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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
of a house swept and embellished is taken from men who find pleasure in the cleanness and neatness
of their apartments; for to Satan no sight is beautiful but deformity itself, and no smell is sweet but
filth and nastiness. The meaning therefore is, that Satan never finds a more appropriate habitation
within us, than when, having parted with Christ, we receive Satan as a guest. 147 His highest delight
is in that emptiness by which the neglect of divine grace is followed. 148
45. He taketh with him seven other spirits The number seven is here used indefinitely, as in
many other passages. By these words Christ shows that if we fall from his grace, our subjection to
Satan is doubled, so that he treats us with greater cruelty than before, and that this is the just
punishment of our slothfulness. 149 Let us not then suppose that the devil has been vanquished by
a single combat, because he has once gone out of us. On the contrary, let us remember that, as his
lodgment within us was of old standing, ever since we were born, he has knowledge and experience
of all the approaches by which he may reach us; and that, if there be no open and direct entrance,
he has dexterity enough to creep in by small holes or winding crevices. 150 We must, therefore,
endeavor that Christ, holding his reign within us, may block up all the entrances of his adversary.
Whatever may be the fierceness or violence of Satan’s attacks, they ought not to intimidate the
sons of God, whom the invincible power of the Holy Spirit preserves in safety. We know that the
punishment which is here threatened is addressed to none but those who despise the grace of God,
and who, by extinguishing the light of faith, and banishing the desire of godliness, 151 become
profane.
MATTHEW 12:46-50; MARK 3:31-35;
LUKE 11:27-28; 8:19-21
Matthew 12:46-50
Mark 3:31-35
Luke 11:27-28
147 “Que quand, laissans Christ, et nous esloignans de luy, nous attirons c’est hoste a nous;” — “that when leaving Christ, and
withdrawing from him, we entice this guest.”
148 “Ce qu’il aime donc le plus, et ou il prend un souverain plaisir, c’est ceste place vuide qui se fait quand l’homme ne tient
conte de la grace de Dieu, et est nonchalant d’en bien user;” — “that which he loves most, and in which he takes a supreme
pleasure, is the emptiness which is produced, when man sets no value on the grace of God, and is indifferent about making a
good use of it.”
149 “En sorte qu’il nous tient le pied sur la gorge plus estroitement que devant: et qu’en cela nous recevons une iuste recompense
et punition de nostre nonchalance;” — “so that he holds his foot upon our throat more straitly than before; and that in this we
have a just reward of our indifference.”
150 “Et s’il n’y pent entrer de front et apertement, il est assez fin pour s’y fourrer secretement par dessous terre, ou par quelque
fente a coste;”— “and if he cannot enter it in front and openly, he is cunning enough to dig into it secretly below ground, or by
some chink in the side.”
151 “Et effacans l’amour de la crainte de Dieu;” — “and effacing the love of the fear of God.”
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John Calvin