Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf
Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>Commentary</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Matthew</strong>, <strong>Mark</strong>, <strong>Luke</strong> - <strong>Volume</strong> 2<br />
This narrative is highly useful; for it shows that Christ receives not <strong>on</strong>ly those who, moved by<br />
holy desire and faith, freely approach to him, but those who are not yet of age to know how much<br />
they need his grace. Those little children have not yet any understanding to desire his blessing; but<br />
when they are presented to him, he gently and kindly receives them, and dedicates them to the<br />
Father 611 by a solemn act of blessing. We must observe the intenti<strong>on</strong> of those who present the<br />
children; for if there had not been a deep-rooted c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong> in their minds, that the power of the<br />
Spirit was at his disposal, that he might pour it out <strong>on</strong> the people of God, it would have been<br />
unreas<strong>on</strong>able to present their children. There is no room, therefore, to doubt, that they ask for them<br />
a participati<strong>on</strong> of his grace; and so, by way of amplificati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>Luke</strong> adds the particle also; as if he<br />
had said that, after they had experienced the various ways in which he assisted adults, they formed<br />
an expectati<strong>on</strong> likewise in regard to children, that, if he laid hands <strong>on</strong> them, they would not leave<br />
him without having received some of the gifts of the Spirit. The laying <strong>on</strong> of hands (as we have<br />
said <strong>on</strong> a former occasi<strong>on</strong>) was an ancient and well known sign of blessing; and so there is no reas<strong>on</strong><br />
to w<strong>on</strong>der, if they desire that Christ, while employing that solemn cerem<strong>on</strong>y, should pray for the<br />
children At the same time, as the inferior are blessed by the better, (Hebrews 7:7,) they ascribe to<br />
him the power and h<strong>on</strong>or of the highest Prophet.<br />
<strong>Matthew</strong> 19:13. But the disciples rebuked them. If a crown 612 had been put <strong>on</strong> his head, they<br />
would have admitted it willingly, and with approbati<strong>on</strong>; for they did not yet comprehend his actual<br />
office. But they reck<strong>on</strong> it unworthy of his character to receive children; and their error wanted not<br />
plausibility; for what has the highest Prophet and the S<strong>on</strong> of God to do with infants? But hence we<br />
learn, that they who judge of Christ according to the feeling of their flesh are unfair judges; for<br />
they c<strong>on</strong>stantly deprive him of his peculiar excellencies, and, <strong>on</strong> the other hand, ascribe, under the<br />
appearance of h<strong>on</strong>or, what does not at all bel<strong>on</strong>g to him. Hence arose an immense mass of<br />
superstiti<strong>on</strong>s, which presented to the world a fancied Christ. 613 And therefore let us learn not to<br />
think of him otherwise than what himself teaches, and not to assign to him a character different<br />
from what he has received from the Father. We see what happened with Popery. They thought that<br />
they were c<strong>on</strong>ferring a great h<strong>on</strong>or <strong>on</strong> Christ, if they bowed down before a small piece of bread;<br />
but in the sight of God it was an offensive abominati<strong>on</strong>. Again, because they did not think it<br />
sufficiently h<strong>on</strong>orable to him to perform the office of an Advocate for us, they made for themselves<br />
innumerable intercessors; but in this way they deprived him of the h<strong>on</strong>or of Mediator.<br />
14. Suffer children. He declares that he wishes to receive children; and at length, taking them<br />
in his arms, he not <strong>on</strong>ly embraces, but blesses them by the laying <strong>on</strong> of hand; from which we infer<br />
that his grace is extended even to those who are of that age. And no w<strong>on</strong>der; for since the whole<br />
race of Adam is shut up under the sentence of death, all from the least even to the greatest must<br />
perish, except those who are rescued by the <strong>on</strong>ly Redeemer. To exclude from the grace of redempti<strong>on</strong><br />
611 “A Dieu s<strong>on</strong> Pere;” — “to God his Father.”<br />
612 “Une cour<strong>on</strong>ne royale;” — “a royal crown.”<br />
613 “Un Christ faict a la fantasie des hommes;” — “a Christ made according to the fancy of men.”<br />
274<br />
John Calvin