John Calvin Commentary Genesis 50:17

"So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him." — Genesis 50:17 (ASV)

Forgive, I pray thee now. They do not conceal the fact that they had gravely sinned, and they are so far from lessening their fault that they freely heap up words to charge themselves with guilt. Therefore, they do not ask for pardon as if the offense were minor; instead, they set against the heinousness of their crime, first, the authority of their father, and then the sacred name of God.

Their confession would have been praiseworthy if they had proceeded directly, and without convoluted methods, to appease their brother. Now, since they have drawn from the fountain of piety the instruction that it is right for sin to be remitted to the servants of God, we may take this as a general exhortation: if we have been wronged by members of the Church, we must not be too rigid and unyielding in pardoning the offense.

This kindness is indeed generally commanded of us towards all people; but when the bond of religion is added, we are harder than iron if we are not inclined to show compassion. And we must note that they specifically mention the God of Jacob, because the unique faith and worship that set them apart from other nations ought to unite them to each other in a closer bond—as if God, who had adopted that family, stood among them to bring about reconciliation.

And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. It cannot be determined with certainty from Moses' words whether Joseph's brothers were present and speaking when he wept. Some interpreters imagine that a scene was deliberately enacted here, so that after Joseph's mind had been probed by others, his brothers came in soon afterward, during the conversation.

I lean towards a different opinion: namely, that when he learned from the messengers that their minds were distressed and they were worrying needlessly, he was moved with sympathy for them. Then, after sending for them, he freed them from all anxiety and fear; and their words, as they themselves pleaded against his anger, drew tears from him.

Moreover, by weeping so affectionately over the sorrow and anxiety of his brothers, he provides us with a remarkable example of compassion. But if we have a difficult struggle with a rash, angry temper, or with a stubborn inclination to hatred, we must pray to the Lord for a spirit of meekness, the power of which reveals itself no less effectively today in the members of Christ than it did formerly in Joseph.