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Of Faith & UnbeliefA Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany; Matthew 8:23-27by
Martin Luther; taken from his Church Postil of 1525.
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[The
following sermon is taken from volume II:92-99 of The Sermons
of Martin Luther, published by Baker Book House (Grand Rapids,
MI). It was originally published in 1906 in english by Lutherans
in All Lands Press (Minneapolis, MN), as The Precious and Sacred
Writings of Martin Luther, vol. 11. The pagination from the Baker
edition has been maintained for referencing. This e-text was
scanned and edited by Richard Bucher, it is in the public domain
and it may be copied and distributed without restriction.] Page
92 --------------------------- I.
OF FAITH AND UNBELIEF. 1.
This Gospel, as a narrative, gives us an example of faith and
unbelief, in order that we may learn how mighty the power of
faith is, and that it of necessity has to do with great and terrible
things and that it accomplishes nothing but wonders; and that
on the other hand unbelief is so fainthearted, shamefaced and
trembling with fear that it Page
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do nothing whatever. An illustration of this we see in this experience
of the disciples, which shows the real state of their hearts.
First, as they in company with Christ entered the ship, all was
calm and they experienced nothing unusual, and had any one asked
them them if they believed, they would have answered, Yes. But
they were not conscious of how their hearts trusted in the calm
sea and the signs for fair weather, and that thus their faith
was founded upon what their natural eyes saw. But when the tempest
comes and the waves fill the boat, their faith vanishes; because
the calm and peace in which they trusted took wings and flew
away, therefore they fly with the calm and peace, and nothing
is left but unbelief. 2.
But what is this unbelief able to do? It sees nothing but what
it experiences. It does not experience life, salvation and safety;
but instead the waves coming into the boat and the sea threatening
them with death and every danger. And because they experience
these things and give heed to them and turn not their fear from
them, trembling and despair can not be suppressed. Yea, the more
they see and experience it the harder death and despair torment
them and every moment threatens to devour them. But unbelief
cannot avoid such experiences and cannot think otherwise even
for a second. For it has nothing besides to which it can hold
and comfort itself, and therefore it has no peace or rest for
a single minute. And thus will it also be in perdition, where
there will be nothing but despair, trembling and fear, and that
without end. 3.
But had they had faith, it would have driven the wind and the
waves of the sea out of their minds, and pictured before their
eyes in place of the wind and tempest the power and grace of
God, promised in his Word; and it would have relied upon that
Word, as though anchored to an immovable rock and would not float
on the water, and as though the sun shined brightly and all was
calm and no storm was raging. For it is the great characteristic
and power of faith to see what is not visible, and not to see
Page
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is visible, yea, that which at the time drives and oppresses
us; just as unbelief can see only what is visible and can not
in the least cleave to what is invisible. 4.
Therefore God bestows faith to the end that it should deal not
with ordinary things, but with things no human being can master
as death, sin, the world and Satan. For the whole world united
is unable to stand before death, but flees from and is terrified
by it, and is also conquered by it; but faith stands firm, opposes
death that devours everything, and triumphs over it and even
swallows the unsatiable devourer of life. In like manner no one
can control or subdue the flesh, but it reigns everywhere in
the world, and what it wills must be done, so that the whole
world thereby is carnal; but faith lays hold of the flesh and
subdues and bridles it, so that it must become a servant. And
in like manner no one can endure the rage, persecution, and blasphemy,
infamy, hatred and envy of the world; every one retreats and
falls back exhausted before it, it gets the upper hand over all
and triumphs; and if they are without faith it mocks them besides
and treads all under its feet, and takes pleasure and delight
in doing so. 5.
Further, who could conquer Satan with his innumerable, subtle
suggestions and temptations, by which he hinders the truth and
God's Word, faith and hope, and starts so many false doctrines,
sects, seductions, heresies, doubts, superstitions and innumerable
abominations? The whole world compared with him is like a spark
of fire compared with a fountain of water. All must be here subject
to him; as we also see, hear and understand. But it is faith
that keeps him busy, and it not only stands before him invulnerable,
but also reveals his roguery and puts him to shame, so that his
deception fails and he faints and falls; as now takes place with
his indulgences and his papacy. Just so no one can allay and
quiet the least sin, but it bites and devours the conscience,
so that nothing avails even if the whole world were to comfort
and support such a person, he must be cast down into perdition.
Here faith is a hero, it appeases all sins, even if they were
as many as the whole world had committed. Page
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Is there now not something almighty and inexpressible about faith
that it can withstand all our powerful enemies and gain the victory,
so that St. John says in his first Epistle 5,4: "This is
the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith?"
Not that this is done in peace and by quietly resting; for it
is a battle that is carried on not without wounds and shedding
of blood. Yea, the heart so severely experiences in this battle
sin and death, the flesh, Satan and the world, that it has no
other thought than that it is lost, that sin and death have triumphed,
and that Satan holds the field of battle. The power of faith
however experiences but little of that. This is set forth in
our narrative, when the waves not only dashed into the boat,
but even covered it, so that it was about to go under and sink,
and Christ was lying asleep. Just then there was no hope of life,
death had the upper hand and had triumphed; life was lying prostrate
and was lost. 7.
As it went here, so it goes and must go in all other temptations
of sin, Satan, etc. We must experience how sin has taken captive
the conscience and nothing but wrath and perdition wish to reign,
and how we must be eternally lost. Satan must start so many things
by his error and false teaching that it appears God's Word must
fall to the ground and the world must glory in falsehood. Likewise
the world must rage and persecute to such an extent that it appears
no one can stand or be saved, or even confess his faith; but
Cain will rule alone and will not rest until his brother is dead,
so that he may never be in his way. But we must not judge and
act according to appearance and our experience, but according
to our faith. 8.
Therefore this Gospel is a comforting example and doctrine, how
we should conduct ourselves, so that we may not despair in the
agony of sin, in the peril of death, and in the tumult of the
world; but be assured that we are not lost, although the waves
at once overwhelm our little boat; that we will not perish, although
we experience in our evil conscience sin, wrath, and the lack
of grace; that we will not Page
96 --------------------------- die,
although the whole world hates and persecutes us, although it
opens its jaws as wide as the rosy dawn of the morning. These
are all waves that fall over your little bark, cause to despair,
and force you to cry out: "Save, Lord; we perish".
Thus you have here the first part of this Gospel, faith, how
it should thrive and succeed, and besides, how incapable and
fainthearted unbelief is. II.
OF LOVE. 9.
The second part of our text, treating of love, shows forth Christ
in that he rises, breaks his sleep for their sake, takes to heart
their need as though it were his own, and ministers to them help
out of free love without any merit on their part. He neither
receives nor seeks any reward for his help, but permits them
to enjoy and use his power and resources. For as we have often
heard it is characteristic of Christian love to do all freely
and gratuitously, to the praise and honor of God, that a Christian
lives upon the earth for the sake of such love, just as Christ
lived solely for the purpose of doing good; as he himself says:
"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
Mt 20,28. III.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THIS NARRATIVE. 10.
Christ pictured to us in this narrative the Christian life, especially
the office of the ministry. The ship, signifies Christendom;
the sea, the world; the wind, Satan; his disciples are the preachers
and pious Christians; Christ is the truth, the Gospel, and faith. 11.
Now, before Christ entered the ship with his disciples the sea
and the wind were calm; but when Christ with his disciples entered,
then the storm began, as he himself says, Mt 10, 34: "Think
not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send
peace but a sword." So, if Christ had left the world in
peace and never punished its works, then it would indeed have
been quiet. But since he preaches that the wise are fools, the
saints are sinners and Page
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rich are lost, they become wild and raging; just as at present
some critics think it would be fine if we merely preached the
Gospel and allowed the office of the ministry to continue in
its old way. This they would indeed tolerate; but that all their
doings should be rebuked and avail nothing, that they call preaching
discontent and revolution, and is not Christian teaching. 12.
But what does this Gospel say? There was a violent tempest on
the lake when Christ and his disciples were in the ship. The
sea and the wind allowed the other ships to sail in calm weather;
but this ship had to suffer distress because of Christ being
in it. The world can indeed tolerate all kinds of preaching except
the preaching of Christ. Hence whenever he comes and wherever
he is, there he preaches that he only is right and reproves all
others; as he says in Mt 12,30: "He that is not with me
is against me", and again, Jn 16,8: "The spirit will
convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness and
of judgment;" he says that he will not only preach, but
that he will convict the whole world and what is in the world.
But it is this convicting that causes such tempests and dangers
to this ship. Should he preach that he would allow the world
to go unpunished and to continue in its old ways, he would have
kept quiet before and never have entered the world; for if the
world is good and is not to be convicted then there would never
have been any need of him coming into the world. 13.
Now it is the consolation of Christians, and especially of preachers,
to be sure and ponder well that when they present and preach
Christ, that they must suffer persecution, and nothing can prevent
it; and that it is a very good sign of the preaching being truly
Christian, when they are thus persecuted, especially by the great,
the saintly, the learned and the wise. And on the other hand
that their preaching is not right, when it is praised and honored,
as Christ says in Lk 6,22-26: "Woe unto you, when all men
shall speak well of you; for in the same manner did their Page
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to the false prophets. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you,
and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach
you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake;
in the same manner did their fathers to the prophets." Behold
our preachers, how their teachings are esteemed; the wealth,
honor and power of the world have them fully under their control,
and still they wish to be Christian teachers, and whosoever praises
and preaches their ideas, lives in honor and luxury. 14.
Hence, people have here an example where they are to seek their
comfort and help, not in the world; they are not to guard the
wisdom and power of men, but Christ himself and him alone; they
are to cleave to him and depend on him in every need with all
faithfulness and confidence as the disciples do in our text.
For had they not believed that he would help them, they would
not have awakened him and called upon him. True their faith was
weak and was mingled with much unbelief, so that they did not
perfectly and freely surrender themselves to Christ and risk
their life with him, nor did they believe he could rescue them
in the midst of the sea and save them from death. Thus it is
ordained that the Word of God has no master nor judge, no protector
or patron can be given it besides God himself. It is his Word.
Therefore, as he left it go forth without any merit or counsel
of men, so will he himself without any human help and strength
administer and defend it. And whoever seeks protection and comfort
in these things among men, will both fall and fail, and be forsaken
by both God and man. 15.
That Jesus slept indicates the condition of their hearts, namely,
that they had a weak, sleepy faith, but especially that at the
time of persecution Christ withdraws and acts as though he were
asleep, and gives neither strength nor power, neither peace nor
rest, but lets us worry and labor in our weakness, and permits
us to experience that we are nothing at all and that all depends
upon his grace and power, as Paul confesses in 2 Cor 1, 9, that
he had Page
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suffer great affliction, so as to learn to trust not in himself
but in God, who raised the dead. Such a sleeping on the part
of God David often experienced and refers to it in many places,
as when he says in Ps 44,23: "Awake, why sleepest thou,
0 Lord? Arise, cast us not off forever." 16.
The summary of this Gospel is this, it gives us two comforting,
defying proverbs, that when persecution for the sake of God's
Word arises, we may say: I indeed thought Christ was in the ship,
therefore the sea and wind rage, and the waves dash over us and
threaten to sink us; but let them rage, it is ordained that the
wind and sea obey his will. The persecutions will not continue
longer than is his pleasure; and although they overwhelm us,
yet they must be subject to him; he is Lord over all, therefore
nothing will harm us. May he only give us his help that we may
not despair in unbelief. Amen. 17. That the people marveled and praised the Lord that the wind and sea were subject to him, signifies that the Gospel, God's Word, spreads farther through persecution, it thus becomes stronger and faith increases; and this is also a paradoxical characteristic of the Gospel compared with all worldly things which decrease through every misfortune and opposition, and increase through prosperity and peace. Christ's kingdom grows through tribulations and declines in times of peace, ease and luxury, as St. Paul says in 2 Cor 12, 9: "My power is made perfect in weakness, etc." To this end help us God! Amen. |