Commentary on Galatians Quotes

“To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“By faith we began, by hope we continue, and by revelation we shall obtain the whole.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“We are nothing with all our gifts be they ever so great, except God assist us.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“It is easy enough to do good once or twice, but to keep on doing good without getting disgusted with the ingratitude of those whom we have benefited, that is not so easy.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“If we do not love God and His Word what difference does it make if we love anything at all?”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“God does not slack his promises because of our sins... or hasten them because of our righteousness and merits. He pays no attention to either.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“My neighbor is every person, especially those who need my help, as Christ explained in the tenth chapter of Luke. Even if a person has done me some wrong, or has hurt me in any way, he is still a human being with flesh and blood. As long as a person remains a human being, so long is he to be an object of our love.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Christ is no Moses, no law-giver, no tyrant, but the Mediator for sins, the Giver of grace and life.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“The Gospel is true because it deprives men of all glory, wisdom, and righteousness and turns over all honor to the Creator alone. It is safer to attribute too much glory unto God than unto man.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“We find no rest for our weary bones unless we cling to the word of grace.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“The article of justification must be sounded in our ears incessantly
because the frailty of our flesh will not permit us to take hold of it
perfectly and to believe it with all our heart.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Did Christ die, or did He not die? Was His death worth while, or was it not? If His death was worth while, it follows that righteousness does not come by the Law. Why was Christ born anyway? Why was He crucified? Why did He suffer? Why did He love me and give Himself for me? It was all done to no purpose if righteousness is to be had by the Law.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“The heavenly blessing is to be delivered from the law, sin and death; to be justified and quickened to life: to have peace with God; to have a faithful heart, a joyful conscience, a spiritual consolation; to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ; to have the gift of prophecy, and the revelation of the Scriptures; to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to rejoice in God.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“The proverb has it that Hunger is the best cook. The Law makes afflicted consciences hungry for Christ. Christ tastes good to them. Hungry hearts appreciate Christ. Thirsty souls are what Christ wants. He invites them: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Christ's benefits are so precious that He will dispense them only to those who need them and really desire them.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Hereby we may understand that God, of His special grace, maketh the teachers of the gospel subject to the Cross, and to all kinds of afflicitons, for the salvation of themselves and of the people; for otherwise they could by no means beat down this beast which is called vain-glory.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“The article of justification is fragile. Not in itself, of course, but in us. I know how quickly a person can forfeit the joy of the Gospel.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the religious wisdom of the world.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

“Paul makes it clear enough that it takes more than an Abrahamic pedigree to be a child of God. To be a child of God requires faith in Christ.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“But the truth will win out.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“fanatics. Every teacher of work-righteousness is a trouble-maker.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Either Christ must live and the Law perish, or the Law remains and Christ must perish; Christ and the Law cannot dwell side by side in the conscience. It is either grace or law. To muddle the two is to eliminate the Gospel of Christ entirely.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Hence the best service that anybody can render God is diligently to hear and read God's Word.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Now the true Gospel has it that we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the Law. The false gospel has it that we are justified by faith, but not without the deeds of the Law. The false apostles preached a conditional gospel. So do the papists. They admit that faith is the foundation of salvation. But they add the conditional clause that faith can save only when it is furnished with good works. This is wrong. The true Gospel declares that good works are the embellishment of faith, but that faith itself is the gift and work of God in our hearts. Faith is able to justify, because it apprehends Christ, the Redeemer. Human reason can think only in terms of the Law. It mumbles: "This I have done, this I have not done." But faith looks to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, given into death for the sins of the whole world. To turn one's eyes away from Jesus means to turn them to the Law. True faith lays hold of Christ and leans on Him alone. Our opponents cannot
understand this. In their blindness they cast away the precious pearl,
Christ, and hang onto their stubborn works. They have no idea what faith is.
How can they teach faith to others?”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“We also know that God is no respecter of persons. A plain factory hand who does his work faithfully pleases God just as much as a minister of the Word.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“The Gospel is to aggrandize Christ and the mercy of God.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“To mix Law and Gospel not only clouds the knowledge of grace, it cuts out Christ altogether.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“It seems we must choose between Christ and the Pope. Let the Pope perish.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“We shall understand why a Christian observes laws: For the peace of the world, out of gratitude to God, and for a good example that others may be attracted to the Gospel.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

“Circumstances, personal worth, character, achievements have no bearing upon justification. Before God they count for nothing. What counts is that we put on Christ.
Whether a servant performs his duties well; whether those who are in authority govern wisely; whether a man marries, provides for his family, and is an honest citizen; whether a woman is chaste, obedient to her husband, and a good mother: all these advantages do not qualify a person for salvation. These virtues are commendable, of course; but they do not count points for justification. All the best laws, ceremonies, religions, and deeds of the world cannot take away sin guilt, cannot dispatch death, cannot purchase life.
There is much disparity among men in the world, but there is no such disparity before God. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
― Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians