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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
They have provoked me by those who are not gods, and I will provoke them by that which is not
a people, and by a foolish nation will I enrage them,
(Deuteronomy 32:21.)
Having been first elected, they imagined that the grace of God was bound to them, as if God
could not want them; and how haughtily they despised all others is well known. Thus by way of
admission, he compares the Gentiles to the poor, the blind, and the lame. He says that they are
called from the cross-roads, and from the streets, as strangers and unknown persons; but yet declares
that they will occupy that place which friends and domestics had treated with indifference. What
the prophets had obscurely foretold about creating a new church is now plainly expressed. This
dishonor was the completion of the divine vengeance on the Jews, when God
cut them off, and ingrafted wild branches into
the stock of the olive-tree, (Romans 11:17;)
when he threw them off, and received the polluted and filthy Gentiles into his house. But if at
that time he spared not the natural branches, (Romans 11:21,) the same punishment will this day
be inflicted on us, if we do not answer to his call. The supper which had been prepared for us will
not be lost, but God will invite other guests.
Luke 14:23. Compel them to come in. This expression means, that the master of the house
would give orders to make use, as it were, of violence for compelling the attendance of the poor,
and to leave out none of the lowest dregs of the people. By these words Christ declares that he
would rake together all the offscourings of the world, rather than he would ever admit such ungrateful
persons to his table. The allusion appears to be to the manner in which the Gospel invites us; for
the grace of God is not merely offered to us, but doctrine is accompanied by exhortations fitted to
arouse our minds. This is a display of the astonishing goodness of God, who, after freely inviting
us, and perceiving that we give ourselves up to sleep, addresses our slothfulness by earnest entreaties,
and not only arouses us by exhortations, but even compels us by threatenings to draw near to him.
At the same time, I do not disapprove of the use which Augustine frequently made of this passage
against the Donatists, to prove that godly princes may lawfully issue edicts, for compelling obstinate
and rebellious persons to worship the true God, and to maintain the unity of the faith; for, though
faith is voluntary, yet we see that such methods are useful for subduing the obstinacy of those who
will not yield until they are compelled.
Matthew 22:11. And the king, having come in to see the guests. Here Christ does not reproach
the Jews with having wickedly despised the grace and calling of God; but gives early warning to
those who would be placed in their room, not to pollute with their filth the holy marriage, when
God shall bestow upon them admission to his table. Hitherto he has taught that the Jews, on account
of their ungodly and disdainful conduct, would be deprived of the peculiar honor and privilege
which they had enjoyed; and that from among the irreligious and abhorred Gentiles would men be
called to occupy their place. But now he threatens that, out of this very number, those who bring
reproach upon the Church will be expelled; for God invites all indiscriminately by the Gospel, and
thus many unholy and abominable persons creep in, who, though for a time they are admitted along
120
John Calvin