Martin Luther on Galatians 5:26

Verſe. 26. Let vs not be deſirous of vainglory. Which is to glory, not in God (as I haue ſaid) but in lies, in the opinion, liking & eſtimatiō of the people. Here is no right foūdation of true glory, but a falſe foūdation, & therfore impoſſible long to ſtād. He that praiſeth a mā as he is a mā, is a lier: for there is nothing praiſe worthy in him, but all thīgs are worthy of cōdēnatiō.Rom. 3.25. Therfore as touchīg our perſon, this is our glory, yt all mē haue ſinned & are gilty of euerlaſting death before god. But ye caſe is otherwiſe whē our miniſtery is praiſed.The praiſe of the perſon & of the miniſterie. wherfore we muſt not only wiſh, but alſo to the vttermoſt of our power endeuour yt mē may magnify it & haue it in due reuerence: for this ſhal turne to their ſaluation. Paul warneth ye Rom. that they offend no mā:Rom. 14.16. to the end, ſayth he, that our cōmodity be not euil ſpoken of: And in an other place: that our miniſtery be not reprehēded. 2. Cor. 6.3. Therfore when our miniſtery is praiſed, we be not praiſed for our owne perſons ſake, but (as the Pſalme ſayth) we are praiſed in God and in his holy name.

Verſe. 26. Prouoking one an other, and enuying one an other. The effect and fruite of vaineglory.Here he deſcribeth the effect and frute of vaineglory. He that teacheth any errour, or is an authour of any new doctrine, cā not but prouoke others: and when they doe not approue and receaue his doctrine, by and by he beginneth to hate them moſt bitterly. We ſee at this day with what deadly hatred the Sectaries are inflamed againſte vs, becauſe we will not geue place to them and approue their errours. We did not firſt prouoke them, nor ſpredde abrode any wicked opinion in the world: but rebuking certaine abuſes in the church, and faithfully teaching the article of Iuſtification, haue walked in good order.Galath. 2.5. But they forſaking this article, haue taught many things contrary to the word of God. Here, becauſe we would not loſe ye truth of the Goſpell, we haue ſet our ſelues againſt them, and haue condemned their errours: which thing, becauſe they could not abide, they did not onely prouoke vs firſt without cauſe, but alſo doe ſtill moſt ſpitefully hate vs, and that vpon no other occaſion but onely vppon vaineglory: for they would gladly deface vs that they alone might rule and raigne: For they imagine that it is a great glory to profeſſe ye Goſpel, wheras in deede there is no greater ignominie in ye ſight of the world.