Gems from Luther’s Sermons, Volume 1
Luther is discussed too much, studied too little. The best
introduction to Luther is this set of sermons. He taught the Biblical doctrine
of the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace. Consequently, the preached
sermon is the most important part of the ministry, not merely teaching
Justification by Faith, but proclaiming the Gospel so that people find comfort
and encouragement in their Savior Jesus, the Son of God. The selections below
are being gathered from each volume for a final volume to inspire more people
to read Luther, for pastors to preach in the style of the Reformer.
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson, Easter Season, 2017
Human Reason Insufficient
For it is entirely above
reason that there should be three persons and each one perfect and true God,
and yet not three Gods but one God.
26. The Scholastics have argued much pro and con with their numerous subtleties, to make this doctrine comprehensible. But if you do not wish to become entangled in the meshes of the enemy, ignore their cunning, arrogance, and subtleties, and hold to these divine words. Press into them and remain in them, like a hare in a rocky crevice. If you come out and deign to listen to human talk, the enemy will lead you on and overcome you, so that you will at last not know where reason, faith, God, or even yourself are.
27. Believe me, as one who has experienced and tried it, and who does not talk into an empty barrel; the Scriptures are not given us for naught. If reason could have kept on the right road, the Scriptures would not have been given us.
26. The Scholastics have argued much pro and con with their numerous subtleties, to make this doctrine comprehensible. But if you do not wish to become entangled in the meshes of the enemy, ignore their cunning, arrogance, and subtleties, and hold to these divine words. Press into them and remain in them, like a hare in a rocky crevice. If you come out and deign to listen to human talk, the enemy will lead you on and overcome you, so that you will at last not know where reason, faith, God, or even yourself are.
27. Believe me, as one who has experienced and tried it, and who does not talk into an empty barrel; the Scriptures are not given us for naught. If reason could have kept on the right road, the Scriptures would not have been given us.
Third Sermon, Christmas Day
Not All Are Justified
87. And I cannot reject this
interpretation; for St. Paul also speaks in like manner in Romans 5:18: “As
through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so
through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men unto justification
of life.” Although all men are not justified through Christ, he is,
nevertheless, the only man through whom justification comes.
So it is also here. Although all men are not illumined, nevertheless this is the only light through which all illumination comes. The Evangelist has used this manner of speech freely, and had no fear that some might take offense because he says “all men.” He thought he would anticipate all such offense, and explains himself before and afterwards, and says: “The darkness apprehended him not, and his own received him not.” These words are sufficient proof to prevent anyone from saying that the Evangelist meant to say that all men are illumined; but he did wish to say that Christ is the only Light that lighteth all men, and without him no man is lighted.
So it is also here. Although all men are not illumined, nevertheless this is the only light through which all illumination comes. The Evangelist has used this manner of speech freely, and had no fear that some might take offense because he says “all men.” He thought he would anticipate all such offense, and explains himself before and afterwards, and says: “The darkness apprehended him not, and his own received him not.” These words are sufficient proof to prevent anyone from saying that the Evangelist meant to say that all men are illumined; but he did wish to say that Christ is the only Light that lighteth all men, and without him no man is lighted.
Third Christmas Day, or Principal Service
Persecution
This Gospel is severe against
the persecutors of faith. Yet, the severer it is against them, the more
comforting it is to the believers who are persecuted. It teaches how obstinate
the natural light, our own fancy and reason is; for when it falls into works
and commands, it no longer listens to anyone, as is set forth in the following
Gospel. But the work and fancy of reason claim to be in the right, and it does
not matter how much is preached, how many prophets God sends to her; all must
be persecuted and put to death, that oppose the great red murderess, as she is
pictured in Revelation of St. John 17:4. Here she is called Babylon the Great,
the Mother of Harlots, arrayed in purple and scarlet, sitting upon a beast,
that was also red, and having in her hand a golden cup full of the abominations
and the unclean things of her fornications, that is, the teachings of men, by
which she leads pure believing souls from faith and puts them to shame and
strangles everyone that tries to restrain her.
St. Stephen’s Day
When Will This End?
31. O, Lord God, we are too
greatly torn to atoms, too sorely crushed; O, Christ, our Lord, we poor
miserable people are too desert-like and too forsaken in these last days of thy
wrath. Our shepherds are wolves, our watchmen traitors, our protectors enemies,
our fathers murderers, and our teachers mislead us, Oh! Oh! Oh! When, when,
when will thy severe wrath have an end?
St. Stephen’s Day
The Betrayers of Christ
42. The betrayers of Christ
therefore are the hypocrites who walk about with the semblance of a holy life
and a spiritual estate, while at the same time they annihilate within
themselves and in everybody else the truth of Christianity and the light of
grace, leaving nothing but human folly. This is recognized only by such as have
true faith, and even by such only when they pay special attention to it,
investigate, examine and compare one with the other; otherwise they also will
allow such works to pass, thinking in their simplicity that they are done in
good faith, since, forsooth, they so closely resemble genuine Christian works.
And for this the traitor’s name is Judas Iscariot. Judas means “confessor,” for
all such saints confess Christ, do not openly deny him and even, in their
lives, appear better than the true confessors. Iscariot however means “reward,”
for such saints are only hirelings, egotists and seekers after pay; everything
that they do they do for themselves and nothing freely, for the honor of God,
even as Judas with his carrying of the purse only looked out for his advantage.
Behold, thus the world abounds with religious people who, at heart, are nothing
but Judas Iscariots, advantage-seekers and profit-servers, who with their
outward semblance lead all the world astray and away from the right path of
faith, despising and selling Christ, that is to say Christian truth and grace.
Of this more anon during Lent.
St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist
Faithless Teachers
Would she not be considered
a mad and impudent harlot who would have her adultery extolled even before her
husband? But this is being done by all the preachers of works and faithless
teachers, who shamelessly preach righteousness by works, but condemn faith, or
conjugal chastity, who call their lewdness chastity, but true chastity they
call lewdness. Now all this might remain hidden, and human nature and reason
might never discover such vices, for their works are too attractive and their
manners too polished. Indeed, human nature devises all this and delights in it,
believing it to be well and right, persisting and becoming hardened in it.
Therefore God sets up a sign that our nature may stumble and everybody may
learn how much higher is the Christian life than nature and reason. The virtues
of nature are sins, its light is darkness its ways are errors. We need an
entirely new heart and nature; the natural heart reveals itself as an enemy of
God.
Sunday after Christmas, from paragraph 51
Sunday after Christmas, from paragraph 51
Where Do We Find Christ? – in
the Scriptures
62. This digression was
necessary in order to reply to the false teachers and doctrines of men, and to
preserve the Scriptures in their purity. We now come back to our text and learn
of these wise men to ask: “Where is the new born King of the Jews?” Let Herod
consult the priests and scribes, we will only inquire after the new born King.
Let the universities ask, Where is Aristotle? Where is the pope? What does
human reason teach? What says St. Bernard, St. Gregory, the church councils and
the learned doctors, etc., We ask, Where is Christ? We are not satisfied until
we hear what the Scriptures say about him. We are not concerned as to how great
and holy Jerusalem is, nor how great and mighty Rome may be. We seek neither
Jerusalem nor Rome, but Christ the King in the Scriptures. If we have the
Scriptures, we cast aside Herod, the priests and the scribes, Jerusalem and
Rome, and search in them till we find Jesus.
Epiphany
Faith Remains Nature’s Fool
101. This is the kernel of
the Gospel, in which the nature and character of faith is explained as an
assurance of things not seen. It clings alone to the words of God and follows
the things that are not seen, as alone conveyed in the word of God, and looks
askance at many things which urge it to disbelieve the Word. What nature calls
playing the fool, faith calls the true way. Nature may be wise and clever,
faith remains nature’s fool and idiot, and thus comes to Christ and finds him.
St. Paul’s words, 1 Corinthians 1:25 apply here: “The foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” For feeling and
believing do not get together.
Epiphany
Love Will Cover Our Neighbor’s
Sin
180. Secondly, when our
neighbor’s deed is an open sin and cannot be otherwise construed, then love
acts thus: Has this deed been seen by, or is it known to no one else, then love
will keep it quiet and not disclose it, will tell no one of it and will, if
possible, cover it, that no one else may know of it, and will thus preserve its
neighbor’s honor; but love will also reprove him and pray for him, have
patience and mercy with him, and will think as a certain father thought, he
fell yesterday, I may fall today; or, if he sins in this thing, I sin in
another; we both need the same grace. Therefore love will forgive and help, as
we also pray that we may be forgiven and helped. Thus Christ teaches us,
Matthew 18:15: “And if thy brother sin against thee (that is, secretly, that no
one has seen it but you) go show him his fault between thee and him alone.” And
St. Paul, Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass,
ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to
thyself lest thou also be tempted.”
Epiphany
