John 10:12-16.
I am a good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But a hireling that is not a shepherd, that owneth not the sheep, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep. But the hireling fleeth; for he is a hireling, and regardeth not the sheep. I am a good shepherd, and know mine own, and am known to mine own; as my Father knoweth me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. And these I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and shall become One fold and One Shepherd.
This gospel, like other works of Christ, can be interpreted in two ways: first, from faith, and then from love. According to faith it has the opinion that Christ alone is the right shepherd, who dies for his sheep, and no one else. For this work, for which Christ dies for us, no man, no saint, nor angel has been able to do, that he could have finished the man who was strangled by the devil through sin in paradise. Such is this shepherd's own work, which no one can imitate. Just as other works cannot be imitated by him, so that he has revealed himself to be the Son of God.
2 Therefore no one can speak these words which Christ speaks here: "I am a good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. For this reason he wants to draw us to himself and teach us to believe that the suffering of all the saints is not comparable to his suffering. Moses and the prophets were great men, who preached and taught rightly what one should do and believe. They also suffered much for it. But in the work that Christ says here about dying for the sheep, they are all vain hirelings and cannot save the sheep from the wolf. For you can see that Moses and the prophets, when they preached and preached long
*) Held in house in 1534. item in 1533.
they have done their best, yet they remain dead and cannot save themselves. How would they save a sheep or help it against the wolf, the devil and death? Christ says: "A hireling who is not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep. But the hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and respecteth not the sheep." Therefore, whoever endures in such a journey and does not want to be torn apart by the wolf, the devil, must be careful not to rely on the law or on good works, on this or that saint. For the law does not abide, it departs; yea, that is more, it is yet well against us, and condemns us. The good works also do not keep the sting, even they disappear. Therefore let all comfort fall on holy living and good works, and learn that by a right faith we may find our way to this one who says, "I am a good shepherd, and lay down my life for my sheep." For this one does not flee from the wolf, and would rather be torn to pieces over it than leave a lamb to the wolf. Therefore, in such a journey, we should look to him alone and hold on to him, knowing that through him, against the devil, sin and death, as through the faithful shepherd of our souls, we shall be preserved to eternal life. This is one thing that must be grasped with faith: there is nothing we can do about it;
But he, the good shepherd, our Lord Christ, has done and arranged it all, and commanded us to accept it and cling to it with firm faith.
The other lesson is that all the deeds of our dear shepherd are also presented to us as an example. For just as Peter says about faith, 1 Peter 2:24, 25.Christ himself offered up our sin in his body on the wood, that we might be freed from sin and live unto righteousness; by whose wounds ye were healed, because ye were as sheep going astray; but now are ye converted unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." So soon after he says also of love, saying, "Christ suffered, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps." Just as Christ died for us, saving us from sins and eternal death through his own work, without our doing, so we should also serve one another, no matter how evil he may be. This then means to follow the example of Christ, and every Christian also becomes a good shepherd. For even if I cannot save others from death and sins with my own death, for this is the work of the one true shepherd of Jesus Christ, as you have heard above, I can still lay down my life so that others may be drawn to the word and brought to the confession of Christ through such examples. For we see how the world and the devil are hostile to the word; but especially the pope turns all his power to suppress the word by force. There the pious shepherds must suffer and in part give up their lives because of it.
4 Therefore devout, faithful preachers belong to them, because they are redeemed by the death of Christ, so that they quickly follow the example of Christ, and also die for the sake of the sheep, leaving their necks above the word. Such dying does not make the others blessed. For salvation comes only through the death of Christ. But nevertheless it strengthens the others; and thus God is praised through my blood and death, and the neighbor is strengthened in faith by it, although he is not redeemed from death by it. For
The same must have happened before by the death of the one and right shepherd, Christ JEsu, as is now often reported.
Here, then, are found hirelings and wolves. Before, in the first doctrine of faith, Moses, the law, the prophets and all men are hirelings, be they ever so pious. For none of them can protect himself, let alone others, from the wolf, the devil and sin. But here, in the doctrine of love, wolves are called the false teachers and tyrants who persecute and condemn the doctrine. Wherever there is a devout Christian, he will not be deterred when he sees the wolf, but before he would let his neighbor be deprived of the word and the right knowledge of Christ, he would rather leave his life and limb over it. As the holy apostles and dear martyrs did: they did not flee, but ran into the jaws of the wolf.
6 So it shall be. Whoever wants to be a preacher, let him mean it with all his heart, that he alone seeks God's honor and his neighbor's betterment. If, however, he does not seek them alone, but wants to consider his own benefit or harm in such a ministry, you must not think that he will stand. Either he will flee from it shamefully, and leave the sheep and run away; or he will keep silent, and let the sheep go without pasture, that is, without the word. These are the true hirelings, who preach for their own profit and avarice, and are not satisfied with that which God gives them daily for food as alms. For we preachers should have no more of our ministry than abundance. But those who want to have more and preach for the sake of money and good are hirelings who do not respect the herds. On the other hand, a pious preacher leaves everything above, even his life and limb.
(7) This is the other doctrine of the example, and applies not only to those who are in church offices, but to all Christians. For let them all confess the word, and rather lay down their life and limb, than let the word press them into idolatry. For they know that they have a shepherd, who for this cause hath laid down his life: whether they have already laid down theirs
They must also let them receive it again through him and never lose it again in eternity.
8 Now the Lord goes on and preaches a sermon about his sheep, distinguishing them from all other sheep. He also wants to separate his teaching from heresy and all other teaching, and says:
I am a good shepherd, and know mine own, and am known to mine own; as my Father knoweth me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for my sheep.
009 As if to say, All things are for this cause, if ye will be my sheep, that ye may know me your shepherd aright; and there shall be no need of you.
010 Therefore a good preacher shall not preach any other thing unto the people, but Christ only, that they may know him, what he is, and what he giveth; that no man depart from his word, and that he only be accounted a shepherd, laying down his life for his sheep. This is to be preached diligently. After this we are also to set an example, so that, just as Christ did and suffered everything for our sake, we also should gladly do and suffer everything for the sake of the word. Whoever hears these two things and understands them is called Christ's sheep. As he also said above, "My sheep hear my voice." He who preaches and teaches it is called a good shepherd, without which he cannot lay down his life for his sheep, as Christ did.
(11) But they that will not hear such doctrine, or will not shew it unto the sheep, are not Christ's sheep, neither are they right shepherds; but where they are best, they are hirelings, or even ravening wolves. They are not to be listened to, but to flee like the devil himself. Thus is the Pabst's sermon by all means. He does not purify the words of Christ when he says: "I am a good shepherd, and lay down my life for my sheep"; but teaches that if we want to be safe from the wolf, the devil and death, we must be our own shepherds and protect ourselves by our own works. As you know, what has been preached about the sacrifice of the Mass, almsgiving, pilgrimages, monasticism and other things in the papacy.
(12) If we want to be true Christians, then
we must be like a little sheep that knows its shepherd's voice and hears only him; it knows other voices and hears them not. Let us therefore say to the pope and such preachers: I do not know your voice; I hear a wolf that wants to tear me away from my shepherd and devour me. Always away with the cry of the wolf; I will keep to my shepherd.
13. For thus Christ says here: "They shall hear my voice." And above he saith, "The sheep follow not a stranger, but flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." For it is impossible that a little sheep, having once begun to believe, and having heard and apprehended the voice of its shepherd, should hear the preaching which is contrary to the voice of Christ. It hears the commandment of emperors and kings, the commandment of princes, the commandment of cities, but it knows that it does not serve salvation, for it is not for this reason that one enters eternal life by such outward obedience. But when a preacher comes and teaches, "If you want to be saved, you must do enough for your sins, say mass, give alms," etc. the little sheep does not hear, and says, "I do not know your voice; it is not the shepherd's voice, but a wolf's voice.
14) For a sheep has the nature and characteristic above all other animals that it has a certain and sharp ear. If there were ten thousand sheep together, they would flee and shy away, but they would not shy away from their shepherd's voice, which they knew and followed. So, if a thousand sheep are in a bunch together and their mothers are all bleating, each little lamb knows its mother's voice and follows her until she finds it, so that it can actually and surely hear.
(15) Christ looks at this kind and quality, and says, "I also have such little animals, for I am a shepherd, and my sheep also have this kind of nature, that they know my voice very surely and truly. Therefore, where my voice is not, there no one brings it. Will therefore teach us,
*) From a sermon preached in the house in 1533.
If we want to be his sheep, we must also have certain ears that separate the voice of Christ from all other voices, be they bright, beautiful and friendly.
(16) Therefore, we are to learn here and be careful to hear the word of God and to base ourselves solely and surely on it, so that we do not give way to the devil's temptation of all evil, which is in his power to devour us, and also beware of false doctrine. For the wolf does not let go of his wiles: if he cannot fell or catch you with false doctrine, he will do it inwardly in the heart by evil thoughts. Then you must act like a little sheep and say: I do not accept the voice; it is the wolf's voice and not my shepherd's voice. My shepherd's voice means, "I am a good shepherd, and I lay down my life for the sheep." So you, wolf, would gladly lead me to despair, to fear my shepherd and run away from him. So you will be able to resist the temptation, since the devil would gladly weigh down your heart and make it mislead, or sad and fearful.
(17) So let us learn to hear and know the voice of our Shepherd with certainty; then we will know him rightly, and he will know and love us again. For how can he be an enemy to us, if he lay down his life for us, and give us eternal life, and take away from us death, and sin, and all unhappiness? We will not find such things in any other voice, therefore we should be all the more diligent to do so.
(18) Then this sermon is also comforting and fine in the case that the Lord calls himself a shepherd, but us, who have and hear his word, his sheep. For no Christian ever has cause to complain that he is forsaken. It may well be that one lacks money and goods, another lacks health, a third lacks something else, so that it seems as if we are in the midst of wolves and have no shepherd. As Christ said to his disciples, "Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves"; and we see it daily before our eyes that the Christian church is in no other condition than that of the wolves.
a little sheep that the wolf has now caught by the pelt and wants to eat. It does not seem that we have a shepherd who will take care of us.
019 But it must be so, that we have no other comfort than the voice of that shepherd, and his little pipe, as the Lord saith here, My sheep know my voice. Whoever then turns to the voice and follows it can then boast that he knows his shepherd well and that his shepherd also knows him. For whoever heeds the word and follows it, the devil will have to leave him satisfied. For let it be with life and limb, with money and goods, with wife and child, as God wills, then he will always hear his shepherd's voice crying out to him: You are my dear sheep, because you listen to my voice and recognize me, and I also recognize you. So that such knowledge is in the word and faith, and in nothing else. As the Lord himself says, "I know them, even as my Father knoweth me, and I the Father."
For when Christ, the Son of God, walked on earth Himself, He walked as if He had been given to all devils and evil men, that they might do their will with Him as they pleased. God poses as if he had forgotten him, as if he knew nothing about him and did not know him. But since Christ himself laments: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"; since he dies on the cross and is buried, and the devil is now in hope that God has forsaken him: then one sees that the Father knows him; for he brings him out of hell and death.
21 So then, says Christ, so shall it be with you, my sheep. Do not be deceived, though it may seem that I do not know you. For a Christian must remain on earth so covered with misfortune, heartache, sin, and all kinds of infirmities and afflictions, that it may be seen as if there were no difference between him and an ungodly man. For life and death are the same in outward appearance; and what is more, it seems that a Christian is worse off with our Lord God than a heathen, for he is worse off and has more troubles and trials. But do not be mistaken, but
remember what he says here, "I know my sheep."
(22) Yea, saith the devil and reason, how can he know thee, seeing thou art so ill? Then answer thou, I know that he knoweth me, and shall not hinder me in such faith, that I must die, and suffer all manner of mischief. For I know his voice, and I hear it; and I hold to it, that he saith unto me, as a shepherd unto his lamb, I am thy shepherd, I died for thee, I laid down my life for thee. I hear this word and believe it; this is my sure and certain sign that he knows me and I also know him. Whether I feel differently than Christ says here, there is no harm in that. After all, all of this is only a temporal challenge. On the other hand, the word of eternal life teaches me that even if I feel death and must die like others who do not believe in Christ, what of it? For here I have the voice of my shepherd, which most kindly assures me, "He that believeth on me shall never see death"; item: "I lay down my life for my sheep". Therefore I do not doubt at all, my faithful shepherd - Christ Jesus, knows me.
(23) But such knowledge remains hidden, that there may be room for faith; otherwise, as soon as we were baptized pure and immortal, we would have no need of either word or faith. But because the word still remains, it must be believed and not even experienced until that day when we no longer believe it, but will see and experience it in the work. So there is no doubt that when a person is baptized, he becomes as beautiful and bright before God as the dear sun, so that no sin remains, but vain and eternal righteousness. For thus Christ Himself says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." But such things cannot be seen outwardly. And yet it is true, if we judge by the word and the voice of the shepherd. Therefore, it is all up to us to hold fast to the word and remain true to it until the time when it will be revealed in another and eternal life, as we now hear and believe in the word. For as the present life and that life are two distinct lives: so it is not possible to
It is important that you feel here in this life what you will feel and experience there.
Therefore, it is a great art to know a Christian. Yes, one cannot really know him here on earth. For what man can say that he is in eternal life? And yet we must confess that this same child, who is still burdened with death, sin and all misfortune, since he is not considered to have eternal life, immediately begins to live eternally from his baptism. How does this happen? One does not see it, but one sees only the old life. But over the same old and sinful life God has made an eternal life, so we already live in it (according to the word and faith), even though we do not yet see or feel it.
(25) To know a Christian aright is not to judge him nor to look at him with the eyes of the flesh, but by hearing and by the word. Like a little sheep, which have their life by hearing; if they hear not the voice of their shepherd, they go astray, and are led among wolves. For without the voice of the shepherd it cannot be kept. Where it has the same, it remains safe. But if it loses the voice of the shepherd, all joy and security are gone, and it must fear and be afraid everywhere. It is the same with a Christian: if he loses the word, his comfort is also gone. But if he holds fast to the word, he sees his shepherd Christ, and all that Christ has purchased and promised him, namely, forgiveness of sins and eternal life. So he goes in full, certain hope, eats, drinks, works, and does what he is commanded to do, yes, even suffers with joy what he is commanded to suffer. For he hangs his ears on the voice and mouth of his shepherd, and is accustomed to judge not according to what he feels or senses, but according to the voice and how he hears. Now this is what Christ says here: "I know mine own, and am known to mine own, even as my Father knoweth me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for them."
(26) Let us learn this, and so accustom our hearts that we may not be offended at it, though Christians suffer and die.
like other people. For this alone is the art of Christians, that they can say, "For the sake of the outward life I see no difference between Christians and unbelievers; indeed, Christians are generally worse off, and have to suffer and suffer a hundred times more than other people. But in the word I see a great and excellent difference, namely, that Christians and unbelievers are distinguished, not according to their noses or outward piety, but that they have and hear the voice of their shepherd. The Gentiles do not hear it, nor the Turks nor the Jews, but only the sheep of the Lord Christ. Otherwise, counting by the nose and worldly things, no difference will be found.
(27) The Lord gives such glorious comfort to his Christians in that he calls himself a good shepherd, saying, He knows his sheep as his Father knows him, and lays down his life for them. It should also follow that we, like the sheep, should keep ourselves right with such a devout and faithful shepherd; that is, we should follow our shepherd's voice alone. He comforts us, he has given his life for us; we should believe such comfort and not despair because of sins, as the devil and our sinful flesh always want to do and often make us fainthearted and timid. Then we also love one another, and so love that we should also lay down our lives for one another's sake. But how many are there who hear such a voice? Most of them listen to the devil's voice and follow him when he incites them to be stingy, unfaithful, deceive, lie and do other things that are completely contrary to Christian love.
Such people prove with their own lives that they are not true sheep of Christ, because they do not hear his voice: he warns so faithfully that we should be patient in suffering, firm in faith and fervent in love, and not hear the voice of the devil and of our own flesh, which tempts us to sin; it is the wrong way that will lead us to destruction. But most of it acts like a mad sheep: it cries, it whistles, the shepherd does whatever he wants, so it always runs toward the wood, goes astray and is given to the wolf. Let us all beware of such naughtiness, and be pious, faithful sheep, who know our shepherd as he knows us, that is, who love him, gladly hear his word, gladly follow his word, and do what he tells us. But that the Lord says of other sheep, which he also shall lead, that they may be one shepherd and one flock, this began immediately after Pentecost, when the gospel was preached in all the world by the apostles, and continues to the end of the world. Not as if all men should be converted and accept the gospel. For nothing will come of it; the devil will not let it come to that. So the world is hostile to the word without that and wants to be unpunished. For this reason, there will remain in the world all kinds of faith and religion. But this is called One Shepherd and One Sheepfold, that God will receive all who accept the gospel into children for Christ's sake, whether Jews or Gentiles. For this is the right, one religion, to follow this shepherd and his voice. May the faithful Shepherd of our souls grant us this through the Holy Spirit, Amen.