Luther's Works - Volume 68

<p><strong style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>About this Volume</strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>As a professor for Old Testament Martin Luther never wrote out a full commentary on Matthew. He preached on it regularly however both in the traditional texts of the church year and especially in his sermon series on Matthew 18-24 (begun in Luther's Works Volume 67 and continued here) preached to the people of Wittenberg over the course of four years (1537-1540).</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>In July 1537 Johann Bugenhagen (1485-1558) the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Wittenberg departed for Denmark to organize the reformation there and Luther began preaching in Bugenhagen's stead on Sundays as well as on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Luther's Wednesday sermons on Matthew's Gospel 56 in all probably began on July 11 1537. The last sermon in this series on Matthew was preached on September 19 1540. Luther thus continued preaching even after Bugenhagen's return in July 1539 though he moved his Matthew sermons to Sunday afternoons beginning in August.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>Luther's preaching here is joined closely with the events of 1537-1540. In his exposition of Matthew 18-24 Luther both explains the text and takes the occasion from it to warn his hearers of the dangers he sees threatening the Reformation such as the temptation to engage in former superstitions to compromise with the pope to take advantages of one's neighbor through usury and greed and to neglect the role of the Law in the life of the believer. Amidst his teaching from Matthew on the forgiveness of sins divorce infant Baptism repentance the divinity of Christ the marks of the church the resurrection and the end of the world Luther also seeks to strengthen his hearers to endure persecution-from imperial troops loyal to the pope or from Turkish armies-which he sees approaching just over the horizon.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>These are earnest sermons of biblical exposition antithesis and admonition in the attempt to guard the people from the devil and all temptations that would snatch them away from Christ.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>Features:</span></p><ul><li>Commentary on Matthew 19-24</li><li>Detailed footnotes explaining historical and theological context</li><li>Fully indexed</li><li>Clear accurate translation in modern American English</li></ul><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)> </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>Edited by Benjamin T.G. Mayes and Translated by Kevin G. Walker</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)><span></span>About the Series</strong></p><p><span style=color: rgba(9 11 13 1)>The 28 planned new volumes are intended to reflect both modern and sixteenth-century interests and to expand the coverage of genres underrepresented in the existing volumes such as Luther's sermons and disputations. The primary basis for the translation is the comprehensive Weimar edition.</span></p>