Matthew 12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:24

Verse 24 24.But when the Pharisees heard it. The scribes cannot withhold the acknowledgment of a fact so open and manifest, and yet they maliciously carp (105) at what Christ did by Divine power. Not only do they obscure the praise of the miracle, but endeavor to turn it into a reproach, as if it were performed by magical enchantment; and that work, which could not be ascribed to a man, is alleged by them to have the devil for its author. Of the word Beelzebub I have spoken under the Tenth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:25

Verse 25 Matthew 12:25.But as Jesus knew their thoughts. Though Christ knew sufficiently well, and had often learned by experience, that the scribes, in the exercise of their malice (116) were in the habit of putting an unfavorable construction on every thing that he did, yet Matthew and Luke, I have no doubt, mean that Christ was a discerner of their hearts. (117) And indeed it is probable, that they spoke so openly against Christ, that their calumnies reached his ears; but Christ knew by his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:27

Verse 27 27.By whom do your children cast them out? He charges them with passing an unjust and malicious decision, because in the same case they did not decide in a similar manner, but as they were affected towards the persons. Now this inequality shows, that their prevailing motive was not a regard to what is just and right, but blind love or hatred; and that it was even an evidence of wicked self-love ( φιλαυτίας) and envy, to condemn in Christ what they praised in their own children By your... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:28

Verse 28 28.But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God. Luke says,if I cast out devils by The Finger of God; employing the word Finger metaphorically instead of the Spirit. As God works, and exerts his power, by his Spirit, it is with propriety that the word Finger is applied to him. And this mode of expression was common among the Jews, as Moses relates that Pharaoh’s magicians said, This is the finger of God Now Christ infers from what he has already stated, that the scribes prove... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:29

Verse 29 29.How can any one enter into the house of a strong man? Though the Evangelists differ a little as to words, there is a perfect agreement among them as to the substance of this discourse. Christ is pursuing the subject, on which he had lately touched, about the kingdom of God, and declares it to be necessary that Satan be violently driven out, in order that God may establish his k ingdom among men. What he now states is nothing else than a confirmation of the preceding statement. But... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:30

Verse 30 30.He that is not with me. There are two ways of explaining this passage. Some suppose that it is an argument drawn from contraries, and that Christ’s meaning is: “ I cannot reign till the devil is overthrown; for the object of all his attempts is, to scatter whatever I gather.” And certainly we see abundant evidence of the earnestness with which that enemy labors to destroy the kingdom of Christ. But I rather agree in opinion with those who explain it to denote, that the scribes are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:31

Verse 31 31.Therefore I say to you. This inference ought not to be confined to the clause immediately preceding, but depends on the whole discourse. Having proved that the scribes could not blame him for casting out devils, without opposing the kingdom of God, he at length concludes that it is no light or ordinary offense, but an atrocious crime, knowingly and willingly to pour contempt on the Spirit of God. We have already said, that Christ did not pronounce this decision on the mere words... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:32

Verse 32 32.Neither in the present life What these words mean, Mark briefly explains by saying, thatthose who have spoken against the Spirit are exposed to eternal judgment Every day we ask from God the forgiveness of sins, and every day he reconciles us to Him; and, finally, at death, he takes away all our sins, and declares that he is gracious to us. The fruit of this mercy will appear at the last day. The meaning therefore is: — “There is no reason to expect that those who shall have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:33

Verse 33 33.Either make the tree good It might look like absurdity, that men should be allowed a choice of being either good or bad; but if we consider what sort of persons Christ is addressing, the difficulty will be speedily resolved. We know what opinion was generally entertained about the Pharisees; for their pretended sanctity had so blinded the minds of the common people, that no one ventured to pass sentence on their vices. (134) Wishing to remove this mask, Christ desires them to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:34

Verse 34 34.Offspring of vipers. The similarity between the tree and the fruit is here applied by Christ to nothing more than speech, because this afforded an opportunity of detecting the inward and concealed malice of the scribes; and that is the reason why he dwells so much on this one kind of sin. It is because their falsehood and slanders betrayed what was not so visible in the rest of their life, that Christ attacks them with such severity. “There is no reason to wonder,” he says, “that... read more

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