Luc. 8, 4-15.
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 way side, and were taken up, and the fowls of the air did eat them up. And some fell on the rock; and when it went out, it withered, because it had no sap. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns came up with it, and choked it. And some fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. When he had said this, he cried out, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What is this like? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto others in parables, that they should not see, though they see; neither understand, though they hear. But this is the same: The seed is the word of God. But those who are in the way are the ones who hear it; then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. But those who are on the rock are those who, when they hear it, receive the word with joy; and they have no root; for a time they believe, and in the time of temptation they fall away. But that which fell among thorns are they which hear it, and go away among the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, and choke, and bring no fruit. But that in the good land, find they which hear the word, and keep it in a fine good heart, and bring forth fruit in patience.
Your beloved hear in today's gospel that there are four kinds of disciples who hear the pure word of God, and yet only the last keep it and bring forth fruit; so that each one may look around and diligently search out among which multitude he is, and so learn to send himself, that he may one day also come to those who are a good country and where the word brings forth fruit.
(2) The first, saith the Lord, are the seed that falleth by the way side; which fructifieth not, because it is either trodden down, or the birds eat it up. The others, hearing it, and beginning not only to speak of it, but also to believe, grow fine, as the grain falling on a stony field. But as soon as a little hot summer day comes to it, it begins to dry up, for it has neither root nor sap. So when persecution and temptation come, such people fall away before the right fruit comes.
of faith through patience. The third are the most recognizable here; they are Christians, like the grain among the thorns, which, though it grows up, cannot bear fruit, but must be choked, for the thorns overgrow it. But the fourth are the pious disciples, where the word falls into a good heart, and remains in it until it bears fruit through patience; for they suffer over the word what comes to them to suffer, and exercise themselves in love and obedience to God, and bear some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold fruit. These are the four kinds of disciples.
(3) Therefore let every man enter into his heart, and consider among what multitude he is. The first three parts are of no avail; but especially the first are the most grievous that hear the word, and when they hear it, saith the Lord, the devil cometh and taketh away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. Mark this diligently.
(4) So I should never have thought nor judged that the hearts should be possessed with the devil, who hear the word, and yet pay no attention to it, forget it and never remember it. Methinks it is without danger to hear the word of God and yet not remember it; and those who do so are bad careless people, and it is natural that they hear the sermon and yet forget it. But Christ judges differently here, and says: The devil takes the word out of people's hearts.
5 Then you see what is to be thought of people, children and servants, when they hear a sermon, and go away carelessly, as if they had not heard it, and did not even think of it. These cannot boast of the Holy Spirit, for the devil is so close to them that he reaches into their hearts and takes the word out of them. Therefore other bad habits must follow, that they are disobedient, unfaithful, obstinate, selfish, proud, unforgiving; for if the word remained in the heart and they heard it diligently, it would make fine, obedient, willing, faithful, humble, mild hearts.
(6) These are the first and most grievous; and such naughtiness grieveth the Lord very much, neither reproacheth any company so much as this.
For he says: "The devils, who hover in the air, take the word out of their hearts, so that they do not accept the word, and think there is no danger in letting the sermon go in one ear and out the other. But if you want to know how great the danger is, listen to what Christ says, who really knows better than all the world, saying, "The devil does this.
(7) Therefore, if you see a man speaking and preaching into himself as into a log, as our miserly citizens and peasants do, and especially as our counterpart, the papists, do; what is preached, sung, and said to them is all as if one were striking into water: think no other than that the devil has sat in their hearts, and is snatching away the seed, the word of God, so that they will not believe and be saved. For if the devil were not there, or if this were a natural, innate forgetfulness, as one man is always more learned than another, there would still be a desire for a man to think, "Oh, God, that I cannot remember anything! Give me also your grace, and open my heart, that I may pay attention to and keep what I hear in the sermon! With such people, who have a desire for the word and would like to keep it, the devil has no place nor room; otherwise such desire would remain behind. But they do not care; indeed, they make believe that if they should miss a penny or a farthing, or something even less, because of a sermon, it would be a great pity. There is certainly the devil in it, and only think no one else.
008 Now this is the greatest multitude that hear the word, and regard it not: for the devil plucketh it out of their hearts.
(9) The other two groups are not so wicked, but they are weak, they lift up a little, and they notice something, and they put up with it. Therefore the Lord does not give them to the devil as much as the first, although the fruit does not follow with them either. Now these are they who do not persevere in persecution, nor remain constant; but like the wormy fruit on the tree, they remain hanging, because they are still,
But as soon as a wind comes to them, it falls off in heaps: so are they also: "For a time," says the Lord, "they believe"; but as soon as the cross comes, they are frightened, will not and cannot suffer anything. The fruit of eternal life must remain outside, along with other good fruits that grow from the word and faith.
(10) The third company are those who, because of avarice, care, and the pleasure of this life, do not heed the word. For he who is occupied with temporal cares, scratching and scraping, and only wants to think how he will become high and rich, weighs down the heart, as Christ says Luc. 21:34, so that the right fruit is choked, like the grain among the thorns. Work should be done, and each one should be most diligent and diligent in his work; this is not forbidden but commanded. But to strive and think only of temporal things, of thalers and florins; these are the thorns that choke the word of God in the heart, so that it cannot grow above itself nor bear fruit, because it is not thought of, and other things are more important.
(11) With these three heaps, the word is in vain and in vain. Now this is not a small, but a great and grievous harm, which a human heart can do. Therefore the Lord diligently exhorts us all, saying, "Take heed therefore how ye hearken: for to him that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that he thinketh he hath." With such words he gives enough to understand that he does not speak of bad things; for it is not to be joked about here that one would want to think: "Oh, I will go on like this for a while, take care and do what I have to take care of, yet I still want to hear God's word and believe, when I once become more idle and have first gathered what is necessary for me.
See to it that you do not deceive yourself. Who knows how long you will live? How long you will hear the word? Or how God will attack and afflict you? You alone can deceive and deceive; you will not deceive Christ, who admonishes you diligently and earnestly enough, saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." He does not want you to
You should postpone it until another time, as we usually do. Now," he says, "when you hear it, accept it, otherwise it will go badly with you.
(13) Therefore let us be diligent that we may be found among the little fourth company; therefore also pray earnestly that we may have good hearts, receive and keep the word of God, and bring forth good fruit.
(14) Now the multitude are the dear saints; but not the pope's saints, who wear caps and plates, say mass, fast, have special clothes and the like; but those who hear God's word, which the pope and his saints, as you can see, are the worst enemies and fiercest persecutors. But those who hear the word bear fruit a hundredfold, that is, much, innumerable fruit. Or, as Matthew divides it, some bear fruit a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. For as the outward offices are unequal, so also are the fruits unequal. A preacher serves the church more than a craftsman, who only presides over his own house; and yet both are Christians, redeemed by Christ from sins and death, and heirs of eternal life. Let us also come among this small group, which is the smallest.
15 But a fine, pure heart is needed, as Christ says, that is, such a heart, which first of all is not careless, but is serious about the word of God. Such a heart must be there first of all, otherwise the devil will not come and snatch away the word. Secondly, the heart must be sure and steadfast, not soft or cowardly, so as to be seduced or frightened, and to dispute the favor or disfavor of men. For if we do not fear and love God above all things, the word will not remain long, for it will not remain unchallenged in the world, for the devil cannot tolerate or suffer it. He is an idle lord, who drives his servants on and on and does not let them celebrate; as we see in the papists, and are learning even more every day. Thirdly, it must also be purified and swept out so that there are no thorns in it; that is, we must no longer love to burden ourselves with goods, money, honor and pleasure, because the word of God and the devil are not to be tolerated.
We should not be more concerned with other worldly matters than with the word of God, as Christ says: "Seek first the kingdom of God" etc.
(16) Wherefore if the heart be attentive, sure of the matter, constant, and refined, it is a pure and refined heart, where fruit shall surely follow: but yet in patience; for without cross and temptation, without adversity and offence, there is no escape; as Paul saith, "All they that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. Let us then prepare ourselves, and, as Christ says, "hold our souls with patience," and do not forget to pray; for it does not fail, as we ourselves must confess, that unfortunately we are everywhere offended and do not want to go anywhere, and of course it happens that we cannot despise the temporal here on earth. So the devil does not celebrate either, but tries in every way whether he can take the word from us, and on the other hand weigh down the heart with worry, avarice, hopefulness, anger and all kinds of naughtiness. As we can see, there would be much finer people, if greed, honor, fornication and other things did not overtake them and keep them from the word.
(17) It is necessary that we have good regard for such deficiencies and infirmities of our nature, not to continue in security, but to ask God for His Holy Spirit (as we have a clear, comforting promise, Luc. 11:13).: "The Father will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him"), that He may clear away such sticks and blocks, sweep out such thorns and thistles from the heart, so that we may hear and keep God's word, and bring forth the right fruit, faith in Christ; by which faith we not only live in the obedience of God, but also become God's children and heirs; for this is the noblest cause that this seed should be sown, that is, that the holy gospel should be preached in all the world, that it should create and work such fruit in us as will last forever.
18 This likeness also serves us not to be surprised, although the word does not bear fruit everywhere; for here we hear that the Lord himself divides it thus, and speaks of four heaps, since only the one and the smallest is righteous. The
The other three great multitudes are of no use at all; let them go, and be not offended at them. For where the gospel is preached, let it be so, that these three unfit disciples are found; and yet it is the fault neither of the word, nor of him that leadeth or preacheth it: as the blind papists always, like mad, raving men, cry out, let it be thought that they cannot make our gospel more abominable, nor more ugly, than by bringing forth the offences which the devil hath excited since the gospel was preached.
(19) But if it be so, tell me, when Christ himself preached with John and his apostles, were there not also great vexations, and the greatest sins committed? When John the Baptist stood up and preached, everyone ran to hear his sermons and saw that he was a holy man; nor did he hear that he was possessed and had the devil. And King Herod, who, as the Gospels testify, heard him much and gladly, finally had him strangled. Yes, they heard Christ, the Son of God, themselves, and saw him raise the dead and perform great miracles; nevertheless, they crucified him. Why don't you also say: "John, Christ, the apostles were not true preachers, otherwise the people should not have been so wicked, and they should have changed to the right doctrine? But they must keep their mouths shut; otherwise one would feel by their judgment that they are enemies and blasphemers of Christ. But they make themselves believe that they have a better right to reproach us and our teachings.
20 Now, we will leave it with our doctrine and not say now what we think it is and why we do not want to be aborted by it. Just look at the words of our Lord Jesus, who says: The seed is the word. Now no pope will ever be so foolish as to say that the word Christ speaks of here is an evil word or false doctrine. But what does Christ say about such seed, which is righteous and good? How does it come to be? Namely, that only the fourth part of it is clothed and bears fruit. Now who can deny that the world does not remain evil, even though the word
and the sermon is right, pure, good, and fruitful in itself?
(21) Now I have said that we will not yet speak of our doctrine, for which we hold it. But the papists must confess this, and have no thanks, that although the preaching is right and the preacher pious, yet the world remains wicked and does not improve on the word; for there is not only this preaching of Christ, that only the fourth part of the seed brings forth fruit, but also his own example (let John and the apostles be silent), that he cannot make any man believe and accept the word. Most of it is and remains evil and without fruit; the least and smallest part improves and believes.
(22) If this happened to Christ, the Son of God and the highest preacher, what wonder that it happened to John, the Baptist, the apostles, and to us today? Do we therefore want to punish the doctrine and say that it is wrong? Let it also be said that the seed which falls on the way, on the rocks, and among thorns, is not righteous. But one should turn it around and not blaspheme God. His word is the seed that is sown; the same word is righteous and good, and by its nature cannot but bear fruit. But if it does not bear fruit everywhere, do not blame God and His word for that, but blame the land, which is not good, and because of that such seed must perish in it and remain without fruit.
23 Therefore let not the papists reprove our doctrine, nor call it unrighteous, because much offence is found in it; but let them reprove themselves, and all other men that have not a fine and pure heart. For the fault is not of words, but of hearts; they are unclean and unfit. To them the devil comes, inciting and driving them against God's word, as the Lord says in the other parable, Matt. 13, of the good field sown with good seed, yet weeds grow in it. Do you ask,
where the weeds come from? Then hear and learn it from Christ. The devil, he says, sows among the wheat; he cannot suffer it to be all pure. And though he cannot root out all, yet he sows the tares among them. But who will blame the word of God for this, and say that it is the cause of such troubles?
(24) Now let every man learn here that the gospel will never be otherwise than the Lord shows by the likeness, namely, that some are reformed and become more godly; but there are always three times as many who are offended. This is also the reason why the Lord concludes in the next Gospel that many are called, but few are chosen; for because they do not have a pure, fine heart, but give room to the devil and let the word go, it is not possible for God to be pleased with them. Because of this, not only do outward sins and offences follow, but, as the Lord says here, such naughtiness is punished with blindness, so that they see nothing with their seeing eyes, and what they hear they cannot understand, nor send themselves into it.
(25) Therefore let no man offend, neither let him blaspheme the gospel, though many an offence be found in it: for the fault is not of the word, but of evil, wicked, possessed hearts. Just as it is not the seed's fault that it does not bear fruit by the way, on the rocks and among the thorns. Therefore, let no one be offended by such aversions, but work so that he may have this seed, and ask God for grace to open his heart through his Holy Spirit and make it pure; so that when we hear the Word, it may remain in our hearts and bear fruit in patience, and we may be saved through faith in Christ, which the Holy Spirit plants in us through the Word and holy sacraments. May our dear Lord Jesus Christ grant the same to us all, Amen.