Take Heart
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:5 and Matthew 26:14–16
Series: Comments on Galatians
Luther wrote that the same thing happened to him which the Apostle Paul experienced. At first, when he first preached the gospel, many were delighted with the teaching of faith. Then, when the pope and the emperor pressed them hard, they turned their back on Luther. This is essentially what happened to Paul. At first, the Galatians appreciated the doctrine of faith, but eventually the Judaizers pressed them with their law-keeping. They turned against Paul with his simple message of faith in Christ.
Yet, we should note that this shared experience between Paul and Luther was common had already happened to their Lord. At first, Judas welcomed the message of the kingdom. After a few years, he realized that Jesus’ kingdom was not going to oust the Romans from Israel, and Judas betrayed his Lord. The old ways are hard to give up, and some will make it personal, as they did with Jesus, Paul, and Luther. And they will do the same to you. Take heart; “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!” (Matthew 10:22).
Share this post
Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
Click Here For Content Archives