Martin Luther on the Real Presence (and Sola Scriptura) [Ecumenical]

Black Cordelias ^ | July 26, 2008

[NYer]

Q. What did Martin Luther believe about the Body and Blood of Christ in the bread and wine?

A. Martin Luther believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He became indignant when groups, who had followed him out of the Catholic Church, rejected the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He deplored the fact that every milkmaid and farmhand thought they could interpret scripture correctly. Here he is in his own words.

Who, but the devil, has granted such license of wresting the words of the holy Scripture? Who ever read in the Scriptures, that my body is the same as the sign of my body? or, that is is the same as it signifies? What language in the world ever spoke so? It is only then the devil, that imposes upon us by these fanatical men. Not one of the Fathers of the Church, though so numerous, ever spoke as the Sacramentarians: not one of them ever said, It is only bread and wine; or, the body and blood of Christ is not there present.

Surely, it is not credible, nor possible, since they often speak, and repeat their sentiments, that they should never (if they thought so) not so much as once, say, or let slip these words: It is bread only; or the body of Christ is not there, especially it being of great importance, that men should not be deceived. Certainly, in so many Fathers, and in so many writings, the negative might at least be found in one of them, had they thought the body and blood of Christ were not really present: but they are all of them unanimous.”

–Luther’s Collected Works, Wittenburg Edition, no. 7 p, 391

[NYer]

He deplored the fact that every milkmaid and farmhand thought they could interpret scripture correctly.

[big'ol_freeper]

Here come the lame excuses.

[shineon]

The church is the real body of Jesus Christ. He is the head of the church and we are the body.

[shineon]

You can say that an arbitrary piece of bread blessed by a minister is the body of Christ. I will stick with the church.

[shineon]

I don’t see Martin Luther mentioned anywhere in the New Testament.

[Radl]

I’ll stick with what Jesus said.

[shineon]

That sounds like a good plan.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

That’s exactly what ML said.

[NYer]

You can say that an arbitrary piece of bread blessed by a minister is the body of Christ. I will stick with the church.

It is not I but Jesus who says this.

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
John 6:35

John 6:35,41,48,51 - Jesus says four times "I AM the bread from heaven." It is He, Himself, the eternal bread from heaven.

[narses]

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[verga]

Estin- is 3rd person singular active indicative

Mat 3:17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Mat 3:17 kai idou fwnh ek twn ouranwn legousa outov estin o uiov mou o agaphtov en w eudokhsa

Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Mat 17:5 eti autou lalountov idou nefelh fwteinh epeskiasen autouv kai idou fwnh ek thv nefelhv legousa outov estin o uiov mou o agaphtov en w eudokhsa tsbautou akouete aautou

Mat 26:26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Mat 26:26 esqiontwn de autwn labwn o ihsouv ton arton kai euxaristhsav euloghsav eklasen kai douv edidou toiv maqhtaiv tsbkai eipen labete fagete touto estin to swma mou

Mat 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Mat 26:28 touto gar estin to aima mou to thv kainhv diaqhkhv to peri pollwn ekxunnomenon ekxunomenon eiv afesin amartiwn

Mar 14:22 And while they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it; and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is My body.”
Mar 14:22 kai esqiontwn autwn labwn o ihsouv arton euloghsav eklasen kai edwken autoiv kai eipen labete fagete touto estin to swma mou

Mar 14:24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Mar 14:24 kai eipen autoiv touto estin to aima mou tsbto thv kainhv diaqhkhv to ekxunnomenon uper peri pollwn ekxunomenon

[Always Right]

Martin Luther was a Catholic, so it is not surprising that he kept a lot of their views even though he broke from them.

[Mr. Lucky]

Worthy of a Lutheran ping?

[ThomasThomas]

"He deplored the fact that every milkmaid and farmhand thought they could interpret scripture correctly.

11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Like the Bereans we need to check what we hear from church leadership is true. If we except something is true just because the guy has a title we are still accountable to God for being wrong. The one infallible source is the Bible.

[asksimon]

" If God spare my life, before very long I shall cause a plough boy to know the scriptures better than you do!"
William Tyndale to an accusing priest.
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Paul to Timothy

Sorry Mr. Luther, but you can't cross a chasm in two small jumps, some things take a great leap. Luther wanted to reform the Catholic Church not break from it. But the truth of the Gospel captivated man's minds, and not even Luther could stem the tide.

[shineon]

Ok then we are all good.

[shineon]

ah but there is none good, no not one.

And Jesus said to the rich man. Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God.

[shineon]

Jesus was referring to himself of-course and hoping that the rich young ruler was recognizing him to be God manifest in the flesh.

[shineon]

or that the rich young ruler would soon recognize him that way.