Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
with which they shall blaspheme: 29. But he who shall speak blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit hath not forgiveness to eternity, 720 but is exposed to eternal judgment.
30. For they said, He hath an unclean spirit. 721
16. And others tempting him sought from him a sign from heaven. 17. But as he knew their thoughts, 722 he said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house against a house falleth. 723 18. But if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? for you say that by Beelzebub I cast out devils. 19. But if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 20. But if I cast out devils by the finger of God, truly has the kingdom of God come to you. 21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his property is at peace; 22. But when a stronger than he cometh upon him, and overcometh him, he taketh from him all his armor, in which he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Luke 12:10.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.
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 724 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. 725 And indeed it is probable, that they spoke so openly against Christ, that their calumnies reached his ears; but Christ knew by his Divine
Spirit the dispositions which led them to slander him. For it frequently happens that erroneous judgments are formed by men who do not intentionally, after all, oppose what is right, but err through ignorance; who do not cherish a hidden and concealed venom, but whose rashness carries them headlong. 726 The meaning therefore is, that Christ reproved them with the greater severity, because he was a witness and judge of their inward malice.
Every kingdom divided against itself. In refuting the calumny alleged against him, he first quotes a common proverb. This refutation may appear to be not quite satisfactory. We know what subtle methods Satan sometimes employs, presenting all the while an appearance of discord, in order to entrap the minds of men by superstitions.
Thus, for example, the exorcisms of Popery are nothing else than feats of dexterity, in which Satan pretends to fight with himself. But no suspicion of this nature fell on 720"N'aura point de remission eternellement;" — "will have no forgiveness eternally." 721"Il a l'esprit immonde;" — "he hath the unclean spirit." 722"Mais luy cognoissant leurs pensees;" — "but he knowing their thoughts." 723"Et 'toute' maison 'divisee' contre soy-mesme dechet;"— "and every house divided against itself falleth."
724"Comme c'estoyent gens tout pleins d'un malin vouloir;" — "as they were people entirely full of a wicked disposition.
725"Que Christ a cognu ce qui estoit cache dedans leur coeurs;" — "that Christ knew what was concealed within their hearts."
726"Mais se laissent trop aisement transporter d'une temerite ne voyans pas le mal qu'ils font;" — "but allow themselves too easily to be carried away by rashness, not perceiving the evil that they do."