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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
astray in their vain fancies. Hence we perceive how great is the weakness of the human mind; for
not only is it unable of itself to understand what is right or true, but even out of true principles it
coins errors. Besides, though Christ is the only standard of harmony and peace, by which God
gathers the whole world to himself, the greater part of men seize on this subject as the occasion of
prolonged strife. Among the Jews, certainly, the unity of faith related solely to Christ; and yet they
who formerly appeared to have some sort of agreement among themselves now split into a variety
of sects.
We see too how one error quickly produces another; for a preconceived opinion, which had
taken a firm hold of the minds of the common people, that souls passed from one body to another,
made them more ready to adopt this groundless fancy. But though, at the time of Christ’s coming,
the Jews were divided in this manner, such a diversity of opinions ought not to have hindered the
godly from desiring to attain the pure knowledge of him. For if any man, under such a pretense,
had given himself up to sloth, and neglected to seek Christ, we would have been forced to declare
that there was no excuse for him. Much less then will any man escape the judgment of God who
is led by the variety of sects to entertain a dislike of Christ, or who, disgusted by the false opinions
of men, does not deign to attach himself to Christ.
15. But who do you say that I am? Here Christ distinguishes his disciples from the rest of the
crowd, to make it more fully evident that, whatever differences may exist among others, we at least
ought not to be led aside from the unity of faith. They who shall honestly submit to Christ, and
shall not attempt to mix with the Gospel any inventions of their own brain, will never want the true
light. But here the greatest vigilance is necessary, that, though the whole world may be carried
away by its own inventions, believers may continually adhere to Christ. As Satan could not rob the
Jews of the conviction which they derived from the Law and the Prophets, that Christ would come,
he changed him into various shapes, and, as it were, cut him in pieces. His next scheme was, to
bring forward many pretended Christs, that they might lose sight of the true Redeemer. By similar
contrivances, he continued ever afterwards either to tear Christ in pieces, or to exhibit him under
a false character. Among the confused and discordant voices of the world, let this voice of Christ
perpetually sound in our ears, which calls us away from unsettled and wavering men, that we may
not follow the multitude, and that our faith may not be tossed about amongst the billows of
contending opinions.
16. Thou art the Christ. The confession is short, but it embraces all that is contained in our
salvation; for the designation Christ, or Anointed, includes both an everlasting Kingdom and an
everlasting Priesthood, to reconcile us to God, and, by expiating our sins through his sacrifice, to
obtain for us a perfect righteousness, and, having received us under his protection, to uphold and
supply and enrich us with every description of blessings. Mark says only, Thou art the Christ. Luke
says, Thou art the Christ of God But the meaning is the same; for the Christs (χριστοί) of God was
the appellation anciently bestowed on kings, who had been anointed by the divine command. 438
438 See Harmony, vol. 1, p. 92, n. 2; p. 142, n. 2.
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John Calvin