Chemnitz’s Homily Outline for Palm Sunday (Palmarum)

The following is a translation of Martin Chemnitz’s homily outline as found in His Postilla (Vol. I, pg. 604). Chemnitz uses a composite text, based on Matthew 21:1–17; Mark 11:1–11; Luke 19:28–48; and John 12:12–41. Parentheses indicate the Scriptural citation or contain Chemnitz’s notes. Square brackets indicate my personal annotations. See also Chemnitz’s homily outline for the First Sunday of Advent (Ad Te Levavi).

Chemnitz’s Homily Outline:

“Now in order that we can grasp these accounts all the better, because this account is somewhat extensive, so we want to divide it thus:

1. That we want to hear what happened on the way between Bethany and Jerusalem, how the Lord went on foot from Bethany, not by the most direct way, but rather according to the Mount of Olives, and how He had a donkey and a colt brought to Him at that place, upon which He sat down, the disciples laid their clothes under Him, the people had strewn the way with branches and wished Him good luck in His kingdom, what conversation He had with the people until he came into the city, what He gave them as a warning, and what other preaching He had done before He arrived in the city.
2. What happened in the city when He rode in and the people ran around Him, how the entire city was excited and wondered where this would go.
3. What happened in the temple, how He reformed it and blessed the children of Levi according to the prophecy of Malachi [3:3], and how He was received by the children, and how the high priest had undertaken in vain to hinder this.
4. And lastly, what He gives to the despisers as a farewell (Valete), and how he warns them how God will punish them for the sake of their ingratitude both bodily and spiritually if they do not repent.

Therefore, we want to briefly go through these four parts of the account, because we have already dealt with the doctrinal points mostly on the [First] Sunday of Advent.”