# “Become a disciple first” by Martin Luther

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2014/03/23/become-a-disciple-first-by-martin-luther/
- Published: 2014-03-23T15:30:44-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“In holy and divine matters one must first _hear_ rather than _see_, first _believe_
rather than _understand_, first _be grasped_ rather than _grasp_, first _be captured_
rather than _capture_, first _learn_ rather than _teach_, first _be a disciple_ 
rather than a _teacher_ and _master_ of his own.

We have an ear so that we may submit to others, and eyes that we may take care of
others. Therefore, whoever in the church wants to become an eye and a leader and
master of others, let him become an ear and a disciple first. _This first_.

The one who has not been tempted, what kind of things does he know? One who has 
not had experience, what kind of things does he know?

One who does not from experience know what temptations are like, will transmit not
things that are known, but either things that are heard or seen, or, what is more
dangerous, his own thoughts.

Therefore let him who wants to be sure and wants to counsel others faithfully first
have some experience himself, first carry the cross himself and lead the way by 
his example, and so he will be made certain that he can also be of service to others.”

–Martin Luther, [_Luther’s Works, Vol. 11: First Lectures on the Psalms II: Psalms 76-126_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0570064112/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0570064112&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20),
ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann (Saint Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 1955), 245-246. Luther is commenting on Psalm 94:8.

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