Two Important Quotes from Martin Luther

I share with you two important quotes I recently discovered, spoken by Martin Luther on the subject of preaching. He provides some insightful, biblical perspective on preaching, for preachers and hearers alike. I cannot say what he says any better.

The Word Did It All

I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept ... the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all.(Quoted from Timothy George’s Theology of the Reformers, page 53)

Teach Only the Word of God

Right preachers should diligently and faithfully teach only the Word of God and seek only his honor and praise. Likewise, the hearers also should say: I do not believe in my pastor, but he tells me of another Lord, whose name is Christ; him he shows to me; I will listen to him, in so far as he leads me to the true Teacher and Master, God’s Son.(Quoted from Martin Luther's last sermon, preached in Eisleben, February 15, 1546)