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

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
faith. For my own part, I cheerfully adopt both views. Christ informs us, that a mixture of the good
and the bad must be patiently endured till the end of the word; because, till that time, a true and
perfect restoration of the Church will not take place. Again, he warns us, that it is not enough,
and—what is more—that it is of little consequence to us, to be gathered into the fold, unless we
are his true and chosen sheep. To this effect is the saying of Paul,
The Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one that calleth on the name of the Lord depart from
iniquity,
(2 Timothy 2:19.)
The preaching of the Gospel is justly compared to a net sunk beneath the water, to inform us
that the present state of the Church is confused.
Our God is the God of order, and not of confusion,
(1 Corinthians 14:33,)
and, therefore, recommends to us discipline; but he permits hypocrites to remain for a time
among believers, till the last day, when he will bring his kingdom to a state of perfection. So far
as lies in our power, let us endeavor to correct vices, and let us exercise severity in removing
pollutions; but the Church will not be free from every spot and blemish, until Christ shall have
separated the sheep from the goats, (Matthew 25:32.)
51. Have you understood all these things? We must keep in recollection what we have formerly
seen, that all the parables of Christ were explained in private. And now the Lord, after having taught
them in this kind and familiar manner, warns them at the same time, that his object, in taking so
much pains to instruct them, was not merely that they might be well informed, 234 but that they
might communicate to others what they had received. In this way he whets and excites their minds
more and more to desire instruction. He says that teachers are like householders, who are not only
careful about their own food, but have a store laid up for the nourishment of others; and who do
not live at ease as to the passing day, but make provision for a future and distant period. The
meaning, therefore, is, that the teachers of the Church ought to be prepared by long study for giving
to the people, as out of a storehouse, 235 a variety of instruction concerning the word of God, as the
necessity of the case may require. Many of the ancient expositors understand by things new and
old the Law and the Gospel; but this appears to me to be forced. I understand them simply to mean
a varied and manifold distribution, wisely and properly adapted to the capacity of every individual.
LUKE 7:36-50
234 “Qu’ils gardent ceste cognoissance pour eux-mesmes seulement;” — “that they may keep that knowledge for themselves
only.”
235 “Commoe nous voyons que le pere de famille tire de son cellier ou grenier toutes sortes de provisions;” — “as we see that
the master of a family draws from his cellar or granary all kinds of provisions.”
92
John Calvin