The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel of the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 7:11–17 as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
Notes
II. The Resurrection of the Dead Son of the Widow at Nain (v. 11–18)
11. Now it happened afterward * that He (the Lord Jesus) came into a city (among the mountains of Hermon, located four miles away from Capernaum) with the name Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him (not only the twelve Apostles, but rather also many other who were His disciples and hearers) and many people (which followed after the Lord Christ for the sake of His teaching and miracles).
* Greek: “On the following day”
12. Now as He came near to the gate of the city, behold, there a dead man was being carried out, * who was * the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And many people from the city went out with her (for the burial of her son).
*For the Jews had to have their graves outside of the city.
** 1 Kings 17:17.
13. And when the Lord saw her, * He was moved with pity for her (from heartful compassion) the same (grieving widow), and said to her, ** “Do not weep (excessively over the deadly departure of your son).”
* Matthew 9:36
** Jeremiah 31:16
14. And He came forward and touched (with His almighty, life-giving hand) the casket (the deathbed, the bier, upon which the young the man was openly carried), and the bearers stood. And He said, “Young man, * I (who am the resurrection and the life, John 11:25) say to (command) you, stand up.”
* Mark 5:41
15. And the dead man sat upright, and began to speak. * And He gave him (living again) to his mother. (This is the first dead person whom Christ raised in the New Testament; afterward, He also raised the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the school, Matthew 9:25, and Lazarus, John 11:43–44, from the dead, and in His resurrection there were many bodies of the saints who were raised with Him, Matthew 27:52)
* 2 Kings 4:36
16. And fear came upon all of them (for they were greatly astonished over this great miracle), and they praised God and said, “A great prophet (who is the Messiah Himself) has risen among us, and ** God has visited His people (through the sending of this prophet in grace). ***
* The like had not happened since the time of Elisha, and thus not in nine hundred years, much less with such circumstances.
** Luke 1:68, 78 (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Matthew 16:14)
*** Or, according to the Greek: “And (some) said (who still regarded Him as a mere man, but nevertheless held Him to be a prophet), ‘A great prophet has risen among us.’ Or (others, who still went further said), ‘God has visited His people (through the Messiah Himself).’”
17. And this report of Him resounded in all the Jewish lands and in all the surrounding lands.
Useful Applications
II. DOCTRINE: As easy as it was for Christ to raise this young man from the dead with a word, thus will He also by His divine almighty Word raise all the dead on the Last Day (v. 14–15).
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 9:1–8, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
Notes
I. The History of the Paralyzed Man (v. 1–8)
1. Then He (the Lord Christ) entered into the boat (in which He had come from Capernaum into the regions of the Gergesenes, Matthew 8:18, 28) and crossed over again and came into His own city (Luther: “Capernaum,” where He had rented a house, and stayed there during the Passover, Matthew 4:13, 11:23, 17:24; John 2:12).
2. And behold, there * they (four of them) brought to him a paralyzed man (Luther: “whom had been afflicted by paralysis, the small or half stroke”) who was laying on a bed (He could neither move nor stir on account of his sickness. They sought a way how they might bring him in and lay him before Him; and when they could not come to Christ in any other way on account of the great multitude of people, and also could not find a place in which they could bring him in, they climbed onto the roof, where He was, and uncovered it, and let him down through the tiles with the little amongst their midst before Jesus, Mark 2:4, Luke 5:19). Now when Jesus saw their faith (understand not only the faith of the bearers, ** but also of the paralytic man himself; for if he had not believed in a saving way and at the same time with trust in Christ’s mediating office, Christ would not have forgiven his sins, nor called him son), He said to the paralyzed man, “Be comforted (and be of good courage), My son, your sins (which make you anxious in your heart) are forgiven you (Thus Christ begins His cure with the soul, because all bodily illnesses come from sin, and because the health of the body without the health of the soul is of little usefulness).”
* Mark 2:1ff. Luke 5:18 (Luke 7:50; Acts 9:33)
** Their faith came to the aid of the sick man, to promote the healing of his body in love, as far as it was possible.
3. And behold, some among the scribes (and the Pharisees, those who were sitting there and heard such) said amongst themselves (thought in their hearts), “This one (Jesus from Nazareth) blasphemes God (in that He ascribes to Himself such authority, which belongs only to God; for who can forgive sins except God alone? Luke 5:21).”
(Luke 7:49)
4. But when Jesus saw their thoughts (He knew immediate in His spirit that they thought thus within themselves, therefore), He said, “Why do you think such wicked things in your hearts (in that you falsely accuse me of blasphemy of God within yourselves, when that which I do nevertheless is my office)?
(Zechariah 8:17)
5. Which is easier (according to outward appearance and the judgement of reason), to say (to the paralyzed man), “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Stand up (take up your bed) and walk?” (You think in your hearts: If I truly could forgiven this paralytic his sins in fact and truth, then I would also have been able to make him whole as well; but because this had not happened, so that is also lacking [i.e., I have not actually forgiven his sins].)
6. But so that you know (and see in fact) that the Son of Man has the authority (and indeed from His own power) to forgive sins (and that the forgiveness of sins is powerful, which I have declared to this paralytic man, and in truth has come upon him; well then I will thus make this man well before your eyes, therefore),” He then said to the paralytic, “ (I say to you,) Stand up, take up your bed (upon which you have had to lie ill and sick for very long time), and go home.”
(John 5:8; Acts 9:34)
7. And (immediately) he stoodup (so that all who those present saw, and he lifted up the little bed upon which he had lain) and went home (and praised God).
8. And the people that saw (this miracle) marveled and praised God, who had given such authority to men (they praised God, that He had sent them such a prophet who forgives sins and who could heal diseases which by nature are incurable. “All those were astonished who heard and saw this, and they were filled with fear and said, ‘We have seen extraordinary things today, and we have never seen such before,” Mark 2:12, Luke 5:26).
(Luke 7:16ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Useful Applications
I. DOCTRINE: Christ’s true and eternal divinity shines forth from the fact that He searches out men’s hearts, forgives sins (which belongs to God alone), and heals incurable diseases (v. 2–7).
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Second Reading for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, Revelation 12:7–12, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
Notes
II. The Beginning of the Fourth Vision, in which two opposing parties are described, who have strong enmity against one another: the woman and the dragon; likewise, Michael and His angels on one side, and the dragon together with his angels on the other side. v. 19, 1–17.
7. And there was a fight in heaven (in the Church-heaven here on earth; for after the devil, on account of his fall, has been cast out of the heaven of eternal glory, he may not come back into it again): * Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought (This Michael is God’s Son, as it is explained in v. 10; He is, among other things, also called an angel for this reason, because in the protection of the Church, He carries out the office of an angel; otherwise, Michael is also the name of an archangel, Jude 9. But here Christ, the Son of God, is meant by this name, who is of one essence, one power, and one glory with God, His heavenly Father; for Michael means ‘Who is like God?’ And with this name the Holy Spirit directs us to the last chapter of the prophet Daniel, where it is proclaimed that in the last times, the great prince Michael shall arise, who stands for the holy people, Daniel 12:1. For since the dragon wants to attack the woman, that is, the true Church and the members of the spiritual body of Christ, so Christ takes His Church to Himself, and fights with His angels, by which not only the holy spirits in heaven are understood, but also all faithful teachers and preachers, against the dragon and his angels, by which not only the evil spirits who joined themselves to the devil and fell away from God are understood, but also the persecutors, the heretics, and all the scales of the hellish dragon). **
* Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1.
** And: This battle is without doubt the blessed Reformation. If it were about the freedom of the Christian Church after the heathen persecutions [i.e., the legalization of Christianity in the Fourth Century], then one would have to seek it in the wars of Constantine the Great with Licinius, Maxentius, and so on.
8. And they did not win (for how could the devil overcome Christ, who is the power of God, 1 Corinthians 1:24? “The prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing in me,” says Christ to HIs disciples, John 14:30); also there was no more found to be a place for them in heaven (they were put to flight and cast out of heaven).
9. And the great dragon was cast out *, the old serpent (the evil enemy, who deceived our first parents through the serpent, Genesis 3:1, and has practiced his cunning and wickedness for a long time), who is called the Devil (the accuser, because he slanders God before men, Genesis 3:5, men before God, Job 1:9, and men against other men) and Satan (the adversary, because he is the enemy of God and men), who deceives the entire world (through his cunning and lies he deceives all those who allow themselves to be led by the spirit of the world, 1 Corinthians 2:12); and he was cast ** to the earth (by these words refers to the curse which God, after the fall of our first parents, pronounced upon the serpent: “Upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life,” Genesis 3:14), and his angels were also *** cast out at that time (By this casting out of the devil from heaven it is signified that, after Christ through His death and resurrection had overcome the devil and taken power from him, Hebrews 2:14, He then, after His victorious resurrection, in which He stripped the principalities and the powers and made a show of them openly, and made a triumph out of them through Himself, Colossians 2:15, and after He sat down at the right hand of God, caused such obtained victory to be proclaimed in all the world, whereby the devil everywhere is driven out and trodden under the feet of the believers, Romans 16:20. “I saw Satan fall from heaven as lightning,” says Christ, Luke 10:18. Afterward, this overcoming and casting out took place at the time of Emperor Constantine the Great [in the Fourth Century], when the great persecutions ceased and peace was grated to the Church. In particular, this conflict and victory against the hellish dragon refers to our last times, when the kingdom of the antichrist and the doctrine of devils is attacked through the preaching of the Gospel, 1 Timothy 4:1, and are driven out of the Church-heaven; and this casting out will only fully happen on the Last Day, in which the dragon with his angels will be cast into the hellish pool, Revelation 20:14).
* Luke 10:18; John 12:31 (Revelation 20:2; Zechariah 3:1)
** Greek: “(Indeed), he was cast out,” or, “He was (I say) cast out”
*** Greek: “with him”
10. And I heard a great voice, which spoke in heaven, * “Now is the salvation, and the strength, and the kingdom, and the power of our God, His Christ ** (This is the triumph song and rejoicing of the true believers over this victory of the great prince Michael against the dragon, who in the same fight proved Himself to be an invincible hero and savior of His Church), because the accuser of our brethren has been cast out, *** who accuses them before God day and night.
* Revelation 11:15 (Job 1:9, 2:5; Zechariah 3:1)
** Greek: “Now has come (in powerful demonstrate made known and been revealed) the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the glory of His Christ (Anointed One).”
*** Greek: “is cast out (hurled down).”
11. And they * (the believers) have overcome ** him through the Lamb’s blood (because they firmly believed that Christ, through His suffering and the shedding of HIs blood, had overcome the devil for their good, and they set this victory in true faith against the devil’s accusation), and by the Word of their testimony *** (in that they remained steadfast in the confession of the Gospel, which is the testimony concerning Christ); and they have not loved their life even to death (their life was not so dear to them that in order to preserve it they would have denied Christ and His Word).
* Greek: “Also they themselves”
** Romans 8:37 (v. 17)
*** Concerning this, see Revelation 11:3.
12. Therefore *, rejoice you, you heaven, and those who dwell therein (all believers and elect of God, whose names are written in heaven, Luke 10:20, whose citizenship is in heaven, Philippians 3:20). But woe to those who dwell on the earth and on the sea (those who are minded toward earthly things, Philippians 3:19, who love the world and what is in the world, 1 John 2:15, since everything that is in the world, such as honor, riches, pleasure, power, etc., is unstable as the sea), for the devil has come down to you, and he has great wrath, and he knows that he has little time (because the time of the Judgement Day is near, in which he is to be cast into the hellish pool and will no longer exercise his malice upon the earth).
* Psalm 96:11
Useful Applications
II. COMFORT: That Christ Himself (who is signified by Michael) faithfully takes care of His believers in the militant church on earth and powerfully protects them against the devil and the antichrist, is depicted in this vision, v. 7–9.
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Epistle Reading for Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, Galatians 5:16–24, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
III. Admonition concerning fleshly lusts, and how, on the other hand one ought to show forth the fruits of the Spirit. (v. 16–24)
16. But I say: Walk in the Spirit (follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, through whom You have been reborn and renewed), so that you do not fulfill * (but rather, through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh, Romans 8:13) the (wicked) lusts of the flesh (which still arise in your corrupted human nature).
(Romans 8:1, 4; cf. 13:13)
* Greek: and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
17. For the * flesh lusts against the Spirit (the wicked lust, which still lingers in your corrupted nature and dwells therein, although it does not rule, yet it strives after dominion and incites you to do what is contrary to the renewal and driving of the Holy Spirit), and the Spirit (lusts) against the flesh (the Spirit who has given you new birth and worked new movements in you drives you so that you ought to resist such wicked lusts of the flesh). These are against one another (and contend against one another like enemies lying in the field in the regenerate), so that you (therefore) do not (with full obedience, without any lack) do what you (as those who are reborn and renewed gladly do) want (namely, the good, since you are hindered from it by the wicked lusts of the flesh that still cling to you. And, on the other hand, the Spirit, which lusts against the flesh, hinders you that you do not fulfill the evil, to which the flesh with its lusts incites you).
(Romans 7:23; cf. 8:6–7)
* Romans 7:15, 23
18. But if you are ruled by the Spirit (if you follow the driving of the Holy Spirit and do not allow sin to reign in your mortal body, Romans 6:12), then you are not under the Law (under the curse and compulsion of the Law, but under grace, and serve God with a free-willing Spirit).
(Romans 6:14; cf. 8:2)
19. Now evident * are the works of the flesh (which are certainly fulfilled by those in whom the flesh has dominion), such as adultery (when those betrothed and married keep company with a stranger), fornication (when single persons mingle themselves carnally), impurity (all kinds of bodily defilement, sodomitic and solitary sin, and all kinds of unchaste dealings outside of marital intercourse), unchastity (all kinds of obscenity in gestures, words, and works),
(2 Samuel 12:7; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:4)
* 1 Corinthians 6:9
20. idolatry (erring doctrine and false worship of God), sorcery (witchcraft), animosity * (against one’s neighbor on account of suspicion or prior injury), strife (unnecessary dispute), envy (against those who are preffered), wrath (without a rightful cause and without due measure), quarreling (on account of temporal goods, from an insatiable spirit), dissensions (divisions and rebellions), sects (stiff-necked defense of false doctrine) **, hatred (by which one begrudges another’s well-being), murder (killing without the command of the magistrate),
(Genesis 37:4; Revelation 21:8)
* Greek: all kinds of animosity, hatred, etc.
** Indeed, even false doctrine itself, whether one introduces it or adheres to it (see Romans 8:7; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5)
21. * drunkenness, gluttony ** (excess and overindulgence in food and drink, whereby the heart is weighed down, Luke 21:34, and pray as well as vocational duties are hindered), and the like (other lusts, which God forbids in His Law); of which (every and each) I told you beforehand (in my preaching) and say (even now) as before, that those who do (and without earnest repentance and amendment persist in) such *** (steadfastly) will **** not inherit the Kingdom of God (eternal salvation).
(Romans 13:12f.; cf. 8:13; James 1:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10)
* Luke 21:34
** Greek: carousing, feasting, and reveling, which properly belong together
*** Greek: and other of these similar sins
**** Ephesians 5:5
22. But the fruit * of the Spirit (the good which reborn and renewed people, as fruitful trees, do in the power and from the driving of the Holy Spirit) is: love (toward God and the neighbor), joy (the spiritual joy on account of divine grace), peace (tranquility of the conscience and peacefulness toward the neighbor), patience (longsuffering, such that one does not allow oneself to be moved quickly to anger), friendliness (in gestures and words), goodness (benevolence), faith ** (whereby one keeps what he has promised), gentleness (in overlooking the faults of the neighbor), and chastity (and temperance, whereby one abstains from forbidden things, and also observes proper measure in eating and drinking and all permitted things).
* Ephesians 5:9
** Greek: Faithfulness (Titus 2:10, especially in dealings and conduct, as well as in promises and keeping them, etc.)
23. * Against such ** (who bring forth these fruits of the Spirit) there is no Law (it does not condemn them; for although their good works are indeed not entirely perfect, yet they nevertheless please God the Lord through Christ).
* 1 Timothy 1:9
** Greek: Against these and similar things (for indeed not all virtues are named here).
24. But * those who belong to Christ (those who are incorporated by faith into Him and are true members of His spiritual body), they ** have crucified *** their flesh together with its lusts and desires (they resist the evil lusts of their sinful flesh, subdue them, and do not allow them to break out into external works by the power and the faithful contemplation of the death of Christ on the cross).
*1 Corinthians 15:23
** Romans 6:6
*** Greek: They have crucified them (from the very beginning of their conversion) and continually crucify them.
Useful Applications
III. DOCTRINE: That those who live in mortal sin (which are recounted here) without repentance, and die in this way, that they do not inherit the Kingdom of God, or cannot become partakers of eternal life; therefore, one must guard himself against this, v. 19–21. TRAINING and COMFORT: But on the other hand, the Kingdom of God is prepared for the souls who are sanctified in Christ, who are found in constant exercise of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, v. 22–24.
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Epistle Reading for the Feast of the Holy Cross, 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
III. A report against two vices, which have been found over the Preaching Office: one, where the people, who are otherwise completely union in religion, nevertheless become divided for the sake of the teachers; second, where people, because of human wisdom and vain eloquence, marvel highly at the false teachers. (v. 10–31)
[v. 10–17 omitted due to the appointed reading]
18. For the Word of the cross(the doctrine of the Gospel concerning Christ, the crucified)is(according to their erring thoughts, v. 25)foolishness to those, * who(in their unbelief)are perishing; but to us, we who are (through faith in Christ)being saved, it is ** a power of God(through which He strengthens us and keeps us to eternal life).
* 2 Corinthians 4:3.
** Romans 1:16.
(Cf. 1:24; 4:10)
19. For it stands * written: “I will make as nothing the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the understanding(those who in divine matters follow their human reason) I will destroy.
* Isaiah 19:14.
(Job 12:17)
20. Where * are the wise men (among the Gentiles)? Where are the scribes(among the Jews)? Where are the philosophers?(those who can make from human skill many disputations? Among all these, is there anyone who knows how to declare the counsel of God for our salvation?)Has not God the ** wisdom of this world made as foolishness?(And what they put forward as the way to salvation, is it not shown to be foolishness? Because they regulate the doctrine of the Gospel according to reason and do not receive it in simplicity of faith, they thereby become fools before God.)
* Job 12:17; Isaiah 33:18.
** Baruch 3:28.
(Matthew 11:25; Romans 1:22)
21. For because the world(the philosophers)through their (imagined) wisdom * did not know (but rather much more became futile in their reasoning, Romans 1:21) God in their wisdom, it well-pleased God, through the foolish preaching to save those, who believe in it.(That is, because body Jews and Gentiles much more value their earthly and natural wisdom rather than the heavenly wisdom, which God reveals through His Word and in His works, and therefore they neither know nor honor Him, much less can they be saved; so it has pleased His eternal wisdom through the preaching of the Gospel, which appears entirely strange, absurd, and silly to the philosophers, to save all those who believe in it, whereby the highly-praised wisdom of the world is made to shame and pure foolishness.)
* Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21.
(Isaiah 55:8ff.)
22. Since * the Jews demand signs(they do not allow themselves to be content with the evident and powerful miracle-signs of Christ and the Apostles, but rather continually, of their own mind, want to have new and greater miracle-signs)and ** the Greeks (the Gentiles)ask according to wisdom(they judge the doctrine of the Gospel according to their reason, and want to have it proved from philosophy).
* Matthew 12:38; 1 Corinthians 16:1; John 4:48
** Baruch 3:23.
(John 6:30)
23. But we preach the crucified Christ, (who)* to the Jews is a stumbling block(who was from the beginning and still is; who seemed to them much to lowly and powerless that He should be the promised Messiah who was to deliver them from their bondage. And it was no small scandal for them that He was condemned to death by the great council in Jerusalem as a blasphemer), and to the ** Greeks is foolishness(it seemed to be, as those thought it was great foolishness if one should believe that through the death of one man the sin of the entire world has been atoned for and [eternal] life has been won).
* Matthew 11:6; John 6:61; Romans 9:32
** 1 Corinthians 2:14
(Acts of the Apostles 26:24)
24. But to those who are called(through the Gospel to knowledge of Christ, and do not despise such call willingly), both Jews and Greeks, we preach Christ(who indeed is [the Christ] in fact, whether or not they recognize Him as such), * divine power and divine wisdom.(The holy Apostle calls Christ divine power and divine wisdom, not only because He is true God, of one essence of the Father, and divine power and wisdom is essential to Him, but also because God proved His power and wisdom through Him, in that Christ through His suffering and death has blotted out the sin of the entire world, has powerfully overcome death and the devil, and has thereby fulfilled the most wise counsel of God concerning our salvation; that He also has revealed this same divine wisdom in the preaching of the Gospel, and thereby has gathered a Church for Himself from the human race, which He powerfully sustains and protects against all the the raging of the gates of hell; and finally, because He has made us wisdom from God, v. 1 Corinthians 1:30, and we are preserved by His power through faith unto salvation, 1 Peter 1:5.)
* Romans 1:16; Colossians 2:3.
25. For the divine foolishness(what the Gentiles who demand wisdom, v. 22, according to their corrupted reason judge as foolishness) is wiser than men are(not only than human wisdom, but rather also than men themselves); and the divine weakness(what the Jews, who demand signs, v. 22, consider as weakness) is stronger than men are.(Luther: “Divine foolishness and weakness is the Gospel, which is foolish in the eyes of the wise, but is powerful and wise in the eyes of Christians.”)
[v. 26–31 omitted due to the appointed reading]
Useful Applications
III. DOCTRINE: That generally, those who are foolish, weak, ignoble, despised, and nothing before the people of this world are chosen and called by God by faith to eternal life; but on the other hand, many among the wise, powerful, and noble (for the sake of their unbelief) are rejected to condemnation, v. 26–28. DOCTRINE: The grace of God is still to be recognized and praised in a congregation, wherein the chief work, His pure Word, goes rightly, even though many deficiencies are otherwise found therein, v. 4–30.
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Old Testament for the Feast of the Holy Cross, Numbers 21:4–9, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
II. Concerning the grumbling of the Israelites, and how they were punished with fiery serpents. (v. 4–6)
4. Then they traveled(the Israelites by God’s command)from Mount Hor by the way of the Sea of Reeds, so that they * went around the land of Edom(because they could not obtain from them friendly passage, cf. 20:20, for which reason they deviated from the correct highway which led to the land of Canaan, and it had the appearance as though they would much sooner come to Egypt than to the land of Canaan).
* Cf. Deuteronomy 2:1.
5. And the people became * disgruntled on the way **(because they detoured so far away, also because their journey lasted so long, and they saw no end of it yet), and they spoke ** against God and against Moses(from great impatience), “Why have you *** led us out from Egypt so that we die in the wilderness? For there is no bread or water here, and our soul is nauseated over this worthless food(we have become weary of the manna, and can no longer look upon it without disgust, because we have eaten the same thing a whole forty years).
* Cf. Numbers 11:1
** These words still belong to v. 4 and are to be translated, “but the people became disgruntled over which way (or un-way); v. 5. “therefore then the people, etc.”
*** Hebrew: You have, etc. (Moses and Aaron, who was indeed dead, however while he was alive had had led the matter together with Moses).
6. Then the Lord sent fiery * serpents among the people(Luther: “Therefore, they were called fiery because the people bitten by them became fiery-red by their poison and died from the burning heat, as from a pestilence or a carbuncle); they bit the people, so that a great people in Israel died(a painful and wretched death).
* Cf. Wisdom of Solomon 16:5; 1 Corinthians 10:9.
III. Concerning their repentance, and how God averted the plague. (v. 7–18)
7. Then they came to Moses(as the serpents had already bitten many of them and a great multitude of people had perished and the others had been humbled through their punishment)and said, * “We have sinned, for we have spoke against the Lord and against you(murmured out of impatience); pray to the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us(that we might not perish so miserably). Moses prayed for the people(who nevertheless had so often shown themselves rebellious and ungrateful toward him).
* Cf. Numbers 14:40; 1 Samuel 7:6.
8. Then the Lord said to Moses, “You make a * bronze serpent(which was formed as the fiery serpents, because it was made from copper), and set it for a sign **; that whoever is bitten and looks at it, he shall live(he shall recover and through this special wondrous sign be kept alive).
* See John 3:14.
** Hebrew: on a banner-pole (so that it might stand quite high and could be seen from afar)
9. Then Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it for a sign; and when a snake bit someone, so he looked at the bronze serpent, and he remained alive.(John 3:14–15 applies such image to Christ Himself, that, whoever is wounded by the bite of the old poisonous serpent and looks Him lifted on the cross with true faith, he shall be healed spiritually and eternally.)
(2 Kings 18:4; John 6:40)
[v. 10–18 omitted due to the assigned reading]
Useful Applications
II. WARNING: With respect to the despising of God and His benefits, which is severely punished by Him, is to be seen in the people of Israel when they became disgusted with the manna, v. 4–6; III. DOCTRINE: That God demonstrates His mercy in the midst of punishment to those who turn back to Him [i.e., repent], v. 7–9.
The following is my translation of Martin Chemnitz’s sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity as found in his Postilla (Vol. II, pgs. 429–434). Chemnitz uses a composite text based off of Matthew 15:29–31 and Mark 7:31–37. Curly brackets indicate marginal notes present in the original text. Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. I have broken up some of the longer paragraphs for the sake of readability.
Composite Gospel Text (Matthew 15[:29–31]; Mark 7[:31–37])
And when Jesus went out again from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He went on further from there and came to the Galilean Sea, in the midst of the region of the Decapolis, and He went up on a mountain and sat down there. And there came to Him many people, having with themselves the lame, the blind, the mute, the crippled, and many others, and they cast them at the feat of Jesus, and He healed them so that the people marveled when they saw that the mute speaking, the crippled were healed, the lame walking, the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.
And they brought to him a deaf man who was mute, and they asked Him that He lay hands on him, and He took him aside from the people, placed His finger in his ear and spit, and touched his tongue, and He looked up to heaven, groaned, and said, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be thou opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right. And He forbid them that they should tell no one. But the more He forbid them, the more they spread it, and they marveled beyond measure and said, “He has made all well, He makes the deaf hear and the speechless speak.”
Explanation of the Gospel
{Ordering of the Doctrine in the Sunday Gospels}
If one pays attention diligently to the order of the Sunday Gospels, then one has from it a beautiful reminder (Erinnerung). We have previously heard how God punishes those who despise His Word, and how one should guard against such punishment so that he makes the temple of God to a house of prayer (Bethauß). It is also reported how one can make it into a house of prayer in the Law, in the article of justification or the Gospel, and in prayer according to the example of the tax collector [Luke 18:9–14]. Thereupon it follows that we do not have such from our own powers, but rather, with respect to this, we are deaf, mute, and blind.
{Summary of the Doctrine of this Gospel}
Before the Fall, we were thus created so that we made the temple a house of prayer in the Law, the Gospel, and the doctrine of prayer, so that when God saw everything that He had made, it was not only good, but very good [Genesis 1:31], especially the rational creatures, angels, and men. However, many of the angels have fallen; also, the serpent deceived mankind and thus sin came into the world and everything became wicked so that we are now deaf and blind by nature. But God had compassion on us and sent His Son, who has now brought again into right what was corrupted in Adam through Satan, and has thereby healed us, that He makes healthy our external members where we understand it most easily; likewise, He thereby heals our inner wound and evil from which we cannot rescue ourselves, as we are “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2[:3]) and our ears are deaf, our eyes are blind, are are tongue is bound, but God alone rescues and helps. And finally, that He thereby frees us from eternal punishment. Thus, He has made all things good [Mark 7:37], and He still does it, says Mark, and for this He uses lowly means: He speaks a word, He spits, He places His finger in the ears, etc. Then, one might think that the ears should well be stopped much more, and the eyes become darker! But when Christ uses such despised means, whereby the Word of God and the most worthy Sacraments are signified, He thereby helps and makes all things good, so that the temple among us becomes a house of prayer, and God may thus graciously turn away the well-deserved punishment. These we do not want to deal with at great length now, but rather only want to pay attention to what this Gospel teaches us for comfort under the cross (zum Trost im Creutz).
{Division of the Sermon}
Now there are here three kinds of people: [1] the Gergesenes [i.e., the crowd], [2] the mute man, [3] and the Lord Christ, and thus there are also three kinds of doctrine under the cross which we thus want to make use of and that we want to take away from this lesson.
First, what we ought to do and think when God lays a cross upon other people.
Second, how we ought to conduct ourselves when we ourselves come under the cross.
Third, what the Lord Christ does here, and what we have to comfort ourselves in Him.
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Epistle Reading for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, 2 Corinthians 3:4–11, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
2. A report as to whence the working [of the Preaching Office] comes. (v. 4–6)
4. But we have such a trust * through Christ to God(Luther: “that we have prepared you for the letter,” and that our Preaching Office is effective for the conversion of many people).
* Compare John 14:6ff.
5. Not * that we are sufficient of ourselves to think (much less to do or to think) something(good, which is for the promotion of our salvation or the salvation of other people)as from ourselves(from human powers), but rather, that we are sufficient, is(solely and only) from God.
* Compare 2 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:13.
6. Who also has made us sufficient, to carry out the Office of the New Testament (which is an Office), not(primarily)of the letter(of the Law, which with letters was written on stone tablets, and prescribed a completely perfect obedience, which alone is not able to give grace to sinners, nor the power to such obedience), but rather of the Spirit (of the Gospel, through which the Holy Spirit works faith in the hearts of men, and is given to the faithful. Luther: “to teach the letter is to teach merely the Law and works without the knowledge of the grace of God, by which everything that man is and does is condemned and is recognized as guilty of death, for without God’s grace he can do nothing good. To teach the Spirit is to teach grace without Law and merit, by which man is made living and is saved.”). For the letter(of the Law) kills(because it gives man knowledge of his sins, Romans 3:20; it accuses man and convicts him in his heart that he is guilty of eternal death, Romans 4:15.), but * the Spirit(the Gospel) makes alive(it draws man out again from such terror of death because it directs him to Christ, the Mediator, who is the end of the Law, Romans 10:4.).
3. How the Law and the Gospel are to be held against one another, and how the Gospel is to be greatly esteemed compared to the Law. (v. 7–11)
7. But the office(of the Law in the Old Testament), that through the letter kills(v. 6)and in the stone is formed (written) **, has glory(is preached with a particular clarity, as when God glorified Moses before the people when he brought down the tablets of the Law the second time), in such a way that the children of Israel could not(properly and precisely)look * upon the appearance of Moses on account of the glory of His appearance, it nevertheless ceased(for when Moses died, this glory had ceased).
* See Exodus 34:30.
** Greek: graven –
8. How shall not much more the office (of the Gospel in the New Testament), that gives the * Spirit **,(which the Word of the Gospel writes in the heart, a particular)glory have?(which was proved in the miracles of Christ and His Apostles, as well as in the bodily glory of the appearance of Christ, which He allowed to be seen at His Transfiguration, which glory remains into eternity, and then in the powerful working of the Gospel, through which the hearts of men are enlightened.)
* See Galatians 3:14; Galatians 3:2ff.
** Greek: the office of the Spirit
9. For as the office that preached condemnation(which convicted men through the Law, that they merit condemnation), had glory; * much more does the office ** which preaches righteousness(which teaches men how they can and ought to be come righteous and be saved through Christ), have a surpassing glory.
* Greek: is glorious (that is, brings with itself and works [glory])
** See Romans 1:17; cf. 2 Corinthians 3:21; John 5:45.
10. For even that part(the office of the Old Testament), which was glorified(because the Law was given with great glory on Mount Sinai, and Moses, with a shining appearance, presented it to the people of Israel), is no to be considered glorious compared to this surpassing glory. *
* Greek: For in so far as it was honored with glory (the office of the Law), it is not even worthy that one call it (radiance or) glory, (in view of and) compared to this surpassing glory.
11. For if that has glory which ceases(since the Old Testament is abolished by the New Testament and believers are redeemed from the curse and coercion of the Law), much more will that have glory * which remains (because the New Testament will remain until the Last Day, and the benefits which have been distributed to us through the Gospel in the New Testament will extend to eternal life).
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Holy Gospel for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31–37, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
III. A deaf man, who was mute. (v. 31–37)
31. And when He had departed again from region of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the * Galilean Sea, in the midst of the region of the Decapolis.
* Compare Matthew 15:29f.
Greek: And when He went back from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came again to the Galilean Sea through the –
32. And * they brought to Him a deaf man, who was mute(the one who spoke evil, whom the devil through God’s appointment had almost completely robbed of hearing and speech)and they asked Him that He lay hands on him(and give him his hearing and speech again).
* Compare Matthew 9:32; Luke 11:14.
No possession is thought of here. What is written in Matthew 9:32 is a different history.
33. And He took him aside from the people, and placed His finger in His ear, and * He spat, and touched(with His spit)his tongue(to show that His flesh, through the personal union, is endowed with the power to do miracles, as well as to make health and living).
* Compare Mark 8:23; John 9;6.
34. And * He looked up to heaven, sighed(over the miserable condition of the human race)and said to him: “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be thou opened.”
* Compare John 11:41.
35. And immediately his ears his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.
36. And He forbid them that they should tell no one.(The cause of such prohibition is told in Matthew 8:4)But the more He forbid them, the more they spread it.
37. And they were astonished beyond measure and said, * “He has made all well(in this miracle and in His entire way of life); He makes the deaf to hear, and the speechless to speak.
* Compare Genesis 1:31.
Greek: Also – (For they had not yet seen the like, even they they had seen other miracles.)
Useful Applications
III. COMFORT: That Christ the Lord makes all well and good, everything that was corrupted in us by the devil, as the people praise Him, v. 37; DOCTRINE and COMFORT: That also our wretched body shall partake of this [blessing], if the heart remains steadfast in Him, v. 33–37.
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications of the Old Testament Reading for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Isaiah 29:16–24, as they are found in Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877). Square brackets indicate my own notes and additions. For the useful applications, I recommend the reader see this very helpful article by Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes.
IV. The Call of the Gentiles (Isaiah 29:17–24)
17. Now, is it not a little while until Lebanon should become a [fruitful] field , and the field be reckoned as a forest?
Compare Isaiah 32:15.
By “Lebanon” the Jews are understood, as Luther says, “because the city of Jerusalem was built from Lebanon.” Their ancestors were a beautiful fruitful field at the time of the Old Testament, as Lebanon; however, they had become as a cut down forest and an unfruitful field in the New Testament because of their repudiation of the Gospel. However, on the other hand, by the field the Gentiles are to be understood, who previously, in the time of the Old Testament, were an unfruitful field; however, in the New Testament, they have become a beautiful fruitful field, that is, through Christ they have been enlightened, converted, and made fruitful unto good works.
The prophetic way of speaking often compares the heathen with Lebanon (see Song of Songs 4:8; Isaiah 60:13), according to which, the reception of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews from the Church would here be described (see 18f.).
18. For at that time the deaf (the Gentiles, who are spiritual deaf) shall hear the words of the book (of the Gospel, see v. 11) and the eyes of the blind (those who are spiritually blind) will see out of the darkness and gloom (they will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and will know rightly God in Christ from the Word of the Gospel).
Compare Isaiah 35:5; 42:7; 60:1; Ephesians 3:9.
19. And the wretched will once again have joy in the Lord, and the poor among men will be happy in the Holy One (in) Israel (the poor will have the Gospel preached to their comfort and joy of the heart, Matthew 11:5).
Compare Isaiah 61:1ff; 51:3, 11; Psalm 22:27.
Hebrew: Joy over strangers.
20. When the tyrant has an end, and the scoffers are extinguished, and all who watch to cause trouble (Luther: “false doctrine and works”)are destroyed .
21. Who make the people sin through preaching(those who preach only human trifles, or who flatter their hearers, and make cushions for them under their arms and pillows for their heads, Isaiah 13:18)and hunt the one who rebukes them in the gate(publicly and without fear), who turn aside from righteousness by lies(they turn themselves away from the truth by lies, and from unrighteousness by injustice).
See Matthew 15:3ff.; Amos 5:10.
Hebrew: through (the oral forthplanted) Word.
Hebrew: they entice the righteous man (thereby seducing him from good to evil) through vain things (human ordinances).
22. Therefore, says the Lord, the one who has redeemed Abraham (and led him out out of the idolatrous Ur in Chaldea, Genesis 11:31, 12:1), to the house of Jacob(those according to the Spirit)thus: “Jacob shall no more be disgraced, and his countenance shall no more be ashamed(nor will it become pale when they are converted and steadfastly believe in Christ).
Compare Isaiah 41:8ff.; Genesis 48:16.
Hebrew: Now (or from now on).
Hebrew: Now no more.
23. For when they see their children, the work of my hands (those I have given rebirth to by water and the Spirit, John 3:5) among them, they will hallow My name, and they will fear (Me)the Holy One in Jacob and (Me)the God of Israel.
Hebrew: at those who press with power (frequently), Matthew 11:12.
24. For those who had who had an erring spirit, will receive understanding, and those who complain(Luther: “the useless chatterers, such as the enthusiasts who boast of a vain spirit” )will allow themselves to be taught(although they indeed had previously sharply fought for their errors).
Compare Acts 9:5ff.; 2 Corinthians 10:15.
Hebrew: the rebellious murmurers, see John 6:52, 61; Acts 17:32; 1 Corinthians 1:24ff.
Useful Applications
IV. Doctrine/Teaching: That through the Word of the Gospel, those men who receive it in faith will be graced, quickened, and made joyful, v. 18–19; Doctrine/Teaching: That on the other hand, the despising of the [Gospel] causes the judgement of blindness, v. 10ff.; Comfort: That God will hold His Christian people in grace, if they only faithfully abide by and with His Word, v. 22f.
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 