German friar, priest and professor of theology (1483-1546)
Great men and heroes are especial gifts of God, men who He gives and upholds, who carry on their work and calling, and do great deeds.
MARTIN LUTHER
attributed, Day's Collacon
The Holy Ghost must here be our only master and tutor.
MARTIN LUTHER
"Of God's Word", Table Talk
As for myself, let me say that I am a doctor and a preacher. I am as learned and experienced as any of those who are so presumptuous and confident. Yet I do as a child that is learning the Catechism. I read and repeat in the morning and whenever I have time, the Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Psalms, etc. I daily read and study the Catechism, and still I am not able to master it as thoroughly as I wish. I must remain a child and a pupil of the Catechism, and this I do very willingly. Yet these dainty and fastidious fellows affect to be doctors of the first rank upon reading the Catechism once -- to know all there is to be known. Here is evidence enough that they regard not their office and the souls of their people, nay, not even God and his Word. They cannot fall, since they are already abominably fallen. Truly do they need to become children and begin at the alphabet, which they imagine they have long ago outgrown.
MARTIN LUTHER
Luther's Large Catechism
Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace.
MARTIN LUTHER
On Marriage
Dear rulers ... I maintain that the civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school.... If the government can compel such citizens as are fit for military service to bear spear and rifle, to mount ramparts, and perform other martial duties in time of war, how much more has it a right to compel the people to send their children to school, because in this case we are warring with the devil, whose object it is secretly to exhaust our cities and principalities of their strong men.
MARTIN LUTHER
letter to the German rulers, 1524
God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong (sin boldly), but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, ... are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign.
MARTIN LUTHER
Dr. Martin Luther's Saemmtliche Schriften
What can only be taught by the rod and with blows will not lead to much good; they will not remain pious any longer than the rod is behind them.
MARTIN LUTHER
The Great Catechism
Although indulgences are the very merits of Christ and of His saints and so should be treated with all reverence, they have in fact nonetheless become a shocking exercise of greed. For who actually seeks the salvation of souls through indulgences, and not instead money for his coffers? This is evident from the way indulgences are preached. For the commissioners and preachers do nothing but extol indulgences and incite the people to contribute. You hear no one instructing the people about what indulgences are, or about how much they grant, or about the purpose they serve. Instead, all you hear is how much one must contribute. The people are always left in ignorance, so that they come to think that by gaining indulgences they are at once saved.
MARTIN LUTHER
Tractatus de indulgentiis per Doctorem Martinum ordinis s. Augustini Wittenbergae editus., or, A Treatise on Indulgences Published by Doctor Martin of the Order of St. Augustine in Wittenberg
One ought to fast, watch, and labor to the extent that such activities are needed to harness the body's desires and longings; however, those who presume that they are justified by works pay no attention to the need for self-discipline but see the works themselves as the way to righteousness. They believe that if they do a great number of impressive works all will be well and righteousness will be the result. Sometimes this is pursued with such zeal that they become mentally unstable and their bodies are sapped of all strength. Such disastrous consequences demonstrate that the belief that we are justified and saved by works without faith is extremely foolish.
MARTIN LUTHER
The Freedom of a Christian
For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel.... Thus is the Devil ever God's ape.
MARTIN LUTHER
Table Talk
So our Lord God commonly gives riches to those gross asses to whom He vouchsafes nothing else.
MARTIN LUTHER
attributed, Tischreden oder Colloquia
Through faith we are restored to paradise and created anew. We have no need of works in order to be righteous; however, in order to avoid idleness and so that the body might be cared for an disciplined, works are done freely to please God.
MARTIN LUTHER
The Freedom of a Christian
By God's grace, I know Satan very well. If Satan can turn God's Word upside down and pervert the Scriptures, what will he do with my words -- or the words of others?
MARTIN LUTHER
Confession Concerning Christ's Supper
As we see from the Scriptures, it had become a common and proverbial expression that if someone wanted to refer to a prophet, he called him a "fool."
MARTIN LUTHER
The Place of Trust: Martin Luther on the Sermon on the Mount
True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue.
MARTIN LUTHER
Martin Luther Christmas Book
Isaiah calls the Church barren because her children are born without effort by the Word of faith through the Spirit of God. It is a matter of birth, not of exertion.
MARTIN LUTHER
Commentary on Galatians
To worship God in spirit is the service and homage of the heart, and implies fear of God and trust in Him.
MARTIN LUTHER
attributed, Day's Collacon
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.
MARTIN LUTHER
Luther's Catechism
In the Church, great wonders daily occur, such as the forgiveness of sins, triumph over death ... the gift of righteousness and eternal life.
MARTIN LUTHER
commentary on Psalm 143:5
Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
MARTIN LUTHER
attributed, The Lutheran Witness, 1935