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

even as at this day it is put into the peoples mind, that the Church cannot err. Hereupon the Pharisees thought thus: If he affirm that tribute must be given, he blasphemeth G•d, he shall be guilty of death, as one injurious to God, and then shall be stoned of the people. For God hath granted and promised liberty unto this people, and they were all even in the middest of captivity the people of God. Howbeit at that time they wanted a king, as they do at this day. Wherefore divers tumults, seditions, & uproars were stirred up among them. For they were taught by the law, that they should have a king of their own flesh and stock, as it is said before, wherefore they did uncessantly strive against strange kings and governments, until not a few of them at times were beaten & slain. Neither did this happen seldom times, for they were a stiffenecked, obstinate, and unruly nation, & therefore the Romans which at that time did bear rule over them, did very circumspectly govern them, and divided the land into four charges of government, that being on every side kept in awe by the governors and presidents, they might not so soon flock together and move sedition, and that they might also be more easily resisted if at any time they should rise against the Roman Empire. Wherefore Pilate was appointed of the Romans lieutenant of Judea, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene, as Luke rehearseth them. And all this was done that they might keep the Jews under, whereupon the Jews were inflamed with anger, and in a rage and fury, but specially in the time of Christ ⟨p. 216⟩they would willingly have had a king.

euen as at this day it is put into the peoples minde, that the Church cannot erre. Hereupon the Pharisees thought thus: If he affirme that tribute must be giuen, he blasphemeth G•d, he shalbe giltie of death, as one iniurious to God, and then shalbe stoned of the people. For God hath graunted and promised libertie vnto this people, and they were all euen in the middest of captiuitie the people of God. Howbeit at that time they wanted a king, as they do at this day. Wherefore diuers tumults, seditions, & vprores were stirred vp among them. For they were taught by the lawe, that they should haue a king of their own flesh and stocke, as it is said before, wherefore they did vncessantly striue against straunge kings and gouernments, vntill not a few of them at times were beaten & slaine. Neither did this happen seldom times, for they were a stiffenecked, obstinate, and vnruly nation, & therefore the Romaines which at that time did beare rule ouer them, did verie circumspectly gouerne them, and diuided the land into foure charges of gouernment, that being on euerie side kept in awe by the gouerners and presidents, they might not so soone flocke together and moue sedition, and that they might also be more easily resisted if at any time they should rise against the Romane Empire. Wherefore Pilate was appointed of the Romains lieftenant of Iudea, Herode Tetrarch of Galile, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Iturea, and of the countrie of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene, as Luke rehearseth them. And all this was done that they might keepe the Iewes vnder, whereupon the Iewes were inflamed with anger, and in a rage and furie, but specially in the time of Christ