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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
576 which he has already forgiven; for the simple meaning is this: though he offers mercy to all, yet
severe creditors, from whom no forgiveness can be obtained, are unworthy of enjoying it.
34. Delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that he owed. The Papists are very
ridiculous in endeavoring to light the fire of purgatory by the word till; for it is certain that Christ
here points out not temporal death, by which the judgment of God may be satisfied, but eternal
death.
MATTHEW 17:24-27
Matthew 17:24-27
24. And when they came to Capernaum, those who received the didrachma came to Peter, and
said, Does not your Master pay the didrachma? 25. He saith, Yes. And when he came into the
house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? From whom do the kings of the
earth receive tribute or custom? From their own children, or from strangers? 26. Peter saith to him,
From strangers. Jesus saith to him, Then are the children free. 27. But that we may not offend
them, go thou to the sea, throw a hook, and take that fish which cometh first up; and when thou
hast opened its mouth, thou wilt find a stater: take that, and give it for me and for thee.
Matthew 17:24. And when they came to Capernaum. We must attend, first of all, to the design
of this narrative; which is, that Christ, by paying tribute of his own accord, declared his subjection,
as he had taken upon him the form of a servant, (Philippians 2:7,) but at the same time showed,
both by words and by the miracle, that it was not by obligation or necessity, but by a free and
voluntary submission, that he had reduced himself so low that the world looked upon him as nothing
more than one of the common people. This was not a tax which was wont to be demanded on
crossing the sea, 577 but an annual tribute laid individually on every man among the Jews, so that
they paid to tyrants what they were formerly in the habit of paying to God alone. For we know that
this tax was imposed on them by the Law, that, by paying every year half a stater, (Exodus 30:13,)
they might acknowledge that God, by whom they had been redeemed, was their supreme King.
When the kings of Asia appropriated this to themselves, the Romans followed their example. Thus
the Jews, as if they had disowned the government of God, paid to profane tyrants the sacred tax
required by the Law. But it might appear unreasonable that Christ, when he appeared as the Redeemer
of his people, should not himself be exempted from paying tribute To remove that offense, he
taught by words, that it was only by his will that he was bound; and he proved the same thing by
576 “Comment il est possible que Dieu punisse;” — “how it is possible for God to punish.”
577 “Les didrachmes, dont est yci parle, n’estoit pas un peage qu’on payast a passer d’un coste en autre de la mer;” — “The
didrachma, which are here spoken of, were not a custom paid on crossing from one side of the sea to the other.”
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John Calvin