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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
himself in such a manner as to imply, that he has all that is necessary for gratifying all his senses
and all his desires.
20. Fool, this night they will demand thy soul from thee. The word soul carries an allusion.
Formerly, the rich man addressed his soul as the seat of all the affections: but now, he speaks of
the life itself, or the vital spirit. The words, they will demand, (ἀπαιτοῦσιν) though in the plural
number, are used indefinitely, and mean nothing more than that the life of the rich man, which he
imagined to be in his own power, was at the disposal of another. I advert to this, because some take
occasion from them to make unfounded speculations about angels. The design of Christ is simply
to show that the life of men, which they imagine to be strongly protected by the fortress of their
riches, is every moment 272 taken away. The rich man is thus convicted of folly, in not knowing
that his life depended on another.
21. So is he that layeth up for himself. As the two clauses are evidently contrasted, the one must
be taken into account for the exposition of the other. Let us ascertain, therefore, what is meant by
being rich in God, or, “towards God” or, “with respect to God.” Those who are tolerably acquainted
with the Scriptures know that the preposition εἰς not unfrequently takes the sense of ἐν. But whether
it be understood in the one sense or in the other, is of little consequence; for the meaning comes to
this, that they are rich according to God, who do not trust to earthly things, but depend solely on
his providence. It matters not whether they are in abundance or in want, provided that both classes
present their sincere prayers to the Lord for their daily bread. The corresponding phrase, layeth up
for himself, conveys the idea that this man paid no attention to the blessing of God, but anxiously
heaped up an immense store, so that his confidence was shut up in his barns. 273 Hence we may
easily conclude that the parable was intended to show, that vain are the deliberations and foolish
attempts of those who, trusting to the abundance of their wealth, do not rely on God alone, and are
not satisfied with their own share, or prepared for whatever may befall them; 274 and, finally, that
such persons will suffer the penalty of their own folly.
LUKE 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
1. And at that time some were present, who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices. 2. And Jesus answering said to them, Do you imagine that these
Galileans were sinners beyond all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3. I tell you,
272 “Que d’heure en heure la vie est ostee aux hommes;” — “that from hour to hour the life of man is taken away.”
273 “En sorte que la fiance de l’homme est en ses greniers, ou en ses coffres;” — “so that the confidence of the man is in his
granaries, or in his chests.”
274 “Estans prests a recevoir ce qu’il plaira a Dieu leur envoyer;” — “being prepared to receive what God may be pleased to
send to them.”
104
John Calvin