Luther for the Busy Man

EPIPHANY IV - THURSDAY LESSON: HEBREWS 4:14-16 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Matthew 8:27 In the Gospel of the stilling of the tempest (Matthew 8:23-27), we are reminded where to seek consolation and help in the hour of need. This is not available to us in the world; human skill and might offer no protection. Christ alone is the helper...

EPIPHANY IV - WEDNESDAY LESSON: ROMANS 5:1-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4 Must we not declare that faith which can withstand such mighty enemies as death and the devil, and carry off the victory, is something surpassingly great and wonderful? It is, indeed, as John says, “the victory that overcomes the worl...

EPIPHANY IV - TUESDAY LESSON: 1 PETER 5:6-11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 Who can withstand the ragings of the devil with his countless cunning suggestions and insinuations by which he hinders God’s Word, faith and hope, and occasions so many errors and sects, and so much seduction, heresy, despair, and superstition – a...

EPIPHANY IV - MONDAY LESSON: JOHN 15:18-27 Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4 God so arranges matters that our faith is not called upon to concern itself with unimportant matters, but with matter which exceed the competence of all men, matters such as death, sin, the world, and the devil. There is no one in the whole...

EPIPHANY IV - SUNDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 8:23-27 Why are you afraid, O men of little faith? Matthew 8:26 In what does the unbelief of the disciples consist? It sees no more than it feels! Life and safety are no longer in their feelings – there is nothing here but the waves crashing over the ship, and the sea which threatens all kinds of danger and death. While they feel all this, and concern themselve...

EPIPHANY MONDAY LESSON: 1 PETER 3:13‒17   “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10 It is a good thing for us that God so rules and orders matters that the Sacrament should not be without persecution. For He instituted it that it might be a password and distinguishing mark of Christianity whereby we may be recognized. For if w...

LESSON: REVELATION 7:9‒12 Whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4 You cannot train the youth in particular for God’s kingdom without proper schools nor uphold the Word of God without preaching it from the pulpit. If one allows schools and the pulpit to decline and disappear, one can only expect a Sodom and Gomorrah to eve...

LESSON: MATTHEW 10:32‒33 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Those hearts are established and sure which await Christ’s judgment seat joyfully and with a good conscience. For they belong to the group and fellowship of those who believe in Christ, and demonstrate the fruits of...

LESSON: 1 THESSALONIANS 2:11‒13 You are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7 Our Lord, come! 1 Corinthians 16:22 See to it that you are always numbered among those who are good and merciful for Christ’s sake, or suffering for His sake. Then you can await the last day with joy and not be afraid of the judgment. For He has alrea...

LESSON: PSALM 143:7‒12 “Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:34 Why does Jesus use the fifth commandment to assess our works of mercy and to point out how men have failed in this respect?  Those of us who have been called as Christians have obtained mercy through our Lor...

LESSON: MATTHEW 10:40‒42 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at His left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” Matthew 25:40‒41 If such a terrible and drastic condemnation awaits those who have neglected works of love tow...

LESSON: LUKE 19:11‒26 “As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.” Matthew 25:45 What do you think that Christ on His judgment seat will say in all brevity to such an unchristian lack of mercy? This is what He will say: “You want to be called a Christian and you make your boast of the Gospel. Did you never hear this sermon which I Myself preached warning you what My judg...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXVI - SUNDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 25:31‒42 “Men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13:29‒30 In this Gospel, great prominence is given to good works as proof of the possession or absence of true faith. Those on Christ’s right hand at th...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - SATURDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 24:36‒44 “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.” Matthew 24:27 Christ means to say here: “Do not believe it if some attempt is made to make you believe that Christ is limited to this place or that place and someone tries to lead you from faith to works. I warn you not to fa...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - FRIDAY LESSON: LUKE 17:22‒37 “If they say to you, ‘Lo, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:26 At the time of the holy fathers, like Anthony and others, shortly after the time of the apostles, the error of which Christ spoke here had already arisen, although strongly opposed by Anthony. Everyb...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - THURSDAY LESSON: JOHN 6:66‒69 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Christ’s words lie before us plain and clear. We must believe them and let them stand. We cannot get over them, even though the holy angels in heaven opposed them. Is not Christ holier than they a...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - WEDNESDAY LESSON: MARK 13:14‒23 “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 These are choice, earnest, but also terrible words that these preachers of works will push such teaching into the people with such outward glitter and emphasis that even the saints who stand fast i...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - TUESDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 3:10‒14 “If anyone says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:23 We should know and understand this passage and similar ones very well. There have always been those who have tried to gain currency for their ideas of the kingdom of Christ by attaching the Christian Church to external, visible features a...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - SUNDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 24:15‒28 “When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.” Matthew 24:15‒18  I...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXV - MONDAY LESSON: LUKE 19:41‒44 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are. 1 Corinthians 3:16‒17 When Christ ascended into heaven, He did not lock up His kingdom in the land of the Jews; He spread it out into the whole world through th...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXIV - SATURDAY LESSON: TITUS 2:11‒14 He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, . . . through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5‒6 He who wants to have a cheerful conscience which does not fear sin, death, hell, or God’s wrath must not push this Mediator, Christ, out of the way. He is the fountain overflowing with grace who i...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXIV - FRIDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 1:6‒9 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 This week’s Gospel (Matthew 9:18‒26) teaches us that Christ is elevated as the greatest and highest person in the whole world, not to terrify men but that He may be able to bestow all earthly and heavenly blessings upon t...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXIV - THURSDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 3:23‒29 To all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God. John 1:12 If one takes the word in its strict meaning, we should always recognize a Christian from the fact that he receives from Christ alone and has Christ in him, for that is what the term “Christian” basically means. Just as one calls someone...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXIV - WEDNESDAY LESSON: EPHESIANS 4:11‒16 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4‒5 Christ is set before us in this Gospel (Ma...

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XXIV - TUESDAY LESSON: PSALM 145:8‒13 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them. Matthew 9:36 In this Gospel (Matthew 9:18‒26), Christ is pictured to us as mingling with the people and drawing all men to Himself by His sweet doctrine. They could really have clung to Him with their whole hearts and entrusted themselves to His goodness with high hopes of receiving both s...