The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Epistle Reading for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, 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. The Introduction. (v. 4–9)
Annotated Text
4. I * thank my (beloved) God at all times for your sake (so often I think of you) for the grace of God, which was given (granted) you in Christ Jesus,
* Ephesians 1:15–16
5. that you have been made rich in ever way through Him, in all doctrine, and all * knowledge (God has richly graced you with all kinds of spiritual gifts, which are useful and necessary for the edification of the Church and for the knowledge of God; but especially I thank Him, that He has brought you to the saving knowledge of Christ through the doctrine of the Gospel),
6. for as the preaching of Christ (the testimony of the Gospel) has been powerful in you (in that you have received it with true faith, and that by means of it you have been graced with the Holy Spirit; thus, the preaching of Christ has been confirmed and sealed among you),
* Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 1:21
7. thus, that you have no lack in any (temporally and eternally serviceable) gift (consequently, you have no need of any other revelation or doctrine, 1 John 2:20, 27), and * wait only for the (final great and glorious) revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (who on the Last Day will come again openly to hold the universal judgment);
* Psalm 34:11; Philippians 3:20 (Titus 2:13)
8. who * also will keep you firm (in true faith) until the end (of your life), that you ** be irreproachable until the *** (great judgement) day of our Lord Jesus Christ **** (because in this life the perfect righteousness of Christ is reckoned to you through faith, and you strive after an irreproachable walk, and thus can appear before Him with a good conscience).
**** Which is a day in which everything, even that which is now hidden in darkness, will come into the light [1 Corinthians 4:5].
9. For * God is faithful (He keeps His promise firmly and unbreakably), through whom (by whom) you are called (through the preaching of the Gospel) ** to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Luther: “That is, you are co-heirs and fellow partakers of all the goods of Christ.”)
* 1 Thessalonians 5:24ff.
** John 15:5 (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Useful Applications
II. DOCTRINE: We ought to thank God at all times when we see that knowledge of Him, true repentance, and a Christian life are worked in men’s hearts through His Word (v. 4–7).
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Old Testament reading for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Deuteronomy 10:12–21, 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. How Moses, on the mountain, got the opportunity to admonish the people, and what the character of that reminder was. (v. 10–22)
Annotated Text
12. “Now Israel, what * does the Lord, your God require of you (in gratitude for all such great benefactions), than that you fear the Lord, your God (and guard yourself, that you do not provoke Him with sins), that you walk in all His ways (in His commandments), and love Him (above all creatures), ** and serve the Lord, your God (as a testimony of true love) with all your heart and will all your soul (without hypocrisy, in such a way that you do not think, speak, strive after, do, or begin anything that is not pleasing to this true God);
* Micah 6:8
** Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37.
13. that you keep the commandments of the Lord and His laws, which I give to you today so that it go well with you (that you may be showed with all kinds of goods and rich blessings)!
14. Behold, * heaven and the heaven of heaven (the highest heaven) and earth and everything that is in it belong to the Lord, your God (as the almighty and the all-rich Creator, Ruler, Preserver, and Lord of all things).
* 1 Kings 8:27
15. Nevertheless * He had delight only in your fathers (when there nevertheless were very few of them, and in addition when they were despised before the world), that He loved them (was mercifully disposed toward them), and He elected their seed (their descendants) after them, (namely,) you over all people (because this grace was granted to no other people on earth, for He received you as His peculiar people [cf. 1 Peter 2:9]), ** as it stands today (as it is evident and before our eyes that such has also been granted by Him alone).
* Deuteronomy 7:6, 9:29
** Deuteronomy 4:38 (Exodus 19:5)
16. Therefore, * circumcise now (in a spiritual manner) the foreskin of your heart (lay aside the old man, and put to death the sinful lusts and wicked cravings of the flesh [cf. Ephesians 4:22]), and do not * be further stiff-necked (against God and His commandment).
17. For the Lord, your God, is * a God of all gods (over the angels, over the magistrates, and whatever otherwise is called gods), and Lord over all lords (in all the world, who have received all their lordship and authority as a fief from this Lord); a great God (in power), mighty (indeed, almighty) and terrible (of whom all creatures must be afraid), who ** does not consider the person (and those of great reputation in the world), and does not take any bribe (to pervert justice or refuse to punish evil on account of it);
18. and who executes justice (He helps and stands by) for orphans (for the fatherless and motherless children) and widows (who are otherwise despised and forsaken by everyone), and loves * the stranger (protects, defends, and provides for them), that He gives them food and clothing.
* Psalm 146:9; Exodus 22:21
19. Therefore, you shall also * love the stranger (help protect and provide for them; also receive them faithfully according to this example of your God); for you were also strangers in the land of Egypt (since it pleased you well when people deal with you in a friendly manner, in the same manner you ought now rightly also do to other strangers).
* Exodus 22:21ff.
20. You shall fearthe * Lord, your God (you shall dread to sin before Him); you shall serve Him (demonstrate all kinds of submission and honor according to His Word), you shall hang on to Him (with heartfelt trust and pure love), and ** shall swear in His name (affirm and confirm the truth upon the demand of the magistrate).
* Deuteronomy 6:13ff.
** Psalm 63:12 (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8)
21. He is your boast (the One whom you shall praise and boast of continually; in whom you only have to boast, that He is your gracious Father) and your God (your highest good), who has done for you (in your congregation) such great and terrible things (in Egypt and in the wilderness), which your eyes have seen.“
(Exodus 15:2)
Useful Applications
III. CORRECTION: That we ought to circumcise ourselves spiritually, that is, suppress the sinful lusts within us, and lead a new life (v. 16–20).
The following is my translation of the notes and useful applications for the Holy Gospel for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 22:34–46, 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 last discourse of Christ with the Pharisees concerning the greatest commandment in the Law and concerning the Messiah. (v. 34–46)
Annotated Text
34. But when the Pharisees heard that He had stopped up the mouth of the Sadducees (thus that they could no longer answer Him nor rebuke His speech), they gathered together (namely, the Pharisees).
35. And * one among them, a scribe, (who had heard them as they questioned one another, and saw that He had answered them finely; meanwhile, he came forward when the others were gathering together and taking counsel, and asked Him, Mark 12:28, and) tested Him (in the beginning, he had brought forth his question to Christ with a wicked intent, but afterward the Holy Spirit changed his heart), and said,
* Luke 10:25.
36. “Master, which is the foremost commandment (before all) in the Law (that we ought to keep and to fulfill before all things? The scribe wants to say this much: Because a resurrection of the dead will follow and another life exists after this one, as you have rightly answered the Sadducees, therefore the question now is, which is the foremost commandments that one must keep before all others if one wants to inherit eternal life)?
37. But Jesus (answered and) said to him, (The foremost commandment before all commandments is this: “Hear, O Isarel, the Lord, our God, is one singular God,” Mark 12:29, and) * “’You shall love God (the only true God), Your Lord, with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind (and with all your powers, Mark 12:30).’
*Mark 12:30ff. (Deuteronomy 6:4–6; Luke 10:27)
38. This is the foremost and greatest commandment (as the foundation of what follows, if it should be upright).
39. But the second is like it (because God the Lord wants this commandment to be kept just as much as the first; also because both commandments require not only an external obedience, but rather also a inward obedience, and because no one can rightly love God unless he also loves his neighbor, 1 John 4:20–21; finally, because the transgression of the commandment concerning love of the neighbor is just as reprehensible as the transgression of the commandment concerning the love of God): ‘You shall love your neighbor (all those who need your help) as you yourself (thus, that you show them all the love, friendship, and kindness, which you desire, so that it may happen to you from others. There is no other greater commandment than this, Mark 12:31ff.).’
* Leviticus 19:28; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; Colossians 3:14.
40. On these two commandments hang (is grasped or summed up, Romans 13:9) the entire Law and the Prophets (what Moses and the Prophets require of a man when they deal with the doctrine of the Law; they also can neither be sufficiently understood, nor rightly applied for the salvation of souls if one does not recognize from them our incapability to fulfill the Law and how necessary the Mediator is, who fulfills in us the righteousness that is demanded by the Law, Romans 8:3–4. And the scribe said to Him, “Master, You have truly spoken correctly; for there is one God, and there is none other besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the mind, and with all the soul, and with all powers and love one’s neighbor as oneself, this is more than bread offerings and all sacrifice.” But when Jesus saw that He had answered reasonably, He said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him further, Mark 12:32–34).”
41. Now when the Pharisees were with one another, they asked Jesus (when He taught in the temple, Mark 12:35),
(Matthew 22:34)
42. and said, “What do you think concerning the Christ (what do you hold concerning the promised Messiah)? * Whose Son is He (from which stem and race will He be born when He comes?)?” They said, “David’s” (from the lineage of David, according to the divine promise).
(Luke 20:41)
* He led them there in order to show that the discussion is not settled with the Law, but rather that the knowledge of Christ and His person, as well as His office is necessary above all in the Kingdom of God.
43. He (answered and) said to them (“How do they say, the scribes, that Christ is David’s Son?” Mark 12:35, Luke 20:41): “How then does David call Him in the Spirit (through the Holy Spirit, Mark 12:36, that is, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) a Lord, when He says (in the book of the Psalms):
44. * “The Lord (God the Father) has said to my Lord (to Christ, His Son, who is my lord and my God): ‘Sit at My right hand (reign with Me in like majesty, power, and glory, 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:3, 8:1; Ephesians 1:20), until I place Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet (until I fully subject these to you on the Last Day. Then, David indeed calls Him his Lord, Mark 12:37).’”
* Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:37; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:13 (Hebrews 10:13).
45. So now, if David (the mighty king, who acknowledge no higher lord on earth, but rather only the true God in heaven) calls Him a Lord, whose Son then is He? (Christ does not deny that the Messiah will be David’s son according to His human nature, but rather He wants to give the Pharisees the knowledge that He will also be David’s Lord, according to His divine nature.)
46. And * no one could answer Him a word (nor show the correct understanding and basis of this Davidic saying, because they did not know the Messiah rightly from the Holy Scripture, but rather held Him to be a mere man who would see a worldly kingdom on earth), ** and also no one dared to ask Him a question from the day forward (They tested Him with crafty questions. And many people heard Him gladly, Mark 12:37. But that Christ wanted to conclude all His sermons and miracles with this conversation concerning the Law and the Gospel, thereby He showed that everything contained in Holy Scripture can and ought to be drawn into these two chief points, namely, to the Law and the Gospel, Isaiah 8:20, John 1:17, Romans 11:32).
* Luke 14:6.
** As the interpretation of the Jews today, [applying it] to Abraham, sounds truly wretched.
Useful Applications
IV. DOCTRINE: Christ is David’s Son and Lord, both as true man and as true God (v. 42–45). DOCTRINE: Whoever is lacking in this knowledge, is and remains with a legalistic nature and in darkness (v. 42–46).
PATTERN OF SOUND WORDS 