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Luther's Tragic Mistake: Commentary on Parts 18-23

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

Our focus this week in Luther's portions of the tract presented is on the Kingdom of David. Luther makes the valid point that the reign of David's house continued in spite of the members of that lineage. It only took a second generation, in fact, to lose a majority of the tribes. After Solomon, the northern ten tribes (known as the Kingdom of Israel) followed another king, electing not to follow the dynasty of David. Luther also points out the many evil kings in the lineage of David. This is important because in Luther's day, as today, the dynasty of David no longer exists as a political entity. Obviously it is a spiritual dynasty. Hence the sign that again points to Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah.

Even during the Babylonian Captivity, Luther points out, the Davidic kings had honor in the Babylonian court. God preserved the dynasty!

Next, Luther explores the promise to David: "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you." Luther points out that this does not refer to immediate descendants but is in fact a Messianic promise. For it is after David's death that this seed would be raised up.

Luther also explores the two houses mentioned: David's eternal house, built by God, and the temple build by Solomon, which would be destroyed by Babylon's Nebuchadnezzar. One reflects Gospel; the other reflects Law. Which do you suppose stands the test of time and which no longer exists?

Luther gets into some more name-calling. Specifically, these words are to be considered:

Anyone who would venture to contradict such clear and convincing statements of Scripture regarding the eternal house of David, which are borne out by the histories, showing that there were always kings or princes down to the Messiah, must be either the devil himself or whoever is his follower. For I can readily believe that the devil, or whoever it may be, would be unwilling to acknowledge a Messiah, but still he would have to acknowledge David's eternal house and throne.

It was Luther himself who stated we are at the same time saints and sinners. It was Luther who wrote that "The Law is a constant inhabitant in a man's heart, the Gospel a seldom guest." Luther should recognize that because of our sinful nature we resist the teaching of the Messiah, the Messiah who pays for our sin by dying on a cross. The Jews of Jesus' day sought a Messiah that would lead Israel back to political glory. But here again Christians generalize. Many Jews in Jesus day did await a Messiah who would save them from sin. The New Testament is full of Jewish people accepting that Jesus was the fulfillment of Scriptural prophecy.