Martin Luther Quotes on Politics
Martin Luther's political thought is inseparable from his theology of law and conscience, and the quotes gathered here reflect that. Central to Luther is a distinction between two orders: the law, which governs outward conduct and convicts of sin, and the conscience, which must be kept free for the Gospel. He insists that the Law has no right to tell him that he must be justified by it, and uses a vivid image of leaving the ass burdened with laws in the valley while the conscience ascends the mountain. Luther refused to let conscience be bound by any work or law, a principle with far-reaching consequences for the authority of both church and state. The page also includes his polemic On War against the Turk. Drawn largely from the commentary on Galatians, these passages show law and conscience as the hinge of Luther's view of authority.
Quotes
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“On War against the Turk (1529)”
His Mohammed, as has been said, commands that ruling is to be done by the sword, and in his Koran the sword is the commonest and noblest work. Thus the Turk is, in truth, nothing but a murderer or highwayman, as his deeds show before men’s eyes. -
“Some will object that the Law is divine and holy. Let it be divine and holy. The Law has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it.”
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians(1535) | Chapter 2 -
“By the law is the knowledge of sin [Rom 3:20], so the word of grace comes only to those who are distressed by a sense of sin and tempted to despair.”
On the Bondage of the Will(1525) | p. 168 -
“Leave the ass burdened with laws behind in the valley. But your conscience, let it ascend with Isaac into the mountain.”
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians(1535) | Chapter 2, Verse 14 -
“The true Gospel has it that we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the Law.”
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians(1535) | Chapter 2 -
“We refuse to have our conscience bound by any work or law, so that by doing this or that we should be righteous, or leaving this or that undone we should be damned.”
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians(1535) | Chapter 2 -
“When you see a person squirming in the clutches of the Law, say to him: “Brother, get things straight. You let the Law talk to your conscience. Make it talk to your flesh.”
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians(1535) | Chapter 2, Verse 19