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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
that the devil is cast out of us, whenever Christ shines upon us, and displays his grace towards us
by some manifestation.
Secondly, the wretched condition of the whole human race is here described to us; for it follows
that the devil has a residence within man, since he is driven from it by the Son of God. Now what
is here said relates not to one individual or to another, but to the whole posterity of Adam. And this
is the glory of our nature, that the devil has his seat within us, and inhabits both the body and the
soul. So much the more illustrious is the display of the mercy of God, when we, who were the
loathsome dens of the devil, are made temples to Himself, and consecrated for a habitation of His
Spirit.
Thirdly, we have here a description of Satan’s nature. He never ceases to do us injury, but is
continually busy, and moves from one place to another. In a word, he directs all his efforts to
accomplish our destruction; and above all, when he has been vanquished and put to flight by Christ,
it only tends more to whet his rage and keenness to do us injury. 144 Before Christ makes us partakers
of his energy, it seems as if it were in sport and amusement that this enemy reigns over us; 145 but
when he has been driven out, he conceives resentment at having lost his prey, collects new forces,
and arouses all his senses to attack us anew.
He walketh through dry places. This is a metaphorical expression, and denotes that to dwell
out of men is to him a wretched banishment, and resembles a barren wilderness. Such, too, is the
import of the phrase, seeking rest, so long as he dwells out of men; for then he is displeased and
tormented, and ceases not to labor by one means or by another, till he recover what he has lost. 146
Let us, therefore, learn that, as soon as Christ calls us, a sharper and fiercer contest is prepared for
us. Though he meditates the destruction of all, and though the words of Peter apply to all without
exception, that he
goeth about as a roaring lion, and seeketh whom he may devour,
(1 Peter 5:8,)
yet we are plainly taught by these words of Christ, that Satan views with deeper hatred, and
attacks with greater fierceness and rage, those who have been rescued from his snares. Such an
admonition, however, ought not to inspire us with terror, but to arouse us to keep diligent watch,
and to put on the spiritual armor, that we may make a brave resistance.
44. He findeth it empty Christ is unquestionably describing those who, being destitute of the
Spirit of God, are prepared for receiving the devil; for believers, in whom the Spirit of God
efficaciously dwells, are fortified on all sides, so that no opening is left for Satan. The metaphor
144 “Il aiguise tant plus son appetit enrage de nous mal-faire;” — “so much the more does it whet his enraged appetite to do
us injury.”
145 “Ce mal-heureux ennemi nous manie tout a son aise, et regne en nous comme en se iouant;” — “this unhappy foe governs
us altogether at his ease, and reigns over us, as it were, in sport.”
146 “Iusques a ce qu’il retrouve la proye qu’on luy a ostee d’entremains;” — “till he recover the prey that has been snatched
out of his hands.”
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John Calvin