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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
21. In the kingdom. It was worthy of commendation in the sons of Zebedee, that they expected
some kingdom of Christ, of which not even the slightest trace was then visible. They see Christ
exposed to contempt under the mean aspect of a servant; nay more, they see him despised and
loaded with many reproaches by the world; but they are convinced that he will soon become a
magnificent king, for so he had taught them. It is unquestionably a noble specimen of faith; but
hence we perceive how easily the pure seed is no sooner implanted in our hearts than it becomes
degenerate and corrupted; for they imagined to themselves a kingdom which had no existence, and
presently committed the folly of desiring the highest places. Since, therefore, this wicked ambition
flowed from a general principle of faith, which in itself was highly commendable, we ought to
pray, not only that the Lord would open the eyes of our mind, but that he would give us continual
direction, and keep our minds fixed on the proper object. We ought also to pray, not only that he
would bestow faith upon us, but that he would keep it pure from all mixture.
22. You know not what you ask. Their ignorance was worthy of blame on two accounts; first,
because their ambition led them to desire more than was proper; and, secondly, because, instead
of the heavenly kingdom of Christ, they had formed the idea of a phantom in the air. As to the first
of those reasons, whoever is not satisfied with the free adoption of God, and desires to raise himself,
such a person wanders beyond his limits, and, by unseasonably pressing himself forward beyond
what was proper for him to do, is ungrateful to God. Now to estimate the spiritual kingdom of
Christ according to the feeling of our flesh is highly perverse. And, indeed, the greater the delight
which the mind of man takes in idle speculations, the more carefully ought we to guard against
them; as we see that the books of the sophists are stuffed with useless notions of this sort.
Can you drink the cup which I shall drink? To correct their ambition, and to withdraw them
from this wicked desire, he holds out to them the cross, and all the annoyances which the children
of God must endure. As if he had said, “Does your present warfare allow you so much leisure, that
you are now making arrangements for a triumphal procession?” For if they had been earnestly
employed in the duties of their calling, they would never have given way to this wicked imagination.
In these words, therefore, those who are desirous to obtain the prize before the proper time are
enjoined by Christ to employ themselves in attending to the duties of piety. And certainly this is
an excellent bridle for restraining ambition; for, so long as we are pilgrims in this world, our
condition is such as ought to banish vain luxuries. We are surrounded by a thousand dangers.
Sometimes the enemy assails us by ambush, and that in a variety of ways; and sometimes he attacks
us by open violence. Is he not worse than stupid who, amidst so many deaths, entertains himself
at his ease by drawing pictures of a triumph?
Our Lord enjoins his followers, indeed, to feel assured of victory, and to sing a triumphal song
in the midst of death; for otherwise they would not have courage to fight valiantly. But it is one
thing to advance manfully to the battle, in reliance on the reward which God has promised to them,
and to labor with their whole might for this object; and it is another thing to forget the contest, to
turn aside from the enemy, to lose sight of dangers, and to rush forward to triumph, for which they
ought to wait till the proper time. Besides, this foolish speed, for the most part, draws men aside
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John Calvin