Lord Jesus We Give Thanks to Thee

Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee

Lord Jesus We Give Thanks to Thee is a hymn text by Unknown (1800) in L.M. meter. Found in tlh 173.

The hymn emphasizes gratitude as a central Christian response to Christ's redemptive work, embodying the Lutheran principle of sola gratia. It connects sacrificial praise with the priesthood of all believers through Christ's intercession.

History & Background

This hymn appears in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) as hymn 173, reflecting the Lutheran hymnic tradition of gratitude-centered worship. The text's authorship remains obscure, characteristic of many nineteenth-century German hymnic adaptations.

Hymnal Appearances

The Lutheran Hymnal — 173

Bulletin Note

An anonymous hymn from the early 1800s set to the sturdy tune ERHALT UNS HERR ('Lord, Keep Us Steadfast'). It crystallizes Lutheran theology: grace received as thanksgiving offered, uniting all believers in Christ's priesthood.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Gospel's power to awaken grateful obedience: Christ's redemptive work (Gospel) compels the believer's response of perpetual thanksgiving and priestly offering (the believer's grateful Law-response through grace).

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 short Passion-thanksgiving hymn by Christoph Fischer (Vischer). Thanks that Christ died to free us, that we are made righteous by his blood and reconciled to God (st. 1); by his wounds we ask him, true God and Man, to be our support and rescue at death (st. 2); to defend us from sin and help us bear our crosses patiently, comforted by his agony (st. 3), with full assurance that he will stay faithful until we enter life (st. 4). Compact and doctrinally dense — justification, reconciliation and the two natures in eight lines.

Central theme: Thanks for justification and reconciliation through Christ's blood, and prayer for his help in crosses and death

Structure

Four long-meter quatrains; st. 3-4 form one sentence. Thanks (1) — stay in death (2) — crosses (3) — assurance (4).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel: 'Made righteous through Thy precious blood… reconciled to God' (1). Prayer against sin and shame; crosses (3).

Confessional Connections

Heb 13:15 (TLH's text): 'a sacrifice of praise… the fruit of lips.' St. 1 is a compact statement of AC IV: 'made righteous through Thy precious blood' (Rom 5:9, 'justified by his blood'), 'reconciled to God' (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18-19). St. 2: 'True God and Man' — the two natures (AC III; FC VIII). St. 3: crosses borne patiently, consoled by Christ's agony (theology of the cross; Ap XII). St. 4: assurance that he 'wilt true remain' (1 Cor 1:9; FC XI.45-47).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Good Friday; after Communion.

Historical Notes

Fischer (c. 1518-1597), Lutheran superintendent at Schmalkalden and later at Celle, is dated 1597 by TLH.

About the Tune

WIR DANKEN DIR, HERR JESU CHRIST (Bergkreyen, Wittenberg, 1562).

Scripture References

Heb 13:15 Rom 5:9-10 2 Cor 5:18-19 Gal 5:1 Isa 53:5 1 Tim 2:5 Hos 13:14 1 Thess 1:10 Matt 16:24 Heb 12:2-3 Luke 22:44 Heb 13:5 1 Cor 1:8-9 Phil 1:6

Stanza by Stanza

1 Lord Jesus, we give thanks to Thee…

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you died to set us free; made righteous through your precious blood, we are now reconciled to God.

'Justified by his blood… reconciled to God by the death of his Son' (Rom 5:9-10). 'In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself' (2 Cor 5:19). 'For freedom Christ has set us free' (Gal 5:1).

Scripture: Rom 5:9-10, 2 Cor 5:18-19, Gal 5:1, Heb 13:15
Imagery & language: Died to free us; righteous; reconciled.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — justification.
Connection to previous: Thanks.

justification reconciliation thanksgiving

2 By virtue of Thy wounds we pray,…

By the power of your wounds we pray: true God and Man, be our support, our comfort when we breathe our last, our rescue from eternal death.

'By his wounds we are healed' (Isa 53:5). 'One mediator… the man Christ Jesus' (1 Tim 2:5). 'O death, where are your plagues?' (Hos 13:14). 'Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come' (1 Thess 1:10).

Scripture: Isa 53:5, 1 Tim 2:5, Hos 13:14, 1 Thess 1:10
Imagery & language: Wounds; God and Man; rescue from death.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ at death.
Connection to previous: Stay in death.

two natures death wounds of Christ

3 Defend us, Lord, from sin and shame;…

Defend us, Lord, from sin and shame; help us by your almighty name to bear our crosses patiently, comforted by your great agony,

'Take up his cross' (Matt 16:24). 'Consider him who endured… so that you may not grow weary' (Heb 12:3). His agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44).

Scripture: Matt 16:24, Heb 12:2-3, Luke 22:44
Imagery & language: Sin and shame; crosses; agony.
Law / Gospel: Law — sin; Gospel — comfort in his agony.
Connection to previous: Crosses.

cross-bearing patience theology of the cross

4 And thus the full assurance gain…

and so gain full assurance that you will stay true to us and not abandon us in our struggle until we enter into life.

'I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Heb 13:5). 'God is faithful' (1 Cor 1:9); 'he who began a good work… will bring it to completion' (Phil 1:6).

Scripture: Heb 13:5, 1 Cor 1:8-9, Phil 1:6
Imagery & language: Assurance; not forsaken; life.
Law / Gospel: Gospel — Christ's faithfulness.
Connection to previous: Assurance.

assurance perseverance

Themes

Thanksgiving Christ's sacrifice Praise and worship Gratitude for redemption

Look Further

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