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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
10. His disciples say to him, If such be the case of the man with his wife, 600 it is not expedient
to enter into marriage. 11. Who said to them, 601 All are not capable of receiving this saying, but
those to whom it is given. 12. For there are eunuchs, who were so born from their mother’s womb;
and there are eunuchs, who have been made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs, who have
castrated themselves for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who can receive it, 602 let him
receive it.
10. His disciples say to him. As if it were a hard condition for husbands to be so bound to their
wives, that, so long as they remain chaste, they are compelled to endure every thing rather than
leave them, the disciples, roused by this answer of Christ, reply, that it is better to want wives than
to submit to a knot of this kind. 603 But why do they not, on the other hand, consider how hard is
the bondage of wives, 604 but because, devoted to themselves and their own convenience, they are
driven by the feeling of the flesh to disregard others, and to think only of what is advantageous for
themselves? Meanwhile, it is a display of base ingratitude that, from the dread or dislike of a single
inconvenience, they reject a wonderful gift of God. It is better, according to them, to avoid marriage
than to bind one’s self by the bond of living always together. 605 But if God has ordained marriage
for the general advantage of mankind, though it may be attended by some things that are disagreeable,
it is not on that account to be despised. Let us therefore learn not to be delicate and saucy, but to
use with reverence the gifts of God, even if there be something in them that does not please us.
Above all, let us guard against this wickedness in reference to holy marriage; for, in consequence
of its being attended by many annoyances, Satan has always endeavored to make it an object of
hatred and detestation, in order to withdraw men from it. And Jerome has given too manifest a
proof of a malicious and wicked disposition, in not only loading with calumnies that sacred and
divinely appointed condition of life, but in collecting as many terms of reproach (λοιδορίας) as he
could from profane authors, in order to take away its respectability. But let us recollect that whatever
annoyances belong to marriage are accidental, for they arise out of the depravity of man. Let us
remember that, since our nature was corrupted, marriage began to be a medicine, and therefore we
need not wonder if it have a bitter taste mixed with its sweetness. But we must see how our Lord
confutes this folly.
11. All are not capable of receiving this saying. By this he means, that the choice is not placed
in our hands, as if we were to deliberate on a matter submitted to us. If any man thinks it
600 “Avec sa femme.”
601 “Il leur dit;” — “he said to them.”
602 “Qui peut comprendre ceci;” — “he who can receive this.”
603 “Que de se mettre en une telle necessite et suiection;” — “than to place one’s self under such restraint and subjection.”
604 “La servitude que les femmes ont a porter;” — “the bondage of which wives have to endure.”
605 “De vivre tousiours avec une femme;” — “of living always with one wife.”
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John Calvin