Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the CreationLuther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1: Luther on the Creation
Luther, Martin
Bible. Genesis -- Commentaries
At Rome itself also on account of the great numbers of infants who are
exposed monasteries are erected, of whom the Pope is nominated "the
father!" And the near relatives of the infants, which have been so
exposed, precede him in the public processions! I forbear to testify
of an infinite number of other kindred enormities, which are too bad
to mention.
Wherefore, it behooves us all to guard against such doctrines of
devils as these, and to learn to hold marriage in all reverence; and
with all reverence to speak of that holy life, which we see God
himself has instituted; and which we hear is commended of him in the
Decalogue, where he says, "Honor thy father and thy mother," to which
holy matrimony, is also added the blessing, "Be fruitful and
multiply." And concerning this holy marriage it is, that the Holy
Ghost is here speaking, whose mouth is holy and chaste. But all those
sins and vices, and all that turpitude which have entered into the
originally pure creation of God by sin, we ought not to agitate, or
deride, or touch, when speaking of holy marriage, but rather carefully
to cover them; just in the same way as we see that God covered the
originally naked Adam and Eve with coats of skin after their sin. For
marriage ought to be treated and spoken of by all as honorable, being
the holy union from which we all are born; and which is, as it were,
the seminary not only of each nation but of the Church and kingdom of
Christ unto the end of the world.
This high glory of marriage however the heathen and profane men do not
understand. Therefore, all they can do is to collect the vices which
exist in the marriage life itself, and in the abandoned female sex.
And thus, separating the unclean things from the clean, they retain
the unclean only; and the clean they see not at all. Hence also,
certain profane lawyers so irreverently judge and speak of this book
of Genesis as to affirm that it contains nothing more than the
marriage doings of the Jews. Are not then such men as these, I ask
you, worthy of living to see marriage despised and unclean celibacy
introduced, and themselves, subjected to its crimes and punishments,
which exceed even those of Sodom?
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