January 9, 2026

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 3:12-27

Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 3:12-27; Ezekiel 4:1-11:25; Romans 2:1-16

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me…But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 3:17, 27)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

One of the most comforting (and also scary) things that it frequently takes pastors a long time to realize is what the Lord God says to Ezekiel: “I will open your mouth and you shall say.” Pastors sometimes get a little squirrely because they can be too concerned about how the people in their charge will hear the Word of the Lord. But that isn’t part of this discussion, is it?

Pastors speak what has been given them to speak, because they have been charged to do so by the Lord of the Church. Whether or not those with ears want to hear is irrelevant; the Word must be proclaimed so that it may accomplish that for which He sent it forth, as Isaiah says.

And this is what the hearers of that proclaimed Word need to hear: “[you] are a rebellious house.” Yes, the people of God, the hearers of His Holy Word, are rebellious, and they don’t want to listen. Sound familiar? Ever been a little stubborn about hearing what you needed to hear? That’s the Old Adam in you, that is your sinful nature, rebelling against the pure and holy Word of God because it is not pleasant for the dark sin within to be bathed in such holy light.

Yet, God the Father gives you a pastor to proclaim His Word to you, whether you want to hear it or not, because you need to hear it. You need to know how much your God and Lord loves you. You need to hear that His Son, Jesus, became flesh for you to live your life, to die your death, to bear your sin, to make you new.

It may not be pleasant to hear, and you may not like the fact that you cannot do all of this on your own, but that’s how it is. Almighty God does all of the work of saving you through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. He baptizes you into that death and resurrection, and he grants eternal life to those who trust in that truth. So hear and trust that Word, even if it is difficult.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Oh, what blessing to be near You And to listen to Your voice; Let me ever love and hear You, Let Your Word be now my choice! Many hardened sinners, Lord, Flee in terror at Your Word; But to all who feel sin’s burden You give words of peace and pardon. (LSB 589:2)

Author: Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you’ll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.