During the 1960s and early 1970s, it was not uncommon to hear sermons spoken within the Church[1] encouraging members to read the Bible. However, in recent years the Church has generally discouraged reading the Bible. One of the more egregious examples of this attitude is echoed in this sermon statement:
“If we try to get tangled-up word-by-word, we end up in the Law. Don’t get tangled-up!”
(I.A.L.C. Minister)[2]
This statement could be interpreted in several different ways, the minister did not expound on exactly what he meant by it. Whether it was intended or not, the key take-away from this statement within the context of his sermon was that it is dangerous to read the Bible.
Contrary to this prevalent attitude, it was refreshing to hear a sermon from another minister that generally encouraged reading the Bible:
“I remember one time another minister said, ‘If you have any questions… read [Matthew] chapters 5, 6, and 7, and they’ll be answered.’ …it’s still good to read. …open it up and read and, you’ll be surprised sometimes what comes, what understanding you get.”
(I.A.L.C. Minister)[3]
Known as the Sermon on the Mount, the 16th century reformer Dr. Martin Luther wrote a commentary on these specific chapters from the book of Matthew. Largely extracted from several of his previously written sermons, he hoped the published commentary would help to preserve and maintain the pure understanding of Christ’s teachings. He warned these chapters are often misinterpreted and abused:
“[The very devil himself has] so cunningly twisted and perverted… as to make it teach the very opposite of what it means… [The] infernal Satan has not found a single text in the Scriptures which he has more shamefully perverted, and made more error and false doctrine out of, than just this one which was by Christ himself ordered and appointed to neutralize false doctrine. This we may call a masterpiece of the devil.”
(Martin Luther)[4]
Consider this passage from Matthew chapter 5:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
(Matthew 5:6)
For almost as long as I can remember, sermons within the Church have explained this passage with the assumption that it refers only to unbelievers that are seeking a righteousness before God for salvation. (Note that such an interpretation conflicts with many other Bible passages!)[5] Luther explained this kind of righteousness is not before God, but as believers before all in the world through good works and fruits of faith:
“Therefore understand here the outward righteousness before the world, which we observe among ourselves towards others, that this is the meaning, short and simple, of these words: he is a really blessed man who perseveringly and assiduously strives to promote the general welfare and the right conduct of every one, and who helps to maintain and carry this out with word and deed, with counsel and act… [You] should have such a hunger and thirst after righteousness that will never diminish or cease and cannot be satiated, so that you care for nothing else, only so that you may accomplish and maintain what is right, despising on the other hand everything that would hinder you. If one cannot make the world altogether pious, let him do what he can… If the others will not follow, then let them go, in God’s name. [Therefore] those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled; that is, that they shall be delightfully rewarded for their hunger and thirst by seeing that they have not labored in vain, and that at last some have been reached who have been benefited… [The sham saints do just the opposite] never once thinking upon it that they ought to help or advise other people with doctrine, instruction, exhortation, reproof and correction, or at least with praying and supplication to God.”
(Martin Luther)[6]
If I may paraphrase the minister’s encouragement from above—please read how Luther explained Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7—you may be surprised at what you find! An English translation of Luther’s commentary is in the public domain in book form titled Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount and I have made it available so you may freely download and read it for yourself.
Please reply below and let me know if you discover more explanations that conflict with current Church teachings.
[1] Finnish Independent Apostolic Lutheran Congregations (I.A.L.C.)
[2] This statement was spoken during a sermon on October 19, 2019 in the Minneapolis Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church (M.I.A.L.C.) at Dayton, Minnesota. A recording of the sermon was rebroadcast during a telephone call-in on Sunday June 7, 2020, 10:30 AM service, 2nd sermon. Minister’s name redacted.
[3] I.A.L.C. telephone call-in broadcasted live from the Negaunee church in Michigan on Sunday June 28, 2020, 1:00 PM service, 2nd sermon. Minister’s name redacted.
[4] Hay, Charles A. (1892) Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, by Martin Luther. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Published by the Lutheran Publication Society. pv.
[5] “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) See also: Psalm 14:2-3, John 6:44, et al.
[6] Hay, p47.