GOSPEL: John 14:23-27

Reading:
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.   He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.   These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.   Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Commentary: 
In these words of our dear Savior, Jesus promised to send His disciples the Comforter, namely the Holy Ghost.  This occurred on the great day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead.  The Holy Spirit is called our Comforter, because He comforts troubled sinners with the grace of God, namely Jesus Christ.  It is He the Holy Ghost, True God, who brings to us the Gospel message that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and as Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  It is from this life, Christ our Life, that we love God and seek in faith only to serve Him.  Hence Jesus said, "If a man love Me, he will keep my words" and correspondingly "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings".  In the heart of unbelievers there is no will nor desire to obey God and keep His commandments.  Believers do love God and out of thankfulness we will to do all He has said.  Yet the confidence of our salvation never rests upon our works, but upon Christ alone who said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

EPISTLE: Acts 2:1-13

Reading:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.   And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.   And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.   And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.   Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.   And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?   And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?   Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,   Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,   Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.   And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?   Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Commentary:

When we read these words we must keep in mind the death and resurrection of Christ were very recent, and since God would have all men to be saved, He gave to His chosen apostles this "gift of tongues", which was the ability to speak a foreign language - ALL FOR THE PURPOSE of preaching the Gospel to ALL NATIONS.  Hence on the day of Pentecost there were Jews gathered from every nation to observe the great festival of the church year, seven full weeks after the second day of the Passover.  God thus by this gift enabled the Apostles to preach Jesus, namely the Gospel in different languages, so the Spirit could implant faith in the hearts of these foreigners, and thereby bring the Gospel to their homeland.  Note that hearing the Gospel of Christ these people from other countries said, "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God!"  

OT: Ezekial 36:22-28

Reading:
 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.   And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.   For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.   Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.   And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Commentary:
God is here speaking to His fallen Israel, who had departed from faith in Christ, worshipping the gods of the lands.  Though they had profaned God's name by wicked living (as have we) the Lord in His mercy would send them His Spirit, washing them clean (Holy Baptism, which was instituted in the New Testament).  Note God here foretells the coming of the Gentiles to faith.  "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness…..A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes".  These words apply to all Christians today who know "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He rose again the third day."