Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin
Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46
MATTHEW 7:21-23; LUKE 6:46
Matthew 7:21-23
Luke 6:46
21. Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, bu the who shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name have done many wonderful works? 23.
And then will I confess to them, I never knew you depart from me, you who work iniquity.
46. And why call you me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Matthew 7:21. Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord. Christ extends his discourse farther: for he speaks not only of false prophets, who rush upon the flock to tear and devour, but of hirelings, who insinuate themselves, under fair appearances, as pastors, though they have no feeling of piety.478 This doctrine embraces all hypocrites, whatever may be their rank or station, but at present he refers particularly to pretended teachers,479 who seem to excel others. He not only directs his discourse to them, to rouse them from the indifference, in which they lie asleep like drunk people, but also warns believers, not to estimate such masks beyond their proper value. In a word, he declares that, so soon as the doctrine of the Gospel shall have begun to bear fruit by obtaining many disciples, there will not only be very many of the common people who falsely and hypocritically submit to it, but even in the rank of pastors there will be the same treachery, so that they will deny by their actions and life what they profess with the mouth.480 Whoever then desires to be reckoned among the disciples, must labor to devote himself, sincerely and honestly, to the exercises of a new life.
In the Gospel of Luke, it is a general reproof: Why call you me Lord, Lord, and 478"Combien qu'au dedans ils n'ayent point d'affection de crainte de Dieu;" — "though at bottom they have no feeling of the fear of God."
479"Les docteurs feints et doubles;" — "reigned and deceitful teachers." 480"Ce qu'ils enseignent et confessent de bouche;" — "what they teach and confess with the mouth."