Therefore the Redeemer Said to Boaz, “Buy It for Yourself.” So He Took Off His Sandal

Yes, that was just like him. He took off his sandal. You can believe that Boaz let the sandal be there; he did not depend on all these many customs and ordinances in Israel that continued to exist among the people right until Jesus’ days and made God’s commandments of no effect. This redeemer imagined himself to be the hero who knew how it should be done outwardly, even though in Boaz’s eyes, and in the eyes of all generations in whom dwells the spirit of understanding, he demonstrated pure greed. The elders of the city would now realize that this was a man with backbone, and when things came to a head, he knew how to confirm what he said and meant in a worthy manner—by taking off his sandal.

Dear soul! Never attempt to draw people’s attention to yourself with outward things. Rather attempt to hide, just like the cherubim who covered themselves with their wings. From this position you should seek to turn people’s minds and thoughts toward Christ.

We have enough religious interpreters of signs in the religious assemblies of our days, empty barrels who rumble terribly. Their fruits are like those of an airplane that proudly ascends straight into the air, making a lot of noise, with everyone’s eyes looking up at it, but after it has vanished, people are left with their ears full of noise, and with a stiff neck, because they have gawked too long at it. The reason you do not see these jugglers is because you are just as blind as they are. Jesus saw them; the prophets fought against them; Luther worked against them all his days. Only you cannot find a single one of them, and the reason could be that you believe you are so pure that you do not dare look reality in the eyes so as not to be defiled.