Our hearts will be eased a little...

AELW3:7

Genesis 15:1. After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield; your reward shall be very great.

"Accounts of this kind should be carefully noted, in order that we may be able to comfort those who are in sorrow. For a trial is sent to keep us from exalting ourselves because of the gifts we have. But even though it is hard to suffer such distress of heart, we should nevertheless be buoyed up and, as it were, lighten those hurts, because we know that the forgiveness of sins is unimpaired and unchangeable. Let us keep this gift in mind and prefer it to others. Indeed, in comparison with this gift let us despise all the others, however great and glorious they may be. In this way our hearts will be eased a little."

I wonder...

Who was in Luther's Greek class???

AELW3:5

"If someone is able to write four Greek words, to explain one psalm, he is puffed up by his knowledge as if by yeast. The result is that he thinks he is walking on the clouds, far above other human beings.

I learned to recognize this disease soon enough, since I was warned by so many accounts of the Holy Scriptures. At the beginning of the Reformation, therefore, when God involved me in this faction (if I may call it that) against my will and by means of wonderful opportunities, I asked Him fervently to deliver me from this evil. He heard my prayer; for He kept me free from this temptation, although not so free that I did not feel it. He kept me occupied to such an extent with responsibilities, worries, perils, and hardships that all ambition was readily shut out of my mind."

Volume 3 - Genesis 15-20

LUTHER’S
WORKS

VOLUME 3

LECTURES ON GENESIS

Chapters 15–20

Two Volumes down 52 to go!

Two volumes now completed, only 52 more to go. What a great adventure it has been so far, hearing the commentary of Luther, pointing to the grace of Christ....

Father Abraham has...

the heart of a true pastor, not looking to himself, but clinging; "to the promise of eternal life."

AELW 2:397

"Thus you see that the holy patriarch Abraham is endowed with all virtues. For the sake of his nephew Lot he serves in utmost love those who were unworthy of his kindnesses. When he has achieved the victory, he is not eager to increase his wealth and power but has a heart that is free of ambition, greed, and other lusts; and he clings only to the promise of eternal life and to the Possessor of heaven and earth."

Abraham, Alexander, Hannibal, and Scipios

AELW 2:374

"The Alexanders, the Hannibals, and the Scipios vie among themselves over supremacy in the glory of achievement, but I place Abraham ahead of them all.

He faces the enemy, not with a blind attack or with reckless daring but in faith; and so he is victorious. He had an insight that neither Alexander nor Scipio could have: through the Holy Spirit he brings along from home into battle the conviction that he would be victorious and that he would release his brother Lot. This is what is most admirable in his victory; and this is why it surpasses all the victories of all the heathen, be they ever so brilliant."

The faith of Abraham

AELW 2:353

"Indeed, I would go even further and say that just as we now praise Abraham because of this gift, so he would praise us in the New Testament even more; for he saw the day of Christ, as John 8:56 states. But he saw it only in faith and in the spirit.

But we see this glory face to face. We hear God speaking with us and promising forgiveness of sins in Baptism, in the Supper of His Son, and in the true use of the keys. These Abraham did not have, but he saw in the spirit and believed.

Therefore our glory is greater; but because we do not take care of it or thank God enough for such great gifts of grace, our studious concern for power and pleasure is greater. Consequently, the Turk, the pope, and countless other devils must come from Italy, Spain, and all the corners of the earth, to vex, afflict, and kill us because of our unspeakable and disgraceful contempt.

Thus the church is the pupil of Christ. It sits at His feet and listens to His Word, that it may know how to judge everything—how to serve in one’s vocation and to fill civil offices, yes, how to eat, drink, and sleep—so that there is no doubt about any area of life, but that we, surrounded on all sides by the rays of the Word, may continually walk in joy and in the most beautiful light."

Quotes like this keep me reading Luther!

AELW2:343

"Hannibal thinks that he is conquering the Romans by reason of the great courage and the extraordinary diligence he possesses. Alexander has greater gifts, which enable him to be successful in all his undertakings. But these are “masks.” They are the only things we see. But God’s control, by which governments are either strengthened or overturned, we do not see.

This is what it really means when Nineveh is called a city of God, and likewise when the trees are said to be trees of God; for they are controlled and fostered by God so that they grow. Even if they are helped by human industry and labor as well, these would be vain without God’s blessing. And who, I ask you, takes care of the forests and the groves, the trees in the vast uninhabited places?

Christ says (Matt. 5:45): “Your heavenly Father lets His sun rise over the good and the evil.” He calls the sun God’s sun, which He Himself created to invigorate nature.

Thus what is called a garden of God here is not, as the Jews prattle, a large one; it is one that is cultivated not only by human hands and effort but by God, because the Lord makes it fertile and blesses it.

It is said that traces of this gift are in existence to this day. For near the Dead Sea the most beautiful fruits are produced; but when they are opened, they are full of a vile odor and ashes, obviously, as the poet says, “monuments of an ancient crime.” (emphasis mine)

God, grant me the wisdom..

to avoid this peril...

AELW2:340

"Hence the German proverbs about the young doctor of medicine who needs a new cemetery, about the jurist who recently took over a public office and starts wars all over the place, and about the young theologian who fills hell with souls. Because these men lack the practical experience that engenders wisdom, they do everything in accordance with their own canons and rules. This is why they get into difficulties and make mistakes to the great detriment of people and affairs."

Another post on brothers in the faith

AELW2:335

"Everything is less burdensome if you have a brother with you; for then the promise applies (Matt. 18:20): “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Therefore solitude should be shunned and the companionship of familiar people sought, especially in spiritual perils."

The comfort of speaking to a brother in the faith!

I find this comment to very true. Thanks be to God for all the faithful, thanks be to God for my brothers in the faith.

AELW2:335

"Even if one’s heart is well grounded by the Holy Spirit, it remains a great advantage to have a brother with whom one can converse about religion and from whom one can hear words of comfort."

A German Proverb

AELS2:334

"Thus the German proverb is true: Finstere Kirchen und liechte herzen. Somber churches and illuminated hearts commonly go together. Such was the church of Abraham, in which was heard the voice of God and true worship. But look at the churches; they are often resplendent, but the hearts are gloomy or even blind.

Thus it is not the stones, the construction, and the gorgeous silver and gold that make a church beautiful and holy; it is the Word of God and sound preaching. For where the goodness of God is commended to men and hearts are encouraged to put their trust in Him and to call upon God in danger, there is truly a holy church. Whether it is a dark nook or a bare hill or a barren tree, it is truthfully and correctly called a house of God and a gate of heaven, even though it is without a roof, under the clouds and the open sky.

Therefore one must pay primary attention to the character of the teaching and prayer, not to the character of the building. What God demands is that people be converted and He be glorified, but this is achieved solely through the Word and prayer."

An invincible lack of knowledge...

This is a really great quote. I include the footnote on this one.

AELW2:313

"In their schools the theologians enumerate other kinds of ignorance. The first kind is the one they call “invincible,”( see footnote) which was invented to excuse shortcomings, because it cannot be overcome or improved through any effort or perseverance. Thus Cicero’s lack of knowledge of God is invincible. When you read his treatises De natura deorum and De finibus bonorum et malorum, you realize that he has omitted nothing that mankind is able to attain by means of human reason and all its powers; yet he does not know what God’s will is and what His attitude is toward us. The reason for this lack of knowledge is that the ability to know God comes, not from our innate reason but from the Spirit of God, who enlightens our minds through the Word. Since Cicero lacked this, he had to struggle with a lack of knowledge that was invincible."

(footnote here)

“If ignorance be such that it is altogether involuntary, either because it is invincible, or because it pertains to that which a man is not obliged to know, then such ignorance completely excuses one from wrongdoing.” Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologica, I–II, Q. 76, Art. 3."

The present and the future...

I am reminded of Romans 8:26..."^Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

AELW2:309

"The flesh habitually looks only at the things that are present and is influenced and impressed only by them; but it regards as worthless the things that are not present, those which the Word teaches, because it does not see them. Therefore it transgresses under both conditions, when its prospects are bright and when they are unfavorable. When they are bright, it does not keep within the bounds of moderation; for it does not see the threatening evils. When they are unfavorable, it cannot be comforted; for nowhere does it see the deliverance that the Word promises.

And yet in the godly there remains a sighing that has its seat in the innermost heart; and in some measure, although very faintly, it opposes the distrust and despair and impatience that are in the flesh, lest we become blasphemers. This the Lord regards; the rest He forgives."

Complete Trust...

AELW2:302

"How the world is accustomed to act is well known. Harmony, says the poet, is rare even among brothers. And we observe that from the most insignificant matter - or as we say in German, from pigeon droppings - quarrels arise among neighbors. In these circumstances suspicious and hatred prevail.

But even though the Christian trusts no human being, he does not hate any human being either; and although he maintains that no one is so strong that he cannot be overcome either by his desires or by satan, he is still very hopeful about everybody, even about evil men. Thus he keeps love chaste, pure, and strong also toward his friends; but his complete trust he has placed in the goodness of God alone."

A great quote regarding faith

AELW2:266-267

"For faith is a vigorous and powerful thing; it is not idle speculation, nor does it float on the heart like a goose on the water. But just as water that has been heated, even though it remains water, is no longer cold but is hot and an altogether different water, so faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, fashions a different mind and different attitudes, and makes an altogether new human being."

A short history of the church

Luther regarding Genesis 12:1-4

AELW2:265

"If you desire to reduce to a few words the history of the church from the time of Abraham until today, carefully consider these four verses. You will see the blessing, and you will also see some who curse; but these, in turn, God has cursed so that they utterly perished, while the eternal blessing of the church has remained unshaken. Hence this passage is in agreement with the first sermon about the Seed who crushes the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). The church does not lack enemies; it is troubled, and it sighs; and yet it overcomes through the Seed and finally triumphs forever over all its enemies."

"But just as the Lord gave a warning above about the bite of the serpent, so here He warns that the seed of Abraham will encounter some who will curse it. But if we are hurt by the world and the devil, the damage is slight, since we have the angels, yes, even God Himself to bless us and annihilate our adversaries. "

In the company of angels

Genesis 12:3. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.


AELW2:259 and 2:261

"The church never runs out of enemies and opponents. For Satan hates it, and for this reason he plots against it in various ways and stirs up perils of every kind."

"Therefore it is proper for us to contrast the blessing in this passage with the curse under which all human beings are because of sin. The curse has been taken away by Christ, and a blessing will be bestowed on an who receive Him and believe in His name. The remarkable blessing is this, that after being freed from sin, from death, and from the tyranny of the devil, we are in the company of the angels of God and have become partakers of eternal life."

Creatio ex nihilo

Abram was created out of nothing, and so are we...

Regarding Abram, Genesis 12:1

12:1. "Now the Lord said to Abram: Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you."


AELW2:246

"For if you should ask what Abraham was before he was called by a merciful God, Joshua (24:12) answers that he was an idolater, that is, that he deserved death and eternal damnation. But in this wretched state God does not cast him away; He calls him and through the call makes everything out of him who is nothing."

A long quote on worship, but a great one...

Luther's commentary on Genesis 11:31-32, regarding Ur of the Chaldeans...

AELW2:243

"The examples of all times teach that the Word of truth and the true forms of worship are despised by the common people. Hence when new teachers arise, they present itching ears to them; and truly, as Moses says (Deut. 29:19): “The drunkard seizes the thirsting.” Perverse teachers are most ready to teach, and the common people are most eager to listen. In this manner the Word and the true forms of worship become lost. The Anabaptists proclaim the new doctrine that children should not be baptized, because they cannot have faith, since they are without reason and do not understand the Word. The common people had heard nothing of this kind from us, and so they received that idea with great applause. The Sacramentarians, Zwingli, Oecolampadius, and their like contend that when Christ says: “This is My body,” He does not mean that with the bread or under the bread He is giving His body, but that only bread is received and wine is drunk, and that the body of Christ is not received and His blood is not drunk. These teachers the ignorant common people admire and follow. But we, who do not allow ourselves to be diverted from the words of Christ, are regarded as not one whit sounder or better than the papists. Such is the custom of the world: it despises the Word and admires what is new."