Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin
HARMONY OF THE EVANGELISTS
his abundance. We daily perceive striking instances of this disdainful conduct 878 in irreligious men, who hold up the mass of their riches, as if it were nothing less than a brazen rampart against death. When he says, Eat, my soul, and enjoy thyself, there is an emphatic meaning in this Hebrew idiom; 879 for he addresses himself in such a manner as to imply, that he has all that is necessary for gratifying all his senses and all his desires.
20. Fool, this night they will demand thy soul from thee. The word soul carries an allusion. Formerly, the rich man addressed his soul as the seat of all the affections: but now, he speaks of the life itself, or the vital spirit. The words, they will demand, ({ἀπαιτοῦσιν}) though in the plural number, are used indefinitely, and mean nothing more than that the life of the rich man, which he imagined to be in his own power, was at the disposal of another. I advert to this, because some take occasion from them to make unfounded speculations about angels. The design of Christ is simply to show that the life of men, which they imagine to be strongly protected by the fortress of their riches, is every moment 880 taken away. The rich man is thus convicted of folly, in not knowing that his life depended on another.
21. So is he that layeth up for himself. As the two clauses are evidently contrasted, the one must be taken into account for the exposition of the other. Let us ascertain, therefore, what is meant by being rich in God, or, "towards God" or, "with respect to God." Those who are tolerably acquainted with the Scriptures know that the preposition {εἰς} not unfrequently takes the sense of {ἐν}. But whether it be understood in the one sense or in the other, is of little consequence; for the meaning comes to this, that they are rich according to God, who do not trust to earthly things, but depend solely on his providence. It matters not whether they are in abundance or in want, provided that both classes present their sincere prayers to the Lord for their daily bread. The corresponding phrase, layeth up for himself, conveys the idea that this man paid no attention to the blessing of God, but anxiously heaped up an immense store, so that his confidence was shut up in his barns. 881 Hence we may easily conclude that the parable was intended to show, that vain are the deliberations and foolish attempts of those who, trusting to the abundance of their wealth, do not rely on God alone, and are not satisfied with their own share, or prepared for whatever may befall them; 882 and, finally, that such persons will suffer the penalty of their own folly.
878"D'une telle mecognoissance et fierte;" — "of such ingratitude and pride." 879"En ceste locution Hebraique il y a une vehemence et proprie plus que les mots n'emportent de prime face;" — "in that Hebrew form of expression there is greater force and propriety than the words at first sight bear."
880"Que d'heure en heure la vie est ostee aux hommes;" — "that from hour to hour the life of man is taken away."
881"En sorte que la fiance de l'homme est en ses greniers, ou en ses coffres;" — "so that the confidence of the man is in his granaries, or in his chests."
882"Estans prests a recevoir ce qu'il plaira a Dieu leur envoyer;" — "being prepared to receive what God may be pleased to send to them."