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

¹But here riseth a question: Forasmuch as to be under the Law, is to be subject to the Law by compulsion, and to obey the Law no otherwise then unwillingly, so that none of them which are under the Law, are able to satisfy the Law, why Paul saith, that Christ was made under the Law.² I answer, that the Apostle maketh a very great difference between Christ, who was made under the Law,³ and other men which are borne under the ⟨p. 305⟩Law. For whereas he saith that Christ was made under the Law, he would signify, that Christ did put himself under the Law of his own accord, and was with his will made subject unto it of the Father, when as he might not have bin under the Law. But we were under the Law, being the servants of the Law by nature, and bearing the dominion thereof unwillingly: as Christ was willingly, not by nature, and against his will. Wherefore there is as great difference between,⁴ To be made under the Law, and, To be under the Law by nature, as between these, To be subject to the Law of free will, and, To be subject to the Law by servile constraint. It was free unto Christ, to be under the Law, or not to be under it, and he made himself subject to it of his own accord, that he might most diligently do all things that the Law requireth: but we were under the Law, even against our will.

¹But here riseth a questiō: Forasmuch as to be vnder the Law, is to be subiect to the Lawe by compulsion, and to obey the Law no otherwise then vnwillingly, so that none of them which are vnder the Lawe, are able to satisfie the Lawe, why Paul sayth, that Christ was made vnder the Lawe.² I aunswere, that the Apostle maketh a verie great differēce betweene Christ, who was made vnder the Lawe,³ and other men which are borne vnder the