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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
against him, and many even break out into open blasphemies. On the contrary, our Lord lays down
to us this rule, that whatever God has determined must be regarded by us as right. 65 This is sober
wisdom, to acquiesce in the good pleasure of God as alone equal to a thousand arguments. 66 Christ
might indeed have brought forward the causes of that distinction, if there were any; but he is satisfied
with the good pleasure of God, and inquires no farther why he calls to salvation little children rather
than others, and composes his kingdom out of an obscure flock. 67 Hence it is evident, that men
direct their fury against Christ, when, on learning that some are freely chosen, and others are
reprobated, by the will of God, they storm because they find it unpleasant to yield to God. 68
27. All things have been delivered to me. The connection of this sentence with the preceding
one is not correctly understood by those commentators who think that Christ intends nothing more
than to strengthen the confidence of his disciples for preaching the Gospel. My opinion is, that
Christ spoke these words for another reason, and with another object in view. Having formerly
asserted that the Church proceeds from the secret source of God’s free election, he now shows in
what manner the grace of salvation comes to men. Many persons, as soon as they learn that none
are heirs of eternal life but those whom God chose before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians
1:4,) begin to inquire anxiously how they may be assured of God’s secret purpose, and thus plunge
into a labyrinth, from which they will find no escape. Christ enjoins them to come direct to himself,
in order to obtain certainty of salvation. The meaning therefore is, that life is exhibited to us in
Christ himself, and that no man will partake of it who does not enter by the gate of faith. We now
see that he connects faith with the eternal predestination of God, — two things which men foolishly
and wickedly hold to be inconsistent with each other. Though our salvation was always hidden
with God, yet Christ is the channel through which it flows to us, and we receive it by faith, that it
may be secure and ratified in our hearts. We are not at liberty then to turn away from Christ, unless
we choose to reject the salvation which he offers to us.
None knoweth the Son. He says this, that we may not be guided by the judgment of men, and
thus form an erroneous estimate of his majesty. The meaning therefore is, that if we wish to know
what is the character of Christ, we must abide by the testimony of the Father, who alone can truly
and certainly inform us what authority he hath bestowed upon him. And, indeed, by imagining him
to be what our mind, according to its capacity, conceives of him, we deprive him of a great part of
his excellence, so that we cannot know him aright but from the voice of the Father That voice alone
would undoubtedly be insufficient without the guidance of the Spirit; for the power of Christ is too
65 “Que tout ce que Dieu a determine est bon et droict;” — “that all that God has determined is good and right.”
66 “Et cela est estre sage a sobriete, d’acquiescer au seul bon plaisir de Dieu, et nous y arrester paisiblement, plus que s’il y
avoit dix mille raisons devant nos yeux;” — “and this is to be wise to sobriety, to acquiesce in the good pleasure of God, and to
rest calmly upon it, more than if there were ten thousand arguments before our eyes.”
67 “D’une troupe de gens incognus, et de petite estime;” — “from a flock of persons unknown and little esteemed.”
68 “Vienent incontinent a tempester, pource quil leur fasche que Dieu ait le dernier mot;” — “come immediately to storm,
because it gives them uneasiness that God should have the last word.”
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John Calvin