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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
to eat, nor for those who were lawful to eat but for the priests, shew-bread, and ate it, and gave
with him, but for the priests and gave also also to those who were with him,
75 to those who
alone? 5. Or have you not read were with him? 27. And he said which it is not lawful to eat but
in the Law, that on the Sabbath to them, The Sabbath was made only for the priests? 5. And he
the priests in the temple profane for man, and not man for the said to them, The Son of man is
the temple, and are free from Sabbath. 28. Therefore the Son Lord even of the Sabbath.
blame? 74 6. But I say to you, of man is Lord even of the
That one greater than the temple Sabbath.
is in this place. 7. But if you
knew what that is, I choose
mercy, and not sacrifice, you
would not have condemned the
innocent. 8. For the Son of man
is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Matthew 12:1. Jesus was walking on the Sabbath It was the design of the Evangelists, in this
history, to show partly what a malicious disposition the Pharisees had, and partly how superstitiously
they were attached to outward and slight matters, so as to make holiness to consist in them entirely.
They blame the disciples of Christ for plucking the ears of corn on the Sabbath, during their journey,
when they were pressed with hunger, as if, by so doing, they were violating the Sabbath. The
keeping of the Sabbath was, indeed, a holy thing, but not such a manner of keeping it as they
imagined, so that one could scarcely move a finger without making the conscience to tremble. 76 It
was hypocrisy, therefore, that made them so exact in trifling matters, while they spared themselves
in gross superstitions; as Christ elsewhere upbraids them with
paying tithe of mint and anise, and neglecting the
important matters of the Law, (Matthew 23:23.)
It is the invariable practice of hypocrites to allow themselves liberty in matters of the greatest
consequence, and to pay close attention to ceremonial observances. Another reason why they
demand that outward rites should be more rigorously observed is, that they wish to make their duty
toward God to consist only in carnal worship. But it was malevolence and envy, still more than
superstition, that led them to this act of censure; for towards others they would not have been equally
stern. It is proper for us to observe the feelings by which they were animated, lest any one should
be distressed by the fact, that the very Doctors of the Law were so hostile to Christ.
75 “Et en donna aussi;” — “and gave of it also.”
74 “Et n’en sont point reprehensibles;” — “and are not blameable for it.”
76 “Avec tremblement et incertitude de conscience;” — “with trembling and uncertainty of conscience.”
30
John Calvin