Luther is the Teacher Who is First and Always the Learner

Today there is no shortage of motivational speakers that address dietary, emotional, social, legal, medical, monetary, personal, political, and religious issues. They attract an audience with some pressing concern and then often try to sell something. Many are successful in building large corporations. Few, however, sustain a lasting demand for the products they peddle. They rise and fall like waves in the wind. Their popularity waxes and wanes. This cycle is typical of all strictly earthly enterprises.
Although considered a novice by many of his colleagues, the popularity of Luther’s lectures continued to grow in Wittenberg. Melanchthon, Luther’s closest colleague, tells us that Luther’s lectures were attended by a growing number of students. Even prominent citizens began attending. They recognized that Luther was teaching something that they hadn’t heard before: “the consolation of the Son of God.” The reformation of the University of Wittenberg had begun.
Much like his publications that would follow, Luther’s popularity continued to build from 1515 through 1523. The first part of this transformation commenced once Luther approached the Scriptures by respecting their grammatical meaning in the context in which they were written and abandoned the many-layered interpretation of the text that was common in medieval times. The second part of this was his “rumination” upon the plain meaning of the text.
For Luther, the study of the Scriptures was not merely a theological exercise, but an activity that engaged his mind, soul, and life. He listened intensively to the text and it continually occupied him. He pondered it and was trained by it. His spiritual instruction continued as he remembered and applied God’s Word throughout his waking hours. This approach was a dramatic change from the sterile, scholarly formulations that characterized the religious instruction in Luther’s day. The connection of God’s Word with the daily experiences in one’s life made him something of a novelty. In his occupation with the biblical text, Luther did not abandon it to human speculation, make it a servant to the reasoning of his mind, or twist it to conform to his emotions. It instructed him. In this manner, Luther the teacher was first and always Luther the humble student of God’s Word.
As “the most distinguished teacher of the churches which confess the Augsburg Confession, whose entire doctrine as to sum and substance is comprised in its articles,” the instruction of Luther and those who confess it with him abides with us. Such confessors may be novel in some respects; however, they repeatedly insist, “We teach nothing new.” For them, the ancient faith of Christ and His inspired apostles alone provides the “immutable rock” of all that is taught in the church. Luther insisted that he had “repeatedly traced out” from the Scriptures the doctrines which he confessed and that no one should after his death claim that if he were living today, he would have held this or that doctrine differently.
But for Luther, the instruction of God’s Word was never disconnected from the mind, heart, and life of a believer. In this, Luther (ever the learner) provides a God-pleasing model for all believers. The Word is on the believer’s mind and heart at the beginning and throughout and at the end of every day. A true child of God will be instructed by the plain meaning of the Word of God, hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it. This Word lives in the mind and heart of the believer in all the experiences of life. It brings contrition, comfort, and correction. The Word includes the will and law of God for human attitudes and life. It also includes the gracious and saving will of God who sent His Son to bring to sinners “the righteousness of God” and cleanse them of all unrighteousness. Both doctrines are the Word of God. They live in the heart of a believer as life unfolds, confronting and comforting saints that remain sinners in this world. For this purpose, God gave His Word and therefore it remains the treasure God intended it to be for those who are trained by it.
Thomas E. Smuda is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Deschler, Ohio.