Antisemitism Quote by Martin Luther
““Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire. That would demonstrate to God our serious resolve and be evidence to all the world that it was in ignorance that we tolerated such houses, in which the Jews have reviled God, our dear Creator and Father, and his Son most shamefully up till now but that we have now given them their due reward.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: On the Jews and Their Lies, 1523
Luther advocates violent persecution of Jews, framing it as a moral and spiritual duty to protect Christian souls.
In simple terms: He urges burning synagogues as a sign of resolve against perceived evil.
Key Takeaway
Condemn hatred; recognize humanity.
Themes
religion
anti‑semitism
violence
Mood
condful
controversial
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- church policy
- interfaith relations
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
Christianity
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can faith coexist with compassion for all?
- What are the dangers of dehumanizing others?
A Different Perspective
Violence does not resolve theological disputes and fuels cycles of hatred.
![“After Portia has trapped Shylock through his own insistence upon the letter of the law of Contract, she produces another law by which any alien who conspires against the life of a Venetian citizen forfeits his goods and places his life at the Doge’s mercy. […] Shakespeare, it seems to me, was…” quote by W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/25c/w-h-auden-2-7412_antisemitism_after-portia-has-trapped-shylock-through_382814.jpg)
