Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
Now without doubt among the "least" are also those who are in sin
and spiritual poverty, captivity and need, of whom there are at
present far more than of those who suffer bodily need. Therefore
take heed: our own self-assumed good works lead us to and into
ourselves, that we seek only our own benefit and salvation; but
God's commandments drive us to our neighbor, that we may thereby
benefit others to their salvation. Just as Christ on the Cross
prayed not for Himself alone, but rather for us, when He said,
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," [Luke
23:14] so we also must pray for one another. From which every man
may know that the slanderers, frivolous judges and despisers of
other people are a perverted, evil race, who do nothing else than
heap abuse on those for whom they ought to pray; in which vice no
one is sunk so deep as those very men who do many good works of
their own, and seem to men to be something extraordinary, and are
honored because of their beautiful, splendid life in manifold
good works.
[Sidenote: The Lord's Day]
XVII. Spiritually understood, this Commandment has a yet far
higher work, which embraces the whole nature of man. Here it must
be known that in Hebrew "Sabbath" means "rest," because on the
seventh day God rested and ceased from all His works, which He
had made. Genesis ii [Gen. 2:3]. Therefore He commanded also that
the seventh day should be kept holy and that we cease from our
works which we do the other six days. This Sabbath has now for us
been changed into the Sunday, and the other days are called
work-days; the Sunday is called rest-day or holiday or holy day.
And would to God that in Christendom there were no holiday except
the Sunday; that the festivals of Our Lady and of the Saints were
all transferred to Sunday; then would many evil vices be done
away with through the labor of the work-days, and lands would not
be so drained and impoverished. But now we are plagued with many
holidays, to the destruction of souls, bodies and goods; of which
matter much might be said.
This rest or ceasing from labors is of two kinds, bodily and
spiritual. For this reason this Commandment is also to be
understood in two ways.
[Sidenote: The Rest of the Body]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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