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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
acute, if they did not make some appendage to the word of God; 394 and hence arose washings of
which no mention was made in the Law. The legislators themselves did not give out that they
delivered any thing new, 395 but only that they administered cautions, which would be of service to
assist in keeping the Law of God. But this was immediately followed by great abuse, when
ceremonies introduced by men began to be regarded as a part of divine worship; and again, when
in matters that were free and voluntary uniformity was absolutely enjoined. For it was always the
will of God, as we have already said, that he should be worshipped according to the rule laid down
in his word, and therefore no addition to his Law can be endured. Now as he permits believers to
have outward ceremonies, by means of which they may perform the exercises of godliness, so he
does not suffer them to mix up those ceremonies with his own word, as if religion consisted in
them. 396
For they wash not their hands. The ground of offense is explained more fully by Mark; but the
substance of his explanation is, that many things were practiced by the scribes, which they had
voluntarily undertaken to keep. They were secondary laws invented by the curiosity of men, as if
the plain command of God were not enough. God commanded that those who had contracted any
defilement should wash themselves, (Leviticus 11:25,28;) and this extended to cups, and pots, and
raiment, and other articles of household furniture, (Leviticus 11:32,) that they might not touch any
thing that was polluted or unclean. But to invent other ablutions was idle and useless. 397 They were
not destitute of plausibility, as Paul tells us that the inventions of men have an appearance of
wisdom, (Colossians 2:23;) but if they had rested in the Law of God alone, that modesty would
have been more agreeable to Him than solicitude about small matters.
They were desirous to warn a person not to take food while he was unclean, through want of
consideration; but the Lord reckoned it enough to wash away those defilements of which they were
aware. Besides, no end or limit could be set to such cautions; for they could scarcely move a finger
without contracting some new spot or stain. But a far worse abuse lay in this, that the consciences
of men were tormented with scruples which led them to regard every person as chargeable with
pollution, who did not on every occasion wash his body with water. In persons who belonged to a
private rank they would perhaps have overlooked the neglect of this ceremony; but as they had
expected from Christ and his disciples something uncommon and extraordinary, they reckoned it
394 “Sinon qu’ils adioustassent a la parole de Dieu quelques repetasseries de leur invention;” — “if they did not add to the word
of God some patches of their own invention.”
395 “Les premiers autheurs de ces loix ne disoyent pas qu’ils voulussent commander rien de nouveau;” — “the first authors of
these laws did not say that they intended to issue any new command.”
396 “Qu’elles soyent meslees avec sa Parole, et mises en mesme rang, comme si quelque partie du service de Dieu gisoit en
icelles;” — “that they should be mixed with his Word, and put in the same rank, as if any part of the worship of God lay in
them.”
397 “C’a este un amusement de gens oisifs, et qui ne scavoyent que faire;” — “it was an amusement of persons that were idles
and did not know what to do.”
173
John Calvin