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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
to place him who is the Son in the same rank indiscriminately with others, but yet that, of his own
accord, he will be a servant along with others, till the glory of his kingdom be displayed.
The Pope has not less foolishly than successfully abused this passage to exempt his clergy from
the laws; as if the shaving of the head made them sons of God, and exempted them from tributes
and taxes. But nothing else was intended by Christ than to claim for himself the honor of a King’s
Son, so as to have at least a home privileged and exempted from the common law. And therefore
it is also highly foolish in the Anabaptists to torture these words for overturning political order,
since it is more than certain, that Christ does not say any thing about a privilege common to believers,
but only draws a comparison from the sons of kings, who, together with their domestics, are
exempted. 582
27. Throw a hook. Though I acknowledge that Christ had not always full coffers, yet I think
that he was not compelled by poverty to give this order to Peter, but that he did so in order to prove
by a miracle, that he had a more extensive dominion than all earthly kings, since he had even fishes
for his tributaries. And we do not read that this was done more than once, because one proof was
enough for his whole life. Thou wilt find a stater. A stater was of the same value as a shekel, namely,
four drachms or two didrachma. 583
MATTHEW 19:1-2; MARK 9:38-40, 10:1; LUKE 9:49-56
Matthew 19:1-2
Mark 9:38-40
Luke 9:49-56
1. And it happened, when 38. And John answered him, 49. And John answering
Jesus had finished these saying, Master, we saw one said, Master, we saw one casting
discourses, he departed from casting out devils in thy name, out devils in thy name; and we
Galilee, and came into the coasts and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he
of Judea beyond Jordan. 2. And forbade him, because he followeth not with us. 50. And
great multitudes followed him, followeth him, because he Jesus said to him, Forbid him
and he cured them there. followeth not us. 39. And Jesus not; for he who is not against us
said, Forbid him not; for there is is for us. 51. And it happened,
no man who, if he has performed when the days of his being
a miracle in my name, can easily received up were in course of
speak evil of me. 40. For he who being fulfilled, and he set his
is not against us is for us. face steadfastly to go to
Mark 10:1 Jerusalem. 52. And he sent
582 “Lesquels sont exempts de tous imposts, eux et leurs domestiques;” — “who are exempted from all taxes, they and their
domestics.”
583 The didrachmon weighed two drachms, and the stater, which weighed two didrachma, or four drachms, was worth about
two shillings and sixpence of our money. — Ed.
261
John Calvin