4. The Government of Non-Christians
teaching or law to bear good fruit; its nature causes it to bear according to its kind, without any law and teaching. (Mat 7:18) A man would be a fool to make a book of laws and statutes telling an apple tree how to bear apples and not thorns, when it is able by its own nature to do this better than man with all his books can define and direct. Just so, by the Spirit and by faith all Christians are throughout inclined to do good, and to keep the law, much more than anyone can teach them with all the laws; and so far as they are concerned, they need no commandments or law.
You ask, Why then did God give to all men so many commandments, and why did Christ teach in the Gospel so many things to be done? Concerning this I have written much in the Postil 1 and elsewhere. To put it as briefly as possible here, Paul says that the law is given for the sake of the unrighteous (1Tim 1:9); that is, so that those who are not Christians may through the law be externally restrained from evil deeds, as we shall hear later. Since, however, no one is by nature Christian or pious, but everyone is sinful and evil, God places the restraints of the law upon them all, so that they may not dare give rein to their desires, and commit outward, wicked deeds. In addition, St. Paul gives the law another function in Romans 7 and Galatians 3.2 It is to teach men to recognize sin, so that they may be made humble unto grace and unto faith in Christ. Christ also does this here, when He teaches in Mat 5:393 that we should not resist evil; and thereby he glorifies the law and teaches how a real Christian ought to be and must be disposed, as we shall hear further on.
4. The Government of Non-Christians All who are not Christians belong to the kingdom of the world and are under the law. Since few believe, and still fewer live a Christian life, do not resist the evil, and do no evil themselves, God has provided a different government for non-Christians, outside the Christian estate and God's kingdom. He has subjected them to the sword so that, even though they would do so, they cannot practice their wickedness; and if they do, they may not do it without fear, or in peace and prosperity. Even so a wild, savage beast is fastened with chains and bands so that it cannot bite and tear as is its habit, although it would gladly do so; whereas a tame and gentle beast does not require this, but without any chains and bands, it is nevertheless harmless. If it were not so, seeing that the whole world is evil, and that among thousands there is scarcely one true Christian, men would devour one another, and no one could preserve wife and child, support himself and serve God; and thus the world would be reduced to chaos. For this reason God has ordained the two governments: the Spiritual, which by the Holy Spirit under Christ makes Christians and pious people; and the Secular, which restrains the unchristian and wicked so that they must keep the peace outwardly, even against their will. So Paul interprets the secular sword, Rom 13:3;4 he says it is not a terror to good works, but to the evil. And Peter says it is for the punishment of evil
1 A collection of sermons on the Scripture lessons for the Church Year. Luther's Advent Postil was published in Latin in 1521 and in German in 1522.
2 Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
Gal 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Gal 3:24
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
3 Mat 5:39 "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
4 Rom 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?
Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
doers. (1Pet 2:14) If any one attempted to rule the world by the Gospel, and put aside all secular law and the secular sword, on the plea that all are baptised and Christian, and that according to the Gospel, there is to be neither law nor sword among them, nor necessity for either, I ask you, what would happen?
Secular Government Indispensable He would loose the bands and chains of the wild and savage beasts, and let them tear and mangle every one, and at the same time say they were quite tame and gentle creatures; but I would have the proof in my wounds. Just so would the wicked under the name of Christian abuse this freedom of the Gospel, carry on their knavery, and say that they were Christians subject neither to law nor sword, as some are already raving and ranting.
To such a one we must say, It is indeed true that Christians, so far as they themselves are concerned, are subject to neither law nor sword and need neither; but first take heed and fill the world with real Christians before ruling it in a Christian and evangelical manner. This you will never accomplish; for the world and the masses are and always will be unchristian, although they are all baptised and are nominally Christian.
Christians, however, are few and far between, as the saying goes. Therefore it is out of the question that there could be a common Christian government over the whole world, not even over one land or company of people, since the wicked would always outnumber the good.
Hence a man who would venture to govern an entire country or the world with the Gospel, would be like a shepherd who placed together in one fold wolves, lions, eagles, and sheep, letting them freely mingle with one another, saying, 'Help yourselves, and be good and peaceful among yourselves; the fold is open, there is plenty of food; have no fear of dogs and clubs.' The sheep, truly, would keep the peace and allow themselves to be fed and governed in peace, but they would not live long; nor would any beast keep from molesting another.
For this reason, these two kingdoms must be sharply distinguished, and both be permitted to remain; the one to produce piety, the other to bring about external peace and prevent evil deeds; neither is sufficient in the world without the other. For no one can become pious before God by means of the secular government, without Christ's spiritual rule. Hence
Christ's rule does not extend over all, but Christians are always in the minority, and are in the midst of non-Christians. Where there is only secular rule or law, there, of necessity, is sheer hypocrisy, though the commandments are God's very own. Without the Holy Spirit in the heart, no one becomes really pious; he may do as fine works as he will. Where on the other hand, the spiritual government rules alone over land and people, there evil is given free rein, and the door is opened for every kind of knavery; for the natural world cannot receive or comprehend spiritual things.
You can see the purpose of Christ's words which we quoted above from Mat 5:39. They mean that Christians shall not go to law, or use the secular sword among themselves. In reality, He says it only to His dear Christians. They alone also accept it and act accordingly; nor do they make counsels of it, as the sophists do, but are so inclined in their heart, through the Spirit, that they do evil to no one, and willingly endure evil at everyone's hands. If the whole world were Christian, all these words would apply to it and it would keep them. Since, however, it is unchristian, the words do not apply to it, nor does it keep them, but it is under another rule in which those who are not Christians are under external constraint, and are forced to keep the peace and do what is good.
For this reason Christ did not wield the sword or give it a place in His kingdom; for He is a King over Christians and rules by His Holy Spirit alone, without law. And although He acknowledged the sword, He nevertheless did not use it; for it is of no use in His kingdom, in which there are none but the pious. Hence David of old dared not build the temple, because