Alas My God My Sins Are Great

Alas my God, my sins are great

Alas My God My Sins Are Great is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in L.M. meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in lw 232, tlh 317.

The hymn expresses the Lutheran emphasis on sincere confession of sin and reliance upon Christ's satisfaction for salvation. It embodies the Reformation principle of justification by grace through faith rather than works of penance.

History & Background

Martin Behm's hymn "Ach Gott und Herr" was published in early 17th-century Germany as a penitential hymn. Catherine Winkworth's English translation became the standard version in Lutheran hymnals.

Hymnal Appearances

Lutheran Worship — 232
The Lutheran Hymnal — 317

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bulletin Note

Written by Martin Behm in 1610, this German Lutheran hymn captures the Reformation's radical trust in Christ's cross alone for forgiveness, rejecting human works of penance in favor of grace received through faith.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Law's piercing work before it proclaims the Gospel's healing: our sin is grave, yet Christ's satisfaction is greater still—a dynamic perfectly suited to amplify any sermon on justification by grace alone.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

A hymn of confession by Johann Major, a Wittenberg professor and poet. It is a penitential psalm in miniature: my sins are great, my conscience accuses, no one can help (st. 1); flight is useless because grief would follow (st. 2); so I seek God, meriting nothing, pleading only that his Son suffered for me (st. 3). Then it accepts earthly chastening — 'Here spare me not; if heaven I win, on earth I gladly suffer' (st. 4) — asks for forgiveness and patience (st. 5), and commits all to God's will so long as it ends in his rest with the Savior (st. 6).

Central theme: The accusing conscience fleeing to God's mercy in Christ alone, and accepting fatherly chastening for the sake of heaven

Structure

Six four-line stanzas (8.7.8.7, alternating feminine endings). Accusation (1) — no escape (2) — Christ's suffering (3) — chastening accepted (4-5) — submission (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'my sins are great, my conscience doth upbraid me'; no human help; no escape (1-2). Gospel: 'I merit naught… Thy Son hath suffered for me' (3). Then the life of the forgiven under the cross (4-6).

Confessional Connections

Contrition and faith, the two parts of repentance (AC XII). 'I merit naught… Thy Son hath suffered for me' — justification for Christ's sake (AC IV). St. 4-5 must be read with Ap XII.131-160: temporal afflictions after forgiveness are not satisfactions that pay for sin, but fatherly discipline 'that we may not be condemned along with the world' (1 Cor 11:32). The hymn's 'Here spare me not' expresses willingness to bear the cross, not a payment. Murmuring against chastening misses its good (Heb 12:11).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Ash Wednesday; confession; times of affliction.

Historical Notes

Major (1564-1654) taught at Wittenberg; the hymn dates from 1613. The tune appeared in Andachts-Zymbeln (Freiberg, 1655).

About the Tune

ACH GOTT UND HERR (Andachts-Zymbeln, Freiberg, 1655).

Scripture References

Ps 38:4 Ps 51:3 Rom 2:15 Ps 146:3 Ps 139:7-12 Jonah 1:3 Luke 18:13 Hab 3:2 Rom 5:9 Isa 53:5 Heb 12:5-11 1 Cor 11:32 Rom 8:18 Phil 2:14 Ps 31:15 2 Cor 12:9 Heb 4:9

Stanza by Stanza

1 Alas, my God, my sins are great,…

Alas, my God, my sins are great, and my conscience accuses me; now I find that in my trouble no one has the power to help me.

Ps 38:4 (TLH's text): 'my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.' The accusing conscience (Rom 2:15). 'Put not your trust in princes… in whom there is no salvation' (Ps 146:3).

Scripture: Ps 38:4, Ps 51:3, Rom 2:15, Ps 146:3
Imagery & language: Great sins; upbraiding conscience.
Law / Gospel: Law — accusation.
Connection to previous: Accused.

confession conscience contrition

2 And fled I hence in my despair…

And if I fled from here in despair to hide in some lonely place, my griefs would still be with me, and peace would still be denied me.

'Where shall I flee from your presence?' (Ps 139:7). Jonah's flight (Jonah 1:3). The conscience cannot be outrun; only forgiveness gives peace.

Scripture: Ps 139:7-12, Jonah 1:3, Gen 3:8
Imagery & language: Flight; lone spot.
Law / Gospel: Law — no escape.
Connection to previous: No escape.

conscience despair

3 Lord, Thee I seek, I merit naught;…

Lord, I seek you; I deserve nothing — yet pity me and restore me. Just God, let your wrath not be my portion; your Son has suffered for me.

The turn: 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner' (Luke 18:13). 'I merit naught' — no plea of works (AC IV). 'In wrath remember mercy' (Hab 3:2). The only argument: 'Thy Son hath suffered for me' (Rom 5:9; Isa 53:5).

Scripture: Luke 18:13, Hab 3:2, Rom 5:9, Isa 53:5
Imagery & language: Merit nothing; the Son suffered.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ's suffering is my plea.
Connection to previous: Christ suffered.

justification atonement mercy

4 If pain and woe must follow sin,…

If pain and sorrow must follow sin, then make my path even rougher; do not spare me here — if I win heaven, I will gladly suffer on earth.

A willingness to bear temporal chastening. Ap XII: such sufferings are not satisfactions for sin but discipline, 'that we may not be condemned along with the world' (1 Cor 11:32; Heb 12:5-11). 'The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory' (Rom 8:18).

Scripture: Heb 12:5-11, 1 Cor 11:32, Rom 8:18
Imagery & language: Rougher path; gladly suffer.
Law / Gospel: Cross accepted (discipline, not payment).
Connection to previous: Spare me not here.

cross discipline heaven

5 But curb my heart, forgive my guilt,…

But restrain my heart, forgive my guilt and make my patience stronger; for those who grumble at your chastening miss the good you intend.

Forgiveness first, then patience. 'Do all things without grumbling' (Phil 2:14). 'Discipline… yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness' (Heb 12:11).

Scripture: Heb 12:11, Phil 2:14, Jas 1:2-4
Imagery & language: Curbed heart; murmuring.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — forgiveness and patience.
Connection to previous: Patience.

forgiveness patience discipline

6 Then deal with me as seems Thee best--…

Then deal with me as you think best — your grace will help me bear it — if only at last I may see your rest and share it with my Savior.

Submission (Ps 31:15). 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Cor 12:9). The goal: God's rest with Christ (Heb 4:9; John 14:3).

Scripture: Ps 31:15, 2 Cor 12:9, Heb 4:9, John 14:3
Imagery & language: As seems best; rest with the Savior.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — grace sufficient; rest.
Connection to previous: Submission.

submission grace heaven

Themes

Sin and repentance Divine mercy Confession Christ's redemption Justification by faith

Look Further

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