Luther for the Busy Man

THE WEEK OF QUINQUAGESIMA - SUNDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 26:1-13The next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29In many people, the passion of Christ arouses little more than sympathy. They lament and bemoan the fact that He suffered innocently. A great multitude of women followed Jesus near the end of His public ministry “who bewailed and lamented him.” Jesus tried to set them right when He said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:28).Along these lines, many make rather wide excursions during the passion season. They make a lot of the sad farewell of Jesus from His friends at Bethany, with rather liberal portions of the pains and sorrows of the Virgin, but they hardly get any further than this. In this way, Christ’s passion is inordinately delayed so that God only knows whether it was thought up to put men to sleep rather than to keep them awake. In this same group we must place those who teach that much benefit is derived during the passion season from various holy exercises, fasts, and special devotions.If we are not reminded of Christ’s sufferings on our behalf in all this, it becomes nothing but an unfruitful work, no matter how good and worthy it may be in itself. What does it help you for God to be God if He is not God for you? What use is there in the healthiness and goodness of eating and drinking if it is not healthy for you? This is exactly the situation in regard to special Lenten exercises when men do not seek the correct benefit from them.SL.XI.576,3AE 76,426PRAYER: Dear Lord, instruct our faith so that we always view your passion as a suffering for us and on our behalf, a work of love which you assumed as our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

THE WEEK OF SEXAGESIMA - SATURDAYLESSON: EPHESIANS 3:7-13To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. Luke 8:10What does He mean when He says: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God”? What is a “secret” here? If one cannot know it, why does one preach it?“Secret” means a hidden, concealed matter which one does not know, and “the secrets of the kingdom of God” are the matters in God’s kingdom which are hidden. Christ, with all the grace He has manifested to us as Paul describes Him, is one of these “secrets.” He who knows Christ aright knows what God’s kingdom is and what it contains.This is called a “secret” because it is spiritual and concealed and remains so unless the Spirit reveals it. For there are many who see it and hear about it but who do not accept it.There are many today who preach Christ and hear how He was given for us, but this is often only a matter of the tongue, not of the heart. They do not believe it themselves and have no real experience of it, for as Paul declares, “This unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14).So, Christ says here, “To you it has been given,” that is, the Holy Spirit has enabled you not to hear and to see, but to recognize and to believe with your hearts, and, therefore, it is no longer a “secret” for you.SL.XI.523,19AE 76,337PRAYER: Thanks and praise be to you, O heavenly Father, for the revelation of the mystery of your grace in Christ Jesus our Lord which you have made known to us in the Gospel. Establish us in the grace that we may witness to it before our fellowmen, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

THE WEEK OF SEXAGESIMA - FRIDAYLESSON: PSALM 31:15-24O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling! Psalm 43:3After hearing the Word, large numbers fall away from it and bring no fruit to perfection. We are told this for our learning so that we should not be led into error.It is certainly unpleasant to preach to those who treat the Word so disgracefully and especially set themselves against the Gospel. For this is preaching which is to become so general that it is to be presented to all creatures, as Christ declares, “Preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15), and as the psalmist puts it, “Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:4).What if many do despise the Word? It must be that many are called but few are chosen. For the sake of those who are good seed and who bring forth fruit with patience, seed must also fall in vain on the path, on the rock, and among the thorns.Of one thing we can be sure, and that is that God’s Word never departs without producing fruit. It always finds some good ground, as the Gospel also says here, that some of the sower’s seed fell on good ground and not only on the path, among the thorns, and on the rock. For wherever the Gospel reaches, there are Christians. “My word shall not return to me empty” (Isaiah 55:11).SL.XI.520,10AE 76,334PRAYER: Grant, O Lord, that the saving power of your Gospel may always be a real incentive for us to spread the teachings of the Gospel in word and deed, for Christ our Savior’s sake. Amen.

THE WEEK OF SEXAGESIMA - THURSDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 10:34-39As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:15The fourth group are those who grasp the Word and hold on to it with a good heart and bring forth fruit with patience, that is, those who hear the Word and steadfastly hold on to it so that they risk and give up everything for it.The devil does not succeed in taking the Word from them or mislead them in any way in their connection with the Word. The heat of persecution does not drive them from the Word. The thorns of pleasant living and the greed of this world prove no hindrance to them. They bring forth fruit that they may also teach the Word to others and enlarge the kingdom of God. They also do good to their neighbor in accordance with the Word. Hence, Christ says here that they “bring forth fruit with patience.”They certainly also suffer much for the sake of the Word: insults and shameful treatment from the factionaries and heretics; hatred, jealousy, injury to body and property from the persecutors, in addition to what the thorns and their own temptations of the flesh cause.The Word is well called the Word of the cross, for he who would keep it must bear and overcome cross and misfortune with patience.SL.XI.519,7AE 76,333PRAYER: You have often reminded us, Lord Jesus, that as your disciples we will have to bear a cross. Pour your grace and strength upon us that this cross may never crush us but draw us ever closer to your cross and ultimate victory. Amen.

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY V - WEDNESDAYLESSON: EPHESIANS 4:25-32For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1Private or auricular confession has become established in the church without any direct command in the Word of God. In enforcing this upon all members of the Church, the leaders of the Church have at times imposed heavy burdens on the consciences of men and caused much spiritual harm.No one should be forced or compelled to private confession, and no man should be prevented from confessing his sins privately, if he so desires. If you confess your sins privately because you have been forced into it by threats or routine procedures, this cannot possibly be pleasing to God.If you cannot practice private confession of your own free will and without compulsion, you are better off without it. If you do this in compliance with regulations or any other human directions, you are not acting correctly. The whole world flocks to this confession during Easter week because it has been commanded under various ecclesiastical penalties. This week would be more correctly called a week of ordeals and torments in which the conscience of men is plagued and tormented, with much spiritual damage and ruin resulting, and in which Christ Himself is plagued and tormented much more disgracefully than when He hung upon the cross.We should raise our hands in thankfulness to God that He has enlightened us in this connection. For although the fruits of our faith may be limited, and we are still far from perfect, we have nevertheless received a correct understanding of matters. It is much better for us to stay away from confession and the Sacrament than to be forced to take part in them under compulsion and threats.SL.XI.585,7AE 76,435PRAYER: O God, our heavenly Father, help us to stand fast at all times in the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free, so that we always act in your presence as free men redeemed by the blood of Christ. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - SATURDAYLESSON: 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13-16When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Matthew 8:10The words of Jesus to the centurion have caused no end of trouble to the commentators. They have raised the question whether Jesus really told the truth in these words. On the basis of these words, one would have to infer that the mother of Jesus and His apostles were inferior to this centurion.I would like to point out here that Christ is speaking of the people of Israel to whom He had preached and to whom He had come, and that His mother and apostles are really excluded because they were normally a part of His company. Nevertheless I will still stick quite simply to the words of the Lord and take them just as they read.It is not contrary to any article of the faith to believe that the faith of this centurion did not have any parallel among the apostles or even in the faith of God’s mother. Where Christ’s words do not conflict openly with an article of faith, we must allow them to stand just as they read, and not twist them or guide them by our expositions and interpretations, not even for the sake of a saint, or an angel, or even for God’s own sake. For God’s Word is the very truth above all saints and angels.SL.XI.483,13AE 76,254PRAYER: Your Word, O God, is the truth and the whole truth. Grant us, at all times, such a faith that we trust you fully in your Word and derive from it the full confidence of salvation in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - FRIDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 6:5-15Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. Matthew 8:2This modest prayer of the leper must not be understood as an expression of doubt in Christ’s goodness and grace. For such a faith would be quite worthless, even if he did believe that Christ was almighty and able to do all things in His omniscience. A living faith which does not doubt also believes that God is good and that He has the gracious will to perform what we pray for. Faith never doubts that God in His good will is always favorably inclined towards us, that His intentions and purposes for us are always good.We do not always know, however, whether our welfare will really be promoted by what we ask in our prayers. God alone knows this. The prayer of faith leaves everything to God’s gracious will, requesting that He grant our petition if it will serve His honor and our real need. The prayer of faith never doubts that God will hear our prayer. If God does not answer the prayer, faith believes that God did not answer because of His grace towards us, and because He deemed it better for us to leave the prayer unanswered.In all this, our faith in God’s good and gracious will remains sure and steadfast, whether He answers our prayer or not. Paul reminds us of this when he says that we know not what or how we should pray (Romans 8:26). Likewise, we pray in the Lord’s Prayer for His will to be done.SL.XI.482,11-12AE 76,254PRAYER: Bestow your grace upon us, O Lord, that we always have the confidence to bring all our needs before you in prayer and supplication and, at the same time, have the assurance that you will hear and answer our prayer according to your will. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - THURSDAYLESSON; COLOSSIANS 3:12-17Only say the word, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:8We learn from the example of the centurion at Capernaum that we must begin with the Gospel and put our whole faith and trust in it without looking to any merits or works. The centurion makes no appeal to any merit or work; he reposes his whole confidence in Christ’s goodness alone. Here we see how all the works of Christ set forth examples of what the Gospel means in terms of faith and love.We have here an example of Christ’s love in bestowing His blessing freely without any requests and gifts. The centurion also gives us an example of love in the concern which he shows for his servant. He acted as Christ acts in receiving us; he does good to his servant freely and for the servant’s good. Luke says that the servant “was dear to him.” Luke 7:2.His love for his servant impelled him to concern himself for the servant’s welfare and prompted his action. Let us follow this example and not deceive ourselves into thinking that in the possession of the Gospel we do not have to concern ourselves with the needs of our neighbor.SL.XI.482,9-10AE 76, 253PRAYER: Give us, O Lord, the faith which is always active in love towards our neighbor, after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in His work of salvation for us. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - WEDNESDAYLESSON: 1 JOHN 3:11-18No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12I have often remarked how faith makes us free lords and love makes us slaves. Through faith we become gods and partakers of the nature and name of God as the psalmist declares, “I say, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.’” Psalm 82:6. Through love we become at the same time the poorest of men.By faith we are in need of nothing and always have full supply; in love we are the servants of all men. By faith we receive good things from above, from God; in love we let them flow out below to our neighbor.With us it is something like it was with Christ during His earthly ministry. According to His godhead He lacked nothing; but according to His humanity He was the servant of all who needed His help.We have often said that we also through faith are born as God’s children and gods, lords and kings, just as Christ in eternity was born true God from the Father. Nevertheless, through love we are to do good to our neighbor, just as Christ was born a man to help us all. Just as Christ became man only to serve us after being God in eternity, we also do good to our neighbor and show him our love only after we have become righteous, free from sin, living and blessed children of God.SL.XI.481,7AE 76,252PRAYER: By faith in Christ you have made us free lords and kinds, O God, thus conferring upon us all the spiritual blessings we need for our salvation. Grant us your grace, that in the power and strength of all this we may prove our faith in love and service to our neighbor. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - TUESDAYLESSON: GALATIANS 2:11-16We hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Romans 3:28You see how the example of the leper (Matthew 8:1-4) supports faith against works. For, just as Christ helped this leper out of pure grace through faith without any works or merits on his part, so He helps all men. He also wants men to regard Him as such a helper, and to expect help from Him on this basis.Had the leper come to Christ with all sorts of claims declaring, “See here, Lord, I have prayed and fasted so and so much. Please take note of all this, and make me clean accordingly,” Christ would never have cleansed him had he been so minded. Such a person does not rely on God’s grace, but on his own merits. In such a case, God’s grace is not praised, loved or desired, but personal works claim all the honor, and God is robbed of His due honor. As Isaiah declares, “They bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made,” Isaiah 2:8, that is, they put their confidence in their own works, and confer on their own works the honor belonging to God’s grace alone.SL.XI.480,5AE 76,252PRAYER: Lord, preserve us from that presumption which urges us to trust in our own works to the rejection of the grace, help and salvation which you are always ready and willing to bestow on us freely in and through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - MONDAYLESSON: GALATIANS 1:6-9Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Colossians 1:23The Gospel is the beginning, middle, and end of all that is good, and our one source of salvation. We have stated repeatedly that first of all one must hear the Gospel, and then faith, love, and good works follow. We must not put good works first, turning the whole matter back to front, as the teachers of work-righteousness do.The Gospel is a good report, discourse, and proclamation of Christ, announcing that He is nothing else but pure goodness, love, and grace. Such a report could not possibly be made concerning any other human being, or any of the saints. For, although the other saints were men of quite good repute, a report on them does not constitute the Gospel as such. It is Gospel only when the goodness and grace of Christ are proclaimed. Even though mention is made of famous saints and their doings, this does not make the report the Gospel. The Gospel bases Christian faith and confidence solely on the rock, Jesus Christ.SL.XI.480,4AE 76,252PRAYER: We praise and thank you, loving heavenly Father, for the clear revelation of the good news of salvation in the Gospel of you Son, and for the faith, trust, and confidence which you have given us in connection with this Gospel, in and through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

EPIPHANY III - SUNDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 8:1-13A leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2See how the faith of the leper manifests itself. He is under no delusions at all. All that he desires and hopes to obtain is the pure goodness and grace of Christ, freely and without any merit at all on his part. We cannot claim here that the leper earned the privilege of drawing close to Christ and speaking to Him, begging His help. He comes to Christ because he is conscious of his impurity and worthiness, and he places all his reliance on Christ’s goodness.This is true faith, living confidence in God’s goodness. If this confidence is in a man’s heart, his faith is right; if this confidence is not in a man’s heart, faith is wrong. All who do not keep the pure goodness of God in sight, and who always look first of all to their good works in the hope of meriting God’s favor and goodness for themselves, have this wrong faith. Such people never have the boldness to invoke God with real earnestness or to approach Him.This confidence or faith, or the knowledge of the goodness of Christ, would never have developed in the leper as the fruit of his own rational understanding. In all probability he had received a good report of Christ beforehand to the effect that Christ is good, gracious, and merciful, ready to help all men and to supply comfort and consolation for all who come to Him.SL.XI.478,2-3AE 76,251PRAYER: Thanks be to you, O Lord, for the examples you have given us in your holy Gospel encouraging us to come to you at all times, in all our needs, with the assurance of your grace and help. Amen.

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 Word and work. In the affairs of God neither father, mother, bishop, nor any other man is to lead and teach us. The Word of God alone must do this.Where father and mother order, teach, or even request you to do something against God, or to observe something in worship that God has not clearly commanded and ordered, you should say to them, “What have you to do with me? What is there for you and me to do in common?”Christ here simply refuses to do the work of God at the wishes of His own mother.SL.XI.471,19AE 76,245PRAYER: You have shown us in many clear passages of your Word, O Lord, that as your children we must always obey God rather than men [Acts 5:29]. Strengthen our faith at all times, O Lord, so that we always have the courage to do this in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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.Here you see how a pure faith remains in Christ’s mother and is held up before us as an example. She is sure that He will be gracious, even though she does not feel it. She is also sure that she feels otherwise than she believes. So she leaves the whole matter completely to His goodness.She does not set up any time or place, any method or measure, any person or name. He must do just as He pleases. If it is not done in the middle of the meal, let it be done at the end of the meal. She keeps the rebuff to herself. She does not reproach Him for His disdainful conduct before all the guests, for His ungracious attitude which made her blush. He appears to be sour, but He is sweet. Of this Mary is quite sure. And if we act in this way under such conditions we are true Christians.SL.XI.471,18AE 76,245PRAYER: Lord, you know that we sometimes experience conditions in which we see only as through a glass darkly, when we do not immediately recognize your guiding hand and goodwill toward us. Grant us your grace so that we always firmly believe that even in such situations all things must work together for our good. Amen.

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 anything that might conflict with His goodness, but remains firm in the conviction that He is good. She will not allow this opinion to be taken from her by the rebuff she has suffered, on the basis of which she might well have imputed disgraceful conduct to Him in her heart, and not regarded Him as good and gracious.That is what those do who lack faith and fall away at the first blow and hold no more to God. They feel like horses and mules do, to whom the psalmist refers when he says, “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you.” Psalm 32:9.If this mother had allowed herself to be scared off by these hard words, she would have gone away quietly in annoyance. In telling the servants to do whatever He commanded, she proves that she has overcome the rebuff and that she is awaiting nothing but sheer goodness from Him.SL.XI.470,16AE 76, 243PRAYER: We thank you, God, for all the examples of triumphant faith which you have given us for our learning and instruction in your holy Word, like the example of Mary, Christ’s mother. As her faith in you never wavered, so may we at all times trust in your goodness and mercy in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

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 given such people wine or accepted their invitation.In their adornment, also, such people have no consideration for a wedding but to show themselves off, and to prance around as though the strongest are the best. They are loaded with gold, silver, and pearls, and do their best to wear as much silk and fine clothes as possible. Donkeys and blockheads could easily do the same.How, then, is moderation to be determined? Reason should be our pride here. We should follow the example of other lands and cities where such excess is not the order of the day. Each one according to his estate! So also with food and drink and other similar matters. Is it sin to have music and dance at a wedding, seeing that it is claimed that there is much sin in connection with dancing? I do not know whether the Jews danced; but because it is customary among us, just as inviting guests, adornment, eating, and being joyful is customary, I cannot condemn dancing if it does not involve any excess or become lewd. If it involves sin, it is not the fault of the dancing itself. People can sin sitting at table or even in church! So also with eating and drinking. If dancing were sinful, it would have to be denied even to children.SL.XI.467,9AE 76, 241PRAYER: As your children in Christ Jesus, O Lord, you have given us all things for our happiness and enjoyment. In this connection grant us the moderation and a sense of what is fitting and proper, so that our lives may always be happy and joyful in all good conscience. Amen.

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 servants. They also had wine to drink.All this could well have been dispensed with on considerations of poverty, as happens also among us. The guests here at Cana, moreover, did not just allay their thirst with the wine, for the steward of the feast remarks that the good wine should be served first and afterwards “when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine.” John 2:10.Christ lets all this pass, and we should also let it pass and not cause men conscientious scruples on this score. They were not children of the devil, even if some of them exceeded the needs of quenching their thirst and became merry. Otherwise you will have to reckon it as a fault in Christ that He was the cause of this with His gift, and also His mother who requested it. Eventually we will reach the position that both Christ and His mother were sinners here if the saints who can only see what is sour are to judge the matter.SL.XI.466,8AE 76, 241PRAYER: Preserve us from a judgmental spirit, O God, which sees nothing but sin in what our fellowmen are doing, and overlooks the fact that your children are not only permitted to rejoice, but commanded to rejoice in Christ their Savior. Amen.

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 the wedding celebrations. The bride and bridegroom must be suitably adorned, and the guests must eat and drink and be joyful. Provisions may be supplied and usual procedures followed with a good conscience.Scripture often refers to these matters with approval. Mention is made in the Gospels of the bride’s adornment, the marriage garment, the guests, and the good fare at the wedding. Even the Old Testament sets forth examples with approval. Abraham’s servant gave Rebekah, Isaac’s bride, jewelry of silver and of gold as well as raiment (Genesis 24:53).We should never pay too much attention to the hypocrites and self-made saints with their sour looks who are pleased with nothing except what they themselves teach, and will not even suffer a bride to wear a garland or any other adornment.SL.XI.466,7AE 76, 240PRAYER: O Lord, we thank and praise you for all the joys and pleasures which you have given us to make us happy here on earth. We pray for your grace to enable us to enjoy these things, following the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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 never accorded to any of the Pharisees. In this way He confirms marriage as a work and ordinance of God. No matter how despised it is, or regarded as insignificant by men in general, God nevertheless recognizes His work and is pleased with it.Because the estate of holy matrimony can rest on the comforting fact that God has established it and is pleased with it, and because Christ Himself honors it for our consolation, all men should really be pleased with it. They should regard it as an honorable estate and be very favorably inclined to it, being sure that God is well pleased with it.They should also be ready joyfully to endure everything that is difficult in this estate, even if matters sometimes seem worse than they actually are. It is an estate which practices and cultivates faith in God and love towards one’s neighbor by means of trouble and toil, unpleasantness, the cross, and disagreeableness of all kinds. All these are not uncommon experiences where God’s Word and work are taken seriously.SL.XI.464,3-4AE 76, 238PRAYER: Lord God, heavenly Father, in many ways and places you have taught us that holy matrimony is an estate well-pleasing to you and to be honored by all men. Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus, for the striking way you honored this holy estate at the wedding in Cana, giving us strong encouragement to follow your holy example in this respect. Amen.

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 our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4.Here he states that the Scriptures are comforting and give patience and consolation. There is nothing else that comforts the soul more, even in the slightest temptations. For anything else whereby a man seeks consolation for himself, however great it may be, is quite uncertain. For the heart always has the nagging feeling: “Who knows whether it is right? O that I could be quite sure!” When the heart clings to God’s Word, it can say without any wavering: “This is God’s Word; it cannot lie to me or mislead me. Of that I am certain.”The greatest struggle in which we must engage is to keep the Word and remain steadfast in it. If this Word is torn from a man’s heart, he is lost.SL.XI.441,29PRAYER: Grant us steadfastness of faith, O Lord, so that the precious Word of salvation which you have made known to us in Christ, our Savior, may never be torn from our hearts, and that we may continue in it until all our hopes are fully realized in Christ. Amen

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 to build on men or to put our confidence in men.Even the saints make mistakes. We read that, something like eighteen years after the ascension of Christ (Acts 15), the apostles and the group of those who were Christian came together in Jerusalem. The question to be decided was: Should one compel the Gentiles coming into the church to be circumcised? Some of the leaders of the party of the Pharisees who had become believers came forward and said that the Gentiles should be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses. Much strife ensued and many were in danger of accepting this viewpoint.Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James opposed this suggestion. Peter in particular said: God has given His Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, who received the Gospel by my mouth, just as He did to us, and made no difference between them and us but cleansed their hearts by faith. If then, they received the Holy Spirit without being circumcised, why do you want to bind them in addition and impose a yoke on their necks which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? We believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as they will. Acts 15:7-11SL.XI.439,23AE 76, 206PRAYER: We thank you, Lord, for the gift of full and free justification in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Grant us at all times fully to understand and appreciate all that you have done for us in your Son. Keep us always fully reliant on your grace in Christ, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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 have made decisions, and that the holy fathers have taught in accordance with their will, but I do not rely on such decisions. If they grant me this, we will soon be one. I will retain my freedom and they can decide and set up whatever they will, but let me say, “If it pleases me, I accept it; but I do not accept it as though I were doing something precious thereby.”They will not grant this, for it will never satisfy them that such procedure should be a matter of freedom. They always look for the addition that one should rest one’s confidence on these decisions and derive consolation from them just as though one were trusting Christ and the Holy Spirit in this whole matter. We must never abide this false delusion and confidence which they try to inculcate, namely, that it is a good work to accept their decisions and a sin to reject them.SL.XI.437,21PRAYER: Thanks and praise be to you, dear Father in heaven, for giving us the precious gift of your holy Word, in which you have revealed all that a man should know for his salvation in and through Christ our Savior. Amen.

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, or what Jerome, Augustine, and other holy fathers have written. One must point to a definite place where Christ can be found and none other, namely, the place which He Himself indicates when He says, “I must be in my Father’s house.” One will find Him nowhere else than in God’s Word.One should not receive what the holy fathers teach in such a way that one trusts it with one’s whole conscience and seeks comfort in it. If someone therefore asks you, “Shall I not trust the holy fathers?”, you can answer: Christ did not suffer Himself to be found among His kinsfolk and acquaintances.It would be a good thing for us Christians to take good note of this example from this Gospel and make a kind of proverb out of it to be used against all doctrine which is not God’s Word.SL.XI.435,15AE 76, 199PRAYER: Your Word, O Lord, is the rock of our salvation because it points us to Christ our one and only Savior. We thank you, Lord, for all the comfort and consolation in Jesus Christ, which you have so freely conferred upon us through your Word. Amen.

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 strong in spirit they could eventually have such confidence in themselves that they think they are capable of accomplishing everything in their own strength and power. God sometimes allows their faith to be found wanting, and to suffer an eclipse, so that they may realize who they are and say, “Even if I want to believe, I cannot.” In this way God humbles His saints and holds them to their own knowledge.Nature and reason are always keen on falling upon God’s gifts and clinging to them as though they were attainable by man’s own abilities. God must deal with us in such a way that we realize that He must put faith into our hearts. We have no way of influencing Him to do this.Fear of God and confidence in God must always be closely related for us. Both of these relationships must remain decisive for our lives, so that a man does not become presumptuous and too secure, and eventually come to rely upon himself. This is one reason why God allows temptations to come upon His saints.SL.XI.433,9AE 76,PRAYER: Lord God, our loving, heavenly Father, we know that all things, even trials and temptations, work together for our good. Bring us safely through all trials and temptations, thus strengthening our faith as your children in and through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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 feels that we have lost Him, and then flounders and loses courage, so that our confidence sinks, the result is wretched distress.Even if our conscience cannot recall any particular sins it is still in such wretched condition that it thinks, “Who knows if God really wants me?” just as Mary begins to have her doubts (Luke 2:41-51), so that she no longer knows whether God still wants her as a mother. When the heart receives such blows it is inclined to say, “It is true that hitherto God has given you a fine faith; but perhaps He wants to take your faith from you and no longer have you.” It requires a strong faith to withstand such knocks, and there are not many whom God assails in this way. But we must prepare ourselves so that we do not despair if this should happen to us.SL.XI.432,7AE 76,PRAYER: Heavenly Father, strengthen our faith through your Word and Sacraments, that we may successfully overcome all trials and temptations we may meet in life, and stand firm and steadfast in the confidence that we are always more than conquerors in and through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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, as He does also in the case of others. And so on earth she also had to suffer her share of misfortune, pain, and sorrow.The first distress that came upon her was that she had to give birth at Bethlehem, a strange place, in which there was no room for herself and her child except in a stable. Soon after this, when the time of her purification was past (Luke 2:22), she had to flee with her child into a foreign country, into Egypt, a small comfort for her under the circumstances. She probably experienced many blows of the same kind which have not been recorded.Here, too, the Lord laid a similar misfortune upon her when her Son stole off into the temple and she had to search for Him for so long without finding Him. This gave her a terrible shock and grieved her so much that she exclaimed: “Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” We can well imagine that her heart was ready to admit, “The child is mine alone, as I well know. God gave Him to me with instructions that I should look after Him. How has it come to pass that I have lost Him? It is my fault for failing to look after Him well enough.”SL.XI.430,2-3AE 76,192PRAYER: O Lord, you have clearly told us in your Word that you chasten all whom you love for the betterment and well-being. You did not even spare your handmaiden, Mary. Let us not despair when your chastening comes upon us, but open the eyes of our faith so that we may also readily see “the way of escape” [1 Corinthians 10:13] that we may be able to bear it. Amen.

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 real meaning of the Sacrament, namely, that it contained for us words of comfort and salvation, to strengthen our conscience, to refresh us, to make us joyful and to free us from all misfortunes.This is how one should regard the Sacrament, a source of the sweetest grace, consolation, and life. It is poison and death for those who rush into it in a brazen manner, without feeling any kind of weakness, shortcoming, or need which should impel them to seek the Sacrament, and who act as though they were previously quite pure and pious The Sacrament is for those who recognize their shortcomings and failings, who know in themselves that they are far from perfect piety, but who have the keen desire to improve.So much depends here on the recognition of our real condition and our real needs, for we are all subject to weaknesses and are sinners, but we do not all confess this. This is enough about preparation for the Sacrament and strengthening our faith through the words of the Sacrament, that we here receive Christ’s body and blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins. Through these words the benefit, fruit, and practice of the Sacrament are adequately indicated and expressed, as far as we are to make use of it for ourselves.SL.XI.595,22-23PRAYER: Heavenly Father, refresh us, strengthen us in body and soul, and make us really joyful Christians in the use of your Holy Supper, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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 speaks here, the light which through the Gospel shines forth throughout the whole world and gives light to all men who arise and desire Him. But who are these sleepers and dead men? Without a doubt they are all those who are in subjection under the Law, for they are all dead through sin. They also include those who are dead, who disregard the Law and live a free life without the restraints of the Law. The work-righteous are the sleepers who do not feel any shortcomings at all. Neither of these two groups pays much attention to the Gospel. They keep on in their sleep and a life which is nothing but death. The Spirit must awaken them so that they see and recognize the light. There is a third group who feel the Law biting their conscience; they also long for grace and sigh for the Gospel; they also see to it that the Gospel comes and is given to men; they proclaim it, like Isaiah, to awake the sleepers and those who are dead so that they may accept the light. SL.XII.288,4-5AE 76,71PRAYER: Shine in our hearts, O Lord, with true Epiphany light, that we, through this light, may at all times be a true light in this world to all our fellowmen. Amen.

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 Sacrament really have their intended effect upon you. This takes place when you feel the bite of sin and your conscience troubles you with temptation from your flesh, the world, and the devil. You may be subject to bouts of anger and impatience; covetousness and the cares of this life may assail you. Offenses continually cross your path and at times you even fall in a rather gross manner, doing harm to the welfare of your soul.You also experience how you are nothing more than a poor, wretched, human being whom death terrifies; you become despondent and all joy disappears. On such occasions it is high time for you to come before God with an open confession of your needs saying, “Dear Lord, you have instituted the Sacrament of your body and blood and left it to us as testament in which we may find the forgiveness of sins. I know full well that I need this Sacrament. I have fallen into sin, and I have my fears; there are even times when hopes are rather dim. I am not at all bold in the confession of your Word, and there are always so many besetting weaknesses. So I now approach your throne of grace in the Sacrament looking for healing, consolation, and strengthening.”SL.XI.594,20PRAYER: You have given us many invitations to come to you in all our needs, dear heavenly Father. Strengthen us especially when we turn to you in repentance, and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of the body and blood of your Son our Savior. Amen.

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 and be quite sure that they contain the treasure on which you are to take your stand and place your reliance, for they are spoken to you individually. Jesus speaks of His body which is given and His blood which is shed (Matthew 26:26, 28). Why does He speak in this way? That you should do nothing but eat and drink here? No! Note very carefully how He adds: “for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). This is the point which really concerns you. Everything else that is done and spoken in this connection is calculated to emphasize the central fact that your sins are forgiven you in this Sacrament. If the Sacrament is to serve you in regard to the forgiveness of sins, it must also help to conquer death. For where sin is wiped out, death is also wiped out, and hell as well. Where these three foes are vanquished, all our misfortunes are removed, and nothing but salvation and eternal blessedness remains for us.SL.XI.594,19PRAYER: O Lord, may Your body and blood given and shed for us on the cross, and now offered to us in the holy Sacrament, always be a pledge and seal of the forgiveness of sins, for Your name’s sake. Amen.

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 blood shed for us. We are also told to celebrate the Sacrament in remembrance of Christ. There was a time when the clergy forbade the laity to interpret the Word of God, and even denied them the right and ability to do so. But the laity have the same God and the same Word of God as the clergy. When it comes to the things that are to be believed, the layman has only one course to follow—to take his stand on the clear Word of God, to defend his faith with the clear Word of God, and to refute all doctrine that is contrary to God’s Word with the clear Word of God. Every layman has the right to interpret the Word of God for himself, and to hold fast to the clear Word of God against all gainsayers. In the words of institution, the evangelist says that Jesus took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to His disciples saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27‒28). So we say: Unless we can be taught that drinking here means something quite different from what it has meant everywhere else in the world, we stick to the opinion that all should drink of the cup in the Sacrament, just as all should eat of the bread.SL.XI.592,17PRAYER: We thank You, O God, for the clarity with which You have revealed Your plan of salvation to us and also for the simple language in which You have taught us that the Holy Supper is one of Your chief means of grace. Continue to bless us and strengthen our faith through Your means of grace, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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 attached the most costly adornment, jewels, and gems, every kind of virtue, grace, wisdom, truth, righteousness, and whatever else there is in Christ. Little wonder that Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15St. Peter joins him when he speaks of “his precious and very great promises.” 2 Peter 1:4. This is Joseph’s many-colored robe which his father made for him in preference to all his other children (Genesis 37:3), for Christ alone is full of grace and truth. This is likewise the special garment of the high priest Aaron in which he served God and on which we could say a great deal.Just as we put on Christ and receive Him as our own, so He also puts us on and receives us to Himself with all that is ours, as though we were His own possession. He finds nothing good in us because we are full of sins. These He takes upon Himself and drives them from us.SL.XII.267,55AE 76,21PRAYER: O Lord, bless us richly in and through your Word, that our hearts may be filled with real joy and happiness and become the dwelling of your Holy Spirit, for Christ our Savior’s sake. Amen.

THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS XILESSON: EPHESIANS 1:11-14He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30It is quite certain that Christ has been given to us so that all His righteousness, and also all that He has and is, stands before us as though He is our very own possession. He who believes this will also experience, it, just as St. Paul said, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?” Romans 8:32. Likewise, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30.So, you see, he who believes in Christ in this way, puts Him on. Faith, therefore, is such an important matter that it saves such a man and justifies him; for faith brings him all the blessing of Christ on which the conscience can comfort itself and rely.Such a man also becomes joyful in Christ, and happy to do all good and avoid what is evil. He fears neither death nor hell, nor any evil, and is richly clothed in Christ.Hereby a full satisfaction is also rendered to the Law, and such a man is never under the subjection of the Law. For he has also received the Holy Spirit with the garment in his soul: he is clothed with God’s adoption and so he is God’s child.SL.XII.266,53AE 76,20PRAYER: Thanks and praise be to you, O God, for the fullness and riches of your mercy and grace in Christ, and not least for the earnest of your Spirit in my soul, assuring me that I am, indeed, your beloved child. Amen.

THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS XLESSON: COLOSSIANS 3:12-17Put on Christ. Galatians 3:27What is meant by “putting on Christ”? The unbelievers have a ready answer here. They say it means following Christ and measuring up to His example. But in this way I could also put on St. Peter, Paul, and other saints, and putting on Christ would have no special significance at all. Therefore we let faith speak here, which Paul delightfully describes under the idea of “putting on.”It is obvious that those baptized have not previously followed Christ, but begin to follow Christ in baptism. Therefore Christ must be “put on” before one follows Him. “Putting on Christ” must be something quite different from following Him.“Putting on Christ” is a spiritual matter. It comes to pass when the soul puts on Christ and all His righteousness, takes confidence in and relies upon that righteousness. This is just as though the soul itself had achieved all this and merited it. It is just like a man putting on his clothes. Such a putting on of Christ is a spiritual matter.SL.XII.266,52AE 76,20PRAYER: We thank you, Lord, for your wonderful means of grace, and especially that you accepted us as your dear children in baptism, in which we have put on Christ and all that He is and means to us as our Savior. Amen.

THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS IXLESSON: ROMANS 6:1-4Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:23-27The Apostle Paul observes an excellent flow of thought in this context. He says, “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian.” Why so? “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” How does it come to pass that we become God’s children? “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”Christ is God’s child. Therefore, he who clothes himself in God’s child, is also God’s child, for he steps forth as God’s adopted child, which certainly makes him God’s child. If he is God’s child, he is not under the subjection of the Law, in the position of an abject slave, but free. When we put on Christ in baptism His righteousness becomes our righteousness, and thus all the claims that the Law can make on us are fulfilled, and we are now God’s free children in Christ.SL.XII.265,51AE 76,15PRAYER: In your mercy and peace, O Lord, you have freed us from the curse of the Law and made us your free children in Christ. For this we praise and thank you, and ask your grace so that we may always serve you in the freedom wherewith you have made us free. Amen.

THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - NEW YEARLESSON: GALATIANS 3:23-29In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:26The reason why St. Paul always stresses the need of faith in Christ is because he knew that men would have the presumption actually to suggest that man can have dealings with God outside of Christ, just as if God and our human nature were quite good friends, and as though righteousness were quite fond of sin and gave ear to the promptings of sin. Therefore, let us be wise and recognize Christ aright, namely, that before all else we should hear the Gospel and believe.Christ is set forth in the Gospel not just for His sake, as an exalted character, but because He is the man who took the place of our sinful nature, loaded Himself with the whole wrath of God, that wrath which we merited despite all our works, and rendered it satisfaction. All who believe that they have this in and from Him will certainly be saved through Him from the same wrath of God, and obtain His grace.From this we should learn what great need we have of Christ, and of what great use He is to us. Moreover, the idea that a man can do all this for himself, and that God’s grace is given him by his natural powers, is a lie of the devil himself. For if nature can obtain grace there is no need of Christ as a substitute and a mediator.SL.XII.265, 50AE 76,3PRAYER: Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus, for all that you took upon yourself as our substitute and mediator. We know only too well that without you we can do nothing. Amen.

THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS VIILESSON: PSALM 43He [John the Baptist] was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. John 1:8The Gospel endures no other doctrine beside itself; it simply wants to be a witness to Christ and lead men to this light, namely Christ. Therefore these words, “He was not the light,” are worthy of being written in large letters and carefully noted against those men who push themselves forward and want to enlighten men with their own doctrines and self-made laws. Reject anyone who does not preach the Gospel and give him no kind of hearing.He who teaches you to believe in Christ and to put your trust in the eternal Light, without building on any of your own works, is preaching the Gospel. Hence, be on your guard against everything you are told that is outside of the Gospel. Do not rely on it, and do not regard it as a light which enlightens and improves your soul, but regard it as something external, like eating and drinking for the needs of the body, that you can make use of according to your will or to please another, but not for your salvation. In regard to the latter, nothing is useful or necessary for you apart from this Light.What a horrible thing is the doctrine of men, now rampant, which has actually banished this Light! Men themselves want to be this Light, and not witnesses of the Light! They are silent about it, or teach it in such a way that they are prominent, close beside it.Being silent is even worse than denying, for from this procedure Samaritans are shown as serving God and idols at one and the same time (2 Kings 17:33).SL.XI.184,81-84AE 75,300PRAYER: Reign in our heart and reign there supreme, O Lord, so that we fully and completely believe your saving Gospel with all our heart, that Christ’s light may at all times lead and direct us in the way of your choice. Amen.

THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS VILESSON: JOHN 12:35,36The life was the light of men. John 1:4The thinking of human philosophy draws us away from Christ into ourselves. The evangelist wants to draw us away from ourselves to Christ. He refuses to deal with the divine, almighty, eternal Word of God and to speak about Him, except in the flesh and blood in which He walked here on earth.He does not want to disperse us among the creatures created by Him, so that we should follow after Him, search for Him, and speculate about Him, as the Platonist do; he wants to gather us from the same wide-ranging and fleeting thoughts to Christ.It is as though he said: Why do you step forth and search so widely? In Christ, the man, there is everything. He has accomplished all. In Him is life. He is the Word through which all things were made. Remain in Him and you will find everything. He is life and the light of all men. Anyone who tells you to look elsewhere for Him is misleading you. For He has given Himself to us in this flesh and blood, and He wants us to search for Him and find Him in this flesh and blood. Follow the witness of John the Baptist who points you to no other life or light than this man who is God Himself.This light must, therefore, be understood as being the true light of grace – Christ – and not the natural light which sinners, Jews, heathen, and the worst enemies of light, also have.SL.XI.171,44AE 75,290PRAYER: Thou only art true life;To know Thee is to liveThe more abundant lifeThat earth can never give.O risen Lord, we live in TheeAnd Thou in us eternally. Amen.

THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS -CHRISTMAS VLESSON: ROMANS 5:6-11In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4The evangelist says, “In him was life,” as though he were speaking of something in the past, and not, “In him is life.” But this must not be understood as a reference to the time before the world or the beginning. For the evangelist does not say here, “In the beginning there was life in him,” as he says just prior to this, “He was in the beginning with God.”One must refer this to the time of Christ’s life or sojourn on earth, when the Word of God manifested Himself to men and among men. It is the evangelist’s intention to write about Christ and His life, during which He accomplished all that was needed for us to have life: “In him was life.” Jesus Himself said: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5We should understand the evangelist’s statements to refer simply to the time of Christ here on earth. This Gospel is not as difficult as is sometimes supposed. Men have made it difficult with their lofty, deep, and powerful researches. The evangelist wrote it for all Christians, however simple they may be, and he set forth his word in a manner that is quite comprehensible.If someone simply disregarded Christ’s life and sojourn here on earth and tried to find by his own resources that He is now sitting in heaven, he would be sadly mistaken. We must seek Him as He was and sojourned here on earth. Then we will find life, for He came to bring us life, light, and salvation. During this life on earth, all was accomplished that we should believe concerning Him, so that John declares most emphatically, “In him was life,” not the He is not now our life and that He does not now do what He did then.SL.XI.169-170,40-41AE 75,286PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, shine into our hearts with the light of your truth and be the true light of our life, for your truth’s sake. Amen.

THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS IVLESSON: 1 John 1:1-4He was in the beginning with God. John 1:2These are statements on which our faith is based and to which we must cling. That there are three persons in the Godhead and that each person is completely the whole of the one God absolutely transcends all the powers of our reason. Moreover, there are not three Gods, but one God.Our schoolmasters, with all sorts of fine-spun subtleties, explained it this and that way in an effort to make it comprehensible. But if you do not want to fall into the net of the evil foe, have nothing to do with their foolish refinements, conceits, and subtleties; take cover and remain in hiding like a hare in his stone crevice. If you go abroad and expose yourself to their human twaddle, the enemy will lead you on and finally trip you up so that you do not know where reason, faith, God, and you yourself eventually are.Believe me, as one who has experienced this and struggled with it, I am not just talking rote. Scripture has not been given to us to no purpose. If reason could have given us correct guidance we would have no need for Scripture.Let Arius and Sabellius* be warning examples. Had they been content to abide with the Scriptures and not sold out to reason they would not have been the cause of so much trouble. Our schoolmasters, too, would also have been Christian had they given up their tomfoolishness and subtleties and remained in the Scriptures.SL.XI.164,26-27AE 75, 284*An ancient UnitarianPRAYER: Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word;Curb those who fain by craft or swordWould wrest they kingdom from Thy SonAnd set at naught all He has done. Amen.

THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS IIILESSON: JOHN 1:1-14In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1“The Word was with God.” Where else could the Word be? Outside of God there was nothing. Moses also says this when he writes, “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” Genesis 1:3. In order to speak, He had to have the Word with Him.There is a clear distinction made here in the persons of the Godhead: the Word is a different person from the God with whom He was. This statement of John does not allow us to suppose that God was alone, because he states that something was with God, namely, His word.If there has been only a single person there, why would he say, “The Word was with God”? To have something “with” Him is not being alone or by Himself. We should note particularly that the evangelist places special stress on the “with.” He repeats it (v.2) in order to give clear expression to the personal distinction in the Godhead and to counter the arguments of natural reason and future heretics.Since natural reason more easily comprehends the fact that there is only one God and this doctrine is supported by many passages of Scripture and this doctrine is also true, natural reason still finds it very difficult to accept the fact that this same God is more than one person. The Son is a different person from the Father, but He is not a different God.SL.XI.161,21AE 75,277PRAYER: Great indeed, O God, is the mystery of our religion. Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word who was with you at the beginning and who is truly God, was manifested in the flesh to be our Savior and Redeemer. Thanks be to you, O God, for your inexpressible love! Amen.

THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS - CHRISTMAS IILESSON: LUKE 2:15-20They made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child. Luke 2:17The faith of the shepherds produced action. St. Paul says, “The kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20. So also here. The shepherds do not only say, “Let us go and see!” but they actually went; indeed, they do more than they say. For the text says, “They went with haste.” This is more than just going as they had proposed to do. Faith and love always do more than they actually propose to do, and whatever they do is always something living, busy, active, and abundant.A Christian must be a man of few words, rich in deeds. He proves himself such if he is a true Christian. If he does not prove his faith in deeds, he is not yet a true Christian.The shepherds also confess and openly proclaim the word which was told them concerning this child. This is one of the most important duties in Christian life. One must risk body and life, property and honor. For the evil spirit does not launch such a heavy attack against correct belief and a good life in secret, but he will not abide it if we venture forth to spread the faith, confess, preach, and praise it for the sake of others. So Luke says here that the shepherds not only came to see something, but they also made known what they had heard on the field, not only before Mary and Joseph, but before all men.SL.XI.149,18-19AE 75,248PRAYER: Grant us the joyful faith of the shepherds, O Lord, that we may go forth as witnesses, confessing you and your salvation to all our fellowmen. Amen.

CHRISTMAS DAY - CHRISTMASLESSON: LUKE 2:1-14In that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. And that angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11.In a most clear manner the angel proclaims the Gospel besides which nothing else is to be preached in Christendom. He assumes the office of the Word in accordance with the Gospel and says, “I bring you good news.” He does not simply say, “I preach to you,” but, “I bring you the Gospel; I am an evangelist; my word is a Gospel.” Gospel means a good message of joy which shall constitute preaching in the New Testament.Of what does the Gospel treat? Listen to what He says! “I am proclaiming a great joy to you; my Gospel tells you of a great joy.” Where is it? Listen further! “To you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.” See here what the Gospel is, namely, a joyful proclamation of Christ our Savior.SL.XI.132,42-43AE 75,209PRAYER: We thank you, dear Savior, for all the joy of Christmastide and especially for the glorious gospel that you are indeed our Savior, Christ the Lord. Amen.

ADVENT - WEEK 4 - CHRISTMAS EVELESSON: 1 JOHN 3:1-10I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. John 1:23If you can now believe that the voice of John is true, fix your eyes in the way he is pointing and recognize the Lamb of God who is taking your sin upon Himself. You are victorious. You are a Christian, a lord over sin, death, hell, and all things. Your conscience must also be joyful and begin to love the tender Lamb of God, and to love, praise, and thank our heavenly Father for such a boundless richness of mercy preached through John and given in Christ. Then, also, we will become most willing to carry out God’s will as much as we can and with all our strength. What is more comforting and pleasant to hear than the message that our sins are no longer ours or lying upon us but upon the Lamb of God? How can sin condemn such an innocent Lamb? It must be conquered and destroyed in Him. And so, together with sin, death, and hell must also be conquered as the wages of sin.SL.XI.117,53AE 75,186PRAYER: Gentle Jesus, Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, fill us with your love so that we readily do the will of our heavenly Father in the power of your grace. Amen.

THE FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT - TUESDAYLESSON: MALACHI 4:1-6And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, I am not.” John 1:21In the question whether John was Elijah, the Jews were evidently referring to the prophecy of Malachi. I am of the opinion that Malachi had in mind no other Elijah but John, and that there are no grounds for assuming that there would be a return of Elijah the Tishbite who ascended into heaven in a flaming chariot (2 Kings 2:11).The words of the angel Gabriel spoken to Zechariah, John’s father, also support this opinion: “He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” Luke 1:17. In these words one sees that the angel Gabriel is referring to the prophecy of Malachi and quotes the same words of the prophet who also says that Elijah will “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.” Malachi 4:6. Had Malachi prophesied a different Elijah, the angel would certainly not have applied his words to John.He followed the same course with the Virgin Mary when he applied Isaiah’s words to her: “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son.” Isaiah 7:14. These words Gabriel applied to Mary when he said: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.” Luke 1:31.In his work as the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist would be a real Elijah preaching repentance to prepare men for Christ.SL.XI.101,14AE 75,174PRAYER: Thanks and praise be to you, O God, for the great cloud of witnesses who have witnessed to your Son and the salvation you have prepared for us in Him. Amen.

THE FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT - MONDAYLESSON: 1 JOHN 1:5-10He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” John 1:20The confession of John contains two parts: first, that he confesses; secondly, that he does not deny. His confession is the confession of Christ when he says that he is not the Christ. He confessed: “I am not the Christ.” His confession also includes the confession that he is not Elijah or a prophet. When John declares that “he did not deny,” it means that he confessed who he was in stating that he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness and preparing the way of the Lord.His confession is a free confession, which confesses not only what he is not, but also what he is. For that part of a confession in which one confesses what he is not, is still dark and incomplete, and from which it is impossible to know what and how one should think of a man.But here John openly states what one should think of him, as well as what one should not think of him. He leaves no grounds for uncertainty, inasmuch as he confesses that he is not the Christ, and does not deny that he is the voice preceding His coming. Inasmuch as he stands quite firm and confesses what he is, and what he is not, his action is a precious confession before God and no denial.SL.XI.100,10AE 75,174PRAYER: In your mercy and grace, O Lord, give us a clear and certain faith which knows what is right and good in your sight, and acts accordingly without any fear of consequences. Amen.

THE FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT - SUNDAYLESSON: JOHN 1:19-28This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” John 1:19What were the Jews from Jerusalem seeking? Christ tells us when He says, “You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. . . He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” John 5:33,35.From these words it is clear that they wanted to increase their own reputation by making use of John, and they wanted to avail themselves of his “lamp,” that is, his high and famous name, to deck themselves out before the people. For, had John shown them favor and accepted the proffered honor, they would have enhanced their reputation before the whole people as those who were worthy of the friendship and respect of such a great and holy man.What other result could have ensued except that their greed, tyranny, and villainy would have been confirmed as pure holiness and something precious? These men tried to make out of John a Judas Iscariot who would be prepared to justify all their vice and immorality and gain them his approval and the people’s support.Are they not fine manipulators, offering John honor in order to bring his honor upon themselves? They offer him an apple for a kingdom, and try to exchange pennies for dollars. But he stood fast like a rock. SL.XI.99,8-9AE 75,172PRAYER: Give us constancy and steadfastness of faith, O Lord, that we may ever serve you in singleness of heart and stand fast whatever the cost. Amen

THE THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT - SATURDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 18:1-9Blessed is he who takes no offense at me. Matthew 11:6Be on your guard against all and every offense. Who are those who cause offense here? All those who tell you to concentrate on works instead of faith.Such teachers turn Christ into a lawgiver and a judge and will not let Him remain a pure helper and comforter. They plague you with the idea of having dealings with God and for God on the basis of works. They say you must make atonement for your sins to obtain God’s grace. Such people, of whom there are always many in this world, direct you to a different Christ from the one to whom you are pointed in this Gospel. If you want to have true faith and really attain to Christ, you must give up all hope in works as a basis for negotiating with God and before God. Works are all so many offences to keep you away from Christ and God.Before God, no works at all avail except Christ’s own works. These you must plead on your behalf before God, and perform no other work before God but to believe that Christ has performed these works for you and offers them before God on your behalf. Your faith must always remain pure faith, doing nothing and keeping silence, allowing itself to be benefited, accepting Christ’s work and allowing Christ to exercise His love upon you.You must be blind, lame, dead, leprous, and poor or you will become offended in Christ. The Gospel does not lie. Christ permits Himself to be seen only by those who are really in need and bestows His blessings only upon them.SL.XI.94,53AE 75,155PRAYER: O Lord, grant us your grace in full measure, that we learn to entrust ourselves to you alone and are never offended at your humility. Amen.

THE THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT - FRIDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 7:15-27Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” Matthew 11:4-6Our faith is strengthened and improved inasmuch as Christ is set before us in His own simple works. He is simply concerned with the blind, lame, lepers, deaf, the dead, and the poor, and has nothing but pure love and well-doing for all who are poor and needy. In short, Christ is nothing else but a consolation and a refuge for all who have a troubled and weakened conscience.Here there is need of faith that builds on His Gospel and relies on it without any doubt that Christ is just as His Gospel portrays Him. Such faith holds nothing else about Christ and will not suffer any other view to be upheld about Him. And such faith has the Christ in whom it believes and as His Gospel describes Him. For as you believe, you will receive. “Blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”In this way we recognize Christ aright and receive Him in true faith. This is what the Christian faith includes. Those who think that they can render satisfaction to God by their works and become righteous thereby, do not really know the Christ portrayed in this Gospel. If they persist in their mistaken views they will be lost.SL.XI.93,52-53AE 75,153PRAYER: Give us a simple faith, Lord Jesus, that we always believe with our whole hearts that you are our Lord and Savior in the simple manner you have revealed yourself to us in your holy Word. Amen.

THE THIRD WEEK IN ADVENT - THURSDAYLESSON: PSALM 98Christ Jesus our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1The Greek word for Gospel [euaggelion] means “a joyful message” because in it there is proclaimed the salutary doctrine of life by God’s assurance and grace, and the forgiveness of sins is offered us. So the Gospel is not a matter of works, for it is not Law. The Gospel is a matter of faith alone, because it is absolutely nothing but the promise and offer of divine grace.He who believes the Gospel receives grace and the Holy Spirit. As a result of this, the heart becomes joyful and well-pleased with God, and a willing and free obedience to the Law ensues. There is no longer any fear of punishment and the pursuit of meritorious works. The heart is content and satisfied with the grace of God.From the beginning of the world, however, such promises have all been based on Christ. God has not promised such grace to anyone but in Christ and through Christ. Christ is the messenger of divine promise to the whole world. For this purpose He also came into the world and has sent out this promise through the Gospel into all the world. Before His coming He made known this promise through the Prophets. Everything points to Christ and is concluded in Christ. He who does not hear Christ does not hear God’s promise. For just as there is no law outside of Moses and the prophetical Scriptures, so God gives no promise except through Christ alone.SL.XI.84,26-27AE 75,146PRAYER: Thanks be to you, O heavenly Father, that you have conferred your grace and salvation upon us on the certain and sure ground of faith in Christ alone, our one and only hope of eternal life. Amen.