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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
from him to us, and the joyful progress which we make, spring from God’s contemplation of his
own liberality, which prompts him to an uninterrupted course of bounty. And as his riches are
inexhaustible, 184 so he is never wearied with enriching his children. Whenever he advances us to
a higher degree, let us remember that every increase of the favors which we daily receive from him
flows from this source, that it is his purpose to complete the work, of our salvation already
commenced. On the other hand, Christ declares that the reprobate are continually proceeding from
bad to worse, till, at length exhausted, they waste away in their own poverty.
And he that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken from him. This may appear to be
a harsh expression; but instead of saying, that what the ungodly have not is taken from them, Luke
softens the harshness and removes the ambiguity by a slight change of the words: and whosoever
hath not, even that which he thinketh that he hath shall be taken from him. And indeed it frequently
happens, that the reprobate are endued with eminent gifts, and appear to resemble the children of
God: but there is nothing of real value about them; for their mind is destitute of piety, and has only
the glitter of an empty show. Matthew is therefore justified in saying that they have nothing; for
what they have is of no value in the sight of God, and has no permanency within. Equally appropriate
is the statement of Luke, that the gifts, with which they have been endued, are corrupted by them,
so that they shine only in the eyes of men, but have nothing more than splendor and empty display.
Hence, also let us learn to aim at progress throughout our whole life; for God grants to us the taste
of his heavenly doctrine on the express condition, that we feed on it abundantly from day to day,
till we come to be fully satiated with it.
The manner in which Mark introduces this sentence has some appearance of confusion. Consider,
says our Lord, what you hear; and then, if they make due progress, he holds out the expectation of
more plentiful grace: it shall be added to you that hear Lastly, follows the clause which agrees with
the words of Matthew, but is inserted in the middle of a sentence which I expounded under the
seventh chapter of Matthew; 185 for it is not probable that they are here placed in their proper order.
The Evangelists, as we have remarked on former occasions, were not very exact in arranging Christ’s
discourses, but frequently throw together a variety of sayings uttered by him. Luke mixes this
sentence with other discourses of Christ spoken at different times, and likewise points out a different
purpose for which Christ used these words. It was that they might be attentive to his doctrine, and
not permit the seed of life to pass away unimproved, which ought to be cordially received, and take
root in their minds. “Beware,” he says, “lest what has been given be taken away from you, if it
yield no fruit.”
13. For this reason I speak by parables. He says that he speaks to the multitude in an obscure
manner, because they are not partakers of the true light. And yet, while he declares that a veil is
spread over the blind, that they may remain in their darkness, he does not ascribe the blame of this
to themselves, but takes occasion to commend more highly the grace bestowed on the Apostles,
184 “Et comme ses richesses sont infinies, et ne se peuvent espuiser;”— “and as his riches are infinite, and cannot be exhausted.”
185 Harmony, volume 1 p. 345.
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John Calvin