Words of Wisdom from Martin Luther

WORSHIP NOTES
Volume 15, No. 10 (October 2020)

Reformation Day, October 31, is celebrated in Protestant Europe (and in many of our churches: see Worship Notes 2.10, 5.8, 11.10, 12.8, and 12.10) as the anniversary of the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, touching off what we now know as the Protestant Reformation.

In honor of Martin Luther, who along with the other Reformers risked everything to restore to the church the apostolic truths of the gospel, the sole priesthood of Christ and the dynamics of true worship, here are some great quotes by and about Luther.

On preaching: “i did nothing; i left everything to the word.”

“[Our] plan is to follow the example of the prophets and the ancient fathers of the Church, and to compose psalms for the people [in the] vernacular, that is, spiritual songs, so that the Word of God may be among the people also in the form of music.”

“For every one look you take of your sin, take ten looks at the cross.”

“for Christ’s divinity was the fishhook, which was hidden under the angleworm of His humanity (which the devil snapped into His mouth when Christ died and was buried) . . . So that he could not hold onto Christ] but had to give Him up again. . . This is our comfort supreme. For just as the devil could not hold Christ in death, so he cannot keep those in death who believe on Him.”

“i believe that by my own understanding or strength i cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.” (Small Catechism)

“Ah! Dearest Jesus, holy child,
make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
within my heart, that it may be
a quiet chamber kept for thee.”

“There are two days in my calendar: this day and that day.”

“i always loved music; whoso has skill in this art, is of a good temperament, fitted for all things. We must teach music in schools; a schoolmaster ought to have skill in music, or i would not regard him; neither should we ordain young men as preachers, unless they have been well exercised in music.” (Table Talk dccxciv)

“Music is an outstanding gift of god and next to theology. I would not give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine skillful people. . . . Nor am I at all of the opinion that all the arts are to be overthrown and cast aside by the gospel, as some superspiritual people protest; but I would gladly see all the arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them.”

“Thus it was not without reason that the fathers and prophets wanted nothing else to be associated as closely with the Word of God as music. Therefore, we have so many hymns and psalms where message and music [sermo et vox] join to move the listener’s soul. . . . After all, the gift of language  combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both words and music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music and by providing sweet melodies with words. (“Preface to Georg Rhau’s Symphoniae Iucundae,” Luther’s Works 53.323.24)

“This is enough for now about the mass and communion. What is left can be decided by actual practice, as long as the Word of God is diligently and faithfully preached in the church. And if any should ask that all these [forms] be proved from Scriptures and the example of the fathers, they do not disturb us; for as we have said above, liberty must prevail in these matters and Christian consciences must not be bound by laws and ordinances. That is why the Scriptures prescribe nothing in these matters, but allow freedom for the Spirit to act according to His own understanding as the respective place, time, and persons may require it.” (“An Order of Mass and Communion for the Church at Wittenberg,” Luther’s Works, vol. 53 [Fortress, 1965], 37)

“O Lord, we are not worthy to have a glimpse of heaven, and unable with works to redeem ourselves from sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this we rejoice, praise and thank You, o God, that without price and out of pure grace You have granted us this boundless blessing in your dear Son through whom You take sin, death, and hell from us, and give to us all that belongs to Him.”

“You cannot read too much Scripture; and what you read you cannot read too carefully, and what you read carefully you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well.”

“i have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

“God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.”

“He has given me everything,
forgiven me everything,
promised me everything,
and I lack nothing except
the faith to believe it.”

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

When Luther’s puppy happened to be at the table, looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes, he said, “h, if i could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope.”

*   *   *   *   *

Phillip Melanchthon turned to Martin Luther and announced, “Today, you and i shall discuss the governance of the universe.” Luther looked at Melanchthon and said, “No. Today you and I shall go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God.”

*   *   *   *   *

Martin Luther told of a time when he was focused intently on the person and work of Christ.  The Holy Spirit was there as if in the form of a dove, gently alight on his shoulder, and when Luther turned his attention to the Spirit and away from Christ, the dove flew away. 

*   *   *   *   *

One of the most precious New Testament truths, one which the writer of hebrews develops at some length, is the fact that in Jesus Christ a holy, transcendent God has come close.  Theologians speak of His immanence, or nearness, as contrasted with His transcendence. (Of course, both are perfectly true of god without contradiction.)

When martin Luther translated the bible into German for the first time, he made a profound theological point along these lines, simply by his choice of pronouns.  The German language has two different pronouns for the second-person singular (“you” in english):  an informal/familiar one (du) and a formal/polite one (Sie). The polite form is used in addressing everyone but one’s own family members and closest friends. Yet Luther used the familiar form in his translation when God was being addressed!!  There is a world of New Testament theology embedded in that single grammatical decision.  (Even the “thee’s” and “thou’s” of the King James Version, while some find them a little stilted and stuffy today, were actually the familiar second-person pronouns in the English of its day.)

inscribed on the door into the sanctuary of Castle Church in Wittenberg,
on the opposite side of the building from the Wittenberg Door:

“It should always happen in this house of God
that the Lord speaks to us through His holy Word,
and that we then speak to Him
with our prayers and songs of praise.”

On Preaching: “I did nothing; I left everything to the Word.”

“[Our] plan is to follow the example of the prophets and the ancient fathers of the church, and to compose psalms for the people [in the] vernacular, that is, spiritual songs, so that the Word of God may be among the people also in the form of music.”

“For every one look you take of your sin, take ten looks at the cross.”

“For Christ’s divinity was the fishhook, which was hidden under the angleworm of His humanity (which the devil snapped into his mouth when Christ died and was buried) . . . so that he could not hold onto Christ] but had to give Him up again. . . This is our comfort supreme. For just as the devil could not hold Christ in death,,so he cannot keep those in death who believe on Him.”

“I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.” (Small Catechism)

“Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.”

“There are two days in my calendar: This day and that Day.”

“I always loved music; whoso has skill in this art, is of a good temperament, fitted for all things. We must teach music in schools; a schoolmaster ought to have skill in music, or I would not regard him; neither should we ordain young men as preachers, unless they have been well exercised in music.” (Table Talk DCCXCIV)

“Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology. I would not give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine skillful people. . . . Nor am I at all of the opinion that all the arts are to be overthrown and cast aside by the gospel, as some superspiritual people protest; but I would gladly see all the arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them.”

“Thus it was not without reason that the fathers and prophets wanted nothing else to be associated as closely with the Word of God as music. Therefore, we have so many hymns and Psalms where message and music [Sermo et vox] join to move the listener’s soul….After all, the gift of language  combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both words and music, namely, by proclaiming the[the Word of God] through music and by providing sweet melodies with words. (“Preface to Georg Rhau’s Symphoniae iucundae,” Luther’s Works 53.323.24)

“This is enough for now about the mass and communion. What is left can be decided by actual practice, as long as the Word of God is diligently and faithfully preached in the church. And if any should ask that all these [forms] be proved from Scriptures and the example of the fathers, they do not disturb us; for as we have said above, liberty must prevail in these matters and Christian consciences must not be bound by laws and ordinances. That is why the Scriptures prescribe nothing in these matters, but allow freedom for the Spirit to act according to his own understanding as the respective place, time, and persons may require it.” (“An Order of Mass and Communion for the Church at Wittenberg,” Luther’s Works, Vol. 53 [Fortress, 1965], 37)

“O Lord, we are not worthy to have a glimpse of heaven, and unable with works to redeem ourselves from sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this we rejoice, praise and thank you, O God, that without price and out of pure grace You have granted us this boundless blessing in Your dear Son through whom you take sin, death, and hell from us, and give to us all that belongs to Him.”

“You cannot read too much Scripture; and what you read you cannot read too carefully, and what you read carefully you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well.”

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

“God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.”

“He has given me everything,
Forgiven me everything,
Promised me everything,
And I lack nothing except
the faith to believe it.”

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

*   *   *   *   *

When Luther’s puppy happened to be at the table, looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes, he said, “Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope.”

*   *   *   *   *

Phillip Melanchthon turned to Martin Luther and announced, “Today, you and I shall discuss the governance of the universe.” Luther looked at Melanchthon and said, “No. Today you and I shall go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God.”

*   *   *   *   *

Martin Luther told of a time when he was focused intently on the person and work of Christ?  The Holy Spirit was there as if in the form of a dove, gently alight on his shoulder, and when Luther turned his attention to the Spirit and away from Christ, the dove flew away. 

*   *   *   *   *

One of the most precious New Testament truths, one which the writer of Hebrews develops at some length, is the fact that in Jesus Christ a holy, transcendent God has come close.  Theologians speak of His immanence, or nearness, as contrasted with His transcendence. (Of course, both are perfectly true of God without contradiction.)

When Martin Luther translated the Bible into German for the first time, he made a profound theological point along these lines, simply by his choice of pronouns.  The German language has two different pronouns for the second-person singular (“you” in English):  an informal/familiar one (Du) and a formal/polite one (Sie).  The polite form is used in addressing everyone but one’s own family members and closest friends.  Yet Luther used the familiar form in his translation when God was being addressed!!  There is a world of New Testament theology embedded in that single grammatical decision.  (Even the “Thee’s” and “Thou’s” of the King James Version, while some find them a little stilted and stuffy today, were actually the familiar second-person pronouns in the English of its day.)

*   *   *   *   *

inscribed on the door into the sanctuary of Castle Church in Wittenberg,
on opposite side of the building from the Wittenberg Door:

“It should always happen in this house of God that the Lord speaks to us through His holy Word, and that we then speak to Him with our prayers and songs of praise.”