Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
nothing; for they entertained as great a contempt for active life, as if it had kept them back from
heaven. On the contrary, we know that men were created for the express purpose of being employed
in labor of various kinds, and that no sacrifice is more pleasing to God, than when every man applies
diligently to his own calling, and endeavors to live in such a manner as to contribute to the general
advantage. 255
How absurdly they have perverted the words of Christ to support their own contrivance, will
appear manifest when we have ascertained the natural meaning. Luke says that Mary sat at the feet
of Jesus Does he mean that she did nothing else throughout her whole life? On the contrary, the
Lord enjoins his followers to make such a distribution of their time, that he who desires to make
proficiency in the school of Christ shall not always be an idle hearer but shall put in practice what
he has learned; for there is a time to hear, and a time to act. 256 It is, therefore, a foolish attempt of
the monks to take hold of this passage, as if Christ were drawing a comparison between a
contemplative and an active life, while Christ simply informs us for what end, and in what manner,
he wishes to be received.
Though the hospitality of Martha deserved commendation, and is commended, yet there were
two faults in it which are pointed out by Christ. The first is, that Martha carried her activity beyond
proper bounds; for Christ would rather have chosen to be entertained in a frugal manner, and at
moderate expense, than that the holy woman should have submitted to so much toil. The second
fault was, that Martha, by distracting her attention, and undertaking more labor than was necessary,
deprived herself of the advantage of Christ’s visit. The excess is pointed out by Luke, when he
speaks of much serving; for Christ was satisfied with little. It was just as if one were to give a
magnificent reception to a prophet, and yet not to care about hearing him, but, on the contrary, to
make so great and unnecessary preparations as to bury all the instruction. But the true way of
receiving prophets is, to accept the advantage which God presents and offers to us through their
agency.
We now see that the kind attention of Martha, though it deserved praise, was not without its
blemishes. There was this additional evil, that Martha was so delighted with her own bustling
operations, as to despise her sister’s pious eagerness to receive instruction. 257 This example warns
us, that, in doing what is right, we must take care not to think more highly of ourselves than of
others.
255 “Met peine de vivre en sorte qu’ il apporte quelque profit a la societe commune des hommes;” — “endeavors to live so as
to yield some advantage to the general society of men.”
256 “Car il y a temps d’ouir, et temps de faire, et de mettre la main a la besongne;” — “for there is a time to hear, and a time
to act, and to put the hand to the work.”
257 “En la conduite du banquet, et bruit de mesnage;” — “in the preparation of the entertainment, and the noise of household
affairs.”
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John Calvin