L "e. 8, 4-13.
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 a good land, and it went up.
*) Held in the house, 1534.
and bore fruit a hundredfold. When he had said this, he cried out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What is this likeness? 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 they that are by the way are they which hear it: afterward cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their hearts, lest they should 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 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 are they which hear the word, and keep it in a fine good heart, and bring forth fruit in patience.
1. your beloved hear in today's gospel how our dear Lord Christ makes four kinds of disciples, who all hear the pure word of God, and yet the fourth and last alone keep it and bring forth fruit, which is to be diligently pointed out to the people today in the gospel, so that each one may look around and diligently investigate among which multitude he is, and thus learn to send himself, so that he may one day also come to those who are a good nation and with whom the word brings forth fruit.
2 The first, says the Lord, are the seed that falls by the wayside. It does not come to fruition, for it is either trodden down or eaten up by the birds. The others, when they hear it, and begin not only to speak of it, but also to believe, grow fine, as the grain that falls on the stony field or rock. But as soon as a hot summer day comes, it begins to dry up, for it has neither root nor sap. So these people are delicious at first, but when persecution and temptation come and they have to suffer over it, they fall before the right fruit of faith follows through patience. The third are the most recognizable here: these are the Christians, like the grain among thorns, which, although it grows up, nevertheless cannot come to fruit and must suffocate, because the thorns overgrow it. But the fourth are the pious disciples, where the word falls into a good heart, and abides therein until it brings forth fruit through patience. These are holy people who suffer for the sake of the word, practice obedience to God and love for their neighbor, are patient, and bear fruit some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 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 disciples hear the word without profit or fruit; but especially the first are the most grievous, "who 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 judged nor judged that hearts should be possessed with the devil, who hear the word and yet pay no attention to it, forget it and never think about it. It seems to us that there is no danger in hearing God's word and yet not keeping it, and that those who do so are bad, careless people, and that it is natural for them to 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, but are the devil's own; he is mighty over them, reaching into their hearts and taking the word out of them. Therefore other bad habits must follow, that they are disobedient, unfaithful, self-willed, selfish, proud, unforgiving, stingy, who like everyone to serve them, but they in turn serve no one. For where the word abides in the heart and they hear it diligently, it would make fine, obedient, faithful, willing, servant, humble, mild hearts.
(6) These are the first and the worst, and such naughtiness is very grievous to the Lord,
also reproves no bunch so much as this one. 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 it an easy pity that they let the sermon go in at one ear and out at the other. But if you want to know what an easy pity it is, listen to what Christ says, who actually knows better than all the world; who says that the devil does this.
7. Therefore, if you see such a man, or if you yourself are such a man, who lets himself speak and preach as into a log (as our miserly citizens and peasants do, and especially as our opponents, the papists, do, what one preaches to them, sings and says, is as if one strikes into water): Think no other, for the devil is seated in their hearts, who does not let come into their hearts what they hear that is good, but eats it up from the beginning, so that they do not believe and become blessed. For if the devil were not there, or if such a thing were a natural, innate forgetfulness, as one man is always more learned than another, then there would still be the desire that a man would think: Oh God, that I can remember nothing at all! Give me also your grace and open my heart, so that I may pay attention to it and keep what I hear in the preaching of your word. 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, and think 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 think only no one else.
(8) This is the greatest multitude that heareth the word, and regardeth it not. Everything that is said to them from God's word, they take in one ear and leave out the other. Then the devil comes and tears the word out of their hearts. This judgment that Christ passes on them, namely, that he gives this first group to the devil, is to be diligently remembered, so that one may beware of it.
The other two groups are not so evil, but they are weak, they lift up a little and notice something, and they put up with it. Therefore the Lord does not give them over to the devil as much as the first, although the fruit does not yet follow with them. Now the other group are those who do not persevere in persecution, nor do they remain constant; but like the worm-eaten fruit on the tree, it remains hanging because it is still, but as soon as a wind comes, it falls off in heaps: so are these also. "For a time," says the Lord, "they believe," but as soon as the cross comes, they are frightened and will not suffer. The fruit of eternal life must remain outside, along with other good fruits that come from the word and faith.
(10) The third group are those who, because of avarice, worry and lust for this life, have no regard for the word. For he who is occupied with temporal cares, frets and scratches, 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 word is choked in him like grain among thorns. Work should be done, and each one should be most diligent in his work. This is not forbidden, but commanded. But to scratch and scrape and to think only of temporal things, of thalers and florins, are the thorns that choke the word of God in the heart, so that it cannot grow and bear fruit. Because one does not think about it and lets oneself be more concerned about other things.
(11) With these three heaps the word is in vain and in vain. This is not a small pity, but a great and terrible pity, which a human heart cannot sufficiently consider.
(12) Therefore the Lord (as St. Matthew writes) diligently exhorts us all, saying, "Take heed therefore how ye hearken. For he that hath, to him shall be given; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away, even that he thinketh he hath." With such words he sufficiently indicates that he is not speaking of bad things, but of God's word; which those who have it in their hearts will be saved, those who do not have it will be condemned. Therefore one should watch, and with
God's word not joking, as with a bad thing. For it is not a joke, you must not think that you want to go like this for a while, worrying and scratching, and say: Ho, I will learn and believe God's word well, when I once become more idle and have first gathered what is necessary for me. Watch and do not deceive yourself.
(13) Let us therefore be diligent that we may be found among the little fourth company, praying 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 like the pope's saints, who wear caps and plates, say mass, fast, have special clothes and the like; but who hear the word of God, which the pope and his saints, as you can see, are the worst enemies and fiercest persecutors. But they that hear the word bring forth fruit a hundredfold, that is, much and innumerable; or, as Matthew divides it, some bring forth fruit a hundredfold, and some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. That is, one bears more fruit than the other. For as the outward offices are unequal, so also the fruits are unequal. A preacher serves the church more than a craftsman who 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 takes the word of God seriously. Such a heart must be there above all things, lest the devil come and snatch away the word from us. Secondly, the heart must be sure and steadfast, not soft or cowardly, so as to be tempted 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 nor suffer it. He is an intemperate lord who
and does not allow them to celebrate; as we see in the papists and experience even more every day. Thirdly, it must also be purified and swept so that there are no thorns in it; that is, we must not let ourselves love good, money, honor and pleasure more than the word of God and future life, nor be more concerned with other worldly matters than with the word of God; as Christ says: "Seek first the kingdom of God."
(16) Where the heart is thus attentive, certain of the matter, constant and swept clean, this is a fine, pure heart, where fruit will surely follow, but still in patience. For without crosses and temptations, without adversity and trials, there is no escape; as St. Paul says in 2 Tim. 3:12: "All who would live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution." Let us then prepare ourselves, and, as Christ says, take hold of our souls with patience, not forgetting to pray. For it is not lacking, as we ourselves must confess, that unfortunately we have trouble everywhere and do not want to leave anywhere, and it is natural 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 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 avarice, greed, fornication and other things did not overtake them and keep them from the Word.
(17) It is therefore necessary that we have good regard for such defects and infirmities of our nature, that we do not continue in security, but ask God for His Holy Spirit (as we have a clear, comforting promise, Luke 11:13)."The Father will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask Him"), that He may pluck out 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 obedience to 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 spread throughout the world.
that it may produce and work in us such fruit as will remain forever.
18 This likeness also serves us so that we may not be surprised, even though the word does not bear fruit everywhere. For here we hear that the Lord himself divides it thus and makes four heaps, since only the one and the smallest is righteous. The other three great heaps are of no use at all; let them go, and do not be angry when you see that there are more who despise the word than who accept it. The nature and manner of the gospel is that where it is preached, there are three kinds of lost disciples, and the fourth part is first of all good and pious. And yet it is not the fault of the word, nor of him who leads or preaches it; as yet the blind papists are always crying out like mad, furious people; making believe that they can defile our gospel with nothing else higher nor uglier, than by bringing out the aversions which the devil has aroused since the gospel was preached.
019 But if it be so, say unto me, When Christ himself preached with John and his apostles, were there not also great perturbations, and the greatest sins committed? When John the Baptist arose and preached, every man 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 Herod the king, who, as the Gospel writers testify, heard him much and gladly, not only brought no fruit, but at last even had him strangled. Yes, they heard Christ, the Son of God, themselves, saw him raise the dead and perform great miracles; nevertheless, they crucified him. That is to say, they were wronged by the gospel. Why don't you also say: "John, Christ, the apostles did not have the right gospel or were not right preachers, otherwise the people should not have been so evil and changed from the right teaching? But they must keep their mouths shut, otherwise one would feel by their judgment that they are enemies and blasphemers of Christ, even against Christ. But they let themselves think that they have better reason to reproach us and our teachings.
20 Well, we want to do it with our teaching.
and do not say now what we consider them to be and why we do not want to be aborted by them. Just look at the words of our dear Lord Jesus, who says that 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. Who then can deny that the world does not remain evil, although the word and the preaching are righteous and good and fruitful in themselves?
(21) Now I have said that we will not speak of our doctrine, for which we hold it. But this the papists must confess, and have no thanks for, that though the preaching be right, and the preacher pious, yet the world abideth evil, and maketh no improvement in 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 (John and the apostles are silent), that he cannot make anyone believe and accept the word. The most part 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 also happens to John the Baptist, the apostles and us today? Therefore, if one wants to punish the doctrine and say that it is unrighteous, one should also say that the seed is not righteous that falls on the path, rocks and among the thorns. 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 very nature cannot bear anything but fruit. But if it does not bear fruit everywhere, do not blame God and His word, but blame the land, which is not good, and therefore such seed must perish in it and remain without fruit.
23 Therefore let not the papists punish our doctrine, nor call it unjust, because much offence is found in it; but let them punish themselves and all other people.
who do not have a fine, pure heart. For the fault is not of the word, but of the heart; they are unclean and unfit, either despising the word, or falling away from it in time of temptation, or choking under the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life.
(24) Now let everyone learn here that the gospel will never be otherwise than the Lord indicates by this similitude, namely, that some improve and become more devout, but there are always three times as many who are offended. Therefore, not only are there many outward sins and offences, but also, as the Lord says here, such naughtiness is punished with blindness, so that the lost disciples of the gospel do not see with their seeing eyes,
what they hear, nor can they understand it.
25 Finally, notice that the Lord, in concluding this parable, cries out and says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," as if to say, "Hear the word of God because you have it; the time is coming when you would gladly hear it if you could have it. Therefore hear it diligently, because you have it. For whoever despises it, the darkness takes hold of him; as the Lord John 12:35 also says, "Walk while you have the light, so that the darknesses do not overtake you." May our dear Lord Jesus Christ grant us his grace, that we may diligently hear his dear word, and keep it in a fine and good heart, and bring forth fruit in patience, amen.