Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin (continued)
Matthew 10:16-20; Luke 12:11-12
MATTHEW 10:16-20; LUKE 12:11-12
Matthew 10:16-20
Luke 12:11-12
16. Behold, I send you out, as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17. But beware of men: for they will deliver you to the councils, and will scourge you in their synagagues: 18. And you will be brought before rulers and kings on my account, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19. But when they shall deliver you up, be not anxious 579 as to how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour 580 what you shall speak. 20. For it is not you that speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
11. And when they shall bring you into synagogues, and before magistrates and powers, do not be anxious how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say. 12.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you in the same hour 581 what you ought to say.
The injunctions which Matthew has hitherto related had no farther reference than to that former expedition or commission, which was to be terminated in a few days.
But now Christ proceeds farther, and prepares them for a future period, by informing them, that they were not merely chosen for that brief exercise of preaching, but that an office of greater difficulty and of far higher importance awaited them. Though they were not immediately brought into those contests of which Christ speaks, yet it was advantageous for them to have previous warning, that any uneasiness which they might then suffer might be known to be a sort of preparative for a fiercer warfare to which they had been destined. It was no doubt true in reference to the first mission, that the apostles were like sheep in the midst of wolves: but as the Lord spared their weakness, and restrained the cruelty of the wolves from doing them any injury, these words properly relate to a subsequent period, when the Lord treated them more harshly. Before his resurrection, while the bridegroom was present, they were treated, so to speak, like guests at a marriage: but after the departure of the 579"N'ayez point de souci;" — "have no anxiety." 580"Car a ce mesme instant vous sera donn, ce que vous direz;" — "for at that very instant will be given to you what you shall speak."
581"Ace mesme instant;" — "at that very instant."