Luther for the Busy Man

EPIPHANY II - SATURDAYLESSON: MARK 8:31-35Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?” John 2:4We should note here that Jesus adopts a harsh attitude to His mother not only to give us an example of faith, but also to remind us that in the affairs of God and in His service we do not know father or mother.Although there is no authority on earth greater than the authority of father and mother, it is of no avail, when it is a matter of God’s...

EPIPHANY II - FRIDAYLESSON: ROMANS 8:31-39We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him. Romans 8:28The most important lesson in this Gospel (John 2:1-11), and what we should especially note here, is that we should accord God the honor of being good and gracious, even though He seems to have shown Himself in quite a different light. Sense and feeling must be disciplined in us, and the old Adam put down, so that true faith in God’s goodness, and not feeling, remains in us....

EPIPHANY II - THURSDAYLESSON: HEBREWS 12:1-4For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6There is a real conflict for faith in this Gospel (John 2:1-11). We should therefore pay close attention to what Christ’s mother, Mary, does, and also to what she teaches us. How hard His words sound, and what an unfriendly attitude He seems to adopt! But she interprets everything in her heart in such a way that she does not even think of any wrath in Him, or...

EPIPHANY II - WEDNESDAYLESSON: ROMANS 14:5-12So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31The reason why excess is so frequent among men is that they do not just eat and drink, but gorge themselves and guzzle, carouse and gormandize, and behave as though it were a mark of cleverness or strength to gorge and guzzle. Their objective is not to become joyful, but to become mad and to be full. These people are pigs, not human beings. Christ would not have g...

EPIPHANY II - TUESDAYLESSON: GALATIANS 5:22-25Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4God is not concerned about external matters like a marriage, provided that faith and love remain and, as has been stated, moderation is practiced, as is fitting for every estate. For the marriage at Cana, although it was a poor and lowly affair, still had three tables. This is clear from the mention of the “steward of the feast,” who usually had charge of three tables. The bridegroom did not attend to these but had his s...

EPIPHANY II - MONDAYLESSON: COLOSSIANS 1:9-14I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exalt in my God. Isaiah 61:10In this Gospel (John 2:1-11) Christ makes it quite clear that He finds no fault with providing expenses for a wedding and all that is needed for a wedding, adornment and merry-making, eating and drinking, as the usage and custom of the land require.It is true that this seems to be excess and wasted expenditure and a worldly matter. Suitable moderation must be observed here, without completely destroying t...

EPIPHANY II - SUNDAYLESSON: JOHN 2:1-11On the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. John 2:1,2It was a great honor for Jesus to make His gift of wine at this lowly marriage feast by means of a great miracle. Hereby Jesus became the bride’s most important donor. In any case, He may not have had any money for precious gems to give her as a gift. Such an honor Jesus nev...

EPIPHANY I - SATURDAYLESSON: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4In this Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) we are given the consolation that, whenever suffering becomes our portion, we should realize that we will not be able to find any other consolation except in the Scriptures, the Word of God. God has set it down in writing that we should learn, as Paul says, “Whatever was written in former days was written for...

EPIPHANY I - FRIDAYLESSON: ROMANS 3:21-26He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7We should never place our confidence in the doctrine of men and the holy fathers. God has given us many examples to teach us not t...

EPIPHANY I - THURSDAYLESSON: JOHN 8:31-33Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. John 17:17This Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) is a very telling blow against all doctrine and consolation and whatever else might be named that is not the Word of God and does not flow from the Word.You can now say: I don’t care what happens; exalt reason and the light of nature as high as you want to, I still reserve my right not to entrust myself to it. I grant that councils and pope hav...

EPIPHANY I - WEDNESDAYLESSON: PSALM 119:97-104And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? Luke 2:49I have often said, and I say it again, that nothing should be preached in Christendom but the pure Word of God. This Gospel (Luke 2:41-52), in stating that they could not find Jesus “among their kinsfolk and acquaintances,” also reminds us of this.It is no good saying that one must believe what the church councils have decided...

EPIPHANY I - TUESDAYLESSON: PSALM 94:12-15My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him who he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:5,6Trials, chastenings, and temptations come upon us so that our faith may be exercised and become stronger and stronger. God especially arranges matters in this way to preserve His children from the kinds of misfortune which might otherwise come upon us.When men become boldly confident and very s...

EPIPHANY I - MONDAYLESSON: JAMES 1:12-15We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8When God has given us a fine, strong faith so that we go forth in firm confidence, and are quite sure and certain that we have a gracious God on whom we can fully rely, we are in paradise. But when God suffers our heart to slip away from us, so that we come to think that God wants to tear the Lord Jesus from our hearts, and our conscience f...

EPIPHANY I - SUNDAYLESSON: LUKE 2:41-52When they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, you father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” Luke 2:48Although the holy mother Mary who was blessed (Luke 1:42) and highly-favored with all kinds of grace (Luke 1:28) without a doubt found the greatest of happiness and joy in her child, the Lord still governed her in such a way that she should not have her paradise in Him and reserve it for her future life...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - SATURDAYLESSON: PSALM 97Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4When the Sacrament is used properly, the conscience is not tormented, but comforted and lightened by the joy of faith. For God did not give us the Sacrament as a poison or an instrument of torture, so that one should be terrified by it. This is what happened to us when we were taught the very unskilled doctrine that in the mass we offered our own piety as a sacrifice to God, and lost...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - FRIDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 2:1-12Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1 The admonition to “arise” is without doubt spoken to one who has not arisen, that is, to one who is lying asleep, or is dead. I think St. Paul had this passage in mind when he said in Ephesians, “It is said, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.’” Ephesians 5:14.Without doubt Christ is the “light” of which Isaiah speak...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - THURSDAYLESSON: HEBREWS 9:11-14Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28Concentrate on the great treasure in the Sacrament, the forgiveness of sins, and have nothing to do with the tomfoolery of the schools of theology and their preoccupation with all kinds of curious questions in efforts to explain how Christ’s body is in the Sacrament and how He hides Himself under such a restricted form.You must prepare yourself so that the words of the...

EPIPHANY WEDNESDAYLESSON: HEBREWS 10:19‒25The blood of Jesus His [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7We must take hold of Christ’s words in the Sacrament and be quite sure that we understand them. For the whole power and might of the Sacrament depends on these words. We must all know them, understand them, and cling to them in firm faith so that we may defend ourselves with them and, when the need arises, repulse our enemies with them. Hence, if you want to partake of the Sacrament, heed these words...

EPIPHANY TUESDAYLESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23‒25The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16Christ’s words of institution in the Lord’s Supper cannot be denied by man or the devil. On these words we must take our stand. No matter what explanations are added to them, we have here a clear word of God which declares that the bread is Christ’s body given for us, and the cup His...

THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS XIILESSON: ROMANS 5:15-17Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15He who does not have the faith which believes that Christ with His every blessing is his very own, does not have true faith, and is not a Christian. His heart also cannot be truly joyful and happy. For true faith will make Christians joyful and happy, sure and blessed, as God’s dear children in whom the Holy Spirit also dwells. What a lovely, bright and precious garment this is, to which is...