Commentary on Psalm 124 125 and 129, 1 Peter 4.11, 5.1-4
THE Duty of a Good Shepherd: BY Dr. MARTIN LƲTHER: Being his COMMENTARY Upon 1 Pet. 4.11. and 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3, 4.
1 PET. 4.11.
If any mnn miniſter, let him do it, as of the ability which God miniſtreth.
WHoſoever executeth any function in the Church, or hath the cure of Souls committed unto him, may not deal as he liſt himſelf, or to over-rule matters according to his own ſenſual Will. Neither ſhall he ſay, Tuſh, I am a Prelate, the people muſt all liſten to that which I ſay, and obſerve my Laws, Ordinances, and Injunctions without gainſaying. For God requireth this, that no man miniſter, or do any thing, contrary or repugnant to that which he commandeth and appointeth. A Prelate or Biſhop (I ſay) ought to do nothing in the Church, unleſs he be certain and ſure of the warrantiſe thereof by Gods Word. For God cannot abide to have his ſervice jumbled and mingled at pleaſure, with every fooliſh Guegaw, and light trumpery. And therefore he ought to have an aſſurance and certainty in his mind and Conſcience, that even God both ſpeaketh and worketh in him; and to ſtand upon ſo ſure a ground for the verity thereof, that his Faith dare boldly witneſs with him and ſay, Whatſoever I have ſpoken, and whatſoever I have done, or dealt herein, I am ſo out of doubt, that the ſame in each reſpect is conſonant to the Word and Will of God, that I am ready, and dare to ſeal the ſame with my blood, and to confirm it with my Death. For otherwiſe, if I waver and totter this way and that way, not knowing whoſe cauſe and buſineſs I have in hand, my Faith is builded upon the Sand, ſo that the Devil mine Adverſary, is able to ſhake and tumble it which way he liſt. And therefore we are here ſtraightly forbidden, not to rely unto, nor to allow whatſoever Decree or Conſtitution theſe Biſhops liſt to obtrude and enjoyn, unleſs they ſtand upon a ſure ground, that the things which they do, are allowed of God, yea done of God himſelf; and unleſs they be able to ſay, Do this, for it is the Will and Commandment of God, and we have his expreſs Word and Commandment for our Warrant; If they be not able to ſay thus, they ought to be accounted as Lyars and Deceivers; much leſs ought any Chriſtian to yield unto them therein any Obedience or Subſcription. For, the Lord hath ſo appointed, that our Conſciences ſhould not elſewhere be ſtayed, but upon the moſt ſure and infallible Rock. And thus much for publick functions, wherein it is not lawful for us at any hand, to follow our own wilful Devices, and ſenſual Conceipts; nor to preſcribe any rule or order to be embraced, unleſs we be undoubtedly aſſured, that it ſtandeth with the Will and Word of God. Wherein we evidently ſee, how clean againſt the Kingdom of the Pope, & his mitred Biſhops (as things therein are now handled) Saint Peters mind and Judgment was, long before any Popes were known in the World, to rule the roſte in ſuch Pontificality, as ſince they have done.
1 PET. V. 1, 2, 3, 4.
1. The Elders which are among you I beſeech, which am alſo an Elder, and a witneſs of the ſufferings of Chriſt.
HEre Saint Peter teacheth thoſe that have any charge of feeding the Flock of Chriſt, how they ought to behave themſelves. In the Chapter afore, he told that none ſhould preſume to teach or preach any thing, unleſs he were certain and aſſured that the ſame was the ſincere and pure Word of God, upon which as upon a firm and ſtrong Rock, our Conſciences may boldly ſtay. For this in Duty is required of us Chriſtians, that we ſhould be certain and know throughly what thing is allowed of Chriſt, and what is not: for they that waver in uncertainty of this knowledge, are not to be taken as Chriſtians. He addeth alſo thus much, that whoſoever entreth into any Office or Function, ſhould ſo behave himſelf therein, in each reſpect, as that he ſhould not doubt but that God was the Author thereof. But what he here ſaith, peculiarly belongeth to Biſhops and Eccleſiaſtical Paſtors, wherein he teacheth them how they are to demean themſelves in the Adminiſtration of their duties and charges, and what manner of perſons they ought to be.
We muſt here further be acquainted with the Phraſe and Propriety of the Tongue, wherein this Epiſtle was written, that we be not deceived through ignorance of the ſignification and force of the Word. For this Greek name Presbuteros, which St. Peter here uſeth, doth ſignfiy An Elder: by which Word they alſo are called that be Senators; that is, men excelling in Age, Gravity, Vertue, Wiſdom, and Experience. After the ſame ſort, doth Chriſt call his Diſciples, Miniſters, and Senate, to whoſe Office it belongeth to overſee and govern his ſpiritual Empire (that is, to preach and to take care of the Chriſtian Congregation) by the name of Elders. And therefore marvail not a whit, neither let any thing move thee, though they which be Elders, be now a days called by other Titles or Names, whereof the Scripture maketh no mention at all; But not reſpecting the order, wherein things preſently ſtand, weigh and conceive the matter thus: When St. Peter or any other of the Apoſtles, came into any City wherein Chriſtians were, they ordained ſome one or other of them, ſuch as lived honeſtly and unblameable, and had Wife and Children, and alſo skilful in the Scriptures of God, to have the Superintendency and charge over the reſt. And them they called Seniors or Elders, whom afterward both St. Peter, and alſo St. Paul called Biſhops, whereby we may note, that Biſhops were no other, then the very ſame that were Elders.
Touching this purpoſe, we read in the Hiſtory of St. Martin, how a certain man came unto a place in Africa, and there in a poor Cottage found an Elderly man, whom they thought to have been ſome plain Country-man. Within a while, they ſaw many people come flocking to him, to whom he Preached and Expounded the Word of God, whereby they perceived that he was their Paſtor or Biſhop. For in thoſe days, there was no difference either in Apparel or manners between the Biſhops, and reſidue of Chriſtians.
The Elders (ſaith St. Peter) upon whom the charge lyeth, to feed the flock of Chriſt with the Word of God, and to have care over them in the Lord, I exhort, which am alſo an Elder. Whereby it manifeſtly appeareth, that they whom he here nameth Elders, were ſuch as laboured in the Miniſtry of the Word, and diligently preached the glad Tydings of the Goſpel. For, ſuch as he was that calleth himſelf their fellow Elder, ſuch alſo appeareth it that they were. And here we ſee, how far he humbleth and abaſeth himſelf, in that, he taketh not upon him the name of a Prelate, (which in reſpect that he was an Apoſtle of the Lord he might have done) but calleth himſelf a Fellow Elder, and alſo a witneſs of the Sufferings of Chriſt. As if he had ſaid, I do not only preach, but I am alſo among thoſe Confeſſors of Chriſt, that are exerciſed in dayly Afflictions. And withal he alſo ſheweth that ſo many as be Chriſtians, muſt be perſecuted and ſuffer affliction. And this is a true Apoſtle of Chriſt, unto whom if the Pope and his Biſhops were any thing like, (as they are ſhameleſs enough, to challenge to themſelves the ſame Title) we would not greatly ſtick, willingly to kiſs their feet.
Verſ. 1. And alſo a Partaker of the Glory that ſhall be Revealed.
This part of the Apoſtles Style and Title, is of far more excellency, then any that our Popiſh Biſhops dare pretend to uſe. For thereby doth St. Peter take and reckon himſelf Holy, and a bleſſed Man. And altho' he perfectly knew, that he ſhould be a Partaker of the Glory to come, yet taketh he no Pride therein, he lifteth not himſelf up in any ſwelling Glory, but modeſtly containeth himſelf within the bounds of temperate ſoftneſs and courteſy.
V. 2. Feed the flock of God, which dependeth upon you, caring for it, not by conſtraint, but willingly; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind.
Chriſt is the firſt and chiefeſt Paſtour, who hath many Paſtours under him; as he alſo hath many Flocks: whom being diſperſed in ſundry quarters of the World, he committeth to the charge and overſight of their Shepherds and Paſtours, as in this Epiſtle of St. Peter, written into divers Countries and Regions, appeareth. But what is the charge of theſe Paſtours to do? Forſooth, to feed the Flock of Chriſt. This word (Feed) the Pope hath raked and haled unto himſelf, whereby he goeth about to prove himſelf Lord and Prince of all, and that it is in our own choice and Authority, to deal with the Sheep as he liſteth himſelf. But alas, who is ſo ignorant that knoweth not what this word (Feed) meaneth: To wit, that the Paſtours and Shepherds ought to provide Paſture for their Sheep, and to ſee them have their meat in convenient and due ſeaſon, whereby they may grow to be fruitful: And moreover to watch that devouring Wolves ruſh not in among them, and tear the Flock in pieces? This word (Feed) ſigniſieth nothing leſs then to kill and ſpoil.
Furthermore St. Peter calleth it peculiarly the Flock of Chriſt, as tho' he ſhould ſay, Think not that the Flock is any of your own, ye are but only Servants and Miniſters to look unto it, ye are no Lords nor Maſters over it. Contrary to the bold practice and cuſtomable dealing of many Biſhops, which account and call every one within their Dioceſs and Juriſdiction, their Sheep. We are the Sheep of Chriſt, for he ſaid afore, Ye are now returned unto the Shepherd and Biſhop of your Souls. Biſhops are the Miniſters of Chriſt, to keep his Sheep, and to give them meat and paſture. And therefore to Feed, is nothing elſe then to preach the Goſpel, wherewith their Souls may be fed, fatted and fructified, that ſo the Sheep may be nouriſhed with the Goſpel. This is the only and proper Office of a Biſhop.
So ſaid Chriſt unto Peter; Feed my Sheep, Joh. 21. that is, the Sheep which I commit unto thee to feed, are not thine but mine. Howbeit theſe words have been ſo canvaſſed and wreſted by my Lord the Pope, that he thereby uſurpeth and exerciſeth an external Domination and Lordſhip over the Church of Chriſt, whereas neither he, nor any of his ſacrilegious Chaplains, preacheth ſo much as one word of the Goſpel. They brag that they have their Succeſſion from St. Peter. If it were ſo, yet ſear I, that it could ſcarcely be proved that any Pope ever preached the Goſpel; for none of them hath left any thing behind him, that is written and extant, wherein a man may read the Goſpel. St. Gregory the Pope was ſurely an holy man; and yet the things which he preached, are not to be eſteemed worth a ſtraw; whereby it may appear, that the ſame See of Rome is peculiarly and ſpecially accurſed of God. I deny not, but ſundry of the Popes ſuffered Martyrdom under cruel Tyrants, for the Goſpels-ſake, but yet there is nothing extant that was written by any of them, which is Evangelical. And yet they ſtill brag and crack, that it is their charge to feed, whereas indeed they do nothing elſe but entangle, and clogge mens Conſciences with Laws of their own, and make havock and ſale of mens Souls, never troubling themſelves with preaching one word of Chriſt his ſacred Goſpel.
True it is, that there are many to be found, as well Women as men, which are able to preach, and that with no leſs Dexterity and ſufficiency, then he unto whom that charge and office is peculiarly committed. But becauſe the greateſt number in the flock always is of weaklings, therefore it is expedient that ſome be appointed to ſtrengthen and confirm ſuch, and to keep back the Wolf from ruſhing in among them, and devouring them. For a Preachers Office and Duty is not only to feed, that is, to teach his Sheep, how they ought to frame themſelves to become true and ſincere Chriſtians; but he hath the charge alſo to look that the Wolf be kept out, and that none of the Sheep be devoured, or ſeduced by falſe Doctrine, and ſo drawn into error, which is the continual drift and practice of the Devil. Now, there be many that can well enough abide to have the Goſpel preached, ſo that there might be no exclaiming, and ſpeaking againſt Wolves; I mean, ſo that Preachers in their Sermons, would forbear railing and taunting againſt Prelates. But although I preach ſound Doctrine, and that which is true; and although I feed and teach (my charge) the Sheep, well and rightly; yet is not that ſufficient; for it is further required at my hands, to keep the Sheep from danger, and to have a careful regard unto them, that Wolves come not among them, to drive them away out of their fertile and wholeſome paſtures. For to what purpoſe is my building, if when I have couched and orderly laid my Stones, another ſtraitways come and throw them down as faſt again, and I ſeeing him, forbid him not? The Wolf is well enough contented, that the Sheep be well fed, and fatted in good paſture; becauſe the fatter they be, the pleaſanter and daintier Prey thinketh he to make of them. But that Dogs ſhould inceſſantly bark and baule at him, that can he not abide. And therefore it is a matter of no ſmall weight and charge, to feed well, according as God hath given in Commandment to do; and it behooveth each one in that function carefully to conſider his charge in this behalf.
The Flock (ſaith he) which dependeth upon you, that is, over which ye have charge, or which is among you, and not which is ſubject and lying at your feet. Care for it, and that not by conſtraint, becauſe you can no otherwiſe chooſe, but willingly; not for filthy lucre ſake, but of a ready mind. Here he comprehendeth in one word, all that which the Prophet Ezehiel in the 34th Chapter of his Propheſy, writeth concerning Paſtors or Biſhops. The meaning of this place is thus: Not only feed ye, but take ye care alſo and provide for them, that they want nothing, and where any ſtandeth in neceſſity or need, there ſee that ye releive them: and in each reſpect, do the parts and duties of right Epiſcopoi, that good Watchmen and faithful Eſpials. Look out, leaſt danger appear, ſtand always preſt and ready on your guard, and diligently behold and eſpy out of your Watch Tower, what it is that is wanting, or what is befallen unto every one within your charges. Hereby we may well perceive and know, that a Biſhop is even the ſame which is here meant by an Elder. And therefore it is not true, which ſome ſay, that a Biſhoprick is a Dignity, and a Biſhop only he that weareth a forked Mitre. Epiſcopacy is not a name of Dignity, but of Office: for he that is inveſted with that name and title, ought to look to his Flock, and to be careful for it, and to ſerve as a good Watchman, to ſee abroad, and learn what things be amiſs any where within his charge. As if there be any that is weak, having his conſcience wounded, him ought he to confirm, comfort and heal: if any fall, him ought he to lift up again, and ſo as other defects ariſe, to be ready to help, whereby Chriſtian-people may be ſafficiently looked unto and provided for, both in Soul and in Body. This is the reaſon that hath moved me therefore oftentimes to ſay, that if we would inſtitute a right Chriſtian Common-wealth, it were neceſſary, that in every City there ſhould be three or four Superintendents, to take care and regard over the Church and Congregation, and to reform and reſtore whatſoever therein is amiſs or wanting.
And here he toucheth two ſpecial Points, enough almoſt to terrify and diſcourage any man from bearing Authority over the people, or to take this great charge and burden upon him. Firſt there be ſome vertuous and honeſt men, who half unwillingly are drawn into the Miniſtry and function of Preaching; for that, they ſee it to be a painful and laborious Office, to skout about every where, to ſee how the Sheep live, to ſuccour and help them that be in want, to ſtrengthen and raiſe up them that be wavering and ready to fall; and finally to have ſuch diligent care and continual watch over them, that the Wolf find no entrance to invade and come ruſhing in among them; yea in that, he muſt not ſtick to lay down his life for their preſervation and ſafeguard, And alſo for that it is ſuch an hard matter of ſo great difficulty, truly to diſcharge the office of a goodly Paſtor: yea of ſo great danger it muſt be throughly executed, and that not unwillingly, or as though it alſo, becauſe were by conſtraint. True it is, that no man ought to intrude himſelf into that Office; but if he be thereunto called an required, he ought willingly to take it upon him, and to diſcharge and perform as much as to his function and office appertaineth.
For they that take this matter upon them upon neceſſity and conſtraint, and have neither courage nor pleaſure in the ſame, ſhall never with any profit fruitfully diſcharge or execute their office.
Again, there be others worſe then theſe, which take this Office upon them for no other end but for filthy Lucre, to ſcrape and rake together wealth, and to pamper and cram their bellies. Theſe fellows ſeek only for the Wool and the Milk of the Sheep, but as for good Paſtures for them they care not; and with this Scab is the Popiſh Clergy horribly infected. And this is a moſt hurtful, dangerous noyſome and filthy Vice, then which there cannot be any ſo diſhonourable or ſhameful for him that taketh on him the name and charge of a Chriſtian Biſhop or Paſtor. Which was the thing that cauſed both the Apoſtles, Petor and Paul, and alſo the Prophets, ſo oft to record and inculcate it. This cauſed Moſes to ſay, Numb. 16. I have not taken ſo much as an Aſs from them; neither have I hurt any of them. And Samuel alſo; Ye know that I have not taken any mans Ox, or Aſs from him, nor done wrong to any, &c. 1 Sam. 12. For if he that hath this charge and function of feeding the Flock, be greedily given to ſcraping together of riches and wealth, and to gape after filthy Lucre; ſuch an one (I ſay) is himſelf eaſily and ſoon changed from a Paſtor into a Wolf.
Verſ. 2. But of a ready mind.
That is, even with pleaſure. Let the Paſtor or Biſhop apply his Office and Vocation, and that with a ready willingneſs. They that thus chearfully, promptly and zealouſly diſcharge their function, are thoſe, which as they do their duties willingly, ſo do they not greedily pull the fleece from the Sheep. There be therefore two ſorts of falſe Paſtors. The one ſort occupy their room grudgingly and unwillingly; the other willingly and gladly; but yet for gain and filthy Lucre.
Verſ. 3. Not as though yo were Lords over Gods heritage.
Sueh are they that are willing to take the office upon them, for dignity ſake, becauſe they would live pompouſly and bear great ſway and authority in the World. He therefore exhorteth Biſhops, Eiders and Paſtors, that they practiſe not any Lordly Tyranny over the Flock, as though the people were their Slaves and Underlings, or as though they had ſuch authority and Lordſhip over them, to command what they liſt. For we have but one Lord, which is Chriſt; and he it is which governeth our Souls. Elders and Paſtors have no further charge then to feed. And here in one word, Saint Peter utterly overthroweth all the Ringdoms of the Pope; and concludeth that no Biſhop hath any authority, ſo much as in one word to clog and tye the conſcience of the faithful to the obſervation of their Precepts. For they themſelves ought to be Servants and Miniſters, and to ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord, and theſe be the words of Chriſt; it is not we, the words are none of ours; and therefore ye ought to do that which is here commanded. According to that which Chriſt ſaith; Luke 32. The Kings of the Gentiles reign over them, and they that bear rule over them, are called gracious Lords, but ye ſhall not be ſo. Contrary whereunto the Pope boaſteth and braggeth ſaying, We ought to be Lords, and to us only belongeth to exerciſe chief Rule and Supream Authority.
Verſ. 3. But that ye may be enſamples to the Flock. Verſ. 4. And when the chief Shepheard ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive an incorruptible Crown of Glory.
See that ye be the formoſt in the battle, uſing ſuch honeſt converſation, that your life may be a Lanthorn to give light, and an example to the people, to imitate you. But our Lord Shaveliugs uſe to tell the people another tale, bidding them to do this and that, they themſelves in the mean while leaning on their ſoft Cuſhions, and taking their eaſe like Lordings; laying upon us great and grievous burdens, which they themſelves will not touch nor lift at with one of their fingers; not travelling any whit in Preaching the true Word of God, but rather commanding others to do that, which they themſelves never did, nor ever meant to do. And yet muſt no man tell them thereof, for if he do, he ſhould be ſure quickly to feel the ſmart of it.
Again, to ſuch Paſtors Biſhops, Elders and Superintendents, as here in this world did their duties faithully, truly, ſincerely, and holily; Saint Peter aſſigneth no temporal reward; as though he ſhould ſay, your Office and Function is of more excellency and dignity, then that in this life it can be requited and recompenced; there is due and kept for you an Evelarſting Crown, that ſhall be given unto you which faithfully and diligently feed the Flock of Chriſt. And this is the exhortation wherewith Saint Peter encourageth them, to whom the charge and cure of Souls is committed. Whereby is manifeſtly concluded and proved, that the Pope with his Cardinals and Biſhops is the very Antichriſt, and and the profeſſed Adverſaries of Chriſt, for that they do nothing of all theſe, which Saint Peter here requireth. For they neither teach others, neither do they any thing themſelves, but are wholly and altogether in thoſe devices and by-matters, which are moſt oppoſite and contrary thereunto. They neither feed the Sheep themſelves, neither will they ſuffer others to feed them; but rather place the ravening Wolves, devouring and murthering the Flock, and yet brag they, that they be Chriſts Vicar on Earth. Too truly (the more pity) are they in the room and ſtead of Chriſt, being abſent, after the manner and example of the Devil: For whereſoever Chriſt is not in place, there they bear ſway, and as Butcherly Tyrants raign and command moſt imperiouſly.
It is therefore very expedient and requiſite, that the Laity and ſimpler ſort ſhould perfectly remember this and ſuch like places; by the which they may be able to anſwer againſt that Antichriſtian Kingdom of the Pope, whenſoever they ſhall be called into queſtion and examination as touching their Faith; yea, thus may they well ſay, when they are brought unto ſuch pinches. Behold Chriſt ſaith thus, and the Pope ſaith the clean contrary. Chriſt ſaith yea, the Pope ſaith nay. They therefore thus teaching contrary and repugnant doctrines, the one of them muſt needs lye. Now, that Chriſt ſhould lye, it is impoſſible, and therefore it is the Pope, that is the lying Ruffian of the world, and not only a Devilliſh Lyar, but even Antichriſt himſelf. Thus oughteſt thou to be furniſhed armed with the Scriptures, by the which thou mayſt not only boldly call the Pope Anticriſt, but mayſt alſo (when thou haſt ſo done) moſt plainly and eaſily prove it, ſo that thou mayſt ſurely by the Word of God perſiſt in thine opinion, even to the death, againſt the Devil and all his Infernal Army.
FINIS.
End of the text · Martin Luther, Commentary on Psalm 124 125 and 129 (1685)