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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
them to hope and patience; for he tells them that they must long and steadily endure many toils,
before they enjoy that glory for which they pant too earnestly.
Into a distant country. As the disciples thought that Christ was now about to enter into the
possession of his kingdom, he first corrects this mistake by informing them, that he must undertake
a long journey, in order to obtain the kingdom 686 As to what is meant by the distant country, I leave
it to the ingenious expositions of those who are fond of subtleties. For my own part, I think that
Christ expresses nothing more than his long absence, which would extend from the time of his
death to his last coming. For, though he sits at the right hand of the Father, and holds the government
of heaven and earth, and though, from the time that he ascended to heaven, all power was given to
him, (Matthew 28:18,) that every knee might bow before him, (Philippians 2:10;) yet as he has not
yet subdued his enemies — has not yet appeared as Judge of the world, or revealed his majesty —
it is not without propriety that he is said to be absent from his people, till he return again, clothed
with his new sovereignty. It is true, indeed, that he now reigns, while he regenerates his people to
the heavenly life, forms them anew to the image of God, and associates them with angels; while
he governs the Church by his word, guards it by his protection, enriches it with the gifts of the
Spirit, nourishes it by his grace, and maintains it by his power, and, in short, supplies it with all
that is necessary for salvation; while he restrains the fury of Satan and of all the ungodly, and defeats
all their schemes. But as this way of reigning is concealed from the flesh, his manifestation is
properly said to be delayed till the last day. Since, therefore, the apostles foolishly aimed at the
shadow of a kingdom, our Lord declares that he must go to seek a distant kingdom, that, they may
learn to endure delay. 687
13. And having called his ten servants. We must not inquire anxiously into the number of the
servants, or into the sums of money. For Matthew, by expressing various sums, includes a more
extensive doctrine, namely, that Christ does not lay on all an equal charge of trafficking, but commits
to one a small, and to another a larger sum of money. Both agree in this, that till the last day of the
resurrection Christ, in some respects, goes to a distance from his people, but yet that it would be
highly improper for them to sit down in idleness and do no good; for each has a certain office
enjoined him, in which he ought to be employed, and, therefore, they ought to be diligent in trading,
that they may be careful to increase their Lord’s property.
Luke says simply, that to each he gave a pound; because, whether more or less may be committed
to us by our Lord, every man must equally give account for himself. Matthew, as I have said, is
more full and copious; for he states various degrees. Let us know that the Lord does not bestow on
all indiscriminately the same measure of gifts, (Ephesians 4:7,) but
distributes them variously as he thinks proper,
(1 Corinthians 12:11,)
686 “Pour conquester ce royaurae;” — “to conquer this kingdom.’
687 “Qu’ils apprenent de porter patiemment la longue attente;” — “that they may learn to endure patiently the long delay.”
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John Calvin