--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have many times essayed thoroughly to…" description: "\"I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the ten commandments, but at the very outset, \"I am the Lord thy God,\" I stuck fast; that very one ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/martin-luther-106_commandments_i-have-many-times-essayed-thoroughly-to_1317869.jpg" --- # I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the… ![“I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the ten commandments, but at the very outset, "I am the Lord thy God," I stuck fast; that very one word, I, put me to a non-plus. He that has but one word of God before him, and out of that word cannot make a sermon, can never be a preacher.” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/martin-luther-106_commandments_i-have-many-times-essayed-thoroughly-to_1317869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/martin-luther-106_commandments_i-have-many-times-essayed-thoroughly-to_1317869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8d/martin-luther-106_commandments_i-have-many-times-essayed-thoroughly-to_1317869.jpg) > “I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the ten commandments, but at the very outset, "I am the Lord thy God," I stuck fast; that very one word, I, put me to a non-plus. He that has but one word of God before him, and out of that word cannot make a sermon, can never be a preacher.” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A preacher must first internalize God's authority; without that personal conviction, they cannot truly convey the message. **In simple terms:** Preachers need personal belief before teaching. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal conviction first. Themes faith authority preaching Mood reflective serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - public speaking - teaching - sermon preparation Key Concepts theology personal conviction Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your own belief aligns with your teachings? - What practices deepen personal conviction? A Different Perspective If belief is superficial, the message may feel hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Sermons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermons/) [Ten commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-commandments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Word of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [He that has but one word of God before him, and out of that word cannot make a sermon, can never be a preacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-that-has-but-one-word-of-god-before-him-and-out-of-that-word/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The ten commandments and the sermon on the mount contain my religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-ten-commandments-and-the-sermon-on-the-mount-contain-my-religion/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Conclude not from all this that I have renounced the Christian religion. . . . Far from it. I see in every page something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/conclude-not-from-all-this-that-i-have-renounced-the-christian/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [This god, this one word: I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-god-this-one-word-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A God. The God. One word can make all the difference in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-god-the-god-one-word-can-make-all-the-difference-in-the-world/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [You will not pit one word of God against another word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/you-will-not-pit-one-word-of-god-against-another-word-of-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“The people, especially in the villages, know nothing at all of Christian doctrine; and many pastors are sadly unfit and incompetent to teach. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-people-especially-in-the-villages-know-nothing-at-all-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Exhort your household to learn \[the Ten Commandments\] word for word, that they should obey God…For if you teach and urge your families things… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/exhort-your-household-to-learn-the-ten-commandments-word-for-word/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [But Satan, the god of all dissension, stirreth up daily new sects, and last of all (which of all other I should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-satan-the-god-of-all-dissension-stirreth-up-daily-new-sects-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ In short, I will preach it \[the Word\], teach it, write it, but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-short-i-will-preach-it-the-word-teach-it-write-it-but-i-will/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [No greater mischief can happen to a Christian people, than to have God's word taken from them, or falsified, so that they no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/no-greater-mischief-can-happen-to-a-christian-people-than-to-have-god/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Hence the best service that anybody can render God is diligently to hear and read God's Word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/hence-the-best-service-that-anybody-can-render-god-is-diligently-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I have before me God's Word which cannot fail, nor can the gates of hell prevail against it; thereby will I remain, though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-have-before-me-god-s-word-which-cannot-fail-nor-can-the-gates-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ “For the Word created heaven and earth and all things \[Ps. 33:6\]; the Word must do this thing, and not we poor sinners. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-the-word-created-heaven-and-earth-and-all-things-ps-33-6-the-word/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [From the beginning of my Reformation I have asked God to send me neither dreams, nor visions, nor angels, but to give me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/from-the-beginning-of-my-reformation-i-have-asked-god-to-send-me/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Commandments quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [The Ten Commandments don't tell you what you ought to do: They only put ideas into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/the-ten-commandments-don-t-tell-you-what-you-ought-to-do-they-only/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [“You do not need commandments to tell you what is right and wrong, you need reason. YOU NEED TO THINK. What are the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kassandra-dick/you-do-not-need-commandments-to-tell-you-what-is-right-and-wrong-you/) Kassandra Dick > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In tantra we don't believe in commandments. We believe in the moment and the truth that is applicable for that moment, as best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-tantra-we-don-t-believe-in-commandments-we-believe-in-the-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [You know what they say: if God had been a Liberal, we wouldn't have had the ten commandments. We'd have had the ten suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-they-say-if-god-had-been-a-liberal-we-wouldn-t-have-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/my-plea-therefore-is-this-let-us-get-our-instruments-tightly-strung/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [For what will it profit men that a more prudent distribution and use of riches make it possible for them to gain even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-what-will-it-profit-men-that-a-more-prudent-distribution-and-use/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [ “the precepts of an absolutely perfect life, since they are the same in each Testament, have pointed out \[to us\] the same God, who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-precepts-of-an-absolutely-perfect-life-since-they-are-the-same-in/) The Church Fathers > [Here is your government at work. A congressman from Colorado said he wants to draft a rule that would make it unethical to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/here-is-your-government-at-work-a-congressman-from-colorado-said-he/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There are ten commandments, I've only broken three.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/there-are-ten-commandments-i-ve-only-broken-three/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/) Thomas Morell > [“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-fortner/take-care-lest-you-forget-the-lord-your-god-by-not-keeping-his/) [Michael D. Fortner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-fortner/) [Browse all 726 Commandments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have many times essayed thoroughly to investigate the ten commandments, but at the very outset, \"I am the Lord thy God,\" I stuck fast; that very one word, I, put me to a non-plus. 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