Luther for the Busy Man

EPIPHANY III - FRIDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 6:5-15 Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. Matthew 8:2 This 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 t...

EPIPHANY III - THURSDAY LESSON; COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 Only say the word, and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:8 We 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...

EPIPHANY III - WEDNESDAY LESSON: 1 JOHN 3:11-18 No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12 I 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.’” Psa...

EPIPHANY III - TUESDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 2:11-16 We hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Romans 3:28 You 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 e...

EPIPHANY III - MONDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 1:6-9 Continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Colossians 1:23 The 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...

EPIPHANY III - SUNDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 8:1-13 A leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2 See 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...

EPIPHANY II - SATURDAY LESSON: MARK 8:31-35 Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?” John 2:4 We 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...

EPIPHANY II - FRIDAY LESSON: ROMANS 8:31-39 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him. Romans 8:28 The 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...

EPIPHANY II - THURSDAY LESSON: HEBREWS 12:1-4 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6 There 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 attitud...

EPIPHANY II - WEDNESDAY LESSON: ROMANS 14:5-12 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 The 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 be...

EPIPHANY II - TUESDAY LESSON: GALATIANS 5:22-25 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 God 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 cle...

EPIPHANY II - MONDAY LESSON: COLOSSIANS 1:9-14 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exalt in my God. Isaiah 61:10 In 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 se...

EPIPHANY II - SUNDAY LESSON: JOHN 2:1-11 On 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 2:1,2 It 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 hav...

EPIPHANY I - SATURDAY LESSON: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-17 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 In 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 ex...

EPIPHANY I - FRIDAY LESSON: ROMANS 3:21-26 He 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 3:5-7 We should never place our confiden...

EPIPHANY I - THURSDAY LESSON: JOHN 8:31-33 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. John 17:17 This 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 reser...

EPIPHANY I - WEDNESDAY LESSON: PSALM 119:97-104 And 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 2:49 I 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...

EPIPHANY I - TUESDAY LESSON: PSALM 94:12-15 My 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 12:5,6 Trials, chastenings, and temptations come upon us so that our faith may be exercised and become stronger and stronger. God especially arranges matters...

EPIPHANY I - MONDAY LESSON: JAMES 1:12-15 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8 When 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 co...

EPIPHANY I - SUNDAY LESSON: LUKE 2:41-52 When 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 2:48 Although 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, t...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - SATURDAY LESSON: PSALM 97 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 When 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 ta...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - FRIDAY LESSON: MATTHEW 2:1-12 Arise, 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 dea...

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY - THURSDAY LESSON: HEBREWS 9:11-14 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Concentrate 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...

EPIPHANY WEDNESDAY LESSON: HEBREWS 10:19‒25 The blood of Jesus His [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 We 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...

EPIPHANY TUESDAY LESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23‒25 The 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 10:16 Christ’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 th...