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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
we ought always to take into view at once the whole of the three days, that his death and burial
may lead us to a blessed triumph and to a new life.
Matthew 18:1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus. It is evident from the other two
Evangelists, that the disciples did not come to Christ of their own accord, but that, having secretly
disputed on the road, they were brought out of their lurking-places, and dragged forth to light.
There is nothing inconsistent with this in the account given by Matthew, who hastens to Christ’s
reply, and does not relate all the circumstances of the case, but passes over the commencement,
and relates in a summary manner the reason why Christ rebuked the foolish ambition of his disciples
for the highest rank. When Christ makes inquiry about a secret conversation, and forces the disciples
to acknowledge what they would willingly have kept back, this teaches us that we ought to beware
of all ambition, however carefully it may be concealed. We must also attend to the time at which
this occurred. The prediction of his death had made them sad and perplexed; but as if they had
received from it unmingled delight, as if they had tasted of the nectar which the poets feign, 497 they
immediately enter into a dispute about the highest rank. 498 How was it possible that their distress
of mind vanished in a moment, but because the minds of men are so devoted to ambition, that,
forgetful of their present state of warfare, they continually rush forward, under the delusive influence
of a false imagination, to obtain a triumph? And if the apostles so soon forgot a discourse which
they had lately heard, what will become of us if, dismissing for a long period meditation on the
cross, we give ourselves up to indifference and sloth, or to idle speculations?
But it is asked, what occasioned the dispute among the disciples? I reply, as the flesh willingly
shakes off all uneasiness, they left out of view every thing that had given rise to grief, and fixed
on what had been said about the resurrection; and out of this a debate sprung up among idle persons.
And as they refuse the first part of the doctrine, for which the flesh has no relish, God permits them
to fall into a mistake about the resurrection, and to dream of what would never take place, that, by
mere preaching, Christ would obtain a kingdom, an earthly kingdom, and would immediately rise
to the highest prosperity and wealth.
There were two faults in this debate. First, the apostles were to blame for laying aside anxiety
about the warfare to which they had been called, and for demanding beforehand repose, and wages,
and honors, as if they had been soldiers that had served their time. The second fault is, that, instead
of laboring with one consent, as they ought to have done, to render mutual assistance, and to secure
for their brethren as large a share of honors as for themselves, they strove with wicked ambition to
excel each other. If we wish that our manner of life should receive the approbation of the Lord, we
must learn to bear patiently the burden of the cross that has been laid on us, till the proper time
arrive for obtaining the crown, and, as Paul exhorts, in honor preferring one another, (Romans
12:10.) To the first of these faults is closely allied the vain curiosity of those persons in the present
497 “Comme si tout alloit a souhait et comme si ce qu’on leur a dit estoit aussi doux a avaller que sucre;” — “as if every thing
went to their wish, and as if what was said to them were as pleasant to swallow as sugar.”
498 “De la primaute;” — “about the primacy.”
232
John Calvin