It was October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. He wanted to debate the issue of the sale of indulgences with his fellow university professors.  It is interesting to note he wrote in Latin, but a nameless person translated them into German, took them to a printing press, and the publication spread throughout the world.

But why on Halloween?  I can assure you Luther wasn’t out trick-or-treating as he approached the church door in Wittenberg.   There is a reason he picked this date.

This was actually All Hallow’s Eve.  This is the night before the November 1 Church feast of All Saints (Hallows) day.

For early Lutherans, it became a day to “trick” Satan. Him being the most prideful of creatures, by giving him what is most offensive to his arrogance: “mockery.”

Luther once said:  “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn.”

A scholar, James Jordan, in his work “Concerning Halloween” wrote the following:

“Thus, the defeat of evil and of demonic powers is associated with Halloween.  For this reason Martin Luther posted his 95 challenges to the wicked practices of the Church to the bulletin board on the door of the Wittenberg chapel on Halloween.  He picked his day with care, and ever since Halloween has also been Reformation Day.

I would encourage you, because of God’s grace in and through Martin Luther, All Hallow’s Eve is now both an occasion to call to mind Jesus victory over Satan and his followers with a bloody cross and an empty tomb.  

Remember that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

May God’s Word be the foundation of our All Hallow’s Eve and All Saint’s Day rememberances.

In Christ,

Pastor Don Treglown