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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
of leprosy, (for this was likewise obtained by the rest,) but because he was admitted into the number
of the children of God, and received from His hand a pledge of fatherly kindness.
20. And being interrogated by the Pharisees This question was undoubtedly put in mockery;
for, since Christ was continually speaking of the kingdom of God as at hand, while no change was
taking place in the outward condition of the Jews, wicked and malicious persons looked upon this
as a plausible excuse for harassing him. As if all that Christ said about the kingdom of God were
idle talk and mere trifling, they put a sarcastic question to him, “When shall that kingdom come?”
If any one shall consider this question to have been put on account of the grossness of their own
views, rather than for the sake of jeering, I have no objection.
The kingdom of God will not come with observation. My opinion is, that Christ now disregards
those dogs, and accommodates this reply to the disciples; just as on many other occasions, when
he was provoked by wicked men, and seized the opportunity of giving instruction. In this manner
God disappoints their malice, while the truth, which is maintained in opposition to their sophistry,
is the more fully displayed.
The word observation is here employed by Christ to denote extraordinary splendor; 341 and he
declares, that the kingdom of God will not make its appearance at a distance, or attended by pompous
display. He means, that they are greatly mistaken who seek with the eyes of the flesh the kingdom
of God, which is in no respect carnal or earthly, for it is nothing else than the inward and spiritual
renewal of the soul. From the nature of the kingdom itself he shows that they are altogether in the
wrong, who look around here or there, in order to observe visible marks. “That restoration of the
Church,” he tells us, “which God has promised, must be looked for within; for, by quickening his
elect into a heavenly newness of life, he establishes his kingdom within them.” And thus he indirectly
reproves the stupidity of the Pharisees, because they aimed at nothing but what was earthly and
fading. It must be observed, however, that Christ speaks only of the beginnings of the kingdom of
God; for we now begin to be formed anew by the Spirit after the image of God, in order that our
entire renovation, and that of the whole world, may afterwards follow in due time.
MATTHEW 13:53-58; MARK 6:1-6
Matthew 13:53-58
Mark 6:1-6
53. And it happened, when Jesus had 1. And he departed thence, and came into his
concluded these discourses, own country, and his disciples followed him.
342 that he departed
thence. 54. And when he was come into his own 2. And when it was Sabbath, he began to teach
341 “La ou nous avons traduit, a veue d’oeil, le Grec a mot a mot avec observation; c’est a dire, avec quelque grande apparence,
en sorte qu’un chacun y puisse prendre garde.” — “Where we have rendered, visibly, the Greek literally runs, with observation;
that is to say, with some great display, so that every person may take notice of it.”
342 “Quand Iesus ent acheve ces similitudes-ci;” — “when Jesus had concluded these parables.”
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John Calvin