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Sermon on the Mount and the Magnificat
Gathers the text of Martin Luther's sermon on three chapters from the Book of Matthew, including the themes of trust, devotion, and blessedness
383 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1955
About the author
Martin Luther
5,102 books834 followersMartin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.
Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.
His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.
Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 21, 2012
This is my favorite book to read when I want a quiet place apart. Luther's words, based upon scripture, speak to the soul and bring peace.
December 13, 2021
This is Luther's commentary on the Sermon on the Mount.
Luther interprets the Scripture in matter of fact manner that first deals with eliminating the extremes, whittling down until the truth is revealed so plainly that it doesn't even seem profound. His thoughts feel very familiar, which makes me think his influence permeates the sermons I've heard throughout my life from innumerable pastors.
But his interpretation on the Beatitudes was far more down to earth than any other I've heard, and also clarifying.
Luther interprets the Scripture in matter of fact manner that first deals with eliminating the extremes, whittling down until the truth is revealed so plainly that it doesn't even seem profound. His thoughts feel very familiar, which makes me think his influence permeates the sermons I've heard throughout my life from innumerable pastors.
But his interpretation on the Beatitudes was far more down to earth than any other I've heard, and also clarifying.
March 13, 2017
In this series, we have now left Luther's works on the Old Testament, and enter into his works on the New Testament. This volume covers two passages - the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew's Gospel and the Song of Mary (Magnificat) from Luke's Gospel. The two do not have a direct connection, so this is like when you get two books bound into a single volume - so good value!
I thoroughly enjoyed Luther's coverage of the Sermon on the Mount. This has been collected from Sermons that Luther delivered, and you can often feel as though you are listening to him preach on the passages. As was common in the day, we have no idea who collected and edited the Sermons into this commentary - but I am very pleased that they did. This is not a bad place to start for the reader who is new to Luther.
Luther's comments on Mary's Song are a devotional tract address to the Elector’s nephew, John Frederick. Thus a briefer work than the former, but it would be wrong to think of "tract" as something that is only a couple of pages - rather this tract is over 60 pages (including introduction and epilogue). Interesting to see how Luther is using this exposition of Scripture to encourage the young lord to follow God's path, whilst still being quite submissive.
Given that the Editors have put things together in Scriptural Order, the first work from Matthew's Gospel was composed about 10 years after the second work which is from Luke's Gospel.
I thoroughly enjoyed Luther's coverage of the Sermon on the Mount. This has been collected from Sermons that Luther delivered, and you can often feel as though you are listening to him preach on the passages. As was common in the day, we have no idea who collected and edited the Sermons into this commentary - but I am very pleased that they did. This is not a bad place to start for the reader who is new to Luther.
Luther's comments on Mary's Song are a devotional tract address to the Elector’s nephew, John Frederick. Thus a briefer work than the former, but it would be wrong to think of "tract" as something that is only a couple of pages - rather this tract is over 60 pages (including introduction and epilogue). Interesting to see how Luther is using this exposition of Scripture to encourage the young lord to follow God's path, whilst still being quite submissive.
Given that the Editors have put things together in Scriptural Order, the first work from Matthew's Gospel was composed about 10 years after the second work which is from Luke's Gospel.
March 17, 2013
Obra maestra. Se lo recomiendo a todo el mundo.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews