What Jesus Says

You may not be aware of this, but Tuesday, October 31, marks the 500^th anniversary of the day that Martin Luther tacked his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. All us good Lutherans are supposed to know all about this and that this event marked the beginning of the reformation and a splitting away from the Catholic church.

I was going to write more about that event today, do some research, study up on Martin Luther, maybe tell you something you’ve never heard before. Instead as I was reading through various Bible passages, looking for just the right one which would make one of Luther’s points (such as “you can’t buy your way into heaven”), I ended up in the following chapter from the book of Luke. I don’t know if these are passages which Luther used as ammunition against the church leaders of 1517 or not. It doesn’t matter; I like them.

 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. (Luke 12:22-33 New International Version)

 As usual, Jesus says it all better than I ever could.