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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
As that whole nation was hated and detested by them on account of ungodliness, he puts the question,
“Do you imagine that those wretched persons, who have been put to death by Pilate, were worse
than others? You are perfectly aware, that that country is full of ungodly men, and that many who
deserved the same punishment are still alive. He is a blind and wicked judge who decides as to the
sins of all men by the punishments which they now endure. It is not always the most wicked man
who is first dragged to punishment; but when God selects a few out of a large number to be punished,
he holds out in their person a threatening that he will take vengeance on the remainder, in order
that all may be alarmed.”
Having spoken of the Samaritans, he now approaches more closely to the Jews themselves.
Eighteen men had at that time been killed by the fall of a tower in Jerusalem. He declares that those
men were not more wicked than others, but that their death was held out to all as a ground of alarm;
for if in them God gave a display of his judgment, no more would others, though they might be
spared for a time, escape his hand. Christ does not, however, forbid believers to consider attentively
the judgments of God, but enjoins them to observe this order, to begin with their own sins. They
will thus obtain the highest advantage; for they will avert God’s chastisements by voluntary
repentance. To the same purpose is the warning which Paul gives,
Let no man deceive you with vain words; for on account of these things the wrath of God cometh
against the rebellious,
(Ephesians 5:6.)
6. He spoke also this parable. The substance of it is, that many are endured for a time who
deserve to be cut off; but that they gain nothing by the delay, if they persist in their obstinacy. The
wicked flattery, by which hypocrites are hardened, and become more obstinate, arises from this
cause, that they do not think of their sins till they are compelled; and, therefore, so long as God
winks at these, and delays his chastisements, they imagine that he is well satisfied with them. Thus
they indulge themselves more freely, as if, to use the words of Isaiah, (28:15,) they had made a
covenant with death, and were in friendship with the grave. And this is the reason why Paul
denounces them in such earnestness of language for
treasuring up to themselves the wrath of God against the last day,
(Romans 2:5.)
It is well known that trees are sometimes preserved, not because their owners find them to be
useful and productive, but because the careful and industrious husbandman makes every possible
trial and experiment before he determines to remove them out of the field or vineyard. This teaches
us that, when the Lord does not immediately take vengeance on the reprobate, but delays to punish
them, there are the best reasons for his forbearance. Such considerations serve to restrain human
rashness, that no man may dare to murmur against the supreme Judge of all, if He does not always
execute his judgments in one uniform manner. A comparison is here drawn between the owner and
the vine-dresser: not that God’s ministers go beyond him in gentleness and forbearance, but because
the Lord not only prolongs the life of sinners, but likewise cultivates them in a variety of ways,
that they may yield better fruit.
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John Calvin