John Calvin Commentary Genesis 27:34

"When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father." — Genesis 27:34 (ASV)

He cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry. Though Esau persists in imploring the blessing, he yet gives a sign of desperation, which is why he obtains no benefit, because he does not enter by the gate of faith. True piety, indeed, draws forth tears and great cries from the children of God; but Esau, trembling and full of fears, breaks out in wailings. Afterwards, he casts his wish into the air at a venture, so that he also may receive a blessing. But his blind unbelief is reproved by his own words; for since only one blessing had been deposited with his father, he asks that another should be given to him, as if it were in his father’s power to indiscriminately breathe out blessings, independently of God’s command. Here the Apostle’s admonition may come to our minds:

That Esau, when he sought again the forfeited blessing with tears and loud lamentations, found no place for repentance (Hebrews 12:17).

For those who neglect to follow God when he calls them, afterwards call upon him in vain when he has turned his back. As long as God addresses and invites us, the gate of the kingdom of heaven is, in a certain sense, open. We must use this opportunity if we desire to enter, according to the Prophet’s instruction:

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).

Paul is the interpreter of this passage, defining that as the acceptable time, the day of salvation, in which grace is brought to us by the gospel (2 Corinthians 6:2). Those who allow that time to pass by may, eventually, knock too late and unprofitably, because God avenges their idleness. Therefore, we must fear that if, with deafened ears, we allow God’s voice to pass unheeded now, he, in turn, might become deaf to our cry. But it may be asked, how is this repulse consistent with the promise:

If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live (Ezekiel 18:21).

Moreover, it may seem at variance with God’s clemency to reject the sighings of those who, being crushed by misery, fly for refuge to his mercy. I answer that repentance, if it is true and sincere, will never be too late; and the sinner who, from his soul, is displeased with himself, will obtain pardon. But God punishes the contempt of his grace in this manner, because those who obstinately reject it do not seriously intend in their minds to return to him. Thus it is that those who are given over to a reprobate mind are never touched with genuine penitence. Hypocrites indeed break out into tears, like Esau, but their heart within them will remain closed as if with iron bars. Therefore, since Esau rushes forward, destitute of faith and repentance, to ask for a blessing, it is no wonder that he is rejected.