Special and chosen sermons of D. Martin Luther collected out of his writings and…

Such a report he is constrained to bear of the holy Pharisees, not for that he giving himself to gluttony and surfeiting, accustomed to feed excessively and follow riotous pleasure together with them, but only because he admitted such into his company, and did not contemptuously reject them. For in their opinion he should have gone with a sad and austere countenance, in base apparel, & have remained severed from the conversation and company of men, and refused their fellowship, lest that by familiar custom with them, he should be defiled, and should have done as they were accustomed to do after the manner of holy men. Of whom Isaiah writeth, that they studied for such purity, that they did fear and suffer against their will even the touching of a sinner. Which in deed plainly appeareth Luke 7. in the Pharisee murmuring against Christ, because he suffered himself to be touched of the sinful woman. And it was they, that would alway be his masters, & prescribe unto him rules whereby to live, and behave himself in this life. Therefore in this place they murmur, for that he did not apply himself unto them, neither did disdain the company & conversation of such sinners according to their example.

Such a report he is cōstrained to beare of the holy Pharises, not for that he giuing himselfe to gluttonie and surfetting, accustomed to feede excessiuely and followe riotous pleasure togither with them, but onely because he admitted such into his company, and did not contemptuously reiect them. For in their opinion he should haue gone with a sad and austere countenance, in base apparell, & haue remained seuered from the conuersation and companie of men, and refused their felowshippe, lest that by familiar custome with them, he should be defiled, and should haue done as they were accustomed to do after ye maner of holy men. Of whom Esaie writeth, that they studied for such puritie, that they did feare and suffer against their will euen the touching of a sinner. Which in deede plainly appeareth Luke 7. in the Pharise murmuring against Christ, because he suffred himselfe to be touched of the sinfull woman. And it was they, that would alway be his maisters, & prescribe vnto him rules whereby to liue, and behaue himselfe in this life. Therefore in this place they murmur, for that he did not applie himselfe vnto thē, neither did disdaine ye cō pany & conuersation of such sinners according to their example.