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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
as an undoubted oracle among the Rabbins, that there would be a first and a second coming of the
Messiah; that in the first he would be mean and despised, but that this would be shortly afterwards
followed by his royal dignity. And, indeed, there is some plausibility in that error, for it springs
from a true principle. The Scripture, too, speaks of a first and a second coming of the Messiah; for
it promises that he will be a Redeemer, to expiate by his sacrifice the sins of the world 483 And such
is the import of the following prophecies:
Rejoice, daughter of Zion, behold, thy King cometh, poor, sitting on an ass,
(Zechariah 9:9.)
We beheld him, and he had no form or beauty, and he resembled a leper, so that we had no esteem
for him,
(Isaiah 53:3,4.)
Again, Scripture represents him as victorious over death, and as subjecting all things to his
dominion. But we see how the Rabbins corrupt the pure word of God by their inventions; and as
every thing was greatly corrupted in the time of our Lord, it is probable that the people had also
embraced this foolish notion.
Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? The gross mistakes which they committed
as to the person of Elijah have been pointed out on two or three occasions. 484 Perhaps, too, they
cunningly and wickedly endeavored to lessen the authority of Christ by bringing forward Elijah;
for as it had been promised that Elijah would come as the forerunner of Messiah, to prepare the
way before him, (Malachi 3:1; 4:5,) it was easy to excite a prejudice against Christ, by saying that
he came unaccompanied by Elijah By a trick closely resembling this, the devil enchants the Papists
of the present day not to expect the day of judgment till Elijah and Enoch have appeared. 485 It may
not usually be conjectured that this expedient was purposely resorted to by the scribes, in order to
represent Christ as unworthy of confidence, because he wanted the legitimate badge of the Messiah.
11. Elijah indeed will come first. We have stated elsewhere the origin of that error which
prevailed among the Jews. As John the Baptist was to resemble Elijah by restoring the fallen
condition of the Church, the prophet Malachi (4:5,6) had even given to him the name of Elijah;
and this had been rashly interpreted by the scribes, as if Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 17:1) were to
return a second time to the world. Christ now declares that every thing which Malachi uttered was
true, but that his prediction had been misunderstood and distorted from its true meaning. “The
promise,” says he, “that Eliah would come was true, and has been already fulfilled; but the scribes
have already rejected Elijah, whose name they idly and falsely plead in opposing me.”
483 “Faisant par son sacrifice satisfaction pour les pechez du monde;” — “making satisfaction by his sacrifice for the sins of
the world.”
484 Among other passages in which our Author has treated of the erroneous notions entertained by the Jews respecting Elijah,
the reader may consult his <strong>Commentary</strong> on John 1:21, 25. — Ed.
485 “Iusques a ce qu’on voye Elie et Henoch retourner en ce monde;” — “till Elijah and Enoch are seen returning to this world.”
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John Calvin