Trinity 23 2023. Be Followers of Christ - Caesar's Coin

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Standard Time

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #4          God Himself Is Present        
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #239            Come Thou Almighty King

Be Followers of Christ

The Communion Hymn #316                O Living Bread
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 339              All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Prayers and Announcements

• The roses are in honor of Anita Engleman and our Veterans.
• In treatment - Kermit Way; Randy Anderson; ; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris; Sarah Buck; Lori Howell; Dr. Lito Cruz and his father. 
• Pray for those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.
• Callie and her parents; little Aaron with the heart problem;
• Pray for those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.

KJV Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation [ πολιτευμα, citizenship ] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

KJV Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Twenty-Third Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father: we thank Thee that Thou hast hitherto granted us peace and graciously spared us from war and foreign dominion: We pray Thee, graciously let us continue to live in Thy fear according to Thy will, giving no cause for wars or other punishment; govern and direct our magistrates, that they may not hinder the obedience due to Thee, but maintain righteousness, that we may enjoy happiness and blessing under their government, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Be Followers of Christ

KJV Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

This is an interesting way to deal with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The assumption is - "He is just another teacher and no different from other teachers. In fact, we are smarter than He is." That sounds odd to believers but the logic is typical of unbelievers. They harden themselves against the truth and carry on as enemies. Being clever is not the same as being truthful or sincere. The word sincere comes from Latin - "without wax." Broken pottery was put together with wax to hide the problem. Customers wanted them in the hot sun to see if they were without wax. People who were sincere were also called "tested by the sun" in Greek. 

America lost a clever Lutheran professor (son of missionaries) who made a lot of money for himself, gathered many friends, and wrote books mocking the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, His miracles, His atoning death and resurrection. I heard Carl Braaten speak with great emotion about working with the Pope, during an assembly at Augustana College in Rock Island. I wonder what he thought about Pope Francis, SJ, fancying himself as the ultimate anti-Pope - not Lutheran but against anything resembling the Christian Faith. 

16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 

The opponents first had to establish that Jesus sinned by touching the coinage of the Roman Empire. The trap is so conniving that it builds a concept of Jesus being false and accepting the image of a pagan. We have to see this as a great lesson for ourselves. Jesus was without sin and only doing good things for others, but the abundance of His divine mercy and staggering miracles made His opponents angry and angling for this trap.

We should remember that the mildest form of faith in us is spotted by the Evil Foe and readied for a target. The faithful are addressed sarcastically  "You can't possibly believe that..." I heard that a house where a "Lutheran" was visiting. He denied the resurrection.

KJV 1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason (apology, defense) of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

The haughtiness gives away the true attitude of the opponents. This approach can be used for topics that are only understood through faith. A good example is the Trinity, though it was well known and believed long before the New Testament began. The Atonement of Christ was clearly taught in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 - but not understood. Those 39 books of the Old Testament, which I teach year around are, like parts of an enormous mosaic where each piece by itself becomes overwhelming when all are put together. The Scriptures are unified and completely harmonious, which is why Luther called the Bible "The Book of the Holy Spirit."

Hagia Sophia, Constantinople

 Notre Dame Library, South Bend

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and planning. That is frightening for unbelievers but comforting for believers. We know and trust that the Lord of Creation knows our hearts, our intents, our trust in Him. He helps us even with the tiniest details of life, as well as the major difficulties and wounds. He begins to help us before we think to ask (Isaiah) and He blesses us far more than we pray. Those matters deepen our trust in Him and we realize He is always freeing us from sin.

Jesus sharply addressed these wise guys because He knew they needed to be shaken out of their pride and conceit. People rushed to see and hear Him because He alone taught the righteousness of God instead of the burden of the Pharisaic Law. Like the rich young man, people walked away, because they wanted material blessings but not the Gospel. Others were overwhelmed with food but want another miracle.

19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Luther:

7. Here you see the master stroke the Lord uses. He asks them to hand him the tribute money and inquires whose image and superscription it bears. Then they answer him Caesar’s. He then freely concluded that they were subject to Caesar, to whom they were obligated to pay tax and tribute. As if he should say: Have you thus permitted Caesar to come among you, so that he mints your money, and his coin is in circulation and favor among you, then he has triumphed in the game, as if he said: you are to blame that Caesar is your ruler. What should they do now in the face of this answer? They marveled and went away, they thought they would conquer him in a masterly manner, but their wisdom and shrewdness deceived them.

As always Luther displays the humor in the response of Jesus, who has been set up as either the enemy of Judaism or of Rome. In many cases, asking a question solves the problem. Jesus asked the opponents to show what they had in coinage, revealing the simple fact that they were accusing Jesus of using Roman money (to subvert their nation and their religion). They were using the evidence against Jesus against themselves. They were astonished at His superior understanding and walked away marveling.

The churches of the United States failed a similar test. They were ordered to stop public worship. Hardly any church kept the doors open when ordered. However the US Constitution states -

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Everything Jesus did was completely legal, and His innocence was proved. That only inflamed the opponents. Pilate washed his hands to show his rejection of the false accusations, but the potential for rioting led to the trial of Jesus being carried out.

Response today is similar, and the same errors against Jesus are repeated today. Our completely secular society, which lacks the divine purpose, is weak and futile against the fads and follies of the moment. Luther pointed this out clearly - God cannot lose the battle - it is impossible. The very actions against God are the ones bringing down the created order. The martyrs (literally, the witnesses) spread the Gospel by their willingness to die for the Word of God. As Bunyan pointed out - we may be in Castle Doom, but the Promises are in our pockets. We only need to use the Promises to escape the Castle. 

Two forces are at work - God's plan and Satan's devices. If people take on the slave mentality, the end will come more quickly. That is in God's hands, as shown by the Roman Empire (one of my favorite hobbies). The Roman traditions were so strict and ridiculous that one Roman Emperor  after the time of Jesus was able to do whatever he wanted in public because he was the Emperor. Rome began collapsing right after the death and resurrection of the Savior. Caesar Augustus led to Tiberius and Nero, then Caligula and total collapse soon after - exactly like all empires. (Go back a ways and the Republic of 
Rome required men to marry women or they could not be citizens of the Republic. Later, the Emperor Nero rode around with a boy as his "wife." 

My parents, 70 years ago, used to say at the dinner table, "We are becoming Rome." They had a classical education in the public system, and they knew about Roman history, debauchery and collapse.

Americans today have all the power they need, to stand up for the Constitution which was based upon God's Creation (but not burdened by state sponsored denominations, like England's official religion). It is said that many came to America to leave behind the Satanism of Europe, which has blossomed all over the West. 

The time has come for people to emphasize the true Word of God rather than venerating the corporate structure of their denominations. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 23 - "But what if they would take the Gospel from us or forbid us to preach it? Then you are to say: The Gospel and Word of God I will not give up to you."

 

Luther's Complete Sermon -> 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 22:15-22.
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity

23. Although they did not deserve it of the Lord, yet he teaches them the right way. And with these words he also confirms the worldly sword or government. They had hoped he would condemn it and speak against it; he does not do it, however, but praises earthly government and commands to render unto it what is due to it. It is therefore his desire that there should be magistrates, princes and masters, whom we are to obey, be they what they may and what they list; neither should we ask whether they possess and exercise government and authority justly or unjustly. We should only pay heed to that power and authority which is good, for it is ordered and instituted by God, Romans 13:1: You are not allowed to upbraid the government, when at times you are oppressed by princes and tyrants, who abuse the power they have from God: some day they will surely have to answer for it. The abuse of a thing does not make it bad, if it was good in itself. A golden chain is good, and it is not made worse by being worn around a whore’s neck; or if someone were to destroy one of my eyes with it, should I therefore blame the chain? Truly nay.

24. Thus one must also bear the authority of the ruler. If he abuses it, I am not therefore to bear him a grudge, nor take revenge of and punish him with my hands. One must obey him solely for God’s sake, for he stands in God’s stead. Let them impose taxes as intolerable as they may: one must obey them and suffer everything patiently, for God’s sake. Whether they do right or not, that will be taken care of in due time. If therefore your possessions, aye, your life and whatsoever you have, be taken from you by those in power, then you are to say: I give it to you willingly, I acknowledge you as my masters, gladly will I be obedient to you. Whether you use the power given to you by God well or ill, that is your affair.

25. But what if they would take the Gospel from us or forbid us to preach it? Then you are to say: The Gospel and Word of God I will not give up to you. This is not within your power, for your rule is a temporal rule, over worldly matters; but the Gospel is a spiritual, heavenly treasure, and therefore your authority does not extend over the Gospel and God’s Word.

We recognize the emporer as a master of temporal affairs, not of God’s Word; this we shall not suffer to be torn from us, for it is the power of God, Romans 1:16, against which not even the gates of hell shall prevail.

26. Therefore, the Lord beautifully summarizes these two things, and in one saying distinguishes them from each other: “Render unto Caesar the things that ,are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” This honor is due to God, that we are to hold him as a true, almighty and wise God, and attribute to him all the good things that can be named. And even if I do not render him this honor, he still keeps it; nothing is added to or subtracted from it. But in me he is true, almighty and wise, if I consider him as such, and believe him to be such as he proclaims himself. To the emperor, however, and to all in power, are due reverence, taxes, revenue and obedience. God will have the heart; body and possessions are the government’s, which is to rule over them in God’s stead. This St. Paul says to the Romans in round and clear words, Romans 13:1-7: “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. Hence for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

27. And for this reason also has government been ordained by God, that it may uphold general peace, which thing alone cannot be paid for by all the money in the world. We just noticed a few things in the uprising of the peasant, what damage, misery and woe are caused by rebellion and the breaking of peace. God grant that things do not go further and that we experience no more. Enough is said on this Gospel. Of temporal government we have written a special booklet. Whoever desires to read it may do so. There he will find more on this subject.

Martyrs of the Reformation - Alec Satin's Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

 

May God bless you now and always. From your Lutheran Librarian,

📅 NEW PUBLICATIONS AND UPDATES

Martyrs of the Reformation by Merle D'Aubigne “The personal sketches contained in this volume… constitute a notable gallery of religious portraits. They cannot but be read with the deepest interest. - From the Introduction Of note are Wolsey’s Victim’s, William Tyndale, and Luther: His Triumph in Death Contents Titlepage Index of Names Introduction by C Bulkley 1. William Sawtre, First Martyr to Protestantism in England, A.D. 1401 2. Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, A.D. 1417 3. Richard Hun, A.D. 1516 4. John Brown, A.D. 1517 5. The ... Read more The Pope, The Kings and The People by William Arthur “A History of the Movement to make the Pope governor of the World by a Universal Reconstruction of Society from the Issue of the Syllabus to the Close of the Vatican Council.” From the Introduction: Contents Epigraph Titlepage Editor’s Preface Preface Postscript to the Preface List of Works Contents Book 1: From the Issue of the Syllabus to its Solemn Confirmation, December 1864 to June 1867 1. The First Command 2. The Encyclical “Quanta Cura”, 1864 3. Foundation of a Literature of ... Read more The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol. 20, Matthias Loy, Editor This issue contains “What is the Motive to Do Right” by Matthias Loy, “The Lafayette of the Reformation” by Pfleuger, and “The Christian’s Consolation In Contemplating Death And The Judgment” by Rev. M. R. Walter. “This Magazine is designed to supply the want, long since felt, of a Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion. Its aim will be the exposition and defense of the doctrines of the Church as confessed in the Book of Concord. Theology in all its departments is embraced ... Read more The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol. 19, Matthias Loy, Editor This issue contains The Charge of Narrowness by Matthias Loy, The Point of Emphasis in Preaching Christ to the Unsaved by J Sheatsley, Joseph Rabinowitz by Rev. Paul Janowitz, and many other articles. Enjoy! “This Magazine is designed to supply the want, long since felt, of a Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion. Its aim will be the exposition and defense of the doctrines of the Church as confessed in the Book of Concord. Theology in all its departments is embraced within ... Read more The Conservative Reformation by Charles Porterfield Krauth “The history of Christianity… moves under the influence of two generic ideas: the conservative, which desires to secure the present by fidelity to the results of the past; the progressive, which looks out, in hope, to a better future. Reformation is the great harmonizer of the two principles. “Conservatism without Progress produces the Romish and Greek (Orthodox) type. Progress without Conservatism runs into Revolution, Radicalism, and Sectarianism.” - Charles Krauth, from the ... Read more Luther Examined and Reexamined by William Dau “Rome has never acknowledged her errors nor admitted her moral defeat. The lessons of past history are wasted upon her… A recent Catholic writer correctly says: ‘There is no doubt that the religious problem today is still the Luther problem.’ Almost every statement of those religious doctrines which are opposed to (Roman) Catholic moral teaching find their authorization in the theology of Martin Luther.” – William Dau Contents Preface. 1 Luther Worship. 2 Luther Hatred. 3 Luther ... Read more

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ELCA Now Has 36 Women Bishops Out of 66 - A 55% Yield. What Hath Braaten-Jenson Wrought?

 

ELCA's first openly transgender bishop did not last long.

2023 – 36 of 66 ELCA Bishops Are Female (55%)

1. Wilma Kucharek (2002)
2. Elizabeth Eaton (2007)
3. Shelley Wickstrom (2012)
4. Ann Svennungsen (2012)
5. Tracie Bartholomew (2013)
6. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt (2013)
7. Patricia Lull (2014)
8. Katherine Finnegan (2017)
9. Deborah Hutterer (2018)
10. Patricia Davenport (2018)
11. Idalia Negrón (2018)
12. Laurie Skow-Anderson (2018)
13. Sue Briner (2018)
14. Lorna Halaas (2019)
15. Laurie Larson Caesar (2019)
16. Shelley Bryan Wee (2019)
17. Regina Hassanally (2019)
18. Constanze Hagmaier (2019)
19. Laurie Jungling (2019)
20. Susan Candea (2019)
21. Leila Ortiz (2019)
22. Ginny Aebischer (2020 SC)
23. Amy Current (2020 SE IA)
24. Tessa Moon Leiseth (2020 E ND)
25. Amy Odgren (2020 NE MN)
26. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe (2020 SC WI)
27. Laura Barbins (2020 NE Ohio)
28. Anne Edison-Albright (2020 E Central WI)
29. Brenda Bos (2021, SW CA)
30. Paula Schmitt (2021, Allegheny)
31. Dee Pederson (2021, SW MN)
32. Staci Fidlar (2022, Northern IL)
33. Clair Burkat (2022, Interim Bishop in the Sierra Pacific Synod)
34. Meggan Manlove (2023, NW Intermountain)
35. Becca Midweek-Conlin (2023, Arkansas/Oklahoma)
36. Phyllis Milton (2023, Virginia)

Religious News Service - She Is Loose! 2018

Briner: (Southwestern Texas Synod) has some of the fastest-growing cities in the entire U.S. along the corridor of San Antonio to Austin and beyond. We have people of all ages moving in, but they’re not generally coming to church. So we have an incredible opportunity there, but a lot of it is thinking about how are we different. We’ve become a really settled people who have become very comfortable with the way we’ve always done things. So trying to figure out, how do we be open to the Spirit and be open to the Spirit’s work? Because I’m telling you what, the Spirit is up to something …

Bishops: Amen. Yes, she is.

Briner: … if we would just let her out.

Bishops: Let her out. Get out of her way.

Briner: Open the doors and let her out.

Bishops: She’s out! She is loose!

Briner: I see that in all sorts of little ways. As I sit around the table and listen to this, I think, Wow, God, you are up to something. We’re working with a lot with congregations on, how do we cooperate with one another — not to stay alive, because that’s no good, it really is, how do we cooperate together for the sake of mission, for the sake of the world that Jesus loves so that we can be in the communities working with each other?

 ELCiC in Canada has but one bishop

ELCA Professor Carl Braaten, A Paul Tillich Groupie, Has Died, Age 94 - Co-Author of Notorious Braaten-Jenson Two-Volume Christian Dogmatics

 

Carl Braaten promoted the faith without belief  gibberish that overturned what his missionary father taught. Oddly, Carl thought the Seminex faculty, who joined Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, were the real radicals.

Braaten and his team of professorial apostates put together a massive, two-volume Christian Dogmatics where all the basics of the Christian Faith were denied. I bought the set from Fortress so I could copy the main quotes. Then I sent it back saying it was a pile of rubbish, trying to be polite. Fortress wrote back, "They are using it in all our seminaries." Soon after, Fortress was denying the seminaries were using it as their textbook.

An LCA pastor said at a retreat I attended on my way out, "Everyone should get Braaten-Jenson. They are conservatives. Their colleagues are saying that God-language is useless and meaningless now." 

"Later they quote Braaten again, saying that as ELCA Lutherans we believe as truth, "If Jesus is the Lord and Savior, he is the universal Lord and Savior, not merely my personal Lord and Savior. Because Jesus is the unique and universal Savior, there is a large hope for salvation, not only for me and others with the proper credentials of believing and belonging to the church, but for all people whenever or wherever they might have lived and no matter how religious or irreligious they may have proved to be themselves."

One of the blokes said in their book - The Trinity is nothing more than God, the man Jesus, and the Spirit as the spirit of the believing community. [From memory, more or less] That should make everyone jump up and buy the $80 two-volume set.

AAL/Lutheran Brotherhood/Thrivent kept getting the LCA/ALC/LCMS/WELS/Thrivent professors and leaders together as one giant marketing scheme, though watered down with other non-profits, not just the apostates Lutherans.

I could go on about where Braaten-Jenson took the Lutherans. I even published Liberalism, Its Cause and Cure. The collapse has already begun, but it really started in those early days when they could get away with undermining Lutheran doctrine and the KJV.

The Race Continues with Dustmop, Porchi, and Charlie Sue

 

I should get some photos of Charlie Sue soon. She is the leader along the fence-line. We have a pug on west fence, Doggie Daycare on the north fence, Dustmop and Porchi on the south fence. The south was dug in many places so chicken wire was attached to the fence and along the ground.

A group of children were outside (70+ degrees) with Little White Dustmop and Porchi. Charlie was itching to do more running, so I talked with the kids and yelled "Run, run, run!" at the competing dogs. Charlie got this going, and Porchi joined. Dustmop is around many days, so he learned the chant too. 

Porchi wanted some personal time, so he stood on his hind legs against the fence and enjoyed his huge head being stroked while I praised him. He likes that more than running, but he does both. All three dogs have dug under the fence to some extent. Dustmop could run under it both ways, no trouble. I have added more heavy objects along the part where the chicken wire bends onto the ground to impede their adventures.

I gave Porchi two toys to play with and bring back, on a quieter day. He took each one with glee and looked hurt about bringing them back. He walked as far away as possible to work them over. He has not learned to share.

Charlie loves chasing balls and squeaker toys but does not bring them back. She makes a point of hiding them. She parked three of them along the fence shared by Doggie Day Care. It will be funny to see if she places them back there later. When the grass and weeds were high in a couple of places, balls were hard to find. She fetches them back part of the time, hides them the rest of the time.

St. Narthexius Is Hard To Find These Days

 

St. Narthexius and his coffee beans have been banned from the Contemptible Worship congregations - due to popcorn, soft drinks, and worse. His beans were too stout, just like his doctrine.

Which denomination? They are all the same, go to all the same conferences, and think all the same things about Mammon, the source of their glee...and downfall.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Therefore we are to put all our trust only in the Lord, and say: "O Lord, thou art my life, my soul and body, my goods and possessions, and all that is mine."

 

Luther's Complete Sermon -> 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 22:15-22.
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity

18. Therefore we are to put all our trust only in the Lord, and say: O Lord, thou art my life, my soul and body, my goods and possessions, and all that is mine. Do thou direct and ordain it all according to thy divine will. In thee do I trust, in thee do I believe. Thou wilt surely not desert me in such a perilous undertaking with such and such a man, whom I do not trust. If thou knowest it to be good for me, then see to it that he be true to me; if thou dost not see that it will help me, then do not let him keep his word. I am content, thy will be done.

19. As soon, however, as you think a purchaser to be an honest man who will keep his word, and of whom you are certain that he will not deceive you; so soon you have fallen away from God, have prayed to a specter and put your trust in a liar. Therefore, in dealing with a man, just think in this wise: If he is true, it is good; if not, why then, in God’s name, let him be; he cannot do otherwise than lie and deceive. I will leave it all to God; he will make all well.

20. Out of such false and wicked confidence placed in man there has crept into Christianity the abuse of the worship of saints. By this the Christian church, that is, the true assembly of the faithful, have suffered notable decline and damage. What else has saints’ worship been but solely a devilish thing? For thus have people reasoned: Such and such a man has been holy; such things has he said and done; therefore we will follow after him, and teach and do likewise. St. Jerome, St. Augustine, and Gregory have done this; therefore it is right, and I will believe it. St. Francis, Benedict, Dominicus, and St. Bernard have lived thus, have done such and such a thing; therefore will I also live thus, and do as they have done.

Furthermore, St. Augustine has been saved by such a rule. Alas, what a poor, unstable, miserable thing this is, nought but lies and dreams of man. I should damn St. Augustine and his rule, had he laid it down for the purpose of being saved thereby. So blind and foolish is our reason, that it will accept even a specter and a fiction, whereas only God’s Word is to be accepted in matters of salvation. If, for example, Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas and Hanes preached the Gospel, I should have to accept it. And, on the other hand, if those who are considered saints arose and preached lies, about regulations, hoods and gowns, tonsures, ceremonies and other inventions of man, I ought not to accept them. For in such cases not the persons are to be considered, but that which they preach.

21. Now someone might say: See here, would you be wiser than all church fathers and saints, than all bishops and rulers of the whole world? Far be it from me. I do not claim to be wiser than they. But this is true: It is impossible for that which is wise, prudent, great, handsome, mighty and powerful before the world to agree with the Word of God. For thus it is ordained by God, that such people must always persecute the Gospel; if they were not such the Gospel would not shine and triumph as it does. The Roman emperors Hadrian, Trojan and Diocletian were the wisest of rulers, and reigned so well that all the world praised their government. Yet they persecuted the Gospel and could not tolerate the truth. Likewise do we read of Jewish kings, Ahaz and others, who governed well, that they despised God’s Word and acted contrary to God’s will. In our times there have never been emperors, princes, or other people to compare with those.

But then it had to come to pass that God put all wisdom of this world to shame through the foolishness of preaching, 1 Corinthians 1:21.

22. All this is shown to us in this Gospel, which, though apparently simple and ordinary, is exceedingly rich and comprises many things. How then does the Lord finally deal with the Pharisees after they had shown him the tribute money, and answered that the image and superscription was Caesar’s? The Evangelist tells us that he answered thus: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesars; and unto God the things that are Gods.”

 

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