Sermons of Dr Martin Luther Edited by John Nicholas Lenker Vol. 4
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Sermons Back to INDEX Translated by: John Nicholas Lenker and others Edited by John Nicholas Lenker VOLUME 4 FOR THE 1st. TO 12th. SUNDAY’S AFTER TRINITY 3 CONTENTS First Sunday after Trinity, <421619>Luke 16:19-31. Examples of Unbelief and Faith. The Rich Man and Lazarus, Second Sunday after Trinity, <421416>Luke 14:16-24. The Great Supper and the Invitation, SECOND SERMON: The Great Supper and the Guests, Third Sunday after Trinity, <421501>Luke 15:1-10. Christian Conduct Toward Sinners. The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Second Sermon: The Doctrine of Christian Liberty; Grace and the Forgiveness of Sins, Fourth Sunday after Trinity, <420636>Luke 6:36-42. A Lesson in Mercy. The Mote and the Beam, SECOND SERMON: Right Conduct to One’s Enemies, Fifth Sunday after Trinity, <420501>Luke 5:1-11. Peter’s Miraculous Draught of Fishes, SECOND SERMON: Faith, the Care of God, Our Daily Occupation, etc. , Sixth Sunday after Trinity, <400520>Matthew 5:20-26. Explanation of the Fifth Commandment. The Righteousness of the Pharisees, SECOND SERMON: The Fifth Commandment Explained, THIRD SERMON: Anger and Its Signs, Seventh Sunday after Trinity, <410801>Mark 8:1-9. Concerning Faith and Love. Jesus Feeds the Multitude, SECOND SERMON: An Admonition and a Consolation, 4 Eighth Sunday after Trinity, <400715>Matthew 7:15-23. Christ’s Warning Concerning False Prophets, SECOND SERMON: Beware of False Prophets, THIRD SERMON: Instruction Concerning False Prophets, Ninth Sunday after Trinity, <421601>Luke 16:1-9. Parable of the Unrighteous Steward, SECOND SERMON: Defense of the True Doctrine of Faith, Works, etc. , Tenth Sunday after Trinity, <421941>Luke 19:41-48. Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem, Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, <421809>Luke 18:9-14. A Picture and an Example of a True Saint, SECOND SERMON: The Pharisee and the Publican, Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, <410731>Mark 7:31-37. Concerning Faith and Love, SECOND SERMON: Christ Heals the Deaf Mute, 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENT To the following co-laborers we make grateful acknowledgment for help in translating: To Revelation J. Humberger for translating the second Sermon of the Second Sunday after Trinity; second Sermon of the Third Sunday; second Sermon of the Fourth Sunday; first, second and third Sermons of the Eighth Sunday; first and second Sermons of the Ninth Sunday; first Sermon of the Tenth Sunday, and first and second Sermons of the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity. To President J. Schaller for the first and second Sermons of the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. To President A. W. Meyer for the first, second and third Sermons of the Sixth Sunday; and to Prof. E. G. Lund for the first Sermon of the Third Sunday, and the second Sermon of the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. The other sermons, all the analyses and “Summaries” were translated and the whole work edited with the introduction by the undersigned. J. N. LENKER. Minneapolis, Minn. , December 9, 1904. 6 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. EIGHT PAMPHLET EDITIONS OF THIS SERMON APPEARED IN 1523-24. Text. <421619>Luke 16:19-31. Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they who would pass front hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us. And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house; for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead. CONTENTS: EXAMPLES OF UNBELIEF AND OF FAITH. I. THE EXAMPLE OF UNBELIEF IN THE RICH MAN. 7 Contents of this Gospel. 1. 1. How and why we are not to look here at the external. 2-3. The Gospel has sharp eyes. 3. 2. How we are to look at the internal; and there we find: a. Unbelief. 4-6. Of the fruits of true faith. 5-6. b. The lack of love. 7f. Ways of faith and unbelief. 8-9. 3. How this example teaches that where there Is no faith there is no love; and the reverse. 10. 4. Many follow this example. 11. II. THE EXAMPLE OF FAITH IN LAZARUS. 1. How and why we are not here to look at the external. 12. 2. How and why we are in this example to look at the internal; and there we find: a. Faith. 13. b. Love. 14f. 3. How this example still serves the whole world. 15-16. 4. How reason and human wisdom are put to shame here. 16-17. 5. How God still gives daily such examples; but the world does not esteem them. 18. 6. All believers are like this example. 19-20. III. SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 1. First question: What is meant by Abraham’s bosom. 21-22. Of the hell where the rich man Isaiah 23. 2. Second question: The nature of the conversation between Abraham and the rich man. 24-26. 3. Third question: When did the rich man experience the torments of hell and whether they continue to the present 27. 8 4. Fourth question: Whether we should pray for the dead. 28-29f. Opinion on the mass for the souls of the dead and on vigils. 30. Concerning rapping spirits and the appearance of departed souls. 1. An opinion on them. 31-33. 2. Two examples of rapping spirits being expelled. 34-35. SUMMARY OF THIS GOSPEL: 1. Here we have a parable and the connected parts of hypocritical righteousness which nowadays thoroughly knows and possesses almost everything, besides it is also highly esteemed by the world, as if it were the nearest heaven; and the Christian Cross or persecution is despised by every one. 2. The hypocritical righteousness seeks its own, rejoices in its own affairs and helps no one; but the Christian Cross must suffer everything, it lies at our door, no one shows it any mercy, has no consolation except that all who suffer oppression, anxiety and persecution have peace in God. A hypocrite is considered pious; while a Christian must be considered a heretic and a blasphemer of God. 3. Aside from this parable in this Gospel, we have nothing in the whole Scriptures as to how the dead sleep after this life, until the day of Judgment. And since we must not and should not prefer a parable to the revealed, plain and clear written Word; although I do not esteem all as a pure parable, which resembles a history; so I agree here with the explanation of Dr. Martin Luther, as will follow, namely, that we will feel and experience all that is set forth in this parable when we die; especially when the foolish virgins see that the wise virgins have oil in their lamps, and they have none, <402507>Matthew 25:7. 1. We have hitherto heard in our Gospel lessons of various examples of faith and of love; for as they all teach faith and love, I hope you are abundantly and sufficiently informed that no human being can be pleasing to God unless he believes and loves. Now in this Gospel text the Lord presents to us at the same time an example of faith and of unbelief or of the state of the godless, in order that we also may abhor the contrary and the 9 opposite of faith and love, and that we may cleave to faith and love more diligently. For here we see the judgment of God upon the believers and the unbelievers, which is both dreadful and comforting. Dreadful to the faithless and comforting to the faithful. But in order that we may the better grasp the meaning of this text we must picture to ourselves both the rich man and poor Lazarus. In the rich man we see the nature of unbelief and in Lazarus the nature of belief. PART I. THE RICH MAN. 2. We must not view the rich man according to his outward conduct; for he is in sheep’s clothing, his life glitters and shines beautifully, while he tactfully conceals the wolf. For this Gospel text does not accuse him of adultery, of murder, or robbery, of violence or of having done anything that the world or reason would censure.