Not What These Hands have Done

Not What These Hands have Done is a hymn text by Horatius Bonar (1861) in C.M. meter. Found in lsb 567, th 461, tlh 389.

The hymn exemplifies Lutheran emphasis on salvation sola gratia, rejecting all meritorious human works as basis for justification before God. It resonates with Luther's insistence that faith alone appropriates Christ's completed work of redemption.

History & Background

Written by Scottish Free Church minister Horatius Bonar in 1861 as part of his substantial hymn-writing ministry. The hymn gained particular prominence in Lutheran hymnals through its inclusion in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) and subsequent Lutheran Service Book (2006).

Hymnal Appearances

• Lutheran Service Book — 567
• Trinity Hymnal — 461
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 389

Bulletin Note

Penned by Scottish pastor Horatius Bonar in 1861, this Common Meter hymn crystallizes Luther's sola gratia—salvation by grace alone. It stands as a direct musical proclamation against works-righteousness and toward Christ's substitutionary atonement.

Preaching Connection

This hymn powerfully illuminates the Law-Gospel divide: our works cannot justify us, yet Christ's atoning work completes what the Law demands—a theological anchor for sermons on justification, repentance, or the cross.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• Of Justification Augsburg Confession

Overview

A companion to TLH 380, and equally sharp. Bonar rules out every human ground of salvation: not what my hands have done or my flesh endured (st. 1); not my feelings, deeds, prayers, sighs or tears (st. 2). Then the Gospel: Christ's work and the Lamb's blood alone ease the weight and give peace (st. 3); God's love for me, not mine for him, frees my spirit (st. 4); his grace speaks pardon and his power breaks bondage (st. 5); and so 'I call this Savior mine' (st. 6). St. 2's 'not what I feel' is a rare hymn-warning against resting assurance on feelings.

Central theme: Not our works, feelings, prayers or love, but Christ's work, blood and God's love alone give peace with God

Structure

Six short-meter quatrains. Negations (1-2) — Christ's work and blood (3) — God's love (4) — grace and power (5) — confession (6).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: 'this guilty soul,' 'my awe-full load,' 'this weight of sin,' 'dark unrest,' 'sore bondage' (1-5). Gospel: 'Thy work alone,' 'Thy blood alone,' 'Thy love to me,' 'Thy grace alone' (3-5).

Confessional Connections

Eph 2:8-9 (TLH's text): 'by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works.' AC IV; Ap IV. 'Not what I feel' — assurance rests on God's promise, not on inward experience (Ap IV.285; Luther against the enthusiasts, SA III.8). 'Not all my prayers and sighs and tears' — contrition and devotion are not satisfactions that merit forgiveness (Ap XII.10-12; AC XII). 'Thy love to me… not mine… to Thee' (1 John 4:10). Grace and power — Christ breaks the bondage of sin (FC II).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Reformation; Lent; confession; catechesis on justification.

Historical Notes

From Bonar's Hymns of Faith and Hope (1861). TLH's byline again gives 1808-1899 (Bonar died 1889).

About the Tune

TLH: ST. BRIDE (Samuel Howard, 1762). Row 1076 lists ENERGY (LSB).

Scripture References

Eph 2:8-9 Titus 3:5 Rom 3:20 Gal 2:16 Isa 64:6 Rom 5:1 Heb 10:12-14 John 1:29 1 John 1:7 1 John 4:10, 19 Rom 8:15 Rom 3:24 John 8:36 Heb 2:14-15 Song 2:16

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Justification by faith Grace alone Christ's redemption Evangelical assurance Renunciation of works-righteousness

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "Not What These Hands have Done" ↗