Putting the Father First
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:10 and Matthew 6:1–4
Series: Comments on Galatians
Law-keeping must be done to glorify the Father, not to extol self, to earn salvation. Works done in an effort to merit God’s favor are hypocritical, seeking to obtain righteousness through performance of a deed instead of being motivated or inspired by faith. Good works, those inspired by the Spirit, however, put God first. Such deeds honor God by putting him above the deed. They honor him as all powerful, with no implication that he needs human assistance in being merciful and forgiving sin. When we rely on God, rather than the work, however religious, we honor him above all things, even above our religious deeds. Only then does the light of God’s Spirit shine within us, bringing glory to the Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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