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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
a servant, not as if he were of the ordinary rank, but by way of eminence, and as the person to
whom God has committed the charge and office of redeeming his Church. As:
no man taketh this honor to himself, but he who is called of God
(Hebrews 5:6)
is justly entitled to this rank, God declares that he who comes forward in this character was
elected by his decree. 96 Hence it follows, that men are not at liberty to reject him; because, by doing
so, they would be guilty of contempt and rebellion against God. And, indeed, it were the height of
absurdity that our choice or our pride should set aside that calling of God which ought to be regarded
as sacred and inviolable.
My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. There is a still wider import in this statement,
which God next makes by the prophet, that the delight of his soul dwells in Christ; for though the
calling of each of us proceeds from the free favor of God as its only source, yet in Christ there is
this remarkable peculiarity, that in his person God the Father embraces in his love the whole Church.
As we are all by nature enemies of God, his love will never come to us till it first begin with the
Head; which we have seen on a former occasion, and will see again under another passage, (Matthew
17:5.)
He will proclaim judgment to the Gentiles. The prophet gives a brief description of Christ’s
office, when he foretells that he will proclaim judgment to the Gentiles By the word judgment the
Jews understand a government which is correctly and properly arranged, in which order and justice
prevail. The design of the prophet is to inform us, that a person will come who will restore justice
that had fallen, who will be the governor not of one nation only, but will also bring under subjection
to God the Gentiles, among whom dreadful confusion formerly prevailed. And this is the import
of the word bring forth, which the prophet employs; for it was the office of Christ to spread
throughout the whole world the kingdom of God, which was at that time confined to the corner of
Judea; 97 as it is said in another passage,
The Lord will send forth the scepter of thy power out of Zion,
(Psalm 110:2.)
I will put my Spirit upon him. This explains the manner in which judgment shall be brought
forth. It is no doubt true, that there never was any portion whatever of righteousness in the world
that did not proceed from the Spirit of God, and that was not maintained by his heavenly power;
as none of the kings of the earth can frame or defend good order, except so far as he shall be assisted
by the same Spirit. But in bringing forth judgment Christ is greatly superior to all others, for he has
received the Spirit from the Father, that he may pour it out on all his people; for not only does he
96 “Dieu prononce que par son ordonnance il a eleu celuy qu’on verra venir ayant les marques qu’il met la;” — “God declares
that, by his decree, he hath elected him who will be seen coming, attended by the marks which he there describes.”
97 “Qui estoit pour lors comme enclos en un anglet au pays de Iudee;” —”which was then shut up, as it were in a corner, in
the country of Judea.”
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John Calvin