The following is taken from the Church Postil of Martin Luther. J. N. Lenker, editor and translator, gives this note: “This sermon appeared in 1535 under the title: ‘A Beautiful Christian consolation in all kinds of suffering and trial from the 8th chapter of Romans, with the explanation of the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity. Preached by Dr. Martin Luther.'”
Paragraphs 5-7 of this sermon are excerpted below. It may be read in its entirety here.
Christ does not here teach us to become pious and just through our works, but admonishes those who were already pious and just, that they be merciful like their Father in heaven, so that the heathen may thereby become better, and that thus unbelievers may be kindly enticed to become converted and edified, not only by preaching, but also by the merciful and blameless lives and good conduct of the good and just.
In the same sense St. Paul also teaches in 1 Corinthians 7:13: “And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave [her husband],” as long as he will permit her to remain a Christian. Because it can so happen that the man may be influenced by the virtue of his Christian wife to become converted and say: “I see by my wife, that Christians are good people; therefore I also want to be a Christian.”
Thus we also read of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, who had a strange and wonderful husband, who besides was also a heathen. But what did she do? She so conducted herself toward him that he did her no wrong. Other Christian wives were very much astonished at this, and went to her and complained about their husbands, that they could not do anything to please them, although they were Christians, and yet they were scolded and beaten by them; therefore they questioned her how she treated her husband, who, as every one knew, was not only a wonderful man, but a heathen also, and yet he never beat her.
Such favor they could not expect from their husbands, although they were not heathen, but Christians.
Kindhearted Monica answered them and said:
I fear you give your husbands cause for doing this. If you were subject to them and would not clamor back, or especially when they begin to be strangely cruel, if you would not answer back, but be patient, submit and obey them, and with friendly words appease them, you would, of course, not be beaten. For thus I am accustomed to treat my husband; when my lord scolds, I pray; if he is angry, I avoid him, or return kind words; in this way I have not only put down his anger, but I have also brought him so far that he is converted and has become a Christian.
Behold, the beautiful fruit that followed this conduct, because kind Monica was merciful toward her husband, and did not condemn and judge him. Thus it can often take place, as St. Paul says, that an unbelieving husband or wife may become converted through the one who believes.
Thus, says Christ here, should you Christians also do, because you are children of grace and peace, not of anger and discord, and are also called to inherit the blessing. Therefore you should also bring the blessing among the people, first by your preaching and public confession, and after that also by your good outward conduct, so that when the unbelievers judge and condemn you, treat you unmercifully and rob you, you will be merciful to them, and not avenge yourselves, but give and forgive, and besides help, love and bless them, and speak the best things of them before God and the world; that they may also observe by your good conduct that you are pious and blameless people, who do not only suffer evil, but also return good for evil. By this you will obtain a good name among the heathen, and be estimable and honorable in my sight, who art your Lord and God.
So far Dr. Luther.
Listen to the Church Postil every week on Telegram here and YouTube here. The Boniface Group has no formal affiliation with Schola Audio . . . but we know a good thing when we hear it.
After the Small and Large Catechisms of Dr. Martin Luther, the Church Postil should be at the top of the list for anyone who wants to acquaint themselves with Lutheran spirituality. See some other recommendations here.
+SDG+
Thank you for reading. The Boniface Group is the mission society of Holy Trinity Ev.-Lutheran Church of Gem County. If you would like to support our work, you may do so here. To learn more, visit our homepage and start reading from the top. Thank you, and God bless you.
✠
The Boniface Group 