Luther on the text “There was no room for them in the inn” (Lk 2:7):
Luther baited his audience by offering a stinging chastisement of the innkeepers, as well as Bethlehem generally, for not making room for Christ. His listeners were undoubtedly shaking their heads in agreement. Luther continued, “There are many of you who think to yourselves, ‘If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the Baby! I would have washed his linen.’” He then challenged, “Yes, you would. You say that because you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem.” He then made the application: “You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve him, for what you do to your neighbor in need, you do to Christ himself.”
~Stephen Nichols, Martin Luther (bio)
