In a wedding sermon of 1531, Luther says “God’s word is actually inscribed on one’s spouse. When a man looks at his wife as if she were the only woman on earth, and when a woman looks at her husband if he were the only man on earth; yes, if no king or queen, not even the sun itself sparkles any more brightly and lights up your eyes more than your own husband or wife, then right there you are face to face with God speaking. God promises to you your wife or husband, actually gives your spouse to you saying, ‘The man shall be yours. I am pleased beyond measure! Creatures earthly and heavenly are jumping for joy.’ For there is no jewelry more precious than God’s Word; through it you come to regard your spouse as a gift of God and, as long as you do that, you have no regrets” (WA 34:52.12-21, quoted by Hendrix, 347).
Luther on Marriage: Vocation in Creation and Cross
Image of God Conference
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
18-20 September 2006
