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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
producing one instance, in which the power of Christ is as brightly displayed as in others of the
same sort which followed shortly afterwards.
Mark 7:32. And they bring to him one who was deaf. The reason why they implored him to lay
his hands upon him may be learned from passages which we have already considered; for the laying
on of hands was a solemn symbol of consecration, 423 and by means of it, the gifts of the Holy Spirit
were also bestowed. And there is no doubt that this ceremony was frequently used by Christ; so
that those men requested nothing but what they knew that he had been formerly in the habit of
doing. On the present occasion, Christ employs other symbols; for he puts his spittle on the tongue
of the dumb man, and puts his fingers into his ears. The laying on of hands would of itself have
been sufficiently efficacious, and even, without moving a finger, he might have accomplished it
by a single act of his will; but it is evident that he made abundant use of outward signs, when they
were found to be advantageous. Thus, by touching the tongue with spittle, he intended to point out
that the faculty of speech was communicated by himself alone; and by putting his finger into the
ears, he showed that it belonged to his office to pierce the ears of the deaf. There is no necessity
for having recourse to allegories; and we find that those who have amused themselves with ingenious
discussions on this subject, are so far from bringing forward any thing of real value, that they tend
rather to hold up the Scriptures to ridicule. Readers of sobriety and judgment will be satisfied with
this single instruction, that we obtain from Christ, in answer to our prayers, both speech and hearing;
for he pours his energy into our tongues, and pierces our ears with his fingers.
33. And when he had taken him aside from the multitude. This was done, partly to afford to
those who were ignorant, and not yet sufficiently qualified for becoming witnesses, an opportunity
of perceiving at a distance the glory of his Divine nature, and partly that he might have a better
opportunity of pouring out earnest prayer. When he looked up to heaven and sighed, it was an
expression of strong feeling; and this enables us to perceive the vehemence of his love towards
men, for whose miseries he feels so much compassion. Nor can it be doubted, that by conveying
the spittle from his own mouth to the mouth of another, and by putting his fingers into his ears, he
intended to manifest and express the same feeling of kindness. Yet that he has supreme power to
remove all our defects, and restore us to health, is proclaimed by him when he simply orders the
tongue and ears to be opened; for it was not without a good reason that Mark inserted that Chaldaic
word, (ἐφφαθά) Ephphatha, be opened, but to testify the divine power of Christ. Among other
fooleries with which baptism has been debased by foolish men, the ceremony used by our Lord is
turned into a piece of buffoonery; and this instance shows us that there is no end to licentiousness,
when men wantonly change at their own pleasure the mysteries of God.
36. Then he enjoined them not to tell it to any person. Many commentators torture these
injunctions to an opposite meaning, as if Christ had purposely excited them to spread abroad the
fame of the miracle; but I prefer a more natural interpretation which I have formerly stated, 424 that
423 “Pour dedier et eonsacrer les personnes;” — “for dedicating and con-secrating persons.”
424 Harmony, vol. 1. p. 374.
189
John Calvin