John Calvin Commentary Genesis 50:1

"And Joseph fell upon his father`s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him." — Genesis 50:1 (ASV)

And Joseph fell upon his father’s face. In this chapter, what happened after the death of Jacob is briefly related. Moses, however, states that Jacob’s death was honored with a double mourning—natural (so to speak) and ceremonial. That Joseph falls upon his father’s face and sheds tears flows from true and pure affection; that the Egyptians mourn for him seventy days, since it is done for the sake of honor and in compliance with custom, is more from ostentation and vain pomp than from true grief: and yet the dead are generally mourned over in this manner, that the last debt due to them may be discharged.

From this the proverb has also originated: that the mourning of the heir is laughter under a mask. And although minds are sometimes penetrated with real grief, yet something is added to it by the affectation of making a show of pious sorrow, so that they indulge largely in tears in the presence of others, who would weep more sparingly if there were no witnesses to their grief. Hence, those friends who meet together under the pretext of administering consolation often pursue such a different course that they call forth more abundant weeping.

And although the ceremony of mourning over the dead arose from a good principle, namely, that the living should meditate on the curse entailed by sin upon the human race, yet it has always been tarnished by many evils; because it has been neither directed to its true end nor regulated by due moderation.

With respect to genuine grief which is not unnaturally elicited, but which breaks forth from the depth of our hearts, it is not, in itself, to be censured, if it is kept within due bounds. For Joseph is not reproved here because he manifests his grief by weeping; but his filial piety is rather commended.

We have, however, need of the rein, and of self-government, lest, through intemperate grief, we are hurried, by a blind impulse, to murmur against God: for excessive grief always precipitates us into rebellion. Moreover, the mitigation of sorrow is chiefly to be sought in the hope of a future life, according to the doctrine of Paul.