Volume 11

Published

Newly published by the Ministry of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States.

Foreword.

As the 11th part of the edition of Luther's works, containing the first volume of the Church Postil, which was edited by Dr. J. G. Walch, is herewith handed over to the public in a

Editorial.

Above all, an accurate, coherent presentation of the history of Luther's church postilion is needed. Strict chronological order should help most easily to gain insight and overview

Judgments of Lutheran Theologians on Luther's Church Postils.

Johann Mathesius judges as follows: "Because in the papacy the Sunday Gospels, for the sake of legends, were often omitted, and few postils, outside of the Tauleri, were available,

before the Latin Postille or Interpretation of the Epistles and Gospels by Advent, published in 1521 and soon translated into German.*)

To the Most Serene Prince and Lord, Lord Frederick, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Saxony, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen, his most gracious Lord, Martinus

The interpretation of the Epistles and Gospels from the first Advent to Epiphany, to Mr. Albrecht, Count of Mänsfeld, from the year 1521.

Together with a small lesson on what to look for and wait for in the Gospels*). Grace and peace of God, amen. The holy king David, when he wanted to appoint heirs to his royal thro

A small lesson on what one should look for and wait for in the Gospels.*)

It is a strong custom that the gospels are counted and named according to the books, saying: There are four gospels. Hence it comes that one knows nothing of what St. Paul and Pete

Luther's Foreword

Mercy and peace! What is this, my dear printers, that one so publicly robs and steals from another, and corrupts you among yourselves? Have you now also become highwaymen and thiev

Luther's Foreword to the summer part of his church postilion, containing the interpretation of the Gospels from Easter to Advent, collected by Stephan Rodt and published in 1527*).

To the Christian reader, Grace and peace, I should have long since let the postils of the summer part go out; so I have also let myself endure this, among other business, that I th

M. Stephan Rodt's Foreword to the aforementioned summer portion of Luther's church postilla.**)

To the Christian reader grace and peace from God through Jesus Christ. In the course of a few years, a number of sermons and homilies have gone out under the name of D. Martin Luth

Luther's Foreword to his Festpostille prepared by M. Steph. Rodt in the year 1527.*)

These sermons from the most important festivals in the year we leave out, dear reader, because we are concerned that they were written by some at the time when I preached them, mig

M. Stephan Rodt's Foreword to the aforementioned Festpostille of Luther.*)

Stephanus Rodt to the reader. Friendly dear reader, because I notice that my work, so I turned to the summer postilla, has not been unfruitful with many, I am caused by it, the ser

Luther's Foreword to the winter part of the said postilla, written out by M. Stephan Rodt in 1528.**)

Grace and peace in Christ. My dear reader, these sermons, which were previously almost untidily and clumsily put together by others and went out through the printing press, I have

M. Stephan Rodt's Foreword to the aforementioned Winter portion of the Church Postils of Luther.*)

Grace and peace from God the Father, through Jesus Christ His Son, our Lord and Savior! Friendly dear reader! After I indicated in the previous two parts of the sermons of D. Marti

D. Caspar Creuziger's letter

To the Most Serene and Highborn Prince and Lord, Lord George, Prince of Anhalt and Ascania, Count of Bernburg, Provost of Magdeburg, my gracious Lord. Grace and peace of God throug

Luther's Foreword to his church postils reworked by D. Creuziger in 1543*).

I believe that we preachers of the Gospel at this time may boast in God our Lord with a clear conscience, as St. Paul boasts in 1 Cor. 1. boasts and says: "I thank my God always fo

Table of Contents.

<w

Dr. Martin Luther's Church Postil.

Now when they were come near Jerusalem to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go into the place which is before you, and soon

On the second Sunday of Advent.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth men shall be afraid, and shall tremble; and the sea and the waves of waters shall roar. A

On the third Sunday of Advent.

And when John heard the works of Christ in prison, he sent two of his disciples, saying, Art thou he that should come, or shall we wait for another? Jesus answered and said unto th

On the fourth Sunday of Advent.

1 The evangelist describes with many words and makes great the testimony of John. For although it would have been enough for him to write of John, "He confessed," he repeats it aga

On Christmas Day.

But it came to pass at that time that a commandment went out from the emperor Augustus that all the world should be protected. And this protection was the very first, and happened

On the second day of Christ.

And when the angels were departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go now to Bethlehem, and see the thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath

On the third day of Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. The same was in the beginning with God. All things are made through the same, and without the same n

St. Stephen's Day.

Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scholars of Christ: and of them ye shall kill and crucify some, and some ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and per

On St. John's Day.

Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me. And Peter turned, and saw the disciple following, whom Jesus loved, who also lay at his breast at supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth

On the Sunday after Christmas Day.

And his father and mother marveled at the things spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this man is set for a fall, and for a standing out o

On New Year's Day.

And when eight days were expired for circumcising the child, his name was called Jesus, which was called of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (1) On this day the New Y

On the day of the three kings.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, the wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is the newborn King of t

On the first Sunday after Epiphany.

And his parents went up to Jerusalem every year for the feast of Easter. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. And when

On the first Sunday after Epiphany.*)

1. Until now, under the blindness of the papacy, nothing else has been known to teach or preach about the dear saints of God, except that they have been showered with intemperate p

The next Sunday after Epiphany.

And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of JEsu was there. JEsu and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. And when there was no wine,

On the third Sunday after Epiphany.

And when he was come down from the mountain, much people followed him. And, behold, a leper came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus

On the fourth Sunday after Epiphany.

And he entered into the ship, and his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, so that the little ship also was covered with waves; and he slept

On the fifth Sunday after Epiphany.

He set before them another similitude, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while the people slept, his enemy came and sowed tare

On the Sunday of Septuagint.

The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day's wages, he se

On Sexagesimä Sunday.

And when there were many people together, and they hasted to him out of the cities, he said by a parable, There went out a sower to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the

On the Sunday of Quinquagesimä.

And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of ma

On the first Sunday in Lent.*)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, that he might be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he hungered. And the tempter came u

On the easter Sunday in Lent.*)

And Jesus went out from thence, and escaped into the region of Tyro and Sidon. And, behold, a Canaanite woman went out of that border, and cried after him, saying, Lord, thou Son o

On the third Sunday in Lent.*)

And he cast out a devil, which was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was cast out, that the dumb man spake. And the people marveled. But some of them said: He casts out dev

On Sundays in the middle fast.*)

After this, Jesus sailed across the sea from the city of Tiberias in Galilee. And great multitudes followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were sick.

On Sunday Judica.

Jesus said to the Jews, "Who among you can accuse me of sin? But if I tell you the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears the word of God. Therefore you do not he

On Palm Day.

Now when they were come near Jerusalem to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go into the place which is before you, and soon

A Sermon from the contemplation of the Holy Passion of Christ.*)

(1) First, some consider the suffering of Christ as being angry with the Jews. They sing and reproach poor Judas, and so leave it enough; just as they are accustomed to reproach ot

Sermon of Confession and the Sacrament.*)

(1) Although I have often preached and written about the sacrament and confession, yet because the time comes again yearly, which is ordained to be dealt with for the sake of those

On Easter Day.*)

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary Jacob, and Salome, bought specimens, that they might come and anoint him. And they came unto the sepulchre on a sabbath day

A beautiful sermon on the reception of the Holy Sacrament. *)

(1) Your beloved has often heard before how one should oppose this time to receive the reverend Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. But because these days are ordained to be

On Easter Day.*)

(1) First, we must overlook a little the text of history, according to which the benefit of Christ's resurrection is to be dealt with, and how we are to build upon it. So the text

On Easter Monday.*)

And, behold, two of them went that same day unto a place which was sixty leagues from Jerusalem, whose name is Emmaus. And they talked with one another of all these things. And it

On Easter Tuesday.*)

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them: Peace be with you! And they were afraid, and thought that they saw a spirit. And he said unto t

On the Sunday after Easter.*)

Now in the evening of the same Sabbath, when the disciples were gathered together, and the doors were shut, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto

The Sunday after Easter.

1 Further, John the Evangelist writes that Thomas was not present when the Lord first appeared to all the disciples on Easter evening. Now, the fact that the Lord came just when Th

The second Sunday after Easter.*)

I am a good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But a hireling that is not a shepherd, that owneth not the sheep, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the she

On the third Sunday after Easter.*)

Over a little one ye shall not see me; but over a little one ye shall see me: for I go unto the Father. Then said some of his disciples one to another, What is this that he saith u

On the fourth Sunday after Easter.*)

But now I go to him that sent me; and none of you ask me, Whither goest thou? But because I have spoken these things unto you, your heart is filled with sorrow. But I tell you the

On the fifth Sunday after Easter.*)

On the day of John the Baptist.*)

And Elizabeth's time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and friends heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with he

On the day of John the Baptist,

(1) We have kept this feast from St. John the Baptist, not for his sake, but for the sake of his ministry. For as you will hear in the song of his father Zachariah, John is praised

The Benedictus or prophecy of Zachariah interpreted.

1 Here the good man speaks of things as if it had already happened, when he says: "He has visited and redeemed his people. For he is so sure; so also the child John was present, wh

On the day of Peter and Paul.

(1) Almost everyone is undoubtedly aware of how I, Martin Luther, challenged the abuse of Roman indulgences at that time, and moved to do so out of Christian faithfulness and good

On the day that Mary went to Elizabeth.*)

And Mary arose in those days, and went up into the mountains to the end of the city of Jude, and came into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, when

On the day that Mary went to Elizabeth.

This gospel is described to us as an example and teaching, namely, what the fruits of faith are; for, as you have often heard, a Christian being stands alone in these two things, f

On the day of Margaret.

But sometimes the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure in the field, which a man found and hid, and went away rejoicing over it, and sold all that he had, and bought the fie

Summa of the Gospel according to Bugenhagen.*)

1. the treasure and the pearl is the gospel, which is hidden from the flesh, but by the spirit of faith it is found; which faith for the sake of the same denies all things, that it

On the day of Magdalene.

But one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner. And whe

Summa of the Gospel.*)

1. Here you see true signs of righteous repentance or correction, which is hypocrisy where the deed is not. *) This summa is found in Erl. A. 64, 268.

On the day of Jacob the Apostle. *)

Then the mother of the children of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and fell down before him, and asked something of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto

On the day Annä.

This is the book of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac begat Jacob. Jacob begat Judah and his brethren. Judah begat

On the day Laurentii.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall l

Summa of the Gospel.*)

1 The Lord takes a likeness of the seed that is cast into the field, which bringeth forth no fruit, except it dieth utterly, after all that it is. 2. Christ said that he would not

On the day of the Assumption of Mary.*)

And it came to pass, as they walked, he went into a market. There was a woman named Martha, who took him into her house. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet and lis

On the day of Bartholomew the Apostle.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I love you. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I

Summa of the Gospel.*)

(1) After faith nothing is required of us but love; as St. Paul says to the Romans, Cap. 13:8, "Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfil

History of the beheading of John the Baptist.

And Herod sent and took John, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philippi's wife: for he had espoused her. And John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to

Summa of history.*)

This history and gospel contains an example of a gross unbelief that despises everything. 2. Herod knows that he is acting wickedly.

On the day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary?*)

This is the book of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac begat Jacob. Jacob begat Judah and his brethren. Judah begat

On the day of the lifting up of the cross of Christ.*)

Now judgment is coming upon the world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw them all to myself. He said this to indic

Summa of the Gospel.

1. Christ destroyed the kingdom of death with his death. 2 One may well believe the gospel,

From the cross of Christ.

We must speak a little about today's feast of the Holy Cross, because a great abuse has arisen from it. The feast is called the "Raising of the Holy Cross," and came from the fact

Summa of the Gospel.*)

Here we have an example of faith in Matthew and an example of love in Christ. *) Cf. Erl. A. 64, 259. ed.

On the day of Michaelmas.

At that hour the disciples came to Jesus and said: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a child to him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I s

Summa of the Gospel.*)

The world thinks that Christ's kingdom is a carnal, worldly, bodily, temporal kingdom; therefore it also invents a bodily, external, worldly worship. 2 A true Christian is one who

Offense of two things.

1. offense is an offense in which faith and love are abused. The faith is violated when someone teaches something different from what is written in the holy scriptures, because the

On the day of Simonis and Jude.

This I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are no

Summa of the Gospel.*)

(1) There is a good and rich consolation against it, when the world hates us. 2. the world must hate us for the sake of the gospel, because the Father is not revealed to it through

On the day of All Saints' Day.*)

And when he saw the people, he went up into a mountain, and sat down; and his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are they which are

Interpretation of the Gospel, together with a preface of the Holy Glory.

(1) Before we proceed to the Gospel, we must say a little about today's feast, which is called the feast of all the saints, which has been established throughout the world, and is

On the day Martin.

And Jesus said, A nobleman went into a country afar off, that he might possess a kingdom, and then return. And he called for ten of his servants, and gave them ten pounds, and said

Summa of the Gospel.*)

First, notice the little word here where he says, "He called for his servants. No one preaches without a calling and without being asked. 2. if thou art called or appointed to the

On the day Catharina.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet their bridegroom. But five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took

On the day of the consecration of the church.

And he went in, and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man called Zacchaeus, which was a ruler of publicans, and was rich: and he desired to see Jesus, who he was, an