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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
power of God, which at once created all things out of nothing, and every day raises up things that
are not, (1 Corinthians 1:28,) in a manner which exceeds the capacity of the human senses. Let us
leave to proud men their disdainful laugh, till the Lord, at an unexpected hour, shall strike them
with amazement. Meanwhile, let us not despond, but rise by faith against the pride of the world,
till the Lord give us that astonishing display of his power, 224 of which he speaks in this passage.
The word leaven is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when Christ warns them to
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees,
(Matthew 16:11;)
and when Paul says, that
a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,
(1 Corinthians 5:6.)
But here the term must be understood simply as applying to the present subject. As to the
meaning of the phrase, the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of heaven, we have spoken on former
occasions.
Mark 4:26. So is the kingdom of God. Though this comparison has the same object with the
two immediately preceding, yet Christ appears to direct his discourse purposely to the ministers of
the word, that they may not grow indifferent about the discharge of their duty, because the fruit of
their labor does not immediately appear. He holds out for their imitation the example of husbandmen,
who throw seed into the ground with the expectation of reaping, and do not torment themselves
with uneasiness and anxiety, but go to bed and rise again; or, in other words, pursue their ordinary
and daily toil, till the corn arrive at maturity in due season. In like manner, though the seed of the
word be concealed and choked for a time, Christ enjoins pious teachers to be of good courage, and
not to allow their alacrity to be slackened through distrust.
Matthew 13:34. All these things Jesus spoke in parables. Though Mark expressly says, that
Christ spoke the word to them as they were able to bear it, yet I think it probable that he continued
to employ parables, not so much for the purpose of instruction, as to keep the attention of his hearers
awake till a more convenient time. For why did he explain them familiarly to his disciples when
they were apart? Was it because they were more slow of apprehension than the great body of the
people? No; but because he wished to convey to them privately a knowledge of his meaning, and
to allow others to remain in a state of suspense, till a fitter opportunity should arrive. These were
only a sort of introduction to the Gospel, the full brightness and publication of which was delayed
till the proper time.
There is an apparent contradiction between this statement of Matthew and the prediction of
Isaiah, which was quoted a little before. But this is easily removed; for, though he withdrew the
light of doctrine from the reprobate, yet this did not prevent him from accommodating himself to
their capacity, so as to render them inexcusable. He therefore adopted a method of teaching which
224 “Iuques a ce que le Seigneur nous face sentir l’effect de cette vertu incomprehensible;” — “till the Lord make us feel the
effect of that incomprehensible power.”
88
John Calvin