Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

The exact day and hour of the end is unknown to all but the Father. But what we do know, Jesus tells us: His return will be sudden, like the flood in Noah's day, and when it arrives time will have run out. Jesus then gives two parables: the Ten Virgins, where only those ready with oil are allowed into the feast, and the Talents, where servants are judged by their faithfulness in using the Master's gifts. The message for believers is clear: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."  The Rev. John Zimmerman, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scranton, PA and St. John's Lutheran Church in Pittston, PA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 24:36-25:30.  To learn more about Immanuel and St. John's, visit immanuelscranton.org and facebook.com/StJohnsLutheranChurchPittstonPa. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

As Jesus leaves the temple, He prophesies its complete destruction, sparking the disciples' questions about the end of the age. Jesus responds with the Olivet Discourse, a dense prophecy of "birth pains": false messiahs, wars, famines, and the "abomination of desolation." He warns of intense persecution but promises that "the one who endures to the end will be saved" and that the Gospel will be preached to all nations before the end comes.  The Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 24:1-35.  To learn more about Concordia Lutheran, visit concordiajt.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jesus unleashes a powerful and damning critique against the scribes and Pharisees. He warns the crowds not to follow their hypocrisy, their love of human glory and honor, and the heavy burdens they lay on others. He pronounces "Seven Woes," condemning them as "whitewashed tombs" and "blind guides" who "strain out a gnat and swallow a camel." The chapter ends with His heartbreaking lament over Jerusalem, the holy city that rejects His mercy.  The Rev. John Shank, senior pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 23:1-39.  To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit trinitylutheranministries.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The confrontations continue as the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a ridiculous question about a woman with seven husbands. Jesus silences them, proving the resurrection from the books of Moses (the only Scripture they obey). A lawyer then tests Jesus, asking for the "greatest commandment." Jesus responds with the Shema and the command to "love your neighbor as yourself." Finally, Jesus turns the tables, asking the Pharisees how David's Son can also be David's Lord, which pressures them into considering His own divine identity. The Rev. William Cwirla, pastor emeritus and president emeritus of Higher Things, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 22:23-46.  The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jesus tells another parable of judgment: the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Those first invited refuse to come and eventually even attack and murder the king's servants. The king destroys them and opens the feast to "both bad and good" from the streets. But, curiously, a man without a wedding garment is cast out. Why? Then, the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about taxes, leading to His brilliant reply: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 22:1-22.  The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The chief priests and elders challenge Jesus's authority in the temple. Jesus counters with a question about John's baptism that they cannot answer. He then tells two parables of judgment against them: the Parable of the Two Sons and the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. Jesus concludes this discourse with a stark warning to the Jewish leaders who saw themselves as powerful and invincible: the kingdom will be taken from them and given to a people producing the fruits of faith. The Rev. LeRoy LaPlant, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and headmaster of Concordia Classical Academy in North Mankato, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 21:23-46. To learn more about Good Shepherd, visit goodshepherdmankato.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as a humble king, riding on a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy, as crowds shout "Hosanna!" He immediately goes to the temple and cleanses it by force. He turns over the tables and cracks a whip while driving out the moneychangers and declaring, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers." The next day, He curses a barren fig tree, a living parable of the judgment to come upon a fruitless Israel that has rejected its King.  The Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, senior pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 21:1-22.  To learn more about Zion Lutheran, visit zionfm.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

For the third time, Jesus explicitly tells His disciples He will be betrayed, condemned, mocked, flogged, and crucified, but raised on the third day. Immediately after he reminds his disciples of this, the mother of James and John asks for her sons to sit at His right and left in the kingdom. Jesus uses this "theology of glory" moment to teach the true "theology of the cross": greatness is not in being served, but in serving, for "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  The Rev. John Lukomski, pastor emeritus, and co-host of Wrestling with the Basics, KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 20:17-34.  The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Why do we resent grace? In the Parable of the Vineyard Workers, a landowner pays workers hired at the eleventh hour the same wage as those who toiled all day. Seeing this as an "injustice" reveals our own works-righteous hearts. But make no mistake: Jesus’ parable is not about fair wages; it's about the radical, unmerited generosity of God. The Gospel is not a reward for our labor but a free gift, demonstrating Jesus’ teaching: "the last will be first, and the first last."  The Rev. Brian Davies, pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, Grayslake, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 20:1-16.  To learn more about Lord of Glory, visit lordofglory.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

On this "Free-Text First Friday" episode of Thy Strong Word, Pastor Booe welcomes the Rev. Ricky Beckett, a Hospice Chaplain, for an honest and insightful discussion on "Autism and Faith." Chaplain Beckett shares his personal experience as an autistic pastor whose diagnosis came late in life, exploring the profound challenges of navigating neurotypical expectations and burnout, as well as the unique rewards, including a deep, incarnational empathy and a profound love for the structure of the Liturgy. Come here how God can even use “disorder” for his glory and to serve his people.  The Rev. Ricky Beckett, Hospice Chaplain at McLaren Health Management Group in Davison, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss faith and the neurodivergent.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

What is the nature of saving faith? Jesus first holds up a child as the model, declaring that the kingdom belongs to those who come with humble, dependent trust. Then, a rich young ruler asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" He believes he has kept all the commandments, but Jesus exposes his true idol, and the man walks away in sorrow. This leads to the "camel and the eye of a needle" analogy, a word of pure Law that crushes the disciples and makes them ask, "Who then can be saved?" The Rev. Doug Griebenaw, pastor and mission advocate at KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 19:13-30. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” This question from the Pharisees was a trap, designed to force Jesus into a divisive rabbinic debate in a politically dangerous territory. Jesus’ powerful answer remains relevant in our own culture, which is rife with no-fault divorce and the legal redefinition of marriage itself. Jesus radically affirms marriage as a divine union of a man and a woman into "one flesh". He explains that human sin and "hardness of the heart" are the true causes for divorce.  The Rev. Roger Mullet, pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Buffalo, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 19:1-12.  To learn more about Prince of Peace Lutheran, visit princeofpeacebuffalo.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep reveals the Father’s passionate heart to pursue even one straying believer. This love and grace motivate Jesus’ command on how to "gain your brother" when sin divides. When Peter asks about the limits of this forgiveness, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant provides a stark contrast: God's infinite debt-canceling grace, in light of Christ’s atonement, versus the petty and calculating unforgiveness of man.  The Rev. Peter Burfeind, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, MI and Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 18:(11), 12-35.  To learn more about Our Savior and Agnus Dei, visit facebook.com/oursaviorunioncity and agnusdeimarshall.com. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The disciples ask Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" They were looking to hear about their own future power and status. Instead, Jesus shatters their expectations by placing a child in their midst and says that those who are great in God’s Kingdom are those with a humble, child-like dependence and trust in Him. He then issues a terrifying warning: it would be better to be drowned with a millstone than to cause one of these "little ones" to stumble. This passage reveals that true status in the kingdom is found in humility, and God will fiercely judge those who harm His faithful.  The Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 18:1-20.  To learn more about Good Shepherd Lutheran, visit goodshepherdarnold.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

On the mountain, Peter, James, and John are given a glimpse of Jesus’ unveiled divine glory. They see Him with Moses and Elijah, showing that the Law and the Prophets point to Christ. As the Father commands, "Listen to him," Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment and final Word. This glimpse of divinity is paired with His earthly authority as He heals a demon-possessed boy and provides the temple tax, demonstrating the Son of God is Lord over all things, spiritual and temporal.  The Rev. Brandon Metcalf, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 17:1-27.  To learn more about Zion Lutheran, visit zionbethalto.org The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Peter makes the great confession: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus declares this truth is a divine revelation, and this confession is the rock upon which His Church is built. But when Peter rejects a suffering Messiah, Jesus’ rebuke—"Get behind me, Satan!"—teaches that a theology of glory without the cross is a satanic temptation. The true Christ is the crucified Christ, and to follow Him is to take up one’s own cross.  The Rev. Bryan Spang, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in State College, PA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 16:13-28.  To learn more about Good Shepherd Lutheran, visit goodshepherdsc.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jesus shows His divine compassion again when he heals the multitudes and feeds four thousand. Despite these clear signs of Jesus being the Christ, the Pharisees demand another, revealing their hardened unbelief. Jesus promises no sign but the "sign of Jonah,” which is a prophecy of His death and resurrection. He warns His disciples against the "leaven" of the Pharisees: their false doctrine of works-righteousness that corrupts the pure Gospel.  The Rev. Dr. Matthew Tassey, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shawnee, OK, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 15:29-16:12.  To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit redeemershawnee.org. The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ traditions, showing they use them to disobey God’s commands. He teaches that true defilement comes from sin within the heart, not from external things. Immediately after, a Canaanite woman, a Gentile with no claim to God’s promises, abandons any merit of her own and clings solely to Christ's mercy. Her persistent faith perfectly illustrates the Gospel: salvation comes not to the worthy, but to those who cast themselves on the grace of Christ alone.  The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 15:1-28.  To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit clc-in.org The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

A stark contrast is drawn between two kings. Herod, a slave to his lust and fear, murders John the Baptist. The true King, Jesus, reveals His divine compassion and power. He provides for the lost sheep of Israel and the crowds that followed him in the feeding of the five thousand, a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet to come. Jesus then demonstrates His absolute authority over creation by walking on the sea and rescuing Peter from his doubt. Jesus not only commands us to “fear not,” but provides us every reason to obey through his love and compassion.  The Rev. Derek Waffel, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Huntsville, AL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 14:1-36.  To learn more about Ascension Lutheran, visit ascensionhsv.org The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure of infinite worth. Jesus’ parables reveal the supreme value of Christ and His Gospel; He is the treasure who gave up everything to purchase the field (the world) for the sake of His people. When Jesus offers up this priceless treasure, he is rejected in His own hometown, a stark reminder that the saving power of the Gospel is lost where unbelief holds sway.  The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 13:44-58.  The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.