More Unusual Quotes from Luther's Genesis Commentary
Edited by Rev. Jack Cascione

All quotations are from the American Edition of Luther's Works, published by Concordia Publishing House and Fortress Press.

How To Be Rich In the Ministry

"But he who wishes to become rich from the ministry of the church should not censure or scold the vices of the mob or of the magnates and tax collectors, but he should deal lightly with them flatter their greed, and say what pleases them. But sincere teachers serving the church or schools with good and pious zeal are hated and scorned by all, nor will they ever make money, because the Labanites are not liberal with their own property or anybody else's." LW6:21

God Will Replace Luther

"Today you would find very few people of that most corrupt class of men who would imitate this patience and constancy. But where the Word is taught, there faith is, and where faith is, there are such neighbors, servants, wives, and children, etc. There must be some also today. For as the rain does not fall for the sake of one stalk but for the sake of many fields so that they may become fertile and bear much fruit, so the Word is not given to convert only the one or two but on account of many men of all ranks (cf. Is. 55:10-11). You should not think that when I and Pomeranus are removed, all good and godly men have been taken away. Our Lord God has more godly people. But for all that, the godly are miracles in the world and gifts of God because the greatest part is ungodly." LW6:124

Marriage Before Sex

"But grief of conscience becomes even heavier among those who now know God's will that marriages should not be contracted without the consent of parents. For previously, when we did not know God's commandment, ignorance in a way had an excuse. But rather than trying to find pleasure in a secret and clandestine union, how much better would it be now to enter into marriage with the consent and will of parents so that in sleeping with the girl you may embrace her with joy and a good conscience without any scruple and sobbing, with God as well as the parents smiling on you and bestowing favor upon you? In the former case, the heart conscious of its abiding guilt would keep on murmuring: "I could have obtained and enjoyed her with the goodwill and joy of her parents; why, then, have I grieved God and men?" That little black dog of repentance which is too late does not cease barking and biting, however much you know that your sins have been forgiven." LW6:369

Real Presence At Consecration

"Thus it is good that the Sacrament of the Altar is honored with bended knees; for the true body and blood of the Lord are there, likewise the presence of the Holy Spirit and the promise or the Word of God, which should be heard reverently." LW8:145

God Speaks Through the Pastor

"When I approach Baptism, I must certainly conclude that nothing human is being done there. But the water is a veil or a means. So is the Word with which God is veiled. Behind these stands our Lord God, and they are the faces of God through which He speaks with us and works in every person individually. He baptizes me; He absolves me and gives me His body and blood through the tongue and the hand of the minister. For God works salvation in Baptism. And this is the presence or form and epiphany of God in these means. Therefore we do the right thing when we bow and revere God when He speaks with us. If we do not do so with our bodies, we should at least do so with all our hearts." LW8:145