Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

St. Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Ephesians and remembers them in his prayers. He asks that God would give them wisdom and knowledge in Christ. In Him, the Ephesians will truly see the certainty of their hope and the riches of their inheritance. God has shown His power over all things through the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He rules over all things for the sake of His Chur...

St. Paul spent a long time in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. Even while he was later imprisoned, he wrote to them to instruct them in the Christian faith and life. The letter opens with praise and blessing to the Triune God. The Father has blessed us and chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. In the beloved Son of God, we are beloved as well. In Christ Jesus, the inh...

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle to the Ephesians. St. Paul highlights the salvation that God has given to His whole Church by His grace through faith. Because God has given His people this new life in Holy Baptism, we live in thanksgiving to Him as members of one body.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Hol...

The people who hear Malachi's preaching in the fear of the LORD speak to each other to encourage one another to repentance and faith. The LORD comforts them by writing their names in His book and promising that the distinction between His people and His enemies will one day be seen. On that Day, unbelievers will receive the fiery judgment of God, while believers will receive healing and joy from t...

In the aftermath of the exile and return, the people of God have gone beyond faithful lamenting and have accused the LORD of delighting in evil and injustice. In response, the LORD says He will bring justice by suddenly sending His Messenger into His temple. Another messenger will prepare the way to lead the people to repentance for the refining fire that will come. In such repentance, the people...

The prophet continues to preach against the faithless priests who are failing the LORD's people. Although the LORD has called His priests to be purveyors of His life and peace through true sacrifices and right teaching of His Word, His priests have turned aside and caused many to stumble. If they do not turn, these priests will only have curses instead of blessings. Faithlessness in worship has le...

Although few specifics concerning this prophet's life and ministry are known, Malachi nonetheless lives up to his name; he is the LORD's messenger. His preaching is characterized by many rhetorical questions from the LORD and responses from the people. In this way, the LORD brings His people to examine themselves and draw them to repentance and faith. When the people question the LORD's love for t...

Zechariah's book concludes with the LORD's promise to bring the Day of His judgment and salvation. Even on the Day He brings the enemy armies to surround Jerusalem, He plans for their destruction. On that Day, He will give His people light and life, for He will reign as the King over all. Those who remain at enmity with the LORD will see only ruin, but those who survive and turn to Him in faith wi...

From the Pierced Savior flows a fountain that cleanses the people of God from sin and uncleanness. Through this gift, the LORD cuts off idolatry and false prophecy. He silences these lies by amplifying the voice of His truth in the proclamation of His Word, which still happens in His Church. This has happened because the LORD has sent His sword to strike His shepherd, causing the sheep to scatter....

In this second burden of the word of the LORD given by Zechariah, the prophet speaks about the way the LORD will save Jerusalem. Her enemies will stagger in drunkenness as they slice themselves open trying to lift this heavy stone. Their horses and riders will be useless in battle, for the LORD will devour His enemies by fire as all His people, from the greatest to the least, receive His victory....

The prophet continues to speak against those who have set their might against the LORD and His people. Through a parable and an action prophecy, the LORD commands Zechariah to be a shepherd to a flock that is doomed to slaughter. Because of their idolatrous past, the people of Israel had been sent into exile. The two staffs in the shepherd’s hands were broken, because Israel abandoned the LORD’s f...

Zechariah proclaims that the LORD alone provides rain for the fields; idols are worthless. Because the leaders of God’s people have pointed them toward idols, the LORD of hosts will punish them, and He will send the Savior as the cornerstone, the tent peg, and the battle bow. Through this Savior the LORD will save all His people and bring them back to Himself, even from the farthest reaches of the...

In the second part of his book, Zechariah preaches especially about the coming King for the people of God. The LORD sees not only His people; He sees all people. Neither the Phoenicians nor the Philistines will be able to stand against the LORD or His people. Jerusalem will rejoice, for the LORD is sending His humble King who will put an end to warfare and bring peace and righteousness over all th...

As the first part of the book of Zechariah comes to an end, the LORD of hosts speaks ten promises concerning the restoration and redemption of His people. He will guard them jealously, dwelling in their midst and giving them complete safety. As He brings them to dwell in Jerusalem, they will be His people, and He will be their God. He will bless them with peace in their land, so that they can serv...

On December 7, 518 BC, the Word of the LORD comes to Zechariah to answer a question regarding ongoing religious practices. Now that the temple is being rebuilt, a delegation from Bethel wants to know if the fasts observed for the first temple’s destruction should continue or not. The LORD does not give a simple “yes” or “no” answer in response. He questions His people concerning the reason for the...

In Zechariah’s eighth vision, he sees four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains. The LORD who dwells in His holy temple is powerful and active in all the world for the sake of His people. As Zechariah’s visions come to an end, the LORD gives an action prophecy for Zechariah to perform. From the wealth brought back from Babylon, Zechariah is to make a crown for the high priest Josh...

In Zechariah’s sixth vision, he sees an enormous scroll with writing on both sides. This Word from God convicts the people of their sin and goes out over all the whole earth; no one will escape the Law’s condemnation. Only in Christ will the curse be removed. In Zechariah’s seventh vision, he sees a basket with a heavy leaden lid, holding in a woman named “Wickedness.” This provides a picture of t...

In Zechariah’s fifth vision, he sees a golden lampstand flanked by two olive trees. The conversation between the prophet and the LORD’s messenger indicates the great importance of this vision. The lampstand is a reminder of the LORD’s constant watchfulness and presence with His people, and the continual flow of oil from the two trees shows how the LORD will provide constant light for His people. T...

In Zechariah’s fourth vision, the prophet sees the high priest, Joshua, standing in the heavenly courtroom clothed with filthy garments. This shows his own uncleanness and the uncleanness of all the people of God. Just as Satan stands ready to accuse and condemn Joshua, the messenger of the LORD steps forward to rebuke Satan and give Joshua new garments. This is a picture of the LORD’s cleansing f...

In Zechariah’s third vision, he sees a man with a measuring line. This man intends to measure Jerusalem in order to construct its walls, but the LORD sends Zechariah to stop this man. Walls will not be needed, because the LORD is the fiery protection of His people as He dwells in their midst. For that reason, God’s people need to return home to Him in Zion. There, He will protect them from their e...

On February 15, 519 BC, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah and showed him a first vision: a man riding a red horse. The messenger who leads Zechariah in this vision is the messenger of the LORD, the pre-incarnate Christ. When He reveals to Zechariah that His patrolling riders have found the earth at rest, the cry goes up before the LORD to ask how long before He has mercy on HIs people. The LO...

The prophet Zechariah preached to the people of Judah who had returned from exile beginning in October or November in 520 BC. He was a contemporary of Haggai, but his ministry and writing were both longer. The first part of his book features eight visions that point especially toward the new temple, and the second part of his book features two burdens that point especially toward the new king, par...

On December 18, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet twice. The first time, the LORD instructed Haggai to question the priests concerning the transmission of holiness and uncleanness. While uncleanness is passed from one person to the next, holiness cannot come from any other source than the LORD in His Word. Therefore, the people must return again to the LORD. By His grace alon...

On October 17, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people in Judah. The LORD calls them to remember the previous temple in its glory and contrast it to the temple that they are currently rebuilding. Although the rebuilt temple seems like nothing to them, the LORD gives strength to His people throu...

On August 29, 520 BC, the Word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet to the two primary leaders of the Judean exiles who had returned home to Jerusalem. Although the people had started to rebuild the temple about twenty years before, the work had stalled, and the people had become complacent. They cared more about their own houses than the LORD’s house. Because they were neglecting the LORD and H...