John 8:46-59.
Which of 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 hear, for you are not of God. Then the Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not rightly that thou art a Samaritan, and hast the devil? Jesus answered: I have no devil, but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me. I seek not mine honor: but there is one that seeketh it, and judgeth it. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any man keep my word, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast the devil. Abraham died, and the prophets, and thou sayest, If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou more than our father Abraham, which died? and the prophets died. What do you make of yourself? Jesus answered, "If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. But it is my Father that honoureth me, whom ye say is your God: and ye know him not, but I know him. And if I should say that I know him not, I should be a liar, as ye are. But I know him, and keep his word. Abraham, your father, was glad to see my day, and he saw it and rejoiced. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast seen Abraham? Jesus said to them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out into the temple, passing through the midst of them.
*) Held in the house, 1533.
This is a beautiful, rich gospel, since much would be preached from it. But it is too much in one bite. Therefore we will take only the main part of it, namely, that Christ says: One should hear his word gladly. Whoever hears it is from God. He who does not hear it is not of God.
(2) Christ speaks these words so simply that no one thinks that they have such great things in them. But whoever looks at them rightly, whoever thinks about them diligently, what it is to be of God or not to be of God, will have to confess that it is a great and excellent thing that Christ speaks of here. For it is true and certain that one cannot judge a man more harshly, nor attack him more violently, than if one says that he is not of God. That someone calls me a mischievous and wicked man, or even stabs me in the neck, is nothing compared to this horrible misery, which the Lord summarizes here in short words, when he says to the Jews: "You are not of God. Therefore, it is all in this piece that we should gladly hear God's word and diligently keep it.
In the history of the gospel it is seen everywhere that those who do not want to hear God's word, speak evil of it and blaspheme it, they follow the devil until he finally possesses them and they become more and more angry. As can be seen in today's Gospel. First the Jews are angry when Christ begins to preach; then they rebuke him, calling him a Samaritan, and say, He has a devil. There they have already fallen ten miles deeper into hell than before. After that they become even more nonsensical. What do you, they say, make of yourself? In sum, the longer they go on, the angrier they get, until at last they become murderers, pick up stones and want to throw him to death. They fall into such an abominable sin out of contempt for the word that they do not want to hear Christ's sermon, but blaspheme it. This, says the Lord, is an indication that you Jews are of the devil. For if you were of God, you would stand differently against his word, which I preach.
4. that at present children are commonly so disobedient and wilful against
their parents, also comes from the fact that they do not hear God's word, do not learn it, and do not remember it. When they begin to despise their father and mother against God's command, they do not stop at this sin, but continue to curse their parents, and even if they do not strike or strangle them with their hands, they still want them to be dead, or lead such a shameful life that their parents must be grieved to death.
(5) Thus it is that whoever does not hear God's word, or does not want to keep it, becomes a liar, blasphemer and persecutor. As we see in the papists that they become more and more furious the longer, and will not stop their blaspheming and persecuting until they also become murderers one day and cause a horrible bloodshed etc.
Now this is the most serious thing. In other sins, if someone does wrong, he can be made to recognize his sin and desist from it. But since the papists (also many among us) not only do not want to hear God's word, but also despise and blaspheme it, no one can mean or persuade them that they are doing wrong and sinning. Yes, they think they have good reason and do right by it. They pretend that it is not the word of God, but the doctrine of the devil and lies; those who preach it are the worst heretics and deceivers. Just as the Jews reviled and blasphemed Christ, saying that he had the devil and was a Samaritan; so that they gave enough to understand what they thought of his teaching. So the most abominable sin wants to be the highest holiness. etc.
(7) Therefore the wicked devil himself is where people fall into this sin, that they do not want to hear God's word and despise it. For then it will not fail, as we see here with the Jews, that they will throw stones at Christ, even hang him on the cross, and still consider this to be right, and still want to be unpunished in this greatest injustice. Take care that you do not fall into this.
(8) Therefore it is a hard and sincere word that the Lord speaks here to the Jews: "You do not hear the word of God, therefore you are not of God. For he who is not of God is of the devil; so he has his fran-
zoses, pestilence and all infernal plagues with heaps: more misfortune cannot be wished for him.
(9) And it is a grievous pity that such a great and grievous sin is still so common among all classes. For how many are there (both among the great lords and in the lower classes) who, if you say to one, "It is not true that you do not go to the sermon at all, or if you hear it at once, learn nothing from it, you will not be of God," take such things to heart, or are frightened by them? Most of them are so minded that they would answer: What do I ask about the sermon? But if thou wilt further persist, and say, It is no good; thou must take a different view of the matter, if thou wilt be saved; thou shalt find that after such admonition they will only grow angry, and reject thee with these or such clumsy words: Thou shalt leave them satisfied, in all their names, or they will do otherwise to the matter.
(10) This is such an abominable plague and wrath, that a Christian heart should rightly be terrified by it, since the judgment is: He who does not hear the word of God is not of God, but is the child of the devil. In addition, this naughtiness strikes, as said, that such despisers of the Word are right and want to defend such blasphemous virtue; as the Jews do here, and say, "Do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan, and have the devil?" This is the worst devil, who still wants to be a god and holy, does not want to be wrong nor to be told so.
(11) This is one thing, that he who does not hear the word of God is not of God, but of the devil. But this is not to be understood as if the devil had created those who do not hear God's word, and had given them mouth, eyes, reason and other things. No, all these things are God's creatures and gifts. Therefore, the essence and the custom must be distinguished. A man who lies and deceives has a good tongue from God, but the use of the tongue is from the devil, since he misuses the tongue to serve the devil against God. Thus God gives healthy, beautiful eyes, but he who abuses his eyes and likes to see lewdly.
thing, that is of the devil. So when the heart thinks of fornication, deceit, lies and the like, the heart is good in its nature and from God, but the custom is evil and from the devil.
12 Now, to be of God is to use the ears to hear preaching, to be punished when they are wrong, and to pray, preach, instruct, and comfort with the tongue. Such ears and tongues are of God and good; for they walk in a godly custom. So when the heart thinks about discipline, and how to be useful to the neighbor and not annoying. Such a heart is a creature of God, like ears and tongue. But it is called "of God" because it follows God's word and does not like to think, speak or hear what is against God. Now it may happen from time to time that we curse when we ought to pray, or are angry when we ought to be kind; etc. such is wrong. But if we repent and confess that we have done wrong, and ask for mercy, this may be called stumbling, or even falling, but it is not called having the devil, nor being of the devil; for we repent again, and resolve never to do it again.
013 But they are the devil's children, who put on their heads, and when they are punished and admonished for their good, they say, like unadvised children, What do I ask after this? So they go on as they have begun, and are not told. Such people are of the devil, and the longer they go on, the worse they become, for the devil will not let them rest. At first they despise the word, then they blaspheme it, reproach and curse. Finally they do like the Jews here, pick up stones and want to murder. So that the true color of the devil is not to hear God's word, but to revile and blaspheme, to harm one's neighbor and to murder. By such color one knows the devil and his children; for he is a murderer and liar, despising God and his word.
14 Therefore learn to beware of such sin, that you do not also despise God's word, but gladly hear it; and diligently meditate upon it, forming it in your hearts, and
direct your life according to it; then you can know for certain that you are children of God and by God.
The others are the children of the devil. Because they do not want to hear the word, they have lost life and righteousness, and are, to speak with leave, in the devil's ass. And do not help them if they can already cover such sin with that they are powerful, great and rich. The pope is in such sin up to the ears, with all his appendages. For he does not want to suffer God's word, persecutes and murders Christians over it: this is the devil's real color.
16. But those who gladly hear the word of God are of God. Now what is God? He is not a murderer, but a creator, since all life flows from Him. For the devil has never created or made alive any human being. Now as God is a living God, so also those shall have life who are of Him and hear His word. As he says here with an excellent, beautiful saying: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever."
(17) But what does "keeping God's word" mean? Nothing else, but to believe what Christ promises us in the Gospel about the forgiveness of sin and eternal life, that it is true, and to hold fast to such faith and hope. Whoever does this, says Christ, has eternal life; must not be afraid of sin, hell and the last judgment, for there is all grace and mercy. Death will fall upon him and choke him, but he will not feel it as those who die in the name of the devil and without the word of God. They die in all displeasure, struggling, thrashing about, bellowing like oxen; for they do not want to die and yet they must die. Therefore, if it were possible, they would run through an iron wall.
(18) Thus, says Christ, shall it not be with my Christians who hear and keep my word. When they lie on the bed and die, they will not have such anguish and distress, they will be satisfied in their heart toward God and hope for a better life, and in such hope they will fall asleep.
and pass away without all trembling. For although death will choke them bodily, the same death shall be so covered and weakened that they shall not really feel it, but shall regard it as a gentle resting place when they fall asleep. As is often seen in the poor people whom the executioner strangles, that they go to death with joy, and do not make themselves miserable, as those who do not have the comfort of the word. For he who feels death rightly and does not have God's word rages and rages as if he were insane and even possessed.
(19) Therefore, dear children, think what advantage you have if you hear God's word diligently and gladly. This is the first thing, that you know that you are of God, and have overcome the devil and hell, and neither sin nor God's judgment shall harm you. Whatever evil you encounter besides these things, you shall be able to escape it all. On the other hand, the world becomes impatient and despondent even in the slightest matter, and must finally despair.
(20) Christians must indeed suffer much, as the devil and the world are bitter enemies to them; for this reason they must risk life and limb, goods and honor, and put them in jeopardy. But how can they suffer all this and be patient? By nothing else than by sticking to their word and saying: "Let it go as it may; I am not of the world, but of God; otherwise the world would deal with me differently. But I would much rather it hated me and put me to all harm than that it loved me and I was not of God. etc. Where the heart is so minded, all manner of temptation and adversity passes over; as the clouds in the sky above us, or the birds in the air, which make us a little angry, fly away afterward, and leave us unsworn.
(21) This shall be our comfort, that we may feel the power of the word here in life; and especially when the last hour cometh, that then death shall be as a sleep, because of the word which we believe. If someone rides along in a thick fog and sees no murderer, he is shot or murdered before he becomes aware of it. So it shall be here also. The
The devil is a murderer, has sworn death to us, we know that well. But because we have the word and hold fast to it, we shall not be quite aware of such strangulation. For the word makes fine, gentle people and quiet, cheerful hearts, who neither despair nor grow impatient in anguish, but let it all pass, taking comfort only in the fact that they have a gracious Father in heaven through Christ. They learn this in the Word, otherwise they would not know it.
22. But tell me, should we not run to the end of the world for the sake of daily hardship and adversity alone, according to this consolation which the word gives us, that we may have a peaceful heart? But this is nothing against the last and greatest calamity, death, since no physician, counsel or help can help and save us from it, but only our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us such a remedy that we should leave everything rather than take it.
But how is it? When he offers us such a remedy, we despise it when we are at home and in our pants. Then we receive our deserved reward for not being of God, and fall from one sin to another, becoming worse every day. As I have sufficiently indicated above. When the last hour of need comes, one knows neither consolation nor counsel. Then it is impossible that one should not writhe, lament, howl and roar like an ox in the slaughter.)
(24) This, then, is the main teaching of today's gospel, that we should diligently attend to the word, gladly hearing it and accepting it with faith. If we do this, we shall be lords over sin, the devil, death and hell. Although death will devour us, we will not feel its sharp teeth. For the word of Christ is our armor, through which we shall have a secure life and a peaceful death and eternal life.
(25) But to rough, ungodly people who do not respect the word, one cannot wish for trouble, for they are ready to have it on their hands.
*) Marginal gloss: Here he mentioned the bishop of Trier, who died in the highest impatience.
Because they do not hear God's word, they are not of God. Just like a wicked child who despises God's commandment and is not obedient to father and mother, what more trouble can one wish for him than that he is a devil's child and not a child of God? In truth, this is not a joke. For I would rather be the executioner's or the Turk's own than be the devil's own, who is a liar and a murderer and leads to eternal death.
26. beware diligently of such afflictions, and learn, yea, learn, I say, what treasure ye have in the word of our lord jesus christ: that there is no other help nor counsel against the devil, sin, and eternal death, but to keep the word of christ, that is, to believe his promise, and to trust in his word.
For when Christ says, "He who keeps my word will not see death forever," he does not mean the law given to the Jews through Moses, which is indeed a right, good and holy teaching, but because we are sinners and children of wrath by nature, we cannot follow such preaching; therefore, it is enough for us to die, showing us our sin, God's wrath and punishment, which we have earned through it. Therefore we need another word, so that sin may be taken away from us and we may be justified before God. This is now the word of our Lord Christ JEsu, where he comforts: "He who believes in me will not see death forever.
This word must be taken with faith, so that there is no doubt that what Christ promises us is true. For anyone who would ignore the word and judge by what he feels would feel only death and not life. Therefore, in such distress, we must judge and speak not according to what we see and feel before our eyes, but according to what we hear in the Word: I see that I must die, but I have the promise and word of my Lord Christ that I shall live again through him. For the sin for which I was to suffer death eternally has been put away and paid for through Christ, so that God, for the sake of his dying and rising again, will be merciful to me and will grant me life again.
eternal life. This is what it means to keep Christ's word. But it is a sour matter, for flesh and blood will not be persuaded, but will always judge according to what is seen before the eyes and felt in the work. We must fight against such naughtiness and ask God for His Holy Spirit to strengthen our hearts through the Word and keep them in such faith.
29) But what is the cause that the word of our dear Lord Christ is so powerful, the Lord shows at the end of this gospel, and outrages the Jews so fiercely with it that they want to grab stones and throw him to death. For this stood in the way of the Jews, because Christ said that his word would save from eternal death, that they saw that Abraham, Moses, and other holy men, who had public testimony in the Scriptures, had died; thinking then that Christ was not like them. Therefore it would be a forgiven glory that he praises his word so highly. But Christ answers, "Abraham was glad that he should see my day; and he saw it, and rejoiced." That is, if Abraham had not kept my word, he would have remained in eternal death.
be. "I am rather than Abraham." This is both said: I am eternal, almighty God. Whoever then shall be delivered from sins, escape from death, and come to life, must be helped by me. Neither Moses nor other prophets could boast of such things, for they were all men. But Christ is God and man; therefore he can give life and salvation, and no one else.
(30) This is very comforting and a certain proof of our faith, since we confess that Christ is the natural and eternal Son of God. As there are many more such testimonies in the gospel. For this reason we should put our trust in him alone, and in no other man, and rely on his word with certainty. For it is God's word and cannot lie. What he says shall be true, and shall not fail for ever; neither has it failed, since by such a word God made heaven and earth from nothing. Learn this diligently, and give thanks to God for such teaching, and pray that He may preserve you in the Word by His Holy Spirit, and so make you eternally blessed through Christ, amen.