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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
of granting relief to the wretched. His power is expressed in these words, Woman, thou art delivered;
for he authoritatively declares that deliverance was at his own disposal, and employs, at the same
time, the outward sign, the use of which we have explained on a former occasion.
13. And glorified God. As to the people glorifying God, it is mentioned in order to inform us,
that this was distinctly perceived to be a heavenly blessing. It was not some doubtful work which
allowed room for argument on either side, but one which afforded ample and undoubted grounds
for praising God. This discovers more strongly the malignity of the ruler of the synagogue
14. There are six days. This reprover does not venture to pass censure openly on Christ, but
points the venom of his dislike to another quarter, and indirectly condemns Christ in the person of
the multitude. What an astonishing display of furious malice! Six days, he tells them, were set apart
for labor; but how incorrectly and foolishly does he define that work, which is not permitted but
on six days! Why does he not likewise forbid them to enter the synagogue, lest they should violate
the Sabbath? Why does he not order them to refrain from all the exercises of godliness? But granting
that men are restrained from following their own employments on the Sabbath-day, how unreasonable
is it that the grace of God should be limited in that manner!
On them, therefore, come and you shall be cured. He bids them come on the other days to seek
a cure, as if the power of God lay asleep on Sabbath, and were not rather exerted chiefly on that
day for the salvation of his people. What purpose is to be served by the holy assemblies, except to
give an opportunity to believers for entreating the Divine assistance? That ungodly hypocrite talks
as if the lawful observation of the Sabbath interrupted the course of God’s favors, hindered men
from calling upon him, and took away from them all feeling of his kindness.
15. Doth not every one of you? etc Such a combination of malice and stupidity might easily
have been exposed in many ways, but Christ satisfied himself with this single argument. If it be
lawful on the Sabbath, to perform the offices of humanity to cattle, it is ridiculous to imagine that
the due observance of it will prevent assistance from being granted to the children of God. The
words of Christ present a twofold comparison: that of the cattle with the daughter of Abraham, and
that of the halter by which the ass or the ox is tied to its stall with the chains of Satan, by which he
holds men bound to their destruction. “You,” says he, “who are so scrupulous about observing the
Sabbath, venture to loose oxen and asses, and lead them away to watering. And why may not I be
permitted to perform a similar office of kindness to the elect people of God; especially when the
necessity is more urgent, when some one is to be delivered from the snares of Satan?”
Now though the wicked reprover was struck dumb with shame, yet we perceive that Christ
never performed any work, however illustrious, which wicked men did not seize as an occasion
for slander. Nor need we wonder that Satan labored, with incessant zeal and exertions, to subvert
the glory of Christ; for he is constantly employed in spreading his clouds, in order to darken the
holy actions of believers.
LUKE 13:31-33
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John Calvin