From the High Priest Christo.
Hebr. 8, 3. 4.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Therefore he also must have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, because there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.
1. locus iste (this saying) is to argue and prove mightily that from Christ's death, and now henceforth until the end of the world, no sacrifices are valid anymore, but only the sacrifice of praise, lip calves, Hosea 14, 3. when the gospel resounds from Christ, one should sing to him, Deo gratias, and a
beautiful little song for it, that shall be the noblest sacrifice henceforth, and none else.
Sacerdotes veteris testamenti. (The priests of the Old Testament.)
2. before, in the Old Testament, were many priests. They were supposed to sacrifice; but they
did nothing anywhere. No man has ever obtained forgiveness of sins through it. Therefore, the whole priesthood of the Jews must cease, and God must send His Son, should the people be advised in their conscience. Therefore, the blood of the goat is no longer valid before God; it does not forgive sin, it only causes trouble. Therefore, because it does nothing, it must fail and a new one must come.
3 We cannot conclude this now. The Jews had a high priest, ergo (consequently), we should have it too. No, it does not help the conscience, everything must fall to the ground here; that one wants to sacrifice Christ in the mass, it is a blasphemy and an abomination, and the worst sin that can happen. Christ has been sacrificed once; nothing may be done now, except to give thanks to him for eternity. The sacrifice of Christ, once made, is eternal, and we are saved because we believe in it. If one sets up something further beside the sacrifice, it is a blasphemy.
4 Christ is the sacrifice which he offered in death for our eternal cleansing from sin. Therefore, when his suffering is over and the sacrifice has been made, his glory is lost. On the cross, his honor, his good reputation, his great deeds fall away: all the people whom he helped begin to doubt whether he did it by the power of God or by the power of the devil. Then his conscience itself falls away, and death is his might. Therefore, if it is to be a sacrifice, the blood must be taken from him; the lamb is stabbed; the sacrifice costs blood. But the battle of Christ lasts only for a time. Therefore Christ utters a priestly voice: Pater, ignosce illis: Oh, give it to them, dear Father, they have already done it against me. Through this sacrifice, which is eternal, enough has been done for all men on earth who cling to the sacrifice and complain to God about their sin.
5 What does Christ do after this? He is seated at God's right hand. Since all the world has now fallen away and thinks that it is over with him, he first begins to reign eternally, and represents us before the Father, prays for us when we are accused of sin. A judgment will be passed on us; he feels that he
The fearful conscience, that God is angry with sin. Therefore there are the masters of the sticks, the world and death, which terrify all, as if we should perish eternally: we cannot be advised, because through the sacrifice of Christ, who asks the Father for us and says: Oh Father, the sinner is weak, lies in great distress, give him to me, I have done enough for him, he relies on my eternal sacrifice. But whoever falls from this sacrifice elsewhere cannot be helped eternally. You can testify to some extent that you have never received or felt any comfort in the anguish of sins, because you have believed Christ's sacrifice to be done for you.
The Christ is seated in heaven for this reason, to wait until his enemies are put to the sword etc. This is his right office, he does not sleep up there, he watches for us; he does not want to have a governor in his place, he wants to do it himself. When people turn to him, he will be there and help them. If anyone has a grievance, let him complain to Christ and he will help him. Now the enemies are still here before the last day, there still remain flesh, sin, death etc. But in extremo (at the end) there Christ will hand over the regiment to the Father. Now he rules them in the heart, he comforts them in distress, cleanses them, prays for them: in extremo, all his Christians will rule with him, sitting at the right hand of God; only then the right last enemy will be slain. 1 Cor. 15, 26. Here is still disbelief, worry of food, despondency when God sees a little sour. What is their comfort now? Christ, you priests, who have done enough for us, and look upon us, that the enemies would thrust us to the ground: therefore forbid the enemies, and exhort the Father, that he should be our portion. If this is felt in the conscience, then we have a secure access to the Father in all fear; we only lack the face, that we do not have such sharp eyes, that we could see through the clouds into heaven, Christ would be and be our intercessor. Whoever cannot see this in faith has his repentance here, so that he may well complain to Christ and ask him: O Lord, why do I seek other works here on earth, since you are the only Mediator?
and reconciler. This is the most necessary teaching from Christ, our priest, who is always watching over us.
Una Oblatione etc. (With One Sacrifice etc.)
By what will people be blessed? Not by building churches, wearing caps. No; but by knowing that God has completed a sacrifice, by which all people shall be cleansed. This priest cannot deceive us. He is the truth. Let us only build on him as on a rock. This is the testament etc. If Judaism ceases, I will give them another: not goat's blood, but "I will put my law in their hearts," and they shall offer vitulos labiorum (mouth calves). It is a strange speech, "calves of the mouth." What is it? They shall sing a little song to me, Alleluia; they shall sing it to me before the last day, I will never remember their sin forever. O pious God, Deo gratias, that you reveal this to us, that you will never remember our sin, but cover it. Ah, what heart could not burst into a hundred thousand pieces for the joy and glory of God?
Praise to him who has mercy on sinners. How can a good confidence in God not follow from such words? Only then does joy and delight in God's work flow from the heart, and repentance over our weakness. Moses could not coax out such joy with all his glowing tongs.
Here lies the papacy, all monasteries, convents, and saints at the bottom of hell. For if there is no sacrifice for sin, for Christ alone has already forgiven sin by grace. If it is grace, it cannot be a work or our sacrifice. Those who seek other sacrifices, as blasphemers and desecrators of the blood of Christ, all belong to eternal hell. This is directly against God. Of this we may take comfort against the great splendor and prestige of the world that clings to their sacrifice. They have their strict judgment, they belong to hell. Therefore, let them go. Let us only ask God earnestly; for we are weak sinners, let us only give God Deo gratias, that we may always have recourse to our Christ, who is our priest, representative and sole sacrifice, that we may offer Him the sacrifice of the calves of the lips.