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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
to arouse believers to consider more attentively what belongs to the future life, and not to shut their
eyes against the light of the Gospel, when they perceive that even the blind, amidst their darkness,
see more clearly. And, indeed, the children of light ought to be more powerfully excited, when they
behold the children of this world making provision against a distant period, for a life which is
fading, and which passes in a moment.
9. Make to yourselves friends. As in the words which were last considered Christ did not enjoin
us to offer sacrifices to God out of the fruits of extortion, so now he does not mean that we ought
to search for defenders or advocates, who will throw around us the shield of their protection; but
teaches us that by acts of charity we obtain favor with God, who has promised, that to the merciful
he will show himself merciful, (Psalm 18:25.) It is highly foolish and absurd to infer from this
passage, that the prayers or approbation of the dead are of service to us: for, on that supposition,
all that is bestowed on unworthy persons would be thrown away; but the depravity of men does
not prevent the Lord from placing on his records all that we have expended on the poor. The Lord
looks not to the persons, but to the work itself, so that our liberality, though it may happen to be
exercised towards ungrateful men, will be of avail to us in the sight of God. But then he appears
to intimate that eternal life depends on our merits. I reply: it is sufficiently plain from the context
that he speaks after the manner of men. One who possesses extensive influence or wealth, if he
procure friends during his prosperity, has persons who will support him when he is visited by
adversity. In like manner, our kindness to the poor will be a seasonable relief to us; for whatever
any man may have generously bestowed on his neighbors the Lord acknowledges as if it had been
done to himself.
When you fail. By this word he expresses the time of death, and reminds us that the time of our
administration will be short, lest the confident expectation of a longer continuance of life should
make us take a firmer grasp. The greater part are sunk in slumber through their wealth; many
squander what they have on superfluities; while the niggardliness of others keeps it back, and
deprives both themselves and others of the benefit. Whence comes all this, but because they are
led astray by an unfounded expectation of long life, and give themselves up to every kind of
indulgence?
Of the mammon of unrighteousness. By giving this name to riches, he intends to render them
an object of our suspicion, because for the most part they involve their possessors in unrighteousness
Though in themselves they are not evil, yet as it rarely happens that they are obtained without
deceit, or violence, or some other unlawful expedient, or that the enjoyment of them is
unaccompanied by pride, or luxury, or some other wicked disposition, Christ justly represents them
as worthy of our suspicion; just as on another occasion he called them thorns, (Matthew 13:7,22.)
It would appear that a contrast, though not expressed, is intended to be supplied, to this effect; that
riches, which otherwise, in consequence of wicked abuse, polluted their possessors, and are almost
in every ease allurements of sin, ought to be directed to a contrary object, to be the means of
procuring favor for us. Let us also remember what I have formerly stated, that God does not demand
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John Calvin