Martin Luther on Psalms 133:2

Verse. 2. It is like to the precious oyntment vppon the heade that runneth downe vpon the bearde euen vppon Aarons beard, which went downe on the borders of his garments.

This is a homely and familiar phrase of the holy Ghost. The place is knowne 30. of Exodus, where Moses was commaunded to make a certaine precious oyntment, with this inhibition, that it should be made of none else but of him, nor employed to any other vse then to anoynt the bearde of the high Priest. With this oyntment the Psalme compareth vnitie and concorde as an holy & heauenly thing: Concord is compared to a precious oyntment. whiche by no power or policie of man can either be gotten or kept. For although it be giuen euen to the wicked also, as we may see in those kingdoms which are out of the Church, yet is it the gift of God, and a most holy gift, which ought to serue especially vnto holy vses, for the aduauncing of religion, for the confirmation of matrimony, for the education of children, and for the maintenance and continuance of all honestie and godlines.

In that he saith: from the head, he sheweth the nature of true concord. For like as the oyntment ranne downe from the heade of Aaron the high priest, vpon his beard, and so descended vnto the borders of his garment: euen so true concord in doctrine and brotherly loue, floweth as a precious oyntment, by the vnitie of the spirite, from Christ the high priest and head of the Church, vnto all the members of the same. The beard what it signifieth. For by the beard and extreme partes of the garment he signifieth, that as farre as the church reacheth, so farre spreadeth that vnitie which floweth from Christ her head. Or by the beard we may vnderstand those to whome the office of teaching belongeth, because the bearde is ioyned vnto the mouth, which is the instrument of doctrine, and by the extreme partes of the garment the rest of ye church, which is the garment of Christ. This similitude expresseth most liuely how great the vertue of the spirite of concord is wherewith all the members of Christ are anoynted: For it maketh their life sweete and pleasant, in so much, that whatsoeuer they do, it giueth a sweet odor in the sight of God.

If the vnquiet spirits which trouble the Church at this day, could beleue that the peace and concorde of the Church is such an holy and a pleasant ointment to the Lord, Against the Anabaptists and other Sectaries, enemies to the peace & quietnes of the Church. separate from all profane vses: they would be more sober and circumspect then they be. But because they beleue it not, therefore they employ this holy ointment to vnholy vses, seeking therby their owne glory. Yea, they turne the Psalme cleane contrary, and say in their harts. Behold how pleasant a thing it is to trouble the brethren: they would not haue them to enioy this holy oyntment, that is, to dwell and liue togither in this heauenly concord. These we must flie: to these we must in no wise be like, but must learne that the vnitie of the Church is the gifte of God, which we must defend and maintaine with all our power. For there is nothing more pleasant in the sight of God and his Angells, then when the Pastors and gouerners of the Churches doe dwell togither in godly concorde, teaching and following with one consent, one true, sincere and vniforme doctrine.

Betwene the Pope and his rable there is great concorde: The cōcord of the Papistes. for there is a concord euen amongest theeues: as there was betwene Iudas and the Phariseis. But this is not the concorde whiche the Psalme here speaketh of: but the Psalme commendeth that concord which is amongst those that haue the pure and sincere worde. Therefore the Prophet here vseth a similitude which onely perteineth to Aaron, named to be y• high priest by Gods owne mouth, signifying thereby that this concord is spread by the preachers of the word, throughout the whole body of the Church: so that, not onely the body it selfe is refreshed with this oyntment, but also the sweete smel thereof is dispearsed euery where, and the fame of the Church is glorious both before God & men, those I meane which vnderstand and acknowledge this heauenly benefite.