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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
There are many persons of the same description in the present day, who plead that on intricate
subjects they have a good right to suspend their judgment, because they must wait till the matter
is fully ascertained. They go farther, and believe that it is a mark of prudence purposely to avoid
all inquiry into the truth; as if it were not an instance of shameful sloth that, while they are so eagerly
solicitous about the objects of the flesh and of the earth, they neglect the eternal salvation of their
souls, and at the same time contrive vain excuses for gross and stupid ignorance.
A very absurd inference is drawn by some ignorant persons from this passage, that we are not
at liberty to predict from the aspect of the sky whether we shall have fair or stormy weather. It is
rather an argument which Christ founds on the regular course of nature, that those men deserve to
perish for their ingratitude, who, while they are sufficiently acute in matters of the present life, yet
knowingly and willfully quench the heavenly light by their stupidity.
Mark 8:12. And groaning in his spirit. By these words Mark informs us that it occasioned grief
and bitter vexation to our Lord, when he saw those ungrateful men obstinately resist God. And
certainly all who are desirous to promote the glory of God, and who feel concern about the salvation
of men, ought to have such feelings that nothing would inflict on their hearts a deeper wound than
to see unbelievers purposely blocking up against themselves the way of believing, and employing
all their ingenuity in obscuring by their clouds the brightness of the word and works of God. The
words, in his spirit, appear to me to be added emphatically, to inform us that this groan proceeded
from the deepest affection of his heart, and that no sophist might allege that Christ resorted to
outward attitudes to express a grief which he did not inwardly feel; for that holy soul, which was
guided by the zeal of the Spirit, must have been moved by deep sadness at the sight of such wicked
obstinacy.
Luke 12:57. And why even of yourselves, etc.? Here Christ opens up the source of the evil, and,
as it were, applies the lancet to the ulcer. He tells them that they do not descend into their
consciences, and there examine with themselves, as in the presence of God, what is right. The
reason why hypocrites are so much disposed to make objections is, that they throw their swelling
words into the air without any concern, and never exercise calm thought, or place themselves at
the tribunal of God, that the truth, when once ascertained, may be fully embraced. When Luke says
that this was spoken to the multitudes, he does not contradict the narrative of Matthew and Mark;
for it is probable that Christ adapted his style generally to the followers and disciples of the scribes,
and to other despisers of God who resembled them, of whom he perceived that there were too many;
as the present complaint or expostulation was applicable to the whole of that rabble.
Matthew 16:4. A wicked and adulterous nation. This passage was explained 426 under Matthew
12:38. The general meaning is, that the Jews are never satisfied with any signs, but are continually
tickled by a wicked desire to tempt God. He does not call them an adulterous nation merely because
they demand some kind of sign, (for the Lord sometimes permitted his people to do this,) but
because they deliberately provoke God; and therefore he threatens that, after he has risen from the
426 See page 93 of this volume.
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John Calvin