The chief aim of this epistle text is to instruct those in official
authority in the Church. Since Christians are under obligation to
honor their pastors and teachers, they are admonished by the apostle
to guard against the sin of vain-glory, that those in authority may
not become proud nor misuse their office against unity in doctrine
and in love, and that they may not despise or pass by the wounded and
helpless, as the priest and Levite did. Lk 10, 31-32. Finally, Paul
exhorts all diligently to do the good and thus serve everyone, as
Christ also teaches in the Gospel (Mt. 6, 34) that everyone should do
the work of each day and not be anxious about the future. [See the
explanation of these verses in Luther's Commentary on the Galatians.]
_Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity_
Text: Ephesians 3, 13-21.
13. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you,
which are your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the
Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16
and that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,
that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the
inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to
the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong
to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth
knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. 20 Now
unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 unto him
be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations
for ever and ever. Amen.