Treatise on the New Testament
Excerpts from Luther’s “Treatise on the New Testament, that is, the Holy Mass”
1. Experience, all chronicles, and the Holy Scriptures as well, teach us this truth: the less law, the more justice; the fewer commandments, the more good works. No well-regulated community ever existed long if at all, where there were many laws. Therefore, before the ancient law of Moses, the patriarchs of old had no prescribed law and order for the service of God other than the sacrifices, as we read of Adam, Abel, Noah, and others. Afterward circumcision was enjoined upon Abraham and his household, until the time of Moses, through whom God gave the people of Israel a variety of laws, forms, and practices, for the sole purpose of teaching human nature how utterly useless many laws are to make people righeous. For although the law leads and drives away from evil to good works, it is impossible for man to do them willingly and gladly, for he has always an aversion to the law and would rather be free. Now where there is unwillingness, there can never be a good work. For what is not done willingly is not good, but only seems to be good. Consequently all the laws cannot make one really righteous without the grace of God. Instead they inevitably produce only Pharisees, hypocrites, pretenders, and haughty saints such as have their reward here [Matt. 6:2] and never please God. Thus God says to the Jews in Malachi 1 [:10], “I have no pleasure in you; for who is there among you that would even as much as shut a door for me, willingly and out of love?”
36. …where there is no faith, there no prayer helps, nor the hearing of many masses. Things can only become worse. As Psalm 23 [:5] says, “Before my eyes thou hast prepared a table for me against all my affliction [anfechtung].” Is this not a clear verse? What greater affliction [anfechtung] is there than sin and the evil conscience which is always afraid of God’s anger and never has rest. Again, Psalm 111 [:4-5] says, “He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered, and has provided food for those who fear him.” It is certain, then, that for bold and satisfied spirits, whose sin does not prick them, the mass is of no value. For they have as yet no hunger for this food, since they are still too full. The mass demands and must have a hungry soul, which longs for the forgiveness of sins and divine favor.
37. But because this despair and unrest of conscience are nothing but an infirmity of faith, the severest malady which man can have in body and soul, and which cannot at once be speedily cured, it is useful and necessary that the more restless a person’s conscience, the more should he go to the sacrament or hear mass. He should do this in such a way as to picture to himself therein the word of God and feed and strengthen his faith by it; never to make a work or sacrifice of it, but let it remain a testament and a sacrament, out of which he shall take and enjoy a benefit freely and of grace. Thereby his heart may become sweet toward God and obtain a comforting confidence toward him, For so sings the Psalter, Psalm 104 [:15], “The bread strengthens man’s heart, and the wine gladdens the heart of man.”
39. So we see with how very few laws and works Christ has weighed down his holy church and with how many promises he has lifted it up to faith. Yet now, alas! everything is completely turned around. We are driven by many long and burdensome laws and works to become righteous; yet nothing comes of it. But Christ’s burden is light [Matt. 11:30] and soon produces an abundant righteousness, which consists in faith and trust and fulfils what Isaiah 10 [:22] says, “A little perfection will bring a flood full of righteousness.” That [burden] is faith. It is a little thing, to which belong neither laws nor works; indeed it cuts off all laws and works, and fulfils all laws and works. Therefore there flows forth from it nothing but righteousness. For so perfect is faith that without any other labor and law, it makes everything that man does acceptable and well pleasing to God. I have said more about this in my little book, On Good Works.
Therefore let us beware of sins, but much more of laws and good works, giving heed only to the divine promise and to faith. Then all good works will come of themselves. To this may God help us. Amen.
