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

The cause is our nature, which will have to do with works and laws, and hear what they say, and follow them that say: Why doth he eat with Publicans and sinners? if he did eat and drink with us, he should do well. Also: why do thy Disciples pluck the ears of corn on the Sabbath day? &c. with whom it will have to do so long, till the law saith: now thou art righteous. For it can attain to no higher understanding, then that the doctrine of the law is the chiefest doctrine, and that the righteousness thereof is the best life before God. In it it continually remaineth so captive yea and bound, neither can it by any means deliver it self out of this prison, being not able to pacify and appease the law, that it do not exact any thing of it, or reprehend it in any thing, but it is compelled to be captive therein as in a perpetual prison, and the longer it striveth and fighteth with the law, into so much worse case doth it always come, until at the last it be wholly subdued.

The cause is our nature, which will haue to doe with workes and lawes, and heare what they say, and followe them that say: Why doth he eate with Publicanes and sinners? if he did eate and drinke with vs, he should do wel. Also: why do thy Disciples plucke the eares of corne on the Sabbath day? &c. with whom it will haue to do so long, til the law sayth: now thou art righteous. For it can attaine to no higher vnderstanding, then that the doctrine of the law is the chiefest doctrine, and that the righteousnes thereof is the best life before God. In it it continually remaineth so captiue yea and bound, neither can it by any meanes deliuer it self out of this prison, being not able to pacifie and appease the law, that it doe not exact any thinge of it, or reprehend it in any thing, but it is compelled to be captiue therein as in a perpetuall prison, and the longer it striueth and fighteth with the lawe, into so much worse case doth it alwayes come, vntill at the last it be wholy subdued.

What therefore must I do,¹ the law assailing & urging my conscience, especially when I perceive my self not to do that which it requireth? I answer, even that which Christ doth here, who admitteth or acknowledgeth no law, although brought out of the law of God. So learn thou also to do, that thou mayest boldly say to the law, leave of law to dispute with me, I have nothing to do with thee. And for that very same cause, for which thou comest to dispute with me, and to enquire of me, how good and righteous I am, I will not hear thee. For it here maketh no matter, what I am, or what I ought to do, and what not to do, but what Christ him self is, ought to do, and doeth. For now we are in the bridechamber, where only the bridegroom and the bride must have to do, and it behoveth not thee to come thither, nor to intermeddle any thing there.