Matth. 9, 1-8.
Then he got into the ship and crossed over again and came to his city. And, behold, they brought unto him a sick of the palsy, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, "Be of good cheer, my son; your sins are forgiven you. And behold, some of the scribes said within themselves: This one blasphemes God. And when JE saw their thoughts, he said, Why think ye evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye might know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go home. And he arose and went home. When the people saw this, they marveled and praised God, who has given such power to men.**)
This gospel, my friends of Christ, as we have and hear it every year, so I hope you also understand it and know what is presented to us in it. Would God that knowledge were thus followed by life; as we then have the several parts of the gospel.
*) This sermon is found in a b c and in a single print from 1525. Cf. Erl. A. 14, 190.
D. Red.
**) Marginal gloss to v. 1: His city: Capernaum.
We hear with our ears only, that we may know it, and not that we may live by it, though it should be judged to be of little word, but of life. But how shall we do it? We can do no more than preach, no more than lift and carry, we must preach and carry on until God comes and gives us His grace that the words may be few and the life may come forth and grow. The first part that is presented to us here is the gospel, namely, when he speaks:
Be comforted, my son, your sins are forgiven.
(2) These words indicate and have recently written what the kingdom of Christ is, namely, in which the sweet voice, these maternal and paternal words, "Your sins are forgiven you. There is no other way to look at the kingdom of Christ, as long as it is understood as how we should live towards God. As your love well knows that this is the highest thing that can rightly establish the conscience, so that we know where we stand with God and our neighbor. Therefore, we must also stand on these words and be accustomed to the sayings: "Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you," and what the gospel is full of such sayings.
(3) From this it follows that the kingdom of Christ is thus done, wherein is the consolation and forgiveness of sins, not only in word, as it should be, but also in deed, as we shall see here in this example; for he not only spoke the words in the ears of this sick man, but also forgave and comforted his sin. This knowledge is due to us Christeck. It is easy and soon spoken and heard; but when it comes to the meeting, the light is soon extinguished and the devil has soon turned us away: as you see here that the scribes dare to destroy it. I have often said it before, and I say it always, that you should watch and learn aright the nature and character of the kingdom of Christ; for we know how in all things reason is inclined to fall from faith and from this knowledge to works. But here you see no works at all, no merit, there is neither commandment nor law, there is nothing left but the offering of his help, his comfort and his grace, it is only kindness that befalls the gout-broken.
4 Therefore, if the kingdom of Christ is to be increased, one must keep out the law, and not deal in works; for it does not rhyme with this, that I say, Go forth, and walk, and do penance for thy sin; so and so must thou keep and do, that thou mayest be loosed from sin: but straightway without all works and law,
By pure grace your sins are forsaken (remitted). Therefore, this is outside the kingdom of Christ, the people with law urge.
(5) But we grasp these things with our ears and tongues alone; they do not go to the bottom of our hearts, for sin is still hanging around our necks, clinging to us, as St. Paul says to the Romans, Cap. 7, 18, 19, Heb. 12, 1, but in death we will know it. Therefore, our enthusiasts, who boast of the Holy Spirit, pretend to do better; some of them listen to us and think that it is not enough for us to preach faith and love alone: Yes, they say, you have to get better, you have to get much higher. How high do I have to go? You must tear up images, you must strike the wicked dead; and what works they raise up. This filth comes very now almost to all places where the gospel is a little planted; the devil's tares will come to us also, as I have often warned you. See to it that you remain in sound knowledge, in the pure doctrine of Christ; it will soon be done for this knowledge and for the light.
(6) So I say to you, my friends, and I have asked you that you do not greatly esteem the spirit that proposes any work to you, be it called what it may, even if it is to awaken the dead, which they have not yet done, and how it is that they say, "Moses commanded it, you must indeed do it; what kind of Christians are you? But with this you shall actually feel here which spirit is from God or not. For if you pretend a work to me, it is not the Holy Spirit, who walks along bringing me first the grace of Christ, and does not lead to works; for thus he says: Your sins are forgiven until (be) confident, and similar words; does not drive you first to works, but first brings you up to God by his sweet words and grace, showing you no work so soon; but after that you will find works enough against your neighbor.
7. but the enthusiasts soon burst upon the works, wanting to ha- a higher spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not, of course, the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit. This, of course, is not the Holy Spirit. Christ first fetches the conscience; if it is righteous in faith toward God, then he also directs it to works toward the neighbor; but he first lifts up faith and drives back works. They cannot understand this. I would have held it all against them, if they alone did not click *) on the works; because they put their date, honor and glory to it. I would not yet respect them for tearing up all the images, for melting the chalice and the bells into one heap; but that they would make a conscience of those who do not outline images; who? you? not yet; even if the Holy Spirit were not there, or faith, unless this work were.
(8) I say this: Even if it were a work that God now offers at this hour, I would not insist on it and condemn the one who does not follow quickly; I would find some cover for him that he might still be weak, and thus blow up the kingdom of grace over him. We will realize that the work in them is directed against God and not against our neighbor; we will make a nuisance of it and say: If you do this, you are a Christian; if you do not, you are not. And this glory follows the work, that they may be better seen in the sight of others. But now ye have the right light: therefore also be warned, try the spirits. Let us not exalt ourselves as this spirit does; but in that let us glory, hearing the word: "Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." This I know, that I have a gracious God; but this spirit cannot. That is why it is also a vain devilish ghost with which they deal; they lie to the Holy Spirit in this piece, that they blame him, that their thing is of the Holy Spirit. And even if they were good works, the forcing and urging would have to remain behind, not to mention that they pretend to do such great works.
(9) The kingdom of Christ is so that we may place all our glory and defiance in grace;
*) Click, that is, blot, stain. D. Red.
The other works should be free, not forcing, nor wanting to be Christians, but coming to our neighbor with the works underneath. So we should hear this gospel, that we might grasp the sayings, that it might be written in our hearts, that this light, these words and lamp might shine rightly in us, by which we might judge other doctrines. So he says to the gout-ridden man, "Your sins are forgiven you." These words and the like are meant to be taken into the heart, because they are nothing but grace alone, not a work to urge the conscience to do something. So you must protect yourself with these words against the false prophets.
(10) Now we have planted the word a little, and the devil cannot suffer it; for he sleepeth not: the caterpillars and the beetles shall come and smite Werdens. But it must be so, Christ will test his word, and try who has grasped it or not. Therefore, let us stay on the right path to the kingdom of Christ, not dealing with works and law or coercion, but only with the words of the Gospel, which make the conscience confident: Be of good cheer, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.
011 Mark now how strait and how broad is the kingdom of Christ. There are few of them who grasp the word so that it tastes good to them, who can judge themselves by it, and who understand what is said: "Your sins are forgiven you. If then we are in the kingdom of Christ, why does he remember sins? Are there always sins? No one belongs in the kingdom unless his sins are opened to him through the gospel, otherwise no one encounters these words, "Your sins are forgiven you." All hear the gospel well, but it does not go to all their hearts; for they do not all feel their sin. But the gospel preaches that all that is in us is sin. Therefore it also offers comfort, the forgiveness of sins is there; if forgiveness is to come to me, there must be the knowledge of sin.
12. forgiveness of sins, are no more than two words, in which the whole kingdom of Christ consists. There must be sins;
If they are there, they must be recognized; if I have recognized them, then there is forgiveness and grace; before there is forgiveness, then it is vain sin. This must be so known that I feel and know that all that is in me is blindness; otherwise the forgiveness of sins will not be able to stand. There is no lack of sins, but that we do not recognize them; only after that comes the forgiveness of sins. But it is much different when God forgives sin and when one person forgives another. One man forgives another, so that tomorrow he remembers or reproaches him. But when God forgives sin, this is a much higher thing; for God no longer condemns, here lets go of all anger, yes, he no longer remembers the sins, as he himself says in the prophet Isaiah Cap. 43, 25. When his wrath is gone, he takes away hell, the devil, death and all the misfortune that the devil may bring with him; and instead of wrath he gives grace, comfort, salvation and all the good that he himself is.
13. sin is vain misfortune, forgiveness is vain happiness. The majesty is great; great also is that which forgives: as the man is, so is the forgiveness. But it must be tasted in the heart how great these words are, on which thou knowest thyself to rely, yea, that thou mightest die rejoicing in them; but few there be that understand them, therefore few there be that are true Christians.
(14) This is the kingdom of Christ; he that hath it so hath it rightly; there is no work, but the knowledge of all our misfortunes, and the receiving of all the good things of God; there is nothing else but comfort; these words go forth without ceasing: Be merry, do not be dismayed in your conscience because of your sins, because you have not done much good; I will make it all up to you. Therefore it is not merit, but a gift. This is the gospel; faith belongs to it, by which you take these words and keep them, so that they will not be said in vain; for we have no other hope in which to be proud, except that God says, "Until you are in good spirits, be at ease; for I forgive sin; for my forgiveness, boast, rejoice; then you will have cause to be proud.
boast and flaunt, not from your works.
(15) Now the saints of works cannot do this, for glory always follows, as they have said: Glory follows virtue, as the shadow follows man. If it is a glory of our works, which men or God have commanded, it is filth; if it is a glory of the works which God doeth in us, it is right; as Psalm 118:16 saith, The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord showeth strength." As if to say, In this I will boast and throb, that he has lifted me out of death, hell, and all calamity. The saints of works cannot have this glory; but as the work is, so is the glory, driving and compelling from the word to the works: the Holy Spirit drives from works to the word. These glory in their works; those who have the Holy Spirit glory inwardly in their hearts in God for having done this work, cling to grace, and ascribe nothing to their works.
16 Thus do the scribes: when they heard it, they said within themselves, "This man blasphemeth God. For this is the way of the gospel and the true word of God, where it is rightly believed, that it is blasphemed on both sides, and the whole world wants to destroy it; as happened in the time of the apostles, and as our mad rulers are doing now, who want to have it badly killed, completely muffled and destroyed with all who preach and confess it. This is the least persecution.
The other persecution is much worse, which arises among us, as also in the apostles' time among the apostles. So also now our Junkers, who have the Gospel with us, do not want to be Papists, but are taken for Christians, they must burst in; so mad are they that they boast of the Gospel and yet stand on the works. And here the Holy Spirit must be called the devil, there the beautiful spirit. But we must dare, we must say their thing is not right: so again they will say our thing is not right; for the evil spirit does not rest, for he has a glory. We have a patron who will lead it out.
18 Paul calls all false spirits bold and hopeful. Yes, on their dunghill, with their masters, there they are proud and bold; otherwise they are the most despondent evil-doers to be found; if they are to answer and stand, no one can bring them here. They are bold when they are in a crowd, they can reach into God's mouth, but when it comes to a meeting, they are in despair. But the Holy Spirit stands firm, stops the punches, makes bold and courageous, comforts the stupid consciences and says: "Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven." The right spirit is stupid, and makes itself stupid against God, as the Christians do, who bend over against God, hold him in honor and are not proud; but against the tyrants, there the Holy Spirit blows up their courage so that they fear neither tyrants nor devils, are undaunted, even if one should tear away their neck about it; but against God there they are afraid and tremble like a rustling leaf. It is only because of this that we still hear and do not grasp the sayings, and when it comes to the answer, we will stand like whistlers and can answer nothing; so we will go to the gallows. But we must suffer it, we cannot do otherwise; however, we can comfort ourselves that we have the reason that our thing is right and theirs is wrong; therefore they can never be bold, because only with their own they may boast as long as they want.
19 But by this the kingdom of Christ is established and increased, that the conscience may be comforted with the word, that whatsoever else is done by works and laws, all must come out to the neighbor: for of works against God I ought not at all, but only that I know sin well; then have I forgiveness of sins, and am one with God, which the Holy Ghost shall do all things in me. Then I break out, as these do, who brought the gout-broken man to the Lord. They were in the kingdom, or those who are in the kingdom of Christ, because the evangelist says that the Lord regarded their faith; for if they had not had faith, they would not have brought the sick of the palsy to the Lord. The faith is before the
Works, the work according to faith; therefore, since they are now in the kingdom, they bring the work.
(20) Man does not live on this earth for the sake of his work, that it may be useful to him, nor does he need it; but if you do a work to gain or earn something from God, it is over, and you have already fallen from this realm: but because you believe and live longer, you must know that you live to bring the sick of the gout. God will not let a Christian live for his own sake; indeed, cursed be the life that lives for itself, for all that is lived hereafter is lived for the sake of others. So do these who bring the sick person here: they no longer live for themselves, but their life now serves others, and with their faith they acquire a faith of their own for this sick person; for this sick person at first had no faith, but afterwards he heard the word, and Christ pours into him a faith of his own, awakens him with the gospel; just as he is accustomed to pour in faith with the word.
(21) Let all works therefore be done, that we may see whether they rhyme together to minister unto other men, and to bring them to good faith, and to bring them unto Christ: if I therefore compass an image, that it may be seen that there is a Christian, it is nothing to men, neither is it preached how to be delivered from sins, but only to be glorified; which glory doth not lift up consciences, but openeth men's ears, mouths, and eyes. It is a bad art to storm images; but that thou mayest know the kingdom of Christ, that I or he may be saved, thou shalt not accomplish this by tearing down all the churches, but by hearing this word: "My son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee," and after that bring others also.
22) The word must be practiced, it must be blown among men, I must eat and drink, adorn myself and clothe myself, not that I may live, but that I may practice the word; that where a Christian's life is not directed to the word, it is not right. I must help the conscience according to the
Words: I should feed and water my neighbor, and do everything I can for him, so that I can get to the main thing, which is to restore his conscience; as these do, they help him to his body and health. And even if it is a bodily benefit or work, they help him so that his soul is also restored. Thus I feed a hungry man, give drink to a thirsty man, clothe a naked man, and the like; not merely that he may eat or drink, but that by these works I may win him over and bring him to Christ. These works are outside the kingdom to those who are not in the kingdom, that you may bring them also to the kingdom.
(23) Thus the Holy Spirit preaches, and is enough of a miracle for people to know Christ and have a happy conscience. Item, that I have learned that monasticism, popery, and what is more of popery is nothing, is a great miracle before me. It is nothing that they blame us, we do no miracle; although they do not seem so bright and our preachers do no signs, yet the light and knowledge is right; we preach the gospel, which they must actually confess before men in truth, whether they want to or not. So you have here the kingdom of Christ and the gospel, that you may direct all your life, whether woman, child or man, to be the one who brings the sick and helps others also.
(24) Now, if we had time, we should also speak a little about the alien faith and the power to forgive sin. I also said before that it was a mistake to baptize infants in the faith of the church: it was preached as if they were baptized without faith. This error now enters by force, for the devil does not sleep: they think that there is no faith. The pope and his followers have hitherto held that infants have no faith, but are placed in the bosom of the Christian church, and they have been baptized in the common Christian faith. These new ones also say that the
Children do not have faith, like the pope, but that one should wait until they grow up.
(25) We say, then, that even if there were two Christianities, the foreign faith would not help to salvation. The child must believe in Christ himself; for I was not born for the child, nor will I die for him, he has his own death and birth; if he is to live and be rid of death, he must also come to it by faith in Christ. But we pray for the children, as well as for all unbelievers; preach, pray, and labor that the unbelievers and children also may come and believe: therefore we also live.
(26) So these had faith, but not the man with the palsy; but he had to have it, or their faith would not have helped him. But they in their faith asked Christ for a faith of their own for the gout-broken man. So the foreign faith helps that I also get my own faith.
Yes, one would like to say, how do we know whether the children believe or not? We also do not know which one believes or not. If I come to the baptism the same age, and speak: I believe, how can you know if I believe or not? How do you know? How would you know if I were to lie? No one else can know, one's own heart and thoughts bring him there; if it is right, it is right. The child does not have to stand on my faith, I hardly have enough faith for myself; nor should I place it in the bosom of Christianity alone, but in the word of Christ, when he says: "Let the little children come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", Matth. 19, 14. Luc. 18, 16; and should thus say: Here I bring unto thee, O Christ, a little child, which thou hast called me unto thee: for I have done my work, and Christ shall do his also. So I do not baptize the child in my faith or in the faith of Christendom, but my faith and the faith of Christendom bring the child, that he may have faith of his own, that he may believe also as I believe, and be preserved in the word which Christ hath given me. And baptize the child, not on the fact that he has no faith, as the Bohemians think,
that when it grows up, it shall first get him, speak over the child the word of God, your sins shall be forgiven, and yet it shall not believe the words. Does this not mean that God's word is a lie? So the summa summarum is: I can help another to believe through my prayer and faith, but I cannot believe for him.
III Of the power on earth to forgive sin.
28 The Pharisees knew well that it was God's work, which was God's alone, to forgive sin; therefore they considered Christ a blasphemer, who as a man would forgive sin. There are two ways to forgive sin: first, to expel sin from the heart and pour grace into it; this is done by God alone; second, to proclaim the forgiveness of sin; this is also done by one man to another. But Christ does both here: He gives the Spirit into the heart, and proclaims it by heart with the Word. This is now forgiven with the word and is a proclamation and public preaching of inward forgiveness.
(29) All men who are Christians and have been baptized have this power, for with it they praise Christ and have the word "sin forgiven" in their mouths, so that they can and may say when they want and as often as they need to: Behold, man, God offers you his grace, gives you all your sin, "until you are confident, your sins are forgiven," believe it, and it is certain; and whatever words anyone wants to use. This voice shall not cease among Christians until the last day: Thy sins be forgiven thee, until joyful and confident! A Christian always has this in his mouth, and publicly speaks the word in which sins are forgiven.
forgive. So and in this way a Christian has power to forgive the sins.
30 Therefore, if I say to you, "Your sins are forgiven," it is surely as if God Himself said it to you. For who would do this if Christ himself had not come down and put it into my mouth, saying that we should forgive one another's sins? As when he says in John Cap. 20:22, 23, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." And in another place, Matt. 18:19, 20, he says: "If two of you become one, why they should ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven: for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The word does it and cuts through.
(31) Now if there were no man on earth to forgive sin, and if there were only laws and works, oh what a wretched and miserable thing it would be for the poor afflicted conscience! But now, if God gives each one a mouthful to speak to another: Thy sins be forgiven thee, be thou where thou art; then is the golden year begun. Then shall we defy and press against sin, that I may say unto my brother, who is in the anguish and distress of sin: Be of good cheer, my brother, for your sins are forgiven you; though I cannot give you the Holy Spirit and faith, yet I can proclaim it to you; if you believe, you have it. Those whom He then gives praise and glorify God, as they do here in the Gospel. That is, God has given man power to forgive sin, and that is to increase the kingdom of Christ, to bring and establish the conscience; this we now do through the Word. May God grant that we also understand this.