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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
children. 26. Undoubtedly, O Father, such was
thy good pleasure. 57 revealed them to little children: certainly, O
27. All things have been Father, it is because such was thy good pleasure.
delivered to me by my Father; and none knoweth 22. All things have been delivered to me by my
the Son but the Father; and none knoweth the Father, and none knoweth who the Son is but the
Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son has
chosen to reveal him. 58 28. Come to me, all that
labor and are burdened, and I will relieve you.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,
that I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall
find rest in your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.
Father, and who the Father is but the Son, and he
to whom the Son shall choose to reveal him.
Matthew 11:25. Jesus answering. Though the Hebrew verb, answer, ( ,) is frequently employed
even in the commencement of a discourse, yet in this passage I consider it to be emphatic; for it
was from the present occurrence that Christ took occasion to speak. This is more fully confirmed
by the words of Luke, that in the same hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit Whence came that rejoicing?
Was it not because the Church, composed of poor and despised persons, was viewed by him as not
less precious and valuable than if all the nobility and high rank in the world had lent to it their
brilliancy? Let it be observed, also, that the discourse is addressed to the Father, and consequently
is marked by greater energy than if he had spoken to his disciples. It was on their behalf, no doubt,
and for their sake, that he gave thanks to the Father, that they might not be displeased with the low
and mean aspect of his Church.
We are constantly looking for splendor; and nothing appears to us more incongruous, than that
the heavenly kingdom of the Son of God, whose glory is so magnificently celebrated by the prophets,
should consist of the dregs and offscourings of the common people. And truly it is a wonderful
purpose of God, that though he has the whole world at his command, he chooses rather to select a
peculiar people to himself from among the contemptible vulgar, than from the nobility, whose high
rank would have been a greater ornament to the name of Christ. But here Christ withdraws his
disciples from a proud and haughty imagination, that they may not venture to despise that mean
and obscure condition of his Church, in which he delights and rejoices. To restrain more fully that
curiosity which is constantly springing up in the minds of men, he rises above the world, and
contemplates the secret decrees of God, that he may lead others to unite with him in admiring them.
And certainly, though this appointment of God contradicts our senses, we discover not only blind
57 “Il est ainsi, Pere, pourtant que ton bon plaisir a este tel;” — “it i so, O Father, because thy good pleasure was such.”
58 “Le Fils le vent reveler, ou, donner a cognoistre;” —”the Son chooses to reveal him, or, to make him known.”
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John Calvin