|
"The other class is represented by the blind saints who
imagine the kingdom of God and his righteousness are dependent upon the
particular meat and drink, clothing and couch, of their own choice...Upon this
subject Paul says (1 Corinthians 8:8): 'Food will not commend us to God;
neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the
better.'"
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 25f. First Sunday in Advent, Romans 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians
8:8
"It is our duty to allow the body all necessary food, whether
wine, meat, eggs or anything else; whether the time be Friday, Sunday, in Lent
or after the feast of Easter; regardless of all orders, traditions and vows,
and of the Pope. No prohibition contrary to God's command can avail, though
made by the angels even."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 26. First Sunday in Advent, Romans 13:11-14
"Hence, you see, the ecclesiastical traditions that flatly
forbid the eating of meat are contrary to the Gospel."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983,
VI, p. 27. First Sunday in Advent, Romans 13:11-14
"The first difficulty was this: Some Jewish converts feared
that deviating from former customs would be committing sin. Notwithstanding
they had been taught the New Testament freedom regarding meats, days, clothing,
vessels, persons, conditions,, customs; that only faith renders us righteous in
God's sight; and that the restrictions of the Law concerning the eating of
flesh and fish, concerning holidays, places, vessels, were entirely
abolished....
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 29. Second Sunday in Advent, Romans 15:4-13
"Again, both Jews and gentiles, in consequence of this same
disordered idea, could not venture to eat of bread and meat offered to idols by
unbelievers, though sold in the public market. They imagined that to eat
thereof was to honor the idols and deny Christ, when in fact the act had no
significance. For all kinds of food are clean, and good creatures of God,
whether in the hands of heathen or Christians, whether offered to God or to the
devil."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 29. Second Sunday in Advent, Romans 15:4-13
"One consists of those weak in the faith, of whom we have
already spoken. It is to this class alone Paul here refers. They are good,
pious, common people, willingly doing better when they have the knowledge or
power. They are not tenacious of their opinions; the trouble lies altogether in
weakness of conscience and lack of faith. They are unable to extricate
themselves from prevailing doctrines and customs. The other class are
obstinate. Not satisfied to enjoy liberty of conduct for themselves, they must
enforce it upon others, constraining them to their own practices. They claim
that because certain liberty is permissible, it must be enjoined. They will not
listen to real truth in the matter of Christian liberty, but strive against
it."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 30. Second Sunday in Advent Romans 15:4-13
"Suppose a wolf were to wound almost fatally a sheep, and you
were to proceed with rage against the sheep, declaring it to be wrong in being
wounded, that it should be sound, and you were violently to compel it to follow
the other sheep to the pasture and to the fold, giving it no special care;
would not all men declare you inconsiderate? The sheep might well say:
'Certainly it is wrong for me to be wounded, and unquestionably I ought to be
sound; but direct your anger toward the inflicter of my wounds, and assist in
my recovery.' So should these Romans have done and have faithfully repelled the
wolf-life teachers."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 31. Second Sunday in Advent Romans 15:4-13
"'He has made himself a child of God. Crucify him! Crucify
him! He is a heretic and a deceiver.' (John 19:7, 15) Look for this to be said
of you; prepare for it. For so it must be."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 310. New Year's Day, Galatians 3:23-29; John 19:7, 15
"Recognizing the weak and wounded condition of the offender,
Christ's doctrine comes in a friendly way, teaching the real truth about human
laws--that of Christian liberty. It is patient, bearing with him who does not
immediately abandon his erroneous ways, and giving him time to learn to forsake
them. It allows him to do the best he can, according to what he has been used
to, until he is made whole and clearly perceives the truth."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 33. Second Sunday in Advent Romans 15:4-13
"Now, where Paul's Christian doctrine does not obtain,
naturally each individual forgets the beam in his own eye and perceives only
the mote in his neighbor's. One will not bear with the faults of the other;
each requires perfection of his fellow...These puff themselves up and put on
airs. Whoever is not just like them is held in disgrace, in disparagement and
contempt. Only themselves are worthy of admiration...They are not aware of the
secret satanical pride in the inmost recesses of their hearts, which pride is
the very reason they haughtily and meanly despise their neighbors for their
imperfections."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 35. Second Sunday in Advent Romans 15:4-13
"Now, suppose some blind, capricious individual intrudes,
demanding as necessary the omission of this thing and the observance of that,
as did certain Jews, and insisting that all men follow him and he none--this
would be to destroy equality; indeed, even to exterminate Christian liberty and
faith. Like Paul, in the effort to maintain liberty and truth, everyone should
refuse to yield to any such demand."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin
Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VI, p. 98. Fourth Sunday in Advent, Philippians 4:4-7; 1 Corinthians
9:19-22