Luc. 11, 14-28.
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 devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils. But the others tempted him, and desired a sign from him out of heaven. But he heard their thoughts and said to them: Every kingdom, if it be divided against itself, shall be desolate, and one house shall fall upon another. If Satan also be at variance with himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that I cast out devils by Beelzebub. But if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do they cast out your children? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the finger of God, the kingdom of God will come to you. If a strong man keeps his palace, his own remains in peace. But if a stronger man comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him his hardness, on which he relied, and divides the spoil. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit departs from a man, it wanders through dry places, seeking rest, and does not find it; so it says: I will return to my house from whence I came. And when he cometh, he findeth him clothed and adorned with besomes. Then he goes and takes to himself seven spirits worse than himself, and when they come in, they dwell there; and afterward he becomes worse with the same man than before. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the people lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou hast sucked. And he said, Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
1 Today's Gospel, as you have heard, is about the casting out of the devil. And is just the opinion (like the one eight days ago) placed on this time, that one through repentance, penance and confession has reformed and cast out the devil.
*) Held publicly in the castle church before the "Churfürsten, in the year 1534.
to cast out. But if you read this gospel today or tomorrow, in summer or in Lent, it is very rich, in which the work of our dear Lord Christ is held up to us, which not only took place at that time, but will remain until the end of the world and as long as his kingdom remains on earth. Of such a work the gospel has eight today
Days also acted. But here it is written how it has been interpreted by people in many ways. This also gives a fine, useful teaching, as you will hear. But first we want to say about the work of Christ.
(2) That our dear Lord Jesus here casts out a devil is written for our special comfort, that we may learn and know that he is Lord over the devil and his kingdom, and that such a work as was then begun in the flesh shall not cease, but shall remain in Christendom until the last day. For for such work Christ hath left behind him his instrument, holy baptism, the reverend sacrament, the word and absolution, and other things that pertain unto the ministry of preaching, that the devil's kingdom should be destroyed therewith, and that he should be taken from among them, and cast out of them etc. For thus it is written: Verbum meum non redibit vacuum: Just as the rain that falls on a dry land does not go away without fruit, it greens afterwards and everything comes to life; so also God's word certainly always produces fruit in some. For the Holy Spirit will always be with the Word, enlightening, setting on fire and purifying hearts, and thus redeeming them from the tyranny and power of the devil.
(3) Whether therefore this shall not appear in the sight of the world, nor be seen with the eyes of the flesh, as it was when it was bodily done by Christ, there is no power in it: for the world is not worthy without this, that it should see one little spark of divine power: but it shall be blind, reproachful, reviling, and blaspheming; as we see it doing to the Lord Christ here. But we, who have and accept the word, shall see and know it, and comfort ourselves with all our heart that God has left us the power here on earth, that we can, yes, should and must cast out devils without ceasing.
For every child that is born is born into the kingdom of the devil, where he reigns as a lord and exercises all the tyranny of sins. But if it is brought here for blessed baptism according to Christ's command, by which it is born again into the kingdom of God, as Christ says in John 3, the devil must depart and go out. For then the child is born again by God through Christ.
God's grace is promised, because it is baptized into the death of Christ. So a poor, afflicted conscience, which the devil has precipitated with a heavy fall, or otherwise afflicted by temptation, comes to me, laments its distress, and desires comfort and instruction. Then I have orders, and every Christian, that I should comfort and strengthen my brother, and promise him God's grace through the merit of Christ. Then the devil must also give way: not to me, who am a poor sinner and wretched man; but to the word which our dear Lord Christ has left us on earth. So if you have a stupid, frightened conscience, and cannot grasp firmly enough the consolation that God will be merciful to you and forgive your sin, our dear Lord Jesus has ordained his supper as a certain consolation, so that because his body and blood are given to you as food and drink, you may have no cause to doubt that his body was given for your sin and his blood poured out for your sin. But where there is such faith and trust, it is impossible that the devil should keep his seat longer and not leave the inn.
5 So this work must go on for and for in Christianity, which must bite itself with the serpent, and must always forcefully oppose and fight against the devil's kingdom, as it does, and more than Christ himself; as he says John 14:12: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do: for I go unto the Father."
6th Cause, the Christian church carries on its ministry much further than Christ: he did it only in the small corner of the Jewish country and converted few people; for he preached only until the fourth year. On the other hand, the Christian church, through the help of its Head and Lord Christ, who sits at the right hand of God, carries out this ministry for and for, that it preaches, distributes the sacraments and punishes the devil in his ungodly nature forever, and casts him out today in one place and tomorrow in another, even from itself. For we are not yet completely rid of all things, and must defend ourselves against him and beware of him at all times.
(7) Such things grieve the devil very much; therefore, just as we drive him out by the preaching ministry and the holy sacraments, so he tries us again, if he cannot sit with us again, that he may drive us out into the world by persecution. This is how it has always been and will be until the end of the world, as Christ himself encountered. For he would not suffer the devil, but cast him out whithersoever he was desired; neither would the devil suffer him, and brought him by the Jews to the cross, and cast him out into the world. But it did not go well with him.
For Christ not only cast out the devil from the poor man of whom this gospel speaks, but he appeared, as it is written in 1 John 3:8, to destroy the works of the devil, so that the devil has no power over all who believe in him. But those who do not receive him remain under the power of the devil and must finally perish, like the Jews. The believers, however, will be safe from this; indeed, they cast out the devil through the word, and on that day they and Christ will be judges over the devils and all the ungodly.
In the papacy, as you know, the devil has brought his kingdom and power very high, so that although the holy sacraments and the word remained out of God's mercy and grace, there was no right understanding of either sacrament or word, as everyone must confess. Nevertheless, even in the papacy the devil had to give way to the Word and leave through holy baptism. For God's promise cannot withstand anything. Thus, the Holy Spirit does not want to let his effect be interrupted, although the person who leads the Word and administers the Sacrament is not pious, but godless.
(10) Therefore, we should thank God for such abundant grace from the bottom of our hearts and not complain about it, even though the devil harasses and sometimes torments us because of it. For it grieves him exceedingly that we poor sinners should cast him out, such a hopeful, powerful spirit, by the word alone, and that he must go out against his thanks and will. Therefore he remembers
He is determined to take revenge on us and shoots at us with persecution and other temptations. We shall gladly suffer this for the hope that we know that we shall not cast him out here alone, but on the last day, as I said, he will be judged and condemned for eternity and into the abyss of hell.
(11) We should learn from this work that we should not think so little of the word of God and the holy sacraments, nor speak shamefully of them, as is commonly done, especially by worldly men. It is true that the sacraments are evil outward works, as the eyes judge; so also the word is an outward thing, which may be grasped with the ears and read with the eyes; just as Christians are also bodily men. But to hold it in low esteem, and therefore to despise it, is of no avail. When a Christian walks along and speaks according to the command of Christ, the devil must flee and cannot stand against it.
(12) That the Word and the Sacraments are held in such low esteem should not provoke us to despise the Word and the Sacraments, but to heartfelt thanksgiving, that we may say: Thanks be to our dear Lord God, that he has placed the highest power in such a small, weak vessel. For we humans are like a straw against the devil, that where he should or could exercise his power against us, he should not let us live for a moment. But what does our Lord God do? He lights the poor little straw by his word, the heavenly fire, and makes such a light and brightness in the world that the devil does not know where to stay; and must flee there today, tomorrow in another place and go out. Therefore, St. Paul calls the gospel a power of God through which men are saved. This is such power and strength, which is called God's strength, and brings man from sin to righteousness, from death to life, from hell to heaven, and from the devil's kingdom to God's kingdom.
13. we Christians should learn these things, and
We should thank God for it, and esteem His word and holy sacraments glorious and great, yes, as our highest treasure. But the unbelievers are not worthy to see such glorious majesty and power of the Word of God, according to the saying: Tollatur impius, ne videat gloriam Dei: "The wicked must depart, lest he see the glory of God". And as Isaiah says of the Jews, "With your ears you will hear, and will not understand; with your eyes that see, you will see, and will not hear," chap. 6:9, 10. But we should thank God that we have known and experienced such great majesty and power of the Word; and we should rejoice and take comfort in it, even though we are poor beggars and sinners, that we have the power with us, from which even the devil must be terrified and flee.
14 So the work is still going on among Christians, that is, casting out devils, making the dumb speak and the deaf hear, though it is not done bodily. For it is much greater and more to cast the devil out of the heart than to cast him out of the body. For he is much more firmly seated in the heart. But Christ also casts him out bodily, so that we may see his power with our eyes, and believe all the sooner that he will also cast him out where he is most firmly seated, and by such a small thing, namely by the word, absolution, baptism, the reverend sacrament etc.
15. God has given us such a gift and grace, for which we should thank Him diligently, and confidently use it against the devil and cast him out of men spiritually, regardless of the fact that he will cast us out of the world physically here for it. But when the last day comes, then he shall be cast out forever for this. This is the first thing for which we should thank God and rejoice.
16. further follows in the gospel, what the pious, the virgin world says about it. Here we find three kinds of disciples. The first are the most pious, namely, the people who marvel at such work of Christ, and no doubt thank God for it. These are the small group of people who have their eyes opened and see the glory and divine power of Christ.
The power of the word is such a gloriously great thing before them that they cannot marvel enough that the word should convert so many people so lightly and easily, and cast out the devil with power, and therefore cannot get enough of it.
17 But there are two other multitudes whose hearts are so hardened that even with seeing eyes they do not see that there must be a great divine power to make a dumb and deaf man speak and hear as easily as another man, and to make him quiet and sensible, who before was furious and impetuous. So there are a number of such disciples who see the work of Christ with their eyes, but find it so blind, mad and foolish that they take the contradiction out of such miraculous work and attribute it to the devil.
18 If only they would say thus: He casts out devils, therefore perhaps he will have a special art or grace from God. They do not do this, but say boldly: It goes against God, the devil is in him, it is nothing but a deception and a ghost. As if they wanted to say: Should it be a miraculous sign? Yes, it is a pure devil's work. So they have blind eyes, and such a muddied, hardened heart, that they do not see God's miraculous work, but even turn it around and say: It is a devil's ghost, as the jugglers juggle. Moreover, they are so sure of such sin and atrocious blasphemy that they give the devil a very contemptible name, calling him Beelzebub, which in German is a bumblebee or large mosquito. This is to highly despise the devil, as if they were great saints and full of the Holy Spirit, against whom the devil would be like a bumblebee. Paul, the great apostle, does not despise him in this way, but calls him a prince and god of the world. But these great saints think that the more they can despise the devil, the less art it is in the Lord Christ to cast out devils. What, they say, should this be for a special miracle or high work? It is a bad art to the devil that he casts out another devil.
19 So, even though they cannot go against the truth, they knowingly blaspheme and do not
They do not see that they themselves are possessed by a thousand devils, because they are full of blasphemy, murderers, liars, deceivers, and do the devil's highest will, because they go along as if the devil did not concern them at all.
20 The same thing is happening today. The dear Gospel is preached, praise be to God forever, purely and loudly, in all discipline and silence; we should certainly take comfort in the fact that some pious people accept such preaching with all their hearts, become happy about it, and marvel at such grace and good deeds, thanking God for them from the bottom of their hearts. Again, there is no shortage of those who do not know how to blaspheme sufficiently. Our opposite confesses that it is founded in Holy Scripture that one should take the Sacrament under both forms (as they call it), and that Christ has forbidden neither marriage nor food: yet they condemn such and other articles as heresy. It would be no wonder that before such sin the sun would turn black, and such blasphemers would devour the earth. But they are so safe, careless and without any concern, as if they were sitting in the lap of our Lord God; I will not say that they should be afraid of the devil, as Christians are afraid.
21 They learn by experience that the devil can also bring down the righteous and drive back God's work (where it is imposed on him). Therefore they do not call him Beelzebub or Hummel, but, like Paul, a prince and God of the world. For we see how strong he is, and feel it, where he once seizes someone and leads him into error or heresy, he holds so strongly that one can hardly bring him out and right again with much and long teaching and admonishing. So, if he throws a man into fornication or adultery, into avarice, anger, hatred, envy, or other vices, I mean, he holds fast. If a rope or a chain does not help, he takes a hundred of them, so that one should not wind himself out of it.
22 Therefore, Christians do not despise the devil as the works saints do, calling him not a bumblebee, but a mighty lord, prince, and God of the world, who has
People can strangle, lead into sin, in despair, heartache, fear, worry, sorrow and all kinds of distress, where God does not intervene. But the pope and his crowd do not know and do not believe such things, even though they see and experience them.
23 Therefore, because the Pharisees blaspheme Christ and his work so abominably, it is easy to suppose that, though they are not possessed bodily, as the poor man here is, yet they are seven times more violently and dangerously possessed spiritually; because they (like our papists) not only do not understand the word, but so blasphemously profane it besides; and are so sure of it, as if they were well pleased.
24 This is written for our comfort, if we want to cast out devils and preach God's word, that we also wait for what is written here, that some are surprised; but others think that our doctrine is false and seductive, which does great harm and only drives people away from God; for this reason they blaspheme it as heresy and the doctrine of devils. This shall not vex us nor make us weary. It is true that it is very painful that the papists blaspheme shamefully and are so sure of it that they are no more afraid of the devil than of a bumblebee. But it happened to the Lord himself in the great miraculous work, when he cast out devils by the finger of God; then they blasphemed that it would be as bad a thing to cast out devils as to cast out a bumblebee swarming around one's head; for that the devil would have helped him. This is one group of wicked, evil disciples who see such work, but do not thank God for it, but still blaspheme.
(25) The third disciples are almost as bad as the others, without saying it so crudely, pretending to believe if they had a sign, as they like it. These do not lack that they do not see the sign. They do see it, but they think it is an earthly sign and not a real sign, and they would suffer if he, the Lord, wanted them to think that he made a sign in the sky, a new moon, new stars, or something like that. These are very wise people who teach our Lord God thus
They wanted to know what signs he should do. They wanted him to put on a jester's cap like a juggler, to appear before them and to show them what they wanted. Just as if our Lord God had nothing else to do, but to atone for their presumption.
26 Today you will also find such disciples in the world, and there are only so many of them, and most of all among the great lords, you will have different respect for them. For what is now the common speech among worldly wise, powerful people everywhere, but this, that they say: What? should I believe the sermon, which has now come among the people from poor beggars, as, runaway monks and perjured priests? I would believe it if the pope, emperor, king and princes preached it or accepted it. These also show our Lord God how he should become wise, the pious man, and attack things more wisely, and send them such a sermon as they would like. Yes, let them order you, dear noblemen.
27 And with us, who pretend to be good evangelicals, it is almost the same. You can see both in the courts of the lords and in cities, where everyone is subject to rule the preachers, that they should preach as and what pleases the lords. But where a preacher, in accordance with his office, punishes the vices that are so publicly practiced that one can easily know the persons, even if one does not name them, then the cry goes up in a heap that it serves for sedition and is therefore not to be suffered by the authorities. One could well preach the gospel otherwise, so that one does not disgrace and disgrace the people so publicly. So the authorities must be called disgraced and reviled if one speaks the truth. But how do you feel about such pious people? Do you not think that they are somewhat like and related to those who see the glorious miraculous sign here, but do not want to think it is a miracle, because he is fooling them with what they would like? So they want to be lords, not only over their country, people and community, but also over the word and the church. They may be pious children, because God should have air on.
28 But it does not have the opinion, if one says, worldly authority should be honored.
Do not reproach them, nor speak evil of them, as if they were to have worldly authority over God and His word; but let them be under God and His word as well as their subjects, and obey Him. If they do not do so, they shall be washed, and their mouths shall be opened, and they shall say what they do not like to hear, and they shall not ask anything, whether they are angry or laughing. For the gospel shall not spare any man, no matter how high he may be, but shall punish iniquity in every man.
(29) Therefore there are pastors and preachers on whom a very heavy burden has been laid, that they should conduct their ministry in such a way that they give an answer and an account of it on the last day. If they do not tell you and do not punish you for what they owe it to their office to say and punish, then God will demand your blood from their hands. Why then would we preachers for your sake complain more and preach to you as you would like? If the word is not ours, we are not there for your sake, as if you had appointed us, and we had to preach what is convenient for you. Preachers cannot, will not and should not do this. If anyone does not want to hear it, the door of the church is open to him, and he may go out and leave our Lord God's preaching ministry unhindered.
(30) These are the three kinds of disciples whom the Lord has here in this great miracle. The first praise it, and are pleased with it, and marvel at it. The others are hostile to it and desecrate it. The third would like it to be done according to their head and not according to his pleasure. The gospel has such disciples all over the world.
Therefore the preachers, just like Christ here, must quarrel with such and not let them have their way; but save the honor of the Lord Christ and answer for his word, and do not ask anything about it, even if they do not want to be converted or persuaded. We have done our part if we do not keep quiet about their blasphemy. If they will not accept it, let them go until they realize what they have done and whom they have despised, violated and blasphemed.
The Lord first answers those who say, He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, and gives a fine, bad, natural answer, "A kingdom, if it be divided against itself, cannot stand. If then one devil casts out another, it follows that the devils are at variance, and therefore their kingdom cannot stand.
This is a worldly image that reason can grasp and understand. For where husband and wife are divided in the house, so that he breaks jars and she breaks pots, the household will not be able to last long. For experience teaches that disunity tears apart and devastates land and people, household and everything.
(34) Therefore the Pharisees and scribes here speak against their own reason, like mad, insane people, who not only have no Christian understanding, but also no human reason. As we also see in our opponents, the papists. Even if we do not lead the Scriptures, we can still use reasonable causes in many things to reprove their nature and doctrine, and to defend ours. But nothing helps, all work and effort is in vain.
Now it is necessary that we pay attention to the fact that Christ says that the devil has a kingdom, and a very large kingdom, which is finely divided. Therefore, whoever angers one devil angers them all; whoever attacks one attacks them all. Otherwise, if they did not hold together in this way, we would have many more people deprived of the pope. But the fact that not all accept and believe the word is because the devil's kingdom is so powerful and holds together so diligently.
You attack such a kingdom when you are baptized, hear the word, and receive the sacrament. But that the devil does not prevail against you is because just as the devils hold together, so the kingdom of Christ also holds together. Therefore, if the devil attacks you, he has also attacked the one above at the right hand of God, as he says to Paul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" We may take comfort in this, and learn that it is no joke for a Christian, since we have such a great kingdom against us.
and would have to be in peril at all times if God did not stop us with His grace.
(37) Here you may ask: How is it that the exorcists are such evil, desperate boys and still cast out devils? God does not do that, but the devil. I have seen one myself that was full of devils, but the priest who summoned him was so sure that he put his hand in the mouth of the possessed. How can it be otherwise than that one devil casts out another?
38 Answer: St. Paul says, "The devil will perform signs in the last days, but they will be false signs. For he does it not for the sake of the gospel, that he may promote it, but that he may lead men away from the faith, and bring them into idolatry. Thus St. Cyriax, St. Unstet and other saints were used to bring the possessed and to cast out the devil. But he did not go out because of this, as if he could not sit any longer and had to leave; but he did it willingly and gladly to strengthen the superstition.
Item 39: At times he acted as if he were very afraid of a consecrated light, consecrated salt, water and other things, when his only purpose was to strengthen such superstition in the people, so that they would the less come to the right faith and trust in God's word and grace. That it was, as Paul calls it, mendacia signa, lying, false miraculous signs and only a ghost.
40 But look at the true signs, when Christ and the apostles cast out the devil by the word, and he went out against his will, and you will find that he has changed much. Cause, then he must go forth for the testimony of the divine word and honor, and strength of the Christian faith. He cannot do this with his will, so neither the cross nor consecrated water nor any other trickery will help.
41) But where the devil is to make use of it, and to strengthen his lies with it, so that the ungrateful world, which will not call upon Christ, may call upon the devil and go deeper into it.
If he is to fall into superstition, he may well have a bad boy exorcised. For it is not so that the gospel may be praised and the truth recognized, but that his error may be confirmed, that monastic life, the intercession of the saints, pilgrimages, vigils, sacrifices of the Mass and other things may be considered a holy thing; that is why he is so willing to do it.
42. but where the casting out of the devil is to see the finger of God and to have the kingdom of heaven approaching, he locks up
and defends himself as long as he can; as Christ says in the parable of the strong-armed man.
43 Therefore, let us thank God for such grace that He sent His Son to help us against the devil and cast him out, and left His word with us, through which this work is still being done today, destroying the devil's kingdom and building up and increasing the kingdom of God. In such grace may God graciously preserve us through His Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.