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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
what has been already said about the twelve Apostles, 30 that as this was the number of the tribes
when the people were in a flourishing condition, so an equal number of apostles or patriarchs was
chosen, to reassemble the members of the lacerated body, that the restoration of the Church might
thus be complete.
There was a similar reason for these seventy. We know that Moses, finding himself insufficient
for the burden, took seventy judges to be associated with him in governing the people, (Exodus
18:22; 24:1.) But when the Jews returned from the Babylonish captivity, they had a council or
συνέδριον—which was corrupted into Sanedrin 31 —consisting of seventy-two judges. As usually
happens with such numbers, when they spoke of the council, they called them only the seventy
judges; and Philo assures us, that they were chosen out of the posterity of David, that there might
be some remaining authority in the royal line. After various calamities, this was the finishing stroke,
when Herod abolished that council, and thus deprived the people of a legitimate share in the
government. Now as the return from Babylon prefigured a true and complete redemption, the reason
why our Lord chooses seventy heralds of his coming appears to be, to hold out the restoration of
their fallen state; and as the people were to be united under one head, he does not give them authority
as judges, but only commands them to go before him, that he may possess the sole power. And sent
them by two and two. He appears to have done so on account of their weakness. There was reason
to fear, that individually they would not have the boldness necessary for the vigorous discharge of
their office; and therefore, that they may encourage one another, they are sent by two and two
2. The harvest is indeed abundant. I have explained this passage under the ninth chapter of
Matthew; 32 but it was proper to insert it again in this place, because it is related for a different
purpose. In order to stimulate his disciples the more powerfully to apply with diligence to their
work, he declares that the harvest is abundant: and hence it follows, that their labor will not be
fruitless, but that they will find, in abundance, opportunities of employment, and means of usefulness.
He afterwards reminds them of dangers, contests, and annoyances, and bids them go and prepare
themselves for traversing with speed the whole of Judea. 33 In short, he repeats the same injunctions
which he had given to the Apostles; and, therefore, it would serve no good purpose to trouble the
reader here with many words, since a full exposition of all these matters may be found in the passage
already quoted. We may notice briefly, however, the meaning of that expression, salute no man by
the way. It indicates extreme haste, when, on meeting a person in the way, we pass on without
30 Harmony, volume 1 p. 438.
31 “Lequel les Grecs nomment Synedrion, et eux l’appeloyent par une prononciation corrompue Sanedrin;” — “which the
Greeks denominate Synedrion, and which they, by a corrupt pronunciation, called Sanedrin.”
32 Harmony, volume 1 p. 421.
33 “Et leur commande d’aller alaigrement et en diligence, a fin que bien tost ils ayent fait une course par tout le pays de Iudee;”
— “and commands them to go with alacrity and diligence, that they may soon have performed a circuit through the whole country
of Judea.”
15
John Calvin