MARTINLUTHERJewsandtheirLies(partXI)

IhavehearditsaidthatarichJewisnowtravelingacrossthecountrywithtwelvehorseshisambitionistobecome
aKokhbadevouringprinces,lords,lands,andpeoplewithhisusury,sothatthegreatlordsviewitwithjealous
eyes.Ifyougreatlordsandprinceswillnotforbidsuchusurersthehighwaylegally,somedayatroopmaygather
againstthem,havinglearnedfromthisbookletthetruenatureoftheJewsandhowoneshoulddealwiththemand
notprotecttheiractivities.Foryou,too,mustnotandcannotprotectthemunlessyouwishtobecomeparticipants
inantheirabominationsinthesightofGod.Considercarefullywhatgoodcouldcomefromthis,andpreventit.

Sixth,Iadvisethatusurybeprohibitedtothem,andthatallcashandtreasureofsilverandgoldbetakenfrom
themandputasideforsafekeeping.Thereasonforsuchameasureisthat,assaidabove,theyhavenoother
meansofearningalivelihoodthanusury,andbyittheyhavestolenandrobbedfromusantheypossess.Such
moneyshouldnowbeusedinnootherwaythanthefollowing:WheneveraJewissincerelyconverted,heshould
behandedonehundred,twohundred,orthreehundredflorins,aspersonalcircumstancesmaysuggest.Withthis
hecouldsethimselfupinsomeoccupationforthesupportofhispoorwifeandchildren,andthemaintenanceof
theoldorfeeble.ForsuchevilgainsarecursediftheyarenotputtousewithGodsblessinginagoodandworthy
cause.

ButwhentheyboastthatMosesallowedorcommandedthemtoexactusuryfromstrangers,citingDeuteronomy
23:20apartfromthistheycannotadduceasmuchasaletterintheirsupportwemusttellthemthattherearetwo
classesofJewsorIsraelites.ThefirstcomprisesthosewhomMoses,incompliancewithGodscommand,ledfrom
EgyptintothelandofCanaan.Tothemheissuedhislaw,whichtheyweretokeepinthatcountryandnotbeyond
it,andthenonlyuntiltheadventoftheMessiah.TheotherJewsarethoseoftheemperorandnotofMoses.These
datebacktothetimeofPilate,theprocuratorofthelandofJudah.Forwhenthelatteraskedthembeforethe
judgmentseat,"ThenwhatshallIdowithJesuswhoiscalledChrist?"theyallsaid,"Crucifyhim,crucifyhim!"He
saidtothem,"ShallIcrucifyyourKing?"Theyshoutedinreply,"WehavenokingbutCaesar!"[Matt.27:22;John
19:15].Godhadnotcommandedofthemsuchsubmissiontotheemperor;theygaveitvoluntarily.

Butwhentheemperordemandedtheobedienceduehim,theyresistedandrebelledagainsthim.Nowtheyno
longerwantedtobehissubjects.Thenhecameandvisitedhissubjects,gatheredtheminJerusalem,andthen
scatteredthemthroughouthisentireempire,sothattheywereforcedtoobeyhim.Fromthesethepresent
remnantofJewsdescended,ofwhomMosesknowsnothing,northeyofhim;fortheydonotdeserveasingle
passageorverseofMoses.IftheywishtoapplyMoseslawagain,theymustfirstreturntothelandofCanaan,
becomeMosesJews,andkeephislaws.Theretheymaypracticeusuryasmuchasstrangerswillendurefrom
them.ButsincetheyaredwellinginanddisobeyingMosesinforeigncountriesundertheemperor,theyarebound
tokeeptheemperorslawsandrefrainfromthepracticeofusuryuntiltheybecomeobedienttoMoses.For
MoseslawhasneverpassedasinglestepbeyondthelandofCanaanorbeyondthepeopleofIsrael.Moseswas
notsenttotheEgyptians,theBabylonians,oranyothernationwithhislaw,butonlytothepeoplewhomheled
fromEgyptintothelandofCanaan,ashehimselftestifiesfrequentlyinDeuteronomy.Theywereexpectedtokeep
hiscommandmentsinthelandwhichtheywouldconquerbeyondtheJordan.

Moreover,sincepriesthood,worship,governmentwithwhichthegreaterpart,indeed,almostall,ofthoselawsof
Mosesdealhavebeenatanendforoverfourteenhundredyearsalready,itiscertainthatMoseslawalsocameto
anendandlostitsauthority.ThereforetheimperiallawsmustbeappliedtotheseimperialJews.Theirwishtobe
MosaicJewsmustnotbeindulged.Infact,noJewhasbeenthatforoverfourteenhundredyears.

Seventh,Irecommendputtingaflail,anax,ahoe,aspade,adistaff,oraspindleintothehandsofyoung,strong
JewsandJewessesandlettingthemearntheirbreadinthesweatoftheirbrow,aswasimposedonthechildrenof
Adam(Gen.3[:19]).ForitisnotfittingthattheyshouldletusaccursedGoyimtoilinthesweatofourfaceswhile
they,theholypeople,idleawaytheirtimebehindthestove,feastingandfarting.,andontopofall,boasting
blasphemouslyoftheirlordshipovertheChristiansbymeansofoursweat.No,oneshouldtossouttheselazy
roguesbytheseatoftheirpants.
Butifweareafraidthattheymightharmusorourwives,children,servants,cattle,etc.,iftheyhadtoserveand
workforusforitisreasonabletoassumethatsuchnoblelordsoftheworldandvenomous,bitterwormsarenot
accustomedtoworkingandwouldbeveryreluctanttohumblethemselvessodeeplybeforetheaccursedGoyim
thenletusemulatethecommonsenseofothernationssuchasFrance,Spain,Bohemia,etc.,computewiththem
howmuchtheirusuryhasextortedfromus,divide,dividethisamicably,butthenejectthemforeverfromthe
country.For,aswehaveheard,Godsangerwiththemissointensethatgentlemercywillonlytendtomakethem
worseandworse,whilesharpmercywillreformthembutlittle.Therefore,inanycase,awaywiththem!

IhearitsaidthattheJewsdonatelargesumsofmoneyandthusprovebeneficialtogovernments.Yes,butwhere
doesthismoneycomefrom?Notfromtheirownpossessionsbutfromthatofthelordsandsubjectswhomthey
plunderandrobbymeansofusury.Thusthelordsaretakingfromtheirsubjectswhattheyreceivefromthe
Jews,i.e.,thesubjectsareobligedtopayadditionaltaxesandletthemselvesbegroundintothedustfortheJews,
sothattheymayremaininthecountry,lieboldlyandfreely,blaspheme,curse,andsteal.Shouldnttheimpious
Jewslaughuptheirsleevesbecauseweletthemmakesuchfoolsofusandbecausewespendourmoneytoenable
themtoremaininthecountryandtopracticeeverymalice?Overandabovethatweletthemgetrichonoursweat
andblood,whileweremainpoorandtheysuckthemarrowfromourbones.Ifitisrightforaservanttogivehis
masterorforaguesttogivehishosttenflorinsannuallyand,inreturn,tostealonethousandflorinsfromhim,
thentheservantortheguestwillveryquicklyandeasilygetrichandthemasterorthehostwillsoonbecomea
beggar.

AndeveniftheJewscouldgivethegovernmentsuchsumsofmoneyfromtheirownproperty,whichisnot
possible,andtherebybuyprotectionfromus,andtheprivilegepubliclyandfreelytoslander,blaspheme,villify,
andcurseourLordJesusChristsoshamefullyintheirsynagogues,andinadditiontowishuseverymisfortune,
namely,thatwemightallbestabbedtodeathandperishwithourHaman,emperor,princes,lords,wife,and
childrenthiswouldreallybesellingChristourLord,thewholeofChristendomtogetherwiththewholeempire,
andourselves,withwifeandchildren,cheaplyandshamefully.WhatagreatsaintthetraitorJudaswouldbein
comparisonwithus!Indeed,ifeachJew,asmanyasthereareofthem,couldgiveonehundredthousandflorins
annually,weshouldneverthelessnotyieldthemforthistherightsofreelytomalign,curse,defame,impoverishby
usuryasingleChristian.Thatwouldstillbefartoocheapaprice.Howmuchmoreintolerableisitthatwepermit
theJewstopurchasewithourmoneysuchlicensetoslanderandcursethewholeChristandallofusand,
furthermore,rewardthemforthiswithrichesandmakethemourlords,whiletheyridiculeusandgloatintheir
malice.Thatwouldproveadelightfulspectacleforthedevilandhisangels,overwhichtheycouldsecretlygrinlike
asowgrinsatherlitter,butwhichwouldindeedmeritGodsgreatwrath.

Inbrief,dearprincesandlords,thoseofyouwhohaveJewsunderyourrule:ifmycounseldoesnotpleaseyou,
findbetteradvice,sothatyouandweallcanberidoftheunbearable,devilishburdenoftheJews.Lestwebecome
guiltysharersbeforeGodinthelies,theblasphemy,thedefamation,andthecurseswhichthemadJewsindulgein
sofreelyandwantonlyagainstthepersonofourLordJesusChrist,hisdearmother,allChristians,allauthority,and
ourselves.Donotgrantthemprotection,safeconduct,orcommunionwithus.Donotaidandabetthemin
acquiringyourmoneyoryoursubjectsmoneyandpropertybymeansofusury.Wehaveenoughsinofourown
withoutthis,datingbacktothepapacy,andweaddtoitdailywithouringratitudeandourcontemptofGodsword
andallhisgrace;soitisnotnecessarytoburdenourselvesalsowiththesealien,shamefulvicesoftheJewsand
overandaboveitall,topaythemforitwithmoneyandproperty.Letusconsiderthatwearenowdailystruggling
withtheTurks,whichsurelycallsforalesseningofoursinsandareformationofourlife.Withthisfaithfulcounsel
andwarningIwishtocleanseandexoneratemyconscience.........

Forinstance,whenaChristiankindlestheirfireforthemonaSabbath,orcooksfortheminaninnwhateverthey
want,theycurseanddefameandrevileusforit,supposingthistobesomethingpraiseworthy,andyettheyliveon
ourwealth,whichtheyhavestolenfromus.Suchadesperate,thoroughlyevilpoisonous,anddevilishlotarethese
Jews,whoforthesefourteenhundredyearshavebeenandstillareourplague,ourpestilence,andourmisfortune.

EspeciallyyoupastorswhohaveJewslivinginyourmidst,persistinremindingyourlordsandrulerstobemindful
oftheirofficeandoftheirobligationbeforeGodtoforcetheJewstowork,toforbidusury,andtochecktheir
blasphemyandcursing.Foriftheypunishthievery,robbery,murder,blasphemy,andothervicesamongus
Christians,whyshouldthedevilishJewsbescotfreetocommittheircrimesamongusandagainstus?Wesuffer
morefromthemthantheItaliansdofromtheSpaniards,whoplunderthehostskitchen,cellar,chest,andpurse,
and,inaddition,cursehimandthreatenhimwithdeath.ThustheJews,ourguests,alsotreatus;forwearetheir
hosts.Theyrobandfleeceusandhangaboutournecks,theselazyweaklingsandindolentbellies;theyswilland
feast,enjoygoodtimesinourhomes,andbywayofrewardtheycurseourLordChrist,ourchurches,ourprinces,
andallofus,threateningusandunceasinglywishingusdeathandeveryevil.Justponderthis:Howdoesithappen
thatwepoorChristiansnourishandenrichsuchanidleandlazypeople,suchauseless,evilperniciouspeople,such
blasphemousenemiesofGod,receivingnothinginreturnbuttheircursesanddefamationandeverymisfortune
theymayinflictonusorwishus?Indeed,weareasblindandunfeelingclodsinthisrespectasaretheJewsintheir
unbelief,tosuffersuchgreattyrannyfromtheseviciousweaklings,andnotperceiveandsensethattheyareour
lords,yes,ourmadtyrants,andthatwearetheircaptivesandsubjects.Meanwhiletheywailthattheyareour
captives,andatthesametimemockusasthoughwehadtotakethisfromthem!

ButiftheauthoritiesarereluctanttouseforceandrestraintheJewsdevilishwantonness,thelattershould,aswe
said,beexpelledfromthecountryandbetoldtoreturntotheirlandandtheirpossessionsinJerusalem,where
theymaylie,curse,blaspheme,defame,murder,steal,rob,practiceusury,mock,andindulgeinallthose
infamousabominationswhichtheypracticeamongus,andleaveusourgovernment,ourcountry,ourlife,andour
property,muchmoreleaveourLordtheMessiah,ourfaith,andourchurchundefiledanduncontaminatedwith
theirdevilishtyrannyandmalice.Anyprivilegesthattheymaypleadshallnothelpthem;fornoonecangrant
privilegesforpracticingsuchabominations.Thesecancelandabrogateallprivileges......

ButthattheJewsenmeshus,harassus,tormentanddistressuspoorChristiansineverywaywiththeabove
mentioneddevilishanddetestabledeeds,thistheywantustotolerate,andthisisagoodChristiandeed,especially
ifthereisanymoneyinvolved(whichtheyhavefilchedandstolenfromus).

Whatarewepoorpreacherstodomeanwhile?Inthefirstplace,wewillbelievethatourLordJesusChristis
truthfulwhenhedeclaresoftheJewswhodidnotacceptbutcrucifiedhim,"Youareabroodofvipersandchildren
ofthedevil[cf.Matt.12:34].ThisisajudgmentinwhichhisforerunnerJohntheBaptistconcurred,althoughthese
peoplewerehiskin.NowourauthoritiesandallsuchmercifulsaintsaswishtheJewswellwillatleasthavetolet
usbelieveourLordJesusChrist,who,Iamsure,hasamoreintimateknowledgeofallheartsthandothose
compassionatesaints.HeknowsthattheseJewsareabroodofvipersandchildrenofthedevil,thatis,peoplewho
willaccordusthesamebenefitsasdoestheirfather,thedevil,andbynowweChristiansshouldhavelearnedfrom
Scriptureaswellasexperiencejusthowmuchhewishesuswell.

IhavereadandheardmanystoriesabouttheJewswhichagreewiththisjudgmentofChrist,namely,howthey
havepoisonedwells,madeassassinations,kidnapedchildren,asrelatedbefore.IhaveheardthatoneJewsent
anotherJew,andthisbymeansofaChristian,apotofblood,togetherwithabarrelofwine,inwhichwhendrunk
empty,adeadJewwasfound.Therearemanyothersimilarstories.Fortheirkidnapingofchildrentheyhaveoften
beenburnedatthestakeorbanished(aswealreadyheard).Iamwellawarethattheydenyallofthis.However,it
allcoincideswiththejudgmentofChristwhichdeclaresthattheyarevenomous,bitter,vindictive,trickyserpents,
assassins,andchildrenofthedevilwhostingandworkharmstealthilywherevertheycannotdoitopenly.Forthis
reasonIshouldliketoseethemwheretherearenoChristians.TheTurksandotherheathendonottoleratewhat
weChristiansendurefromthesevenomousserpentsandyoungdevils.NordotheJewstreatanyothersastheydo
usChristians.ThatiswhatIhadinmindwhenIsaidearlierthat,nexttothedevil,aChristianhasnomorebitter
andgallingfoethanaJew.Thereisnoothertowhomweaccordasmanybenefactionsandfromwhomwesuffer
asmuchaswedofromthesebasechildrenofthedevil,thisbroodofvipers.

NowletmecommendtheseJewssincerelytowhoeverfeelsthedesiretoshelterandfeedthem,tohonorthem,to
befleeced,robbed,plundered,defamed,vilified,andcursedbythem,andtosuffereveryevilattheirhands
thesevenomousserpentsanddevilschildren,whoarethemostvehementenemiesofChristourLordandofusall.
Andifthatisnotenough,lethimstuffthemintohismouth,orcrawlintotheirbehindandworshipthisholyobject.