THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

We are unwilling this time to pay the devil the compliment of citing more Scripture than this verse, “This is my body.” For even if we put on all the glasses in the world, we would find none of the evangelists writing, “Take, eat; this is a sign of my body,” or, “This represents my body.” But what we clearly find without the aid of any glasses, so that even young children can read it, is, “Take, eat; this is my body.” -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

The sum and substance of all this is that we have on our side the clear, distinct Scripture which reads, “Take, eat; this is my body,” and we are not under obligation nor will we be pressed to cite Scripture beyond this text—though we could do so abundantly. On the contrary, they should produce Scripture which reads, “This represents my body,” or, “This is a sign of my body.” -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

For I write these things in order that our people may have answers for the fanatics when they ask so sarcastically where it is written in Scripture that “bread” is Christ’s body, and stupidly pretend that they have never read it. Should one ask them in return where it is written in Scripture that “body” means “sign of the body”? Up the flue, that’s where! That is where their Bible is! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

God knows, with these crude illustrations I do not wish to offend Zwingli, nor especially Oecolampadius, to whom God has given many gifts, above many other men. Indeed, I am heartily sorry for the man. By such words I look not upon them but only upon the insolent, sarcastic devil who has so deceived and misled them that in return I now find satisfaction to the glory of God, by mocking him again for these clumsy follies of his. For he shall and must be subject to God’s Word. This year, please God, I shall see to it that the fanatics’ devil, who now hinders me from getting other important work done, comes out into the open. God grant that he may lay a rod to his own backside and wake up a sleeping dog. Amen! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Should it be the Luther who asserts that Moses says, “In the beginning the cuckoo ate the hedge sparrow,” or the person who asserts that Moses says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”? I hope the decision would be that Luther ought to prove his text, since in no language does “God” mean the same as “cuckoo.” Well, away creeps Luther to the cross, grieved that he cannot prove that “God” means “cuckoo.” For anyone who ventures to interpret words in the Scriptures any other way than what they say, is under obligation to prove this contention out of the text of the very same passage or by an article of faith. But who will enable the fanatics to prove that “body” is the equivalent of “sign of the body,” and “is” the equivalent of “represents”? No one has brought them to this point up to now. They rant and rave, “Where is your Scripture? Where is your Scripture?” and press us to prove that the gospel says, “This is my body,” though the whole world reads it and must read it. That it also says, however, “This represents my body,” or, “This is a sign of my body”—O that is so certain that they defy God’s judgment over it, even though no man has ever read this in the gospel, nor ever will! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

They wish first of all to change the natural words and meanings of the Scriptures into their own words and meanings; then they boast that we do not have Scripture, in order that the devil may make a laughingstock of us, or rather, may safely strangle us as defenseless enemies. Against all this, however, just one word serves exceedingly well: No! So they stand like butter in the sun. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Whoever read in the Scriptures that “body” means the same as “sign of the body,” and “is” means the same as “represents”? Indeed, what language in all the world has ever expressed itself so? It is only the arrogance and frivolous wickedness of the very devil, who, mocking us through these fanatics in these important matters, pretends he is willing to be shown with Scripture—provided that he first eliminates the Scripture or twists it to his own fancy. Just as if I were to rob a man of his weapons with crafty words and give him in exchange sham weapons made of paper, exactly like his own, and then proceeded to defy him to strike me with them or defend himself against me. Now this would be a valiant hero! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Or, if I denied that the Son of God had become man, and someone confronted me with John 1[:14], “The Word became flesh,” suppose I were to say: Let “Word” mean “a gambrel” and “flesh” “a mallet,” and thus the text must now read, “The gambrel became a mallet.” And if my conscience tried to reproach me, saying, “You take a good deal of liberty with your interpretation, Sir Martin, but—but—” etc., I would press until I became red in the face, and say, “Keep quiet, you traitor with your ‘but,’ I don’t want the people to notice that I have such a bad conscience!” Then I would boast and clap my hands, saying, “The Christians have no Scripture which proves that God’s Word became flesh.” But I would also turn around and, bowing low in humility, offer gladly to be instructed, if they would show me with the Scripture that I have just finished twisting around. Ah, what a rumpus I would stir up among Jews and Christians, in the New and the Old Testaments, if such brazenness were allowed me! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

They say, “The word ‘is’ must mean the same as the word ‘represents,’ ” as Zwingli writes; (This view was first expressed in Zwingli’s Letter to Matthew Alber, November, 1524, published 1525. C. R. 90, 345; St. L. 17, 1522.) and the expression “my body” must mean the same as the expression “sign of my body,” as Oecolampadius writes.(This view was first expressed in Oecolampadius’ Genuine Exposition, 1525, 8.)So Christ’s word and meaning according to Zwingli’s text would read, “Take, eat; this represents my body,” or according to Oecolampadius’ text, “Take and eat; this is a sign of my body.” Ah, they are so certain about this meaning and they stand so firm in their hearts—like a reed that the wind blows to and fro, as has been pointed out. Then at once they boast that we have no passage from Scripture which says that Christ’s body is in the Supper. Next they humble themselves again, would like to be instructed, and offer to follow if we can prove with Scripture that Christ’s body is present.
This certainly is an extraordinary situation! It is just as if I denied that God had created the heavens and the earth, and asserted with Aristotle and Pliny and other heathen that the world existed from eternity, but someone came and held Moses under my nose, Genesis 1[:1], “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”; I would try to make the text read: “God” now should mean the same as “cuckoo,” “created” the same as “ate,” and “the heavens and the earth” the same as “the hedge sparrow, feathers and all.” The word of Moses thus would read according to Luther’s text, “In the beginning the cuckoo ate the hedge sparrow, feathers and all,” and could not possibly mean, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” What a marvelous art this would be—one with which rascals are quite familiar! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

I too dare take an oath that this saying of Christ, “This is my body,” sticks in their hearts like an everlasting splinter from which they can never be free, except by being so completely callous as to feel nothing any longer, …and there follows so great a teaching and praise of the spiritual eating of the body of Christ and of his remembrance—over which no one contends with them; we knew about these things just as well as they, and before them! —that it is clear they do not know what they are saying, or how they should go about bamboozling the people. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Against this saying they have up to now brought forth nothing in their many writings that has even plausibility behind it, not to mention a reasoned argument. I let them boast and show off and even boldly swear by God’s judgment and wrath how sure of the matter they are and how they have grasped the truth. (Zwingli: “Either the Creed must be shattered or our teaching is true.” Clear Instruction. LCC 24, 238. Zwingli’s oaths in Commentary: “by thunder,” LWZ 3, 239; “by Almighty God,” “by heaven,” 250; “I call God to witness,” 248. Another favorite was “by Hercules.”) But these are just words, with which they would dearly love to conceal and cover over their uncertain conscience so that no one may notice how their heart shakes and quakes within like a reed swayed by the wind [Matt. 11:7], because of the great uncertainty of then fancies and delusions. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Now, to come to grips with the subject, let us take up the saying of Christ, which Matthew and Mark record (Matt. 26:26, Mark 14:22. “Which is given for you,” however, appears in Luke 22:19 (in some texts, including the one Luther used), and in a related form in I Cor. 11:24. There are other minor variations also, which Luther examines when he analyzes the four texts individually in Confession Concerning Christ’s Supper, pp. 307 ff. The conflated text above, however, was the one used in public worship and instruction: Formula Missae, 1523, and Deutsche Messe, 1526 (LW 53, 27 f., 80 f.); Small Catechism, VI, 4, and Large Catechism, V, 3. Cf. also LW 36, 37, n. 84, 319.) “He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.’ ” As I have said, I wish at this time to take up this saying alone, in defiance of the devil and all his spirits, in order to prove that this single text is strong and mighty enough to stand against all their rotten, empty prattle. The other texts will come to their right in their own good time. Now, here stands the text, stating clearly and lucidly that Christ gives his body to eat when he distributes the bread. On this we take our stand, and we also believe and teach that in the Supper we eat and take to ourselves Christ’s body truly and physically. But how this takes place or how he is in the bread, we do not know and are not meant to know. God’s Word we should believe without setting bounds or measure to it. The bread we see with our eyes, but we hear with our ears that Christ’s body is present. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

God warns us against these spirits by allowing them to come into the open and betray themselves and reveal how they traffic in lies and falsehoods. And if this stratagem does not shock or warn men, let them go; they want to be lost! The Holy Spirit offers no such stratagems through his poor sinners as the devil does here through his great saints. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

For God allows himself to be neither deceived nor mocked. He would rather take an ass and condemn great prophets through her mouth, as he did Balaam [Num. 22:28 ff.]. Therefore, to these fanatics and spirits who offer us such a peace, we may well say as Christ said to his betrayer, Judas, in the garden, “O Judas, would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?” [Luke 22:48]. Yes indeed, a Judas’ peace and a traitor’s kiss it is when they would be friendly to us and get us to the point of watching in silence while they ravage with fire and sword, by which they bring so many souls into the everlasting fire of hell, all the while wishing it to be regarded as a minor matter and of no consequence. -Martin Luther

On the road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43And he took it, and did eat before them.
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48And ye are witnesses of these things.
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

EASTER SUNDAY THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

If we are to practice Christian unity with them and extend Christian love to them, we must also love and be satisfied with, or at least tolerate, their doctrine and behavior. Let anyone do that if he wishes. Not I. For Christian unity consists in the Spirit, when we are of one faith, one mind, one heart, Ephesians 4[: 3 ff.]. This, however, we will gladly do: in civil matters we are glad to be one with them, i.e. to maintain outward, temporal peace. But in spiritual matters, as long as we have breath, we intend to shun, condemn, and censure them, as idolaters, corrupters of God’s Word, blasphemers, and liars; and meanwhile, to endure from them, as from enemies, their persecution and schism as far and as long as God endures them; and to pray for them, and admonish them to stop. But to acquiesce in, keep silence over, or approve their blaspheming, this we shall not and cannot do. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Why is it any wonder, then, if fickle fanatics juggle and play the clown with the words of the Supper according to their fancy, since at this point they are convicted of belittling God’s words and concerns, and making them secondary to human love? Just as if God must yield to men, and let the authority of his Word depend on whether men are at one or at odds over it. How can one believe that these fanatics teach rightly and well, when they are clearly found to be entertaining such devilish ideas and advising things which make for the despising, blaspheming, and disgrace of God and our eternal death and destruction, and who yet think they have acted wisely and presented a salutary Christian teaching? -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Our adversary says that mere bread and wine are present, not the body and blood of the Lord. If they believe and teach wrongly here, then they blaspheme God and are giving the lie to the Holy Spirit, betray Christ, and seduce the world. One side must be of the devil, and God’s enemy. There is no middle ground…These fanatics demonstrate forthrightly that they regard the words and works of Christ as nothing but human prattle, like the opinions of academic hairsplitters, which ought fairly to yield to love and unity. But a faithful Christian knows clearly that God’s Word concerns God’s glory, the Spirit, Christ, grace, everlasting life, death, sin, and all things. These, however, are not minor matters! You see, this is how they seek God’s glory, as they boast everywhere…
My friend, God’s Word is God’s Word; this point does not require much haggling! When one blasphemously gives the lie to God in a single word, or says it is a minor matter if God is blasphemed or called a liar, one blasphemes the entire God and makes light of all blasphemy. There is only one God who does not permit himself to be divided, praised at one place and chided at another, glorified in one word and scorned in another. The Jews believe the Old Testament, but because they do not believe Christ, it does them no good. You see, the circumcision of Abraham [Gen. 17:10 ff.] is now an old dead thing and no longer necessary or useful. But if I were to say that God did not command it in its time, it would do me no good even if I believed the gospel. So St. James asserts, “Whoever offends in one point is guilty in all respects.” He possibly heard the apostles say that all the words of God must be believed or none, although he applies their interpretation to the works of the law. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

I intend to expose the fanatics here, that everyone may see what kind of spirit is in them, so that their adherents may realize whom they are believing and following.
It is perfectly clear, of course, that we are at odds concerning the words of Christ in the Supper. And it is well known on both sides that these are Christ’s or God’s words. That is one thing. So we say, on our part, that according to the words Christ’s true body and blood are present when he says, “Take, eat; this is my body.” If our belief and teaching go wrong here, tell us, what are we doing? We are lying to God, and proclaiming that he did not say this but said the opposite. Then we are assuredly blasphemers and liars against the Holy Spirit, betrayers of Christ, and murderers and seducers of the world. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Again, they say it is a minor matter, yet there is no topic that they so diligently promote and cultivate and espouse; all other topics lie dormant. Here they become martyrs and saints. Anyone who does not share their fanaticism is no Christian and can accomplish nothing in the Scriptures and in matters of the Spirit. Great and magnificent wisdom this is, when anyone can say, “Bread and wine!” With this wisdom the Holy Spirit alone now operates!  In reality what is going on here is simply that on top of everything the damnable devil is mocking us through them, as if to say, “I intend to cause all kinds of mischief and dissension in deeds, and then to wipe my mouth and say in words, ‘I seek and desire love and unity!’ ”—as the Psalter also says, “They speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts” [Ps. 28:3].
Well, since they are so completely wicked as to mock the whole world, I shall add a Lutheran warning and say; Cursed be such love and unity in the abyss of hell, because such unity not only divides the Christian Church wretchedly, but in true devilish fashion even mocks it and pokes fun at it for its wretchedness. Now I do not mean to judge so harshly as to hold that they do this out of malice. But I think they are blinded by Satan, and perhaps they have developed a conscience that bites them, saying, “Truly we have caused a great offense and kindled a great fire, now we must paste and putty up the affair with words, and claim indulgence because it is not an important matter. And even if we lose the argument, let us declare in advance that we have not lost anything important, but have committed only a minor offense, and as we say of singers when they make a mistake, ‘They only farrowed a piglet.’ ” -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

In the first place, we begin at the point where they write, produce books, and admonish that these subjects ought not be the occasion for rending Christian unity, love, and peace. It is a minor matter, say they, and an insignificant quarrel, for the sake of which Christian love should not be obstructed. They chide us for being so stubborn and obstinate about it and for creating disunity. Now, see here, my dear man, what should I say? We are in the same situation as the sheep that came to the watering place to drink with the wolf. The wolf went upstream, the sheep down-stream to the water. Then the wolf chided the sheep for making the water muddy. The sheep said, “How can I be making it muddy for you? You are upstream, and you are making it muddy for me.” In short, the sheep was forced to admit that he had made the water muddy for the wolf! So too with my fanatics: they have kindled this fire, as they themselves with all lordliness boast as a blessing, and now they would like to shove off the blame for disunity upon us. Who ordered Dr. Karlstadt to start it? Who ordered Zwingli and Oecolampadius to write? Haven’t they done it on their own accord? We would have been, and would still be, glad for peace, yet they were unwilling; now the blame is ours, of course! -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

For they have to remember that in our conscience and faith we take God’s Word just as seriously as they do in their faith, since we too wish to be saved and come to God. We too hope that we shall do as much as they in this matter, and more than they. Thus St. Paul says, “We are not contending against flesh and blood …” [Eph. 6:12]. Therefore I do not fix my attention as much upon them, as upon him who speaks through them—the devil, I mean—just as they regard me as full of devils. Yet we are glad to be refuse and offscouring so they may rule, if only we remain free to confess our faith and to shun and condemn what is not of our faith. Now then, let us proceed to the subject at hand. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

This altogether venomous, devilish abuse and slander exceeds all bounds. Now a person would rather be upbraided for being full of devils than have a “baked God.” Yet we must not be praised for our forbearance or moderation in putting up with this. Our servants of Christ will not be vilified by it, nor our people offended. We must call it pure praise and progress, joy and gladness, when they revile us! But if one looks sideways at them or displeases them—oh, that is hindering the glory of Christ, defaming the servants of Christ, offending the whole world; there you have suffering, there you have forbearance, there you have all the martyrs’ crowns in a single heap! And even when they are not chided openly, they torture a casually written word and wring from it a complaint over their suffering, dragging the subject in by the ears… in order that they may praise their forbearance. A person simply dare not speak with them without their raising a howl and a moan, doubtless because of their great forbearance and holiness. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Now, in ream, to spite the devil I shall on this occasion take up only the single saying of Christ, “This is my body,” and show how the fanatics have mutilated it down to the present time. Most especially, since they are so slippery and fickle, twisting and turning in a thousand secret corners, I would plead with them in God’s name to take their stand on this one passage and to give me a real answer. The other passages I shall save for another time. I would like to request them, in all kindness, not to become angry that I condemn their doctrine and ascribe it to the devil. I cannot do otherwise or call it otherwise than I believe in my heart. Since they regard us as “un-Christians” whom the Spirit of God has forsaken, they really ought to be forbearing too, in view of all their vaunted spirit, and demonstrate in deeds this forbearance with which they spatter so many books full. For there is no end or limit of boasting in their writings what holy martyrs they are, how much they suffer,  how meek and forbearing they are,  how they seek the glory of Christ alone. Yet they are always crying and complaining meanwhile how the servants of Christ are vilified, and how offense thus is given to the common people. And they wish that men forthwith would praise them, saying, “Pure spirit, pure spirit you are; pure truth, pure truth you teach!” then they would be forbearing. Besides, we godless and unforbearing “un-Christians” must put up with having these holy and moderate teachers revile us as idolaters and having our God called the baked God, the edible and potable God, the bread-God, the wine-God, and ourselves called God-forsaken Christians and such names. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Even if I too can convert no arch-fanatic, yet I shall leave nothing undone, God willing, to place the truth clearly and plainly before their eyes and win away some of their disciples, or at least to strengthen the simple and weak and protect them from the fanatics’ poison. Even if I do not succeed in this (from which may God protect me), at any rate I will have made my testimony before God and all the world, and declared that I have nothing to do with these blasphemers of the sacrament and fanatics, nor have I ever had, nor will I ever have, God willing; and I shall wash my hands of all the blood of those souls whom they steal, murder, and seduce from Christ with their poison. I am innocent of it, and have done my part. On my own account, of course, I dare not write against them. But their own writings are my strength. When I read these they fill me with strength and joy, because I see that though the devil rages so bitterly against God’s Word, yet God permits him no more than to spew out feeble, stale, rotten obscenities, so that I must say, “You would like to, but you can’t!” -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

Christ converted no high priest, but their disciples were converted, such as Nicodemus, Joseph, Paul,  and the like. The ancient prophets converted no false prophets. Paul, too, was not able to convert false apostles, but laid down the teaching: “When one has been admonished twice or three times, avoid him and dismiss him as a perverted man” [Titus 3:10]. So too the holy doctors have never converted an arch-heretic; not because they had not sufficiently opposed and confuted all the heretics’ errors with the truth, but their hearts were obsessed with their own fancies, and they fared the same way as the person who looks through a colored glass: place before him whatever color you will, he sees no other color than that of his glass. The fault is not that you have placed the wrong color before him but that his glass has a different color, as the same passage in Isaiah [6:9] also puts it, “You shall see,” he says, “and yet not see.” What is this but to say: It will appear before your eyes quite clearly enough for you to see, and others will see it, but you will not. This is the reason, says John 12[:40], that one cannot convert such people. The proffered truth does not do it. God must take away the colored glass; this we cannot do. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

So I shall once more set myself against the devil and his fanatics, not for their sake, but for the sake of the weak and simple. For I have no hope that the teachers of a heresy or fanaticism will be converted. Indeed, if that were possible, so much has already been written that they would have been converted. It has never been reported that an author of false doctrine was converted. For this sin is too great, because it blasphemes God’s Word and sins against the Holy Spirit. Therefore God lets it become hardened, with the result, according to the word of Isaiah 6[9 f.], “With seeing eyes you shall not see and with hearing ears you shall not hear, for this people’s heart is hardened.” -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

For we Germans are the kind of fellows who pounce upon anything new and cling to it like fools, and if anyone restrains us, he only makes us more crazy for it; but if no one restrains us, we will soon on our own become fed up and bored with it, and soon chase after something else that is new. Thus the devil has the advantage that no teaching or fancy so clumsy can arise but he can find disciples for it, and the clumsier the more quickly. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

But my dear fanatics despise me so haughtily that they do not consider me worthy of a careful answer. It is enough for them to look at my book and turn up their noses at it and say, “It lacks Spirit.” What good is it now for me to write a great deal? They scorn my book, and if they just babble a few words about it, without touching a single argument correctly, they consider it refuted. They rest their case simply upon the production of many books and the soiling of much paper. -Martin Luther

Fifth Sunday in Lent THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

It is precisely the same devil who now assails us through the fanatics by blaspheming the holy and venerable sacrament of our Lord Jesus Christ, out of which they would like to make mere bread and wine as a symbol or memorial sign of Christians, in whatever way their dream or fancy dictates. They will not grant that the Lord’s body and blood are present, even though the plain, clear words stand right there: “Eat, this is my body.” Yet those words still stand firm and invulnerable against them. -Martin Luther

THAT THESE WORDS OF CHRIST, “THIS IS MY BODY,” ETC., STILL STAND FIRM AGAINST THE FANATICS 1527

The devil is master of a thousand arts. If God does not defend and help us, all our actions and counsels are nothing. No matter which way you look at it, the devil is the prince of this world. He who does not know this, let him try and see. I have had some experience in this matter. But no one will believe me until he experiences it also. -Martin Luther