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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
But now they are hid from thy eyes. This is not said for the purpose of extenuating the guilt of
Jerusalem; for, on the contrary, it marks with disgrace the monstrous stupidity of that city, that,
when God is present, it does not perceive him. I do acknowledge that it belongs to God alone to
open the eyes of the blind, and that no man is qualified for understanding the mysteries of the
heavenly kingdom, unless God enlighten him inwardly by his Spirit; but it does not follow from
this that they who perish through their own brutal blindness are excusable. Christ intended also to
remove an offense, which might otherwise have perplexed the ignorant and weak; for when the
eyes of all were directed to that city, his example might have very great influence in both respects,
either for evil or for good. That no man then may be perplexed by its unbelief and proud contempt
of the Gospel, Jerusalem is condemned for disgraceful blindness.
43. For the days shall come upon thee. He now assumes, as it were, the character of a judge,
and addresses Jerusalem with greater severity. In like manner the prophets also, though they shed
tears over the destruction of those about whom they ought to feel anxiety, yet they summon up
courage to pronounce severe threatenings, because they know that not only are they commanded
to watch over the salvation of men, but that they have also been appointed to be the heralds of the
judgment of God. Under these terms Jesus declares that Jerusalem will suffer dreadful punishment,
because she did not know the time of her visitation; that is, because she despised the Redeemer
who had been exhibited to her, and did not embrace his grace. Let the fearful nature of the
punishments which she endured now alarm us, that we may not, by our carelessness, extinguish
the light of salvation, but may be careful to receive the grace of God, and may even run with rigor
to meet it.
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John Calvin