Martin Luther and Marriage

After 500 years, what can we learn about marriage from a famous Christian reformer?  Let’s see!

Martin Luther was 41, when he married 26 year-old Katie von Bora.   Katie was known for her quick wit, and outgoing personality.  Luther once facetiously said, “In domestic affairs I defer to Katie.  Otherwise I am led by the Holy Spirit.”

Katie was organized and efficient, while Luther was not.  She was just the marriage partner that Luther needed.  He wrote and battled error in the church, while she raised their six children, remodeled the 40-room monastery, took care of their small family brewery and managed their guests, household, gardens and farm.  In her spare time she raised four orphans.

Interestingly their marriage deeply influenced the protestant movement in its opinions about marriage since Catholicism did not allow marriage for priests or nuns.  Martin and Katie were both and were widely known for their loving relationship.

In a letter to a friend, Luther said, “My lord Katie greets you.  She plants our fields, pastures and sells cows, et cetera.  In between she has started to read the Bible.  I have promised her fifty guilders if she finished by Easter.  She is hard at it and is at the end of the fifth book of Moses.”

Katie was very different from Martin.  She was thrifty, he was not concerned about money.  He was moody, sickly and sharp tongued.  She loved him and they often disagreed.  But together they adapted to one another’s strengths and weaknesses as their love deepened.

Living in an Understanding Way

Martin and Katie are an example of how God has called us to “live in an understanding way” with our spouse.  Their age, giftings and personality differences drew them together because of their willingness to love each other with understanding.

“Of course the Christian should love his wife,” Luther declared.  “He is supposed to love his neighbor, and since his wife is his nearest neighbor, she should be his deepest love.  And she should also be his dearest friend.”

Discussion Questions

Now take a few minutes to discuss with your spouse so you both can be blessed…

What are some differences you see between yourself and your spouse?

What strengths do you both have, together, that would be missing if you were single?

What would you say to God, to express your thankfulness for your spouse and their giftings?

1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Corinthians 12:17  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
1 Corinthians 9:5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?