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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
still remain obstinate and rebellious, Christ means by persons laboring and burdened, those whose
consciences are distressed by their exposure to eternal death, and who are inwardly so pressed down
by their miseries that they faint; for this very fainting prepares them for receiving his grace. He
tells us that the reason why most men despise his grace is, that they are not sensible of their poverty;
but that there is no reason why their pride or folly should keep back afflicted souls that long for
relief.
Let us therefore bid adieu to all who, entangled by the snares of Satan, either are persuaded that
they possess a righteousness out of Christ, or imagine that they are happy in this world. Let our
miseries drive us to seek Christ; and as he admits none to the enjoyment of his rest but those who
sink under the burden, let us learn, that there is no venom more deadly than that slothfulness which
is produced in us, either by earthly happiness, or by a false and deceitful opinion of our own
righteousness and virtue. Let each of us labor earnestly to arouse himself, first, by vigorously
shaking off the luxuries of the world; and, secondly, by laying aside every false confidence. Now
though this preparation for coming to Christ makes them as dead men, 71 yet it ought to be observed,
that it is the gift of the Holy Spirit, because it is the commencement of repentance, to which no
man aspires in his own strength. Christ did not intend to show what man can do of himself, but
only to inform us what must be the feelings of those who come to him.
They who limit the burden and the labor to ceremonies of the Law, take a very narrow view
of Christ’s meaning. I do acknowledge, that the Law was intolerably burdensome, and overwhelmed
the souls of worshippers; but we must bear in mind what I have said, that Christ stretches out his
hand to all the afflicted, and thus lays down a distinction between his disciples and those who
despise the Gospel. But we must attend to the universality of the expression; for Christ included
all, without exception, who labor and are burdened, that no man may shut the gate against himself
by wicked doubts. 72 And yet all such persons are few in number; for, among the innumerable
multitude of those that perish, few are aware that they are perishing. The relief which he promises
consists in the free pardon of sins, which alone gives us peace.
29. Take my yoke upon you. Many persons, we perceive, abuse the grace of Christ by turning
it into an indulgence of the flesh; and therefore Christ, after promising joyful rest to wretchedly
distressed consciences, reminds them, at the same time, that he is their Deliverer on condition of
their submitting to his yoke. He does not, he tells us, absolve men from their sins in such a manner,
that, restored to the favor of God, they may sin with greater freedom, but that, raised up by his
grace, they may also take his yoke upon them, and that, being free in spirit, they may restrain the
licentiousness of their flesh. And hence we obtain a definition of that rest of which he had spoken.
It is not at all intended to exempt the disciples of Christ from the warfare of the flesh, that they may
71 “Combien que ceste preparation a recevoir la grace de Christ despouille desia entierement les hommes, et monstre qu’ils
sont du tout vuides de vertu;” — “though this preparation for receiving the grace of Christ already strips men entirely, and shows
that they are wholly devoid of virtue.”
72 “Par une desfiance et facon perverse de douter;” — “by a distrust and wicked manner of doubting.”
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John Calvin