A Chosen Race
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
MATTHEW 5:16
+
A Chosen Race
What is this "holy adornment," these priestly garments that adorn the Christians so that they become His holy priesthood? Nothing else than the beautiful, divine, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul (Ephesians 4:11, 12) and St. Peter (1 Peter 4:10) say, which were given to Christendom to advance the knowledge and the praise of God, a function which is carried out preeminently by the ministry of preaching the Gospel. For St. Paul says that these gifts exist "for the common good" of Christendom (1 Corinthians 12:7), which means that our preaching and confessing serve the purpose of bringing people to the knowledge of God so that He will be honored thereby. This is the reason why we are God's servants and are called priests. Whatever we do, our teaching and our life ought to shine like a beacon of light to the greater knowledge, honor, and praise of God, as Christ also says (Matthew 5:16). And St. Peter says (1 Peter 2:9): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
From Commentary on Psalm 110 (Luther's Works 13:294-95)
MATTHEW 5:16
+
A Chosen Race
What is this "holy adornment," these priestly garments that adorn the Christians so that they become His holy priesthood? Nothing else than the beautiful, divine, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul (Ephesians 4:11, 12) and St. Peter (1 Peter 4:10) say, which were given to Christendom to advance the knowledge and the praise of God, a function which is carried out preeminently by the ministry of preaching the Gospel. For St. Paul says that these gifts exist "for the common good" of Christendom (1 Corinthians 12:7), which means that our preaching and confessing serve the purpose of bringing people to the knowledge of God so that He will be honored thereby. This is the reason why we are God's servants and are called priests. Whatever we do, our teaching and our life ought to shine like a beacon of light to the greater knowledge, honor, and praise of God, as Christ also says (Matthew 5:16). And St. Peter says (1 Peter 2:9): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
From Commentary on Psalm 110 (Luther's Works 13:294-95)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
March
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats