comforts you. You, too, will resurrect never to die again. His resurrection assures you that you are God’s precious child forever. You have been bought! You are NO longer a slave to sin, death, or evil. The Son of God purchased you at a price of everything He had.

The fact that GOD considers YOU a “treasure” and a “pearl of great value” and GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR YOU, AND HELD BACK NOTHING, NOT even His Son -- that reality changes YOUR life right now!

Because YOU are NO longer an enemy of God and NO longer a slave to evil. YOU are treasured by THE FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT as an heir in heaven with a heavenly inheritance – forever! Amen.

Rev. M. B. Boyd <
Epiphany Lutheran Church – New Salisbury, Indiana
Sunday, July 26th, 2026 at 10 a.m.

06/24/2026

Congratulations President Harrison on your election to a new term as president of our Synod. May we continue confessing the Truth of God's Holy Word to all who would hear it.

The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, having received more than 50% percent of the votes cast in the third ballot for the election of the president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is the president-elect for the 2026–2029 triennium. It will be his sixth term in office.

May the Lord richly endue him with strength for continued service and make him a blessing to the Synod and to the church.

Read more: https://www.lcms.org/convention/national/elections

06/15/2026

Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit creates faith in us through the hearing of the Word of God. Join us each Sunday morning at 9 am for Bible Study as we walk through God's Holy and inerrant Word. We currently are in the Gospel according to Matthew. And stay for Divine Service at 10 am!

"But He (Jesus) answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

06/14/2026

We thank God for the life of His servant Michael Byrn. We shall see you again Michael.

View Michael Ben Byrn's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

05/22/2026

We await Christ's return when He will redeem all creation and we will live with Him for all eternity! Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org.

04/03/2026

Join us for Good Friday service, 4/3/2026 at 7:00 pm. Thanks be to God that Christ took our sins upon Himself, that we might be with Him forever.

04/03/2026

GOOD FRIDAY April 3rd, 2026
Title: "Want to know how God works?!"

Text: Matthew 27:37 (ESV) “And over His head they put the charge, against Him, which read,
THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

We think we know what’s good for us. We insist on making our self-will the driving force in our lives. If we really want to spend eternity in heaven, and if we’d like some of it now, then we’d want God to break our self-will so that His will might be done among us now and forever. Luther taught us in his Small Catechism that God's will is done when God hinders & defeats EVERY WILL which sets itself against HIS WILL. The way God often breaks self-will is to allow troubles & suffering.



Do you accept difficulties/disappointments when they surface? Do you BLOW-UP? Have a MELT-DOWN? Do you cuss up a storm? Or do you learn from your problems, setbacks, and even suffering? Do you allow God to use such situations to transform you? If we are to trust God more, it’s vital to know how God works.

Our text gives us some insight with some of the details of Jesus’ crucifixion. As we look at the cross, let’s remove the “aura of sanctity” we usually attach to depictions of the crucifixion. We think a crucifix is beautiful. We might wear one around our neck. However, crucifixion was a disgraceful and appalling way to die.
"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree" (Deut.21:23; Gal.3:13). The Jewish rabbis applied that passage
to anyone being crucified. Matthew describes the intended humiliation and the shame of that scene.

Golgotha was a public place. People entering and leaving the city passed by that place. Simon (of Cyrene) was on his way to Jerusalem. But soldiers made Simon carry Jesus' cross out to a hill - Golgotha. Christ hung on the cross naked, totally exposed, being so severely strained physically that controlling His bodily functions was NOT possible. That's what a crucifixion was like.

Jesus was crucified between two thieves as though He were one of them. As He hung there, He was mocked and laughed at by onlookers. The eyewitness accounts in the Gospels tell us some people wagged their heads back and forth as they taunted the dying Jesus and hurled insults His way. Others just shook their heads in amazement, wondering how they’d ever placed any hope in Him to restore Israel. They mocked Him by yelling, "...save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" The chief priests, scribes, and elders got into the act and jeered at Jesus with, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself!"

They referred especially to the miracles for which Jesus was famous. If He couldn’t even save Himself, His miracles must’ve been “phony.” Two men crucified next to Jesus also yelled at Him. Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheers, praise, and acclaim as Messiah. The people expected this Jesus to start a new era for their nation.
He was to throw off the yoke of Roman rule. He was to make Israel a nation of power and wealth again, as they had been during the “golden age” of King David and King Solomon. The people believed God had promised to send a leader to do this. They believed the Messiah would reign over them as King David had.

The Jewish people knew this deliverer as THE ANOINTED ONE. In Hebrew, this title is “MESSIAH.” In Greek, this title is "CHRIST." Same title, different language. The Israelites before and during Jesus' time were taught the Messiah would be the new King of Israel.

The Israelites quickly became disenchanted with Jesus. Their concept of the Messiah did NOT allow for Him to argue with the Jewish Supreme Council (Sanhedrin). When that dignified, stately group of men condemned Jesus, it was a great blow to their hopes for Him. When Jesus was brought before the Roman governor, they were dejected. Jesus submitted meekly to Pilate. When they saw Him hanging on a cross, they were further convinced that God was NOT, and NEVER had been, associated with this man from Nazareth. To their way of thinking, Jesus’ crucifixion only proved their case against Him all along. God would NEVER let such a terrible thing happen to His Son, His ANOINTED ONE!?!

Jesus received severe, humiliating treatment as God’s anointed One and we have seen this happen to others and to us. Sometimes, people living under the favor of God's blessings unexpectedly experience suffering, failure, and shame. Sometimes the worst things happen to kind and gracious people. And we’re tempted to conclude that maybe they weren’t God’s people. And we often think this about ourselves. As we’re healthy, successful, and experience good fortune, we conclude: God must be for us!

But, when God allows us to experience sickness, failure, or some degree of humiliation, we begin to think: God must be against us! Our text in Matthew alerts us that such thinking is backwards and upside-down. It’s wrong to think that way about other people and ourselves. It’s wrong to think:“Is this is how God works?”

A sign was nailed to the cross above Jesus's head, which read:
“THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

The Romans wanted everyone to know WHY a victim was being crucified. Crucifixion was an unmistakable VISUAL AID for all who passed by. Crucifixion was intended to be an OBJECT LESSON for everyone. The warning was clear: “If you do what this person did, this is what will happen to you!”

The charge against Jesus? He was the “King of the Jews.” The shaping of this charge began at the trial before the Jewish council. This council condemned Jesus because He claimed to be the Son of God. "SON OF GOD" was a messianic title.

NOTE: The CHARGE WAS ADJUSTED when Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate to make sure that the Roman government would keep interest. The titles “MESSIAH” or “CHRIST” were religious terms. The Roman governor was NOT interested in Jewish RELIGIOUS problems. So, when the council presented Jesus to Pontius Pilate, they stressed the POLITICAL significance of their charge against Jesus. They said He claimed to be the “KING OF
THE JEWS” (Matthew 27:11). That made it a CHARGE OF TREASON against Caesar.



The crucifixion of Jesus was humiliating and shameful. Yet, His crucifixion was also His enthronement. Jesus said to the Sanhedrin council, "From now on you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power" (Matthew 26:64). When He said "From now on," He was referring to the humiliation of His crucifixion. In this way, Jesus achieved His messianic goal. This teaches us something about HOW GOD WORKS!? When God's will is being done, the way to glory may sometimes take us through the valley of distress and disgrace.

Suffering CAN BE part of the process God uses for our glorification. It was so with Jesus. We reign with Christ as we learn to serve Him and even to “suffer” with Him. We need to realize how God works in the world – how He rules in us. We need to be sensitive to the way He achieves His purposes in us, so that our self-will does NOT interfere with His will. In Jesus' crucifixion, we see how God treated His only begotten Son. Moreover, we see the majesty of God's love for us and the world.

YOU can believe God’s promise in Jesus – He said, “It is finished!” God held back nothing in heaven or on earth to achieve YOUR future. The Holy Spirit is working faith in YOU RIGHT NOW and for the rest of YOUR life. In any situation, YOU know, YOU can count on the fact that the heavenly Father put the Son on a cross at Golgotha to rescue YOU.

That’s how God works!
That’s how God loves YOU, ME, and the WORLD. Amen.

Rev. M. B. Boyd <
Epiphany Lutheran Church – New Salisbury, Indiana
Sunday, April 3rd, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

04/02/2026

Join us for Maundy Thursday service, this evening 4/2/26 at 7:00 pm. Come and hear the Word of the Lord.

03/30/2026

It's ✨ ! ✨

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org!