Thursday, February 7, 2013

"What is Truth?": Luther on John 18:38a

On Palm Sunday March 29, 1534, Luther preached at the parish church on the subject "What Happened Before Pontius Pilate in the Passion of Christ".  Here is one paragraph from that sermon, remarks by the good doctor on Pilate's question, "What is Truth?"

"That word of Pilate, 'What is truth?' accurately paints our age.  For the way things are going, people are wondering, What is truth?  What do faithfulness and faith amount to anymore in the world?  What is integrity?  After they take your coat, next it's your shirt.  The one who has a concern for truth is already lost.  The one, however, who wants to climb the ladder of success needs to lie, deceive, dissemble, and betray."

This 500 year old quote from Luther proves the inherent depravity of man since we see the same attitude among the lost in our world even today.