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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
obtained kingly honor. To eat and drink at his table is put metaphorically for being made partakers
of the same glory.
Matthew 19:29. And whosoever shall forsake. After having raised the expectation of his
followers to the hope of a future life, he supports them by immediate consolations, 641 and strengthens
them for bearing the cross. For though God permit his people to be severely afflicted, he never
abandons them, so as not to recompense their distresses by his assistance. And here he does not
merely address the apostles, but takes occasion to direct his discourse generally to all the godly.
The substance of it is this: Those who shall willingly lose all for the sake of Christ, will be more
happy even in this life than if they had retained the full possession of them; but the chief reward is
laid up for them in heaven.
But what he promises about recompensing them a hundredfold appears not at all to agree with
experience; for in the greater number of cases, those who have been deprived of their parents, or
children, and other relatives — who have been reduced to widowhood, and stripped of their wealth,
for the testimony of Christ — are so far from recovering their property, that in exile, solitude and
desertion, they have a hard struggle with severe poverty. I reply, if any man estimate aright the
immediate grace of God, by which he relieves the sorrows of his people, he will acknowledge that
it is justly preferred to all the riches of the world. For though unbelievers flourish, (Psalm 92:7,)
yet as they know not what awaits them on the morrow (James 4:14,) they must be always tossed
about in perplexity and terror, and it is only by stupefying themselves in some sort that they can at
all enjoy prosperity. 642 Yet God gladdens his people, so that the small portion of good which they
enjoy is more highly valued by them, and far sweeter, than if out of Christ they had enjoyed an
unlimited abundance of good things. In this sense I interpret the expression used by Mark, with
persecutions; as if Christ had said, Though persecutions always await the godly in this world, and
though the cross, as it were, is attached to their back, yet so sweet is the seasoning of the grace of
God, which gladdens them, that their condition is more desirable than the luxuries of kings.
30. And many that are first shall be last. This sentence was added in order to shake off the
indolence of the flesh. The apostles, though they had scarcely begun the course, were hastening to
demand the prize. And such is the disposition of almost all of us, that, when a month has elapsed,
we ask, like soldiers who have served their time, to receive a discharge. But Christ exhorts those
who have begun well (Galatians 3:3; 5:7) to vigorous perseverance, and at the same time gives
warning, that it will be of no avail to runners to have begun with alacrity, if they lose courage in
the midst of the course. In like manner Paul also warns us, that not all who run obtain t/re prize,
(1 Corinthians 9:24;) and in another passage he exhorts believers, by referring to his own example,
to:
641 “De consolations de la vie presente;” — “by consolations of the present life.”
642 “Ils ne peuvent iouir a leur aise des biens qu’ils ont, sinon qu’ils en-trent comme en une stupidite, et effacent tout sentiment
de leur conscience;” — “they cannot enjoy at their ease the good things which they possess, unless they become, as it were,
stupid, and destroy every feeling of their conscience.”
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John Calvin