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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
sacrifice to be made from booty unjustly acquired, as if he were the partner of thieves, and that it
is rather a warning given to believers to keep themselves free from unrighteousness
10. He who is faithful in that which is least. Those maxims are proverbs taken from ordinary
practice and experience, and it is quite enough if they are generally true. It will sometimes happen,
no doubt, that a deceiver, who had disregarded a small gain, shall display his wickedness in a matter
of importance. Nay, many persons, by affecting honesty in trifling matters, are only in pursuit of
an enormous gain; 298 as that author 299 says: “Fraud establishes confidence in itself in small matters,
that, when a fit opportunity shall arrive, it may deceive with vast advantage.” And yet the statement
of Christ is not inaccurate; for in proverbs, as I have mentioned, we attend only to what usually
happens.
Christ, therefore, exhorts his disciples to act faithfully in small matters, in order to prepare
themselves for the exercise of fidelity in matters of the highest importance. He next applies this
doctrine to the proper stewardship of spiritual graces, which the world, indeed, does not estimate
according to their value, but which far surpass, beyond all question, the fading riches of this world.
Those persons, he tells us, who act improperly and unfaithfully in things of small value, such as
the transitory riches of the world, do not deserve that God should entrust to them the inestimable
treasure of the Gospel, and of similar gifts. There is, therefore, in these words an implied threatening,
that there is reason to fear lest, on account of our abuse of an earthly stewardship, we fail to obtain
heavenly gifts. In this sense, what is true is contrasted with riches, as what is solid and lasting is
contrasted with what is shadowy and fading. 300
12. And if you have not been faithful in what belongs to another. By the expression, what belongs
to another, he means what is not within man; for God does not bestow riches upon us on condition
that we shall be attached to them, but makes us stewards of them in such a manner, that they may
not bind us with their chains. And, indeed, it is impossible that our minds should be free and
disengaged for dwelling in heaven, if we did not look upon every thing that is in the world as
belonging to another
Who shall entrust to you what is your own? Spiritual riches, on the other hand, which relate to
a future life, are pronounced by him to be our own, because the enjoyment of them is everlasting.
But now he employs a different comparison. There is no reason, he tells us, to expect that we shall
make a proper and moderate use of our own property, if we have acted improperly or unfaithfully
in what belonged to another. Men usually care less about abusing, and allow themselves greater
liberty in squandering, their own property, because they are not afraid that any person will find
298 “Et mesmes plusieurs sont contens d’user de simplicite et fidelite en de petites choses, a fin d’attraper puis apres un grand
profit tout d’un coup;” — “and many are even willing to practice honesty and fidelity in small matters, in order afterwards to
seize all at once on a large profit.”
299 Livy.
300 “D’une chose caduque, et qui n’est qu’une ombre;” — “with a fading thing, and which is only a shadow.”
125
John Calvin