John Calvin Commentary Luke 10:20

"Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." — Luke 10:20 (ASV)

Your names are written. Since it was Christ's design to draw His disciples away from a temporary joy, so that they might glory in eternal life, He leads them to its origin and source: namely, that they were chosen by God and adopted as His children.

He might indeed have commanded them to rejoice that they had been regenerated by the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5), and become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17); that they had been enlightened (Ephesians 1:18) in the hope of salvation, and had received the earnest of the inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). But He intended to point out that the source from which all these benefits flowed was the free election of God, so that they might not claim anything for themselves.

Reasons for praising God are undoubtedly provided by those acts of His kindness which we feel within us; but eternal election, which is without us, shows more clearly that our salvation rests on the pure goodness⁵⁴ of God.

The metaphorical expression, your names are written in heaven, means that they were acknowledged by God as His children and heirs, as if they had been inscribed in a register.⁵⁵

⁵⁴ “La pure et simple bonte;” — “the pure and simple goodness.”;” — “the pure and simple goodness.”

⁵⁵ “Comme s’ils estoyent escrits en une rolle, ou enregistrez en quelque livre;” — “as if they were written in a roll, or registered in some book.”;” — “as if they were written in a roll, or registered in some book.”