Did Martin Luther Really Say . . . ?
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Q: I'm perplexed by what I heard on the recent CNN special on Mary Magdalene which
stated that Luther thought Christ and Mary Magdalene were possibly a romantic couple.
In searching the web on this topic I read that in one of Luther's "Table Talks" he may have
said that and more. Of course the context of those statements are always questioned by our
Lutheran theologans. What's your take on Luther's comments to this issue?

A: First of all, we need to know what he said. The "Table Talks" are excerpted statements and
conversations jotted down by regular guests in the Luther household. We have only John
Schlaginhaufen's version of what the reformer said. Since the quote is brief, I reproduce it in its
entirety: "Christ was an adulterer for the first time with the woman at the well, for it was said,
'Nobody knows what he's doing with her' (John 4:27). Again [he was an adulterer] with
Magdalene, and still again with the adulterous woman in John 8 [:2 11], whom he let off so
easily. So the good Christ had to become an adulterer before he died."

It's too bad that Schlaginhaufen omitted any context, but the accompanying references to "the
woman at the well" and "the adulterous woman" indicate that Luther in no way thought that Jesus
engaged in a sexual relationship with the Magdalene. Both of these encounters are definitely
public, attested by witnesses.

Most likely, he was talking about one or both of two other possibilities. First, he could have been
focused on ~public perception~. Because Jesus took time to deal in compassion with these
women, others around Him, particularly his enemies, would use such associations to defame Him.
This aligns nicely with recorded comments such as in Mark 2: "And the scribes of the Pharisees,
when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, 'Why does
he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' (v 16)"

The final sentence gives a second clue for understanding the comment. Luther said Jesus "~had~
to become an adulterer before he died." Consider this in light of Paul's words: "[God]" made him
to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor
5:21)" Obviously, as 1 Peter 2:22 tells us, "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his
mouth." In light of these, Luther may have been speaking ~theologically~, specifically
~Christologically~. As such, his comment points us to the ~Father's perception~ of the Son.
Even though he led a perfect, holy, sinless, blameless life, the Father treated Jesus as the
embodiment of every broken, guilty, shameful, and perverse person who had ever lived. In
releasing these women from the chains of sin which bound them, Jesus took their guilt upon
Himself, that it might be destroyed in His death on the cross.

At His crucifixion, these two points of view stand together. Christ's enemies doubtless saw a
blasphemous, adulterous sinner who was getting exactly what he deserved, as Isaiah 53:4
predicted: "We esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." The Father, however, saw
things quite differently: "But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our
iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are
healed. (Is 53:5)" Only faith created and sustained by the Holy Spirit through Word and
Sacrament gives us the eyes to see what our heavenly Father sees. That's why the books, movies,
or television specials put forth by unbelievers will never grasp the truth and why those who speak
this truth, whether plainly or cryptically, will always be misunderstood.

Of course, Luther's interpretations and understandings sometimes got a bit away from him.
Coming out of the medieval tradition, he probably always understood Mary Magdalene to be a
former harlot, even though Scripture only tells us that she was the one "from whom seven demons
had gone out. (Lk 8:2)"

Modern readers have other, more serious difficulties reading portions of Luther. Our next column
will examine Luther's statements about the Jews.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~<TM>,
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

Martin Luther's ~Table Talk~ quoted from ~Volume 54: Luther's Works~, © 2002 by Fortress Press.

Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer,
by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations
into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international
copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book
~What Do Lutherans Believe.~