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.