PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS

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  • Notes and Useful Applications for Galatians 5:16–24 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    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.

  • Notes and Useful Applications for Mark 7:31–37 from Das Weimarische Bibelwerk (1877)

    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.

  • Chemnitz’s Homily Outline for Judica (Lent 5)

    Chemnitz’s Homily Outline for Judica (Lent 5)

    The following is a translation of Martin Chemnitz’s Homily Outline for Judica (Lent 5), as found in his Postilla (Vol. 1, pgs. 576–77). Chemnitz’s text is John 8:46–59.

    Chemnitz’s Homily Outline:

    “Now this Gospel has many beautiful and necessary doctrines in it, which we want to handle in an orderly manner.

    1. First, of the fierce conflict between Christ and the Jews, in which one denounces the other, that finally comes to such seriousness that the Jews become so incensed that they want to stone Christ to death, even in the temple. From this we learn that a preacher cannot be friendly at all times when he wants to carry out his office with faithfulness and proper seriousness and zeal, as he is commanded by God, but rather must also at times be sharp and zealous when necessity demands it. The world becomes bitter and angry over this and can hardly tolerate such, and therefore becomes ill-disposed toward preachers and lies in wait for an opportunity to take revenge on them, to which they must not concern themselves with, but rather, regardless of all of this, they must do what belongs to their office and what is demanded of them by God, whatever the world may say about it.
    2. Second, what the fierce conflict between Christ and the Jews was about, namely, over religion and doctrine, which was the right doctrine of God’s Word, and what was the true Church of God. When the Jews appealed to their church, Christ on the other hand appealed to His own, when they said they were God’s people and the church of God, Christ said no to this. They boasted that because they were Abraham’s seed according to the flesh, they were righteous and free from all sin. Christ showed them that they are all sinners, and can be saved nowhere else than in Christ their promised Messiah, whom they despised, and did not want to hold as the Messiah, and thus, finally, they will also certainly die in their sins. Over these points Christ fought with the Jews so fiercely, which He does not want to be taken from Him, therefore He is so zealous.
    3. Third, how the Lord is not only zealous against His opponents and enemies, and speaks with the same sharpness and threatens those who persist in their own held opinions against God’s Word and their own consciences, what will therefore follow, and what danger they stand in, that they will die in their sins; but He also preaches as a mediator for the comfort of repentant and believing sinners, who hear His word and believe in Him, that through Him they will be saved, and be protected from eternal death.

    We want to handle these three points in this sermon, and set forth the chief doctrines which are presented to us here. The Almighty grant us His grace and Holy Spirit that we may thus hear and learn this, that from it we be certain of our faith, hold steadfastly and firmly to the pure doctrine, so that finally, through Christ, we may be freed from our sins, protected from eternal death through faith, and be and remain children and heirs of eternal life.”