Luther's Notes on the Gospel: Annunciation to the Virgin Mary – Annunciation: The Virgin Shall Conceive

March 25
Luke 1:26-38

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luther's Notes

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel Gabriel was sent. The Evangelist treats the history of the Virgin Mary briefly. For he does not mention her state and condition, what she was doing when the angel came to her, or in what form he appeared. But whoever wishes to know some thing about it, let him abide

Luther's Notes on the Gospel: Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday – Jesus, our King, Enters Jerusalem

Sun March 20, 2016
Matt 21:1-11

21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Luther's Notes

This Gospel comprises two parts. In the first place, It exhorts us to accept King Christ, who comes to us, and at the same time reveals what this king brings us; that he is sent for our help. In the second place, It warns and arms us against the offense of the poor and lowly form of Christ.

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jeru salem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 

The Lord hath need of them. The Lord does not want a flatterer for a preacher, as he does not say, Go around the village or along side of it; but go into it, resolutely, and tell them what they do not like to hear. This is also said for the comfort of the preachers, that they shall not be troubled as to who shall believe and receive them; for it is declared, (Isaiah 55:11) "My word shall not return unto me void."

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

That it might be fulfilled, etc. This prophecy is quoted by the evangelist, to let us see that Christ did not come on account of our merit, but on account of divine truth; since he was promised so long before, ere we to whom he was sent, had an existence. Romans 1:2.

In order that the Jews might not excuse themselves and say, If we had known that the Messiah would come so poor and lowly, we also would have attended to it, and received him; therefore the prophet (Zechariah) pointed this out to them so long time before.

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Behold thy king cometh. He says, "Tell the daughter of Zion, that she take no offense at his humble appearance; but close her eyes, and open her ears, see not how lowly he rides along, but hear what is said of this poor king. Thus it also appears a small thing, that through Baptism and the Sacrament so great things should be effected; but do not let thine eyes deceive thee.

He does not say, Speak about the daughter of Zion, but to herself shalt thou speak; she shall believe it of herself and without doubt, that it shall be to her, just as these words read, and not merely to others also.

With the words, behold, or take notice, he wakes us up from our sleep and unbelief, in that he would announce something great, unusual, remarkable, which had long been desired, and which should be received with joy. To reason and nature it is altogether disagreeable, that this should be the "King" of Jerusalem, who comes so poor and lowly.

It is thy King, says he; that is promised to thee, to whom thou belongest, who, and no other one, shall rule thee; he is thine, who art driven and plagued by sin, devil, death and hell, flesh and world.

He comes. Doubtless, thou comest not to him and bringest him; he is too high above thee, and too far from thee; with all thy trouble and labor thou canst not come to him. He comes "to thee." He gives himself to thee, as thine; that all that he is and has may be thine.

Meek. Not as he came to Adam, Cain and Mount Sinai, etc.; not to reckon with thee, nor demand payment of a debt; all wrath is laid aside, nothing but meekness and goodness is here. But the evangelist has slightly changed the words of the prophet; for the prophet gives Christ three titles. Poor, Just, Savior, while the evangelist, for the sake of brevity, gives only one, "Meek." Yet in the Hebrew language the words, poor and meek, have nearly the same meaning, and such a poor man does not mean one who is in need of money or goods, but one who is contrite and lowly in heart.

The word "Just" in the prophet Zecharias, is not to be understood in the sense of strict righteousness, with which God judgeth, but it properly means pious; for when we in German say, this was a pious man, the Scripture says, He was a righteous or just man. That this is the meaning here of the little word "just," is evident from the other little word in the prophet, "Savior," or he that saves.

This poor and beggarly king, says Zechariah, will have a different power from all that emperors or kings have had, for he is called "just" and a "Savior." But no emperor, with all his power, can redeem from the smallest sin.

Thus he retains nothing at all for himself; is satisfied, that in the first place he has God, and is blessed; he serves us therefore only according to the will of his Father, who would have this done by him. Therefore this is not thy good work, that thou givest alms or prayest, but that thou devotest thyself to the good of thy fellowman and servest, and supportest him, where he has need of thee.

He rides not upon a stallion, but upon an ass, which is not a valiant animal, to indicate that he comes not to alarm men, but to help them.

 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Disciples did as Jesus commanded. The arrangements and the conduct of the disciples towards Christ show that they had no fear or terror, but an entire, friendly confidence in him.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. 

Spread their garments in the way. This also was a divine service, which was due to this King, and indicates that, according to the example of the apostles, we should honor and adorn Christ with our profession and our whole lives.

The nature of the palm tree is, that when a beam is made of it, it yields to no weight, but rises against the burden; therefore palm branches were carried before lords and kings, when they had gained victories and moved in triumphal processions. Also the bearing of olive branches was a sign of submission, especially by those who desired grace and peace, as it was customary among the ancients. So also is the word of this Gospel a word of grace from this King, which brings us peace. Romans 1:16.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 

Hosanna to the Son of David. One part of this divine service which is due to this King is, that we shall receive him; the other part is, that we shall sing hosanna to this Christ; that is, that we wish him prosperity and blessing in his kingdom, and do all we can for its promotion and in crease. Hosanna means, "O Lord, help; Lord, grant prosperity to the Son of David."

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 

Who is this? It is, however, a shameful question, when they ask, "Who is this?" as if they did not know him, and as if the temple, the city and everything were not his own. The common people and the little children make them a fine reply, and say, "This is Jesus, the prophet of Galilee."



Luther's Explanatory Notes on the Gospels, pp. 118-120.

Luther's Notes on the Gospel: Fifth Sunday in Lent: Judica – Jesus, Son of Abraham: Our High Priest

Sun March 13, 2016

John 8:46-59

46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Luther's Notes

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 

This gospel teaches how the obdurate become more frantic the more one teaches them and treats them kindly. The word is like unto the sun: good things, such as wax and butter, the sun melts and softens; but bad things, such as mud, it hard ens like stone.
Which of you convinceth me of sin? His life is innocent, and he defies them and says, Who among you can convict me of sin? So he defies also in regard to his doctrines, for he says, "If I tell you the truth," etc. Thus he acts and thus he teaches.
These two things should be the characteristics of every preacher. It is true, no life is so perfect, that it can appear without sin before God; therefore it is sufficient, that it is blameless before the people. But the doctrine must be so good and pure that it merits the approval not only of man but also of God.
Therefore the Jews have no excuse for their unbelief; for because they are not the children of God, he also pronounces the sentence upon them and says:

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

He that is of God heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. This is nothing else than, ye are of the devil (v. 44.) Christ speaks these words so simply, that no one thinks they contain any great things. But any one who will carefully consider what this means, to be of God, or not to be of God, must confess that Christ speaks here of great and excellent things. For it is true and certain that we can not accuse a man harder, nor attack him more severely, than when we say that he is not of God. Therefore all depends on this, that we gladly hear God's word and diligently keep it.
We must distinguish between the nature and the use of a thing. A man who lies and deceives has, indeed, a good tongue given him of God, but the use of his tongue is of the devil. On the other hand, "to be of God" means, that we use our ears so that they delight in hearing God's word, and are willing to be corrected. Again, that we pray, preach, instruct, and comfort with the tongue.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil ? 

Thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil. That hard, earnest word, which the Lord spoke to the Jews, "Ye are not of God," they could not endure; for they claimed to be the children of God; therefore they rage and revile both his life and doctrine. They revile his doctrine when they say, " Thou hast a devil;" that is, you teach the devil's doctrine, you are an apostle of the devil: they revile his life by saying, "Thou art a Samaritan," that sounded worse in the ears of the Jews than all other vices; as if they would say, You are a villain in your whole skin, you are a heathen. Thus Christ teaches us here how we and his word shall be treated; both our lives and our doctrine must be condemned and reviled. To this is added the impertinence that such despisers of the word claim to be right, and want to defend such blasphemous expressions as the Jews here use, "Say we not well, Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" He is the worst devil, who even pretends to be God, wants to appear holy, claims that he is right, and will not be contradicted.

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

I honor my Father, and ye do dishonor me. What now does Christ do? He disregards the disgrace which they heap upon his life ; he is silent and suffers them to call him a "Sa maritan" or a "villain" (v. 48,) he defends himself very little, but says, "I honor my Father," etc. I am what I am; "There is one that seek eth and judgeth" who I am. This we also shall do; not defend our freedom by fighting, though we are innocent ; but we must never consent to surrender our innocence, in order that the evil reports about us may not alienate some simple people from the faith. We must not entirely disregard our good reputation before men. But we must not in any wise permit the doctrine to be quenched, but establish it more and more, exalt it higher and higher, risk upon it neck, body and life, honor and goods. Christ here defends the doctrine and says: "I have not a devil."
But why does he say, "Ye do dishonor me"? Why does he not say, I honor my Father and you dishonor him?
Inferentially he shows here that the Father's honor and his honor are one and the same, as he is one God with the Father. Yet, along with it he also will have our ministerial office, which praises God, properly honored.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 

He shall never see death. He not only defends the doctrine, but also ascribes to it an imperial power over the devil, death and sin.
If a man keep my word. By this he does not mean the law; for that word no one keepeth (John 7:19,) yea, it killeth (Romans 7:11) but he means the gospel.
And from this we may very well understand what he means by the "keeping;" namely, it is not said of the keeping as one keeps the law by works; for such word of Christ must be kept in the heart by faith.
He shall never see death. But how happens it, that some shall neither see nor taste death; when Abraham and all the prophets have died? Here we must pay attention to the words of Christ, who makes this difference, that death is something else than to see or taste death. We must all die, but a Christian does not see or taste death; that is, he feels it not, is not frightened by it, and goes into death gently and quietly, as though he fell asleep and did not die (John 11:25). Therefore also death is called in the Scriptures a sleep.
Verily, verily, I say unto you. Alas, that the Son of God must swear so solemnly, "Verily, verily," on account of our indolent hearts, to make us believe that we shall live forever, since it were but just and sufficient, if he had spoken only one word.
The power of the word. So great and mighty a thing is the power of the word of Christ, that where it is received in the heart by a firm faith, salvation is already begun here, and by the resurrection and victory of Christ death. together with sin, devil and hell are already overcome and swallowed up.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Abraham rejoiced to see my day. But the reason why the word of our dear Lord is so powerful, is indicated by him in the verses 56 and 58. It was a difficulty in the way of the Jews, that Abraham, Moses and other holy men, who were publicly recorded in the Scriptures, had died; then they thought Christ was not equal to them; therefore they considered it vain glory, that he should extol his word so highly, but Christ replied: "Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad." Thus the prophets also saw him. They did not see him with their bodily eyes, but with the eye of faith in the heart; that is, Abraham perceived Christ, when it was promised to him, (Genesis 22:18,) "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." All the saints from the beginning of the world had this same faith in Christ, which we have, and they were true Christians. Thus we also must be saved thereby to the end of the world.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Thou art not yet fifty years old. 

But on account of their carnal mind the Jews did not understand any of these things; therefore they denounced him as a liar.

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 

Before Abraham was, I am. That is, I am the true and only God. Christ does not speak here of his human, but of his divine essence. He does not say, Before Abraham was, I was, but "I am." For this belongs only to God, that he was not created, nor made, like Abraham and other creatures. God is called, and is not created or made, but "I am"; that is, an essence which has neither beginning nor end.

59 Then they took up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 

The Jews took up stones. But here reason is terribly offended and runs mad, that man should be God; reason cannot reconcile this; and this is the thing at which the Jews still take offense at the present day, and can not stop throwing stones and blaspheming.
It is still the case at the present day, that many read and study the Scriptures, and yet can not find Christ. He had hid himself and gone out of the temple.



Luther's Explanatory Notes on the Gospels, pp. 324-346.