“I like these postils of Master Antonius Corvinus very much, that they remain so short, finely pure with the Gospel, and I consider them useful, where they would also be read to the people word for word.”
Fifth Sunday in Lent, Judica.
John 8:46-59.
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: [page 93] and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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Now we have said many times that the Word of God may not be preached without challenge and opposition in this wicked and perverse world, because Christ is set forth as a sign to which many people will object. Luke 2:34. So we see it also in this Gospel of today. For not only is Christ here accused of being a Samaritan and of false doctrine, but also at last the Jews pick up stones and want to stone him. Since such a conflict between the ungodly and the believers will always be and will remain until the end of the world, let us consider how every Christian, and especially the ministers of the Word, should conduct themselves in this matter. For the blasphemers of the divine Word must ever be suffered, but their mouths must be stopped.
First, Christ shuts up those who persecute His doctrine with the blamelessness of His life, saying with gentle words: “Which of you can accuse me of sin?” You reject my doctrine and do not want to accept it. What reason have you for this? If I taught otherwise than I do, and did otherwise than I taught, ye might have cause to reject my doctrine. But you cannot say that my life is contrary to the doctrine. Yet you are so stiff-necked that you will not believe. Behold, here stand the Jews, not knowing what to say. For the life of Christ was blameless, as Isaiah testifies of Him, that no deceit was ever found in His mouth. Is. 53:9 So let every Christian, [page 94] and especially the minister of the Word, be careful that his life and conduct be not reproached with truth by any man, especially as the enemies of the Word look more to the life than to the doctrine. Indeed, how can I rebuke, if I myself am reproachful, and the listener can say: “Physician, help yourself”? [Luke 4:23] If I am to rebuke adultery, I must not be an adulterer myself. If I should rebuke excessive eating and drinking, I myself must not be a glutton. If I am to rebuke theft, I myself must not be a thief; otherwise Paul will say to me, “In that thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, because thou doest the very thing which thou judgest.” Rom. 2:1. The Holy Spirit will also sing such a hymn to me about this: “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee?” Psalm 50:16-17. It is true that we are all sinners and unclean before God, and must ask forgiveness of daily trespasses every moment. Nevertheless, the outward conduct of a Christian should be blameless, especially of the pastor, lest the enemies of the Word gain cause to blaspheme the Gospel because of our evil conduct. 1 Tim. 3:2-7.
Second, Christ extols His doctrine as the certain, righteous truth, again indicating that the Jews reject His doctrine unreasonably, because He preaches nothing but the truth He has heard from His heavenly Father. And if before He defied with His life, now also He defies with the doctrine, which was certainly His Father's, and not, as the Jews falsely said, the devil's doctrine. If a pastor cannot do the same, what can he do? He must be sure that the doctrine is God's, whatever life may stand. Accordingly, if one thing were to be desired, [page 95] and ever must be (which I do not say), I would rather have a wicked pastor for a teacher, who taught rightly, than a pious man, who led me from the Word of God to the doctrines of men and glibness. And Christ agrees with this when He says that those who sit in Moses' seat, that is, those who teach God's doctrines like Moses, should be received and listened to, but not done according to their works. Matth. 23:2-3. For He wants to reject the evil works, but not the doctrines, which are God's. Why do you think that St. Paul boasts that he received his Gospel through the revelation of Jesus Christ? Gal. 1:12. Without a doubt he wanted the Jews to understand that his doctrines were God's and not his own. If then we are sure that our doctrine is not ours but God's, then we should also stand on it, confess it and defend it against the blasphemers, even if it costs our blood and life, just as Christ here also defends the doctrine, namely, that He is not possessed by the devil and does not speak from the devil. In sum, we are to be sure of our doctrine, so that we do not accept, teach or preach anything else unless it is certain truth, as Christ also says of His Father's doctrine: “Thy Word is truth.” John 17:17.
Thirdly, in this Gospel Christ indicates the reason why the Jews could not hear God's Word, saying, "He that is of God heareth the Word of God. Therefore hear ye not; for ye are not of God." But see here how far in matters of righteousness the judgment of the flesh and the judgment of Christ are one from another. The Jews judge that because they are born of Abraham and the seed of the fathers, and have circumcision, they must therefore also be God's people and children. But how does Christ judge? [p. 96] They are children, not of Abraham or of the fathers, but of the devil. He proves this by the fact that they do not hear and believe the Word of God like Abraham, but rather spurn, despise and persecute it. Where is the glory, pride and arrogance of the Jews? What good is their circumcision and their descent from the fathers? All is lost unless the Word of God is heard, accepted and grasped with the heart. Yes, Abraham himself would not have been counted in the number of the children of God if he had not accepted God's Word and grasped it with faith, as the Scripture says: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Rom. 4:3. Accordingly, the Scriptures also teach that there is no other way to salvation except by believing in Him whom God has sent into this world. Joh. 17:8. Do you now want to know the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil? The children of the devil cannot hear God, however pious, righteousness, and holiness they may seem; for they want their works to be unreproved and undamned. But the children of God gladly hear the Word of God, accept it, and put it into their hearts by faith, considering that in such a Word stands our salvation and blessedness.
Fourthly, in this Gospel we are shown the power of Christ's Word, in that Christ himself says that if anyone keeps His Word, he shall not see death forever, and confirms this with an oath. But do you think that this pleased the Jews? Certainly not; for since they ascribed His doctrine to the devil before, such a price of His doctrine did not please them everywhere, but rather moved them to hatred and envy. But be it angered or not, He nevertheless says how it stands, and for the sake of their anger will not conceal the truth. Accordingly [page 97] let us put away the wrath of all men, and see from this text what God our Father would work in them that hear and receive it, by the Word of His Son Jesus Christ. They shall not, saith he, see death for ever. There you have the power of the divine Word. Death and damnation were inherited through Adam, so that no man on earth could escape such judgment by his own works. The wrath went over all of us. But now Christ comes and wants to teach us and show us how we are to be delivered from such judgment, namely through His Word, in which His suffering and death are proclaimed to us, only that we may grasp it and keep it well. There is, however, a great and noticeable emphasis on the little Word mine, for with it He wants to exclude all men, even the law of Moses, and to ascribe righteousness and life to His Gospel alone. And if we look at the matter correctly, there is a great difference between the doctrines of Moses and those of Christ. Moses only shows sin by commanding and forbidding, and yet does not give the Spirit beside it, that I might do that which He would have me do. But Christ also gives the Holy Spirit in His Word, so that I may do what is right voluntarily, without constraint and impulsion; indeed, through His Gospel He gives me forgiveness of sin, righteousness, adoption and inheritance, the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, and all this without any merit or work on my part, out of pure grace and mercy. Against this Christ demands nothing, but that we now keep his, his, His Word. How to keep it? With the heart you must hear it, grasp it and keep it. The world wants to take it from you and lead you on the confidence of works. But then you must be strong, bold and lively, so that you do not let Christ and His Word be taken from you, but keep the Word in faith, having grasped it in your heart. [p. 98] If thou do this, thou shalt live for ever, though thou cast off thy corruptible body. Abraham also died, and all the prophets; but they nevertheless live with God, because they believe in Christ, who was "before Abraham was," and have received him as their righteousness. But if you do not take hold of the Word, you must die an eternal death. But if thou sayest, it would be well to keep this Word, if there were not so many wise, prudent, holy, mighty men against it. Well, what is it to thee? Knowest thou not that Christ is set for a sign to be contradicted? You are no better than He is. If the Jews wanted to stone Him for His doctrines, as this Gospel indicates, you will also have to suffer, since the servant is not greater than his master. In sum, in the Word of Christ alone we have forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and life, provided we believe it and are not carried away by it.
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