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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
52. And he sent messengers. It is probable that our Lord was, at that time, attended by a great
multitude of followers; for the messengers were not sent to prepare a splendid banquet, or to select
some magnificent palace, but only to tell that a vast number of guests were approaching. They
again, when excluded and repulsed, wait for their Master. Hence, too, we learn, what I remarked
in the second place, 588 that when men differ among themselves about the doctrines of religion, they
readily break out into hatred of each other; for it was an evidence of very bitter hatred to withhold
food from the hungry, and lodging from those who were fatigued. But the Samaritans have such a
dislike and enmity at the Jewish religion, that they look upon all who follow it as unworthy of any
kindness. Perhaps, too, they were tormented with vexation at being despised; for they knew that
their temple was detested by the Jews as profane, and that they were considered to be spurious and
corrupt worshippers of God. But as the superstition once admitted kept so firm a hold of them, they
strove, with wicked emulation, to maintain it to the last. At length the contention grew so hot, that
it consumed both nations in one conflagration; for Josephus assures us that it was the torch which
kindled the Jewish war. Now though Christ might easily have avoided that dislike, he chooses
rather to profess himself to be a Jew, than by an indirect denial to procure a lodging.
53. He steadfastly set his face. By this expression Luke has informed us that Christ, when he
had death before his eyes, rose above the fear of it, and went forward to meet it; but, at the same
time, points out that he had a struggle, and that, having vanquished terror, 589 he boldly presented
himself to die. For if no dread, no difficulty, no struggle, no anxiety, had been present to his mind,
what need was there that he should set his face steadfastly? 590 But as he was neither devoid of
feeling, nor under the influence of foolish hardihood, he must have been affected by the cruel and
bitter death, or rather the shocking and dreadful agony, which he knew would overtake him from
the rigorous judgment of God; and so far is this from obscuring or diminishing his glory, that it is
a remarkable proof of his unbounded love to us; for laying aside a regard to himself that he might
devote himself to our salvation, through the midst of terrors he hastened to death, the time of which
he knew to be at hand.
54. And when His disciples James and John saw it. The country itself had perhaps suggested
to them the desire of thundering immediately against the ungodly; for it was there that Elijah had
formerly destroyed, by a fire from heaven, the king’s soldiers who had been sent to apprehend him,
(2 Kings 1:10.) It therefore occurred to them that the Samaritans, who so basely rejected the Son
of God, were at that time devoted to a similar destruction. And here we see to what we are driven
by a foolish imitation 591 of the holy fathers. James and John plead the example of Elijah, but they
do not consider how far they differ from Elijah; they do not examine properly their own intemperate
588 See our Author’s observations above on Luke 9:51.
589 “Estans victorieux par dessus ceste frayeur naturelle;” — “being victorious over that natural dread.”
590 “Quel besoin estoit il qu’il prinst sa resolution, et par maniere de dire s’obstinast en soy-mesme?” — “What need was there
that he should take his resolution, and, so to speak, persist in his own mind?”
591 “Une folle et inconsideree imitation des saincts peres;” — “a foolish and ill-considered imitation of the holy fathers.”
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John Calvin