Luther’s Works, Volume 14

by Martin Luther; Jaroslav Pelikan; Hilton C. Oswald; Helmut T. Lehmann

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 1958

Overview

The commentaries contained in this volume show conclusively that Luther achieved great things in the field of Biblical scholarship. Luther’s language is simple and always to the point. He curries to no one’s favor as he goes to the heart of the sixteen psalms expounded in this volume. His attention to the texts is “personal, devotional, political, exegetical, polemical—all at the same time,” writes Jaroslav Pelikan. His commentaries contain many references and allusions to errors and false practices prevalent in his time, but after the lapse of more than four centuries the commentaries still have the quality of timelessness. Both clergy and laity will profit much—spiritually as well as intellectually—from Luther’s incisive and straightforward words.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Nor is anyone without transgression, as God clearly sees in all of us. Blessed, however, are those whose sin He covers, does not see, does not remember, does not want to know about, but completely forgives by grace. They are those who do not cover, remit, forgive, and forget their sins themselves. They look at, recognize, remember, and judge them.” (Volume 14, Page 148)

“It is God’s nature to make something out of nothing; hence one who is not yet nothing, out of him God cannot make anything. Man, however, makes something else out of that which exists; but this has no value whatever. Therefore God accepts only the forsaken, cures only the sick, gives sight only to the blind, restores life only to the dead, sanctifies only the sinners, gives wisdom only to the unwise. In short, He has mercy only on those who are wretched, and gives grace only to those who are not in grace. Therefore no proud saint, no wise or righteous person, can become God’s material, and God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled in him. He remains in his own work and makes a fictitious, pretended, false, painted saint of himself, that is, a hypocrite.” (Volume 14, Page 163)

“That is: ‘I will rebuke myself; then God will praise me. I will degrade myself; then God will honor me. I will accuse myself; then God will acquit me. I will speak against myself; then God will speak for me. I will speak of my guilt; then He will speak about my merit, as he did to Mary Magdalene in the house of Simon the leper (Luke 7:44–47).’” (Volume 14, Pages 150–151)

“But because this is the wisdom of the cross, God alone knows the way of the righteous. It is hidden even to the righteous; for His right hand leads them in such a wonderful way that it is not the way of the senses or of reason but of faith alone, which is able to see even in darkness and behold the invisible.” (Volume 14, Page 309)

Product Details

• Title: Luther’s Works, Volume 14
• Authors: Martin Luther, Jaroslav Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald, Helmut T. Lehmann
• Series: Luther’s Works
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
• Print Publication Date: 1958
• Logos Release Date: 2001
• Era: era:reformation
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Psalms › Commentaries; Bible › Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History; Lutheran Church; Theology › Early works to 1800
• Resource ID: LLS:42.110.114
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-30T21:06:32Z