The following is my translation of Aegidius Hunnius’s introduction and sermon outline for the Holy Gospel of Sexagesima (Luke 8:4–15) from his Postilla (Vol. I, pg. 266). Square brackets and footnotes are my own notes and additions.
Explanation of the Gospel
This sermon, as it is presented to us in the parable just read, the Son of God has spoken not only for Himself, but rather has also commanded it to His hearers with special diligence, when He cried out and said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!” [Luke 8:8] With this saying, as with the sound of a mighty trumpet, He awakens sleeping hearts to diligent attentiveness, seriousness and devotion for the hearing of His sermon, because there such matters are handled upon which the well-being and salvation of all the world depends, since once again, He describes the occasion of the high works of God and His Kingdom upon earth in parabolic way and opens the mystery of how it happens that not all hearers of the Word are converted and improved unto eternal life.
So then, let us present out hearts and ears, and indeed examine with a wakeful mind what God’s Son, our Lord and Teacher Jesus Christ has taught and preached to us concerning these important points. Let us not listen superficially, as the people did, who after hearing the parable, withdrew again without any investigation after spiritual understanding.1 Rather, let us persevere in the sermon of Christ with His disciples until we have heard the explanation from His mouth and have made use of it.2
1. First, we will hear the parable recounted in itself [v. 4–8].
2. Second, we will hear how the disciples desire that the parable might be explained to them and that Christ offers Himself to this end [v. 9–10].
3. Third and last, we will consider and contemplate the explanation of Christ [v. 11–15].
- “Every poor sinner should therefore attend to the Word, hear it attentively, and not doubt the Father’s drawing. For the Holy Spirit will be with His Word in His power, and will work by it. That is the Father’s drawing. The reason why not all who hear the Word believe, and some are therefore deeply condemned, is not because God had begrudged them their salvation. It is their own fault. They have heard the Word in such a way as not to learn, but only to despise, blaspheme, and disgrace it. They have resisted the Holy Spirit, who through the Word wanted to work in them, as was the case at the time of Christ with the Pharisees and their followers.” (FC SD XI.77–78) ↩︎
- Note the italicized portion: “The preacher’s planting and watering and the hearer’s running and hearing would both be in vain and no conversion would follow it if the power and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit were not added [1 Corinthians 3:6–7]. The Spirit enlightens and converts hearts through the Word preached and heard. So people believe this Word and agree with it. Neither preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit. They should be certain that when God’s Word is preached purely and truly, according to God’s command and will, and people listen attentively and seriously and meditate on it, God is certainly present with His grace.” (FC SD II.55) ↩︎
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 