John Calvin Commentary Luke 12:13

"And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." — Luke 12:13 (ASV)

Bid my brother divide. Our Lord, when requested to undertake the office of dividing an inheritance, refuses to do so. Since this tended to promote brotherly harmony, and since Christ’s office was not only to reconcile men to God but also to bring them into agreement with one another, what prevented him from settling the dispute between the two brothers?²⁶⁵

There appear to have been chiefly two reasons why he declined the office of a judge. First, because the Jews imagined that the Messiah would have an earthly kingdom,²⁶⁶ he wished to guard against doing anything that might support this error.

If they had seen him divide inheritances, the report of that proceeding would immediately have been circulated. Many would have been led to expect a carnal redemption, which they too ardently desired, and wicked men would have loudly declared that he was effecting a revolution in the state and overturning the Roman Empire.

Nothing could be more appropriate, therefore, than this reply, by which all would be informed that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual. Let us learn from this to regulate our conduct by prudence and to undertake nothing that might be unfavorably interpreted.

Secondly, our Lord intended to draw a distinction between the political kingdoms of this world and the government of his Church. He had been appointed by the Father to be a Teacher, who should divide asunder, by the sword of the word, the thoughts and feelings, and penetrate into the souls of men, (Hebrews 4:12), but he was not a magistrate to divide inheritances. This condemns the robbery of the Pope and his clergy, who, while they claim to be pastors of the Church, have dared to usurp an earthly and secular jurisdiction, which is inconsistent with their office. For what is in itself lawful may be improper for certain persons.

There was also, in my opinion, a third reason of great weight. Christ saw that this man was neglecting doctrine and was looking only to his private concerns. This is a very common ailment.

Many who profess the Gospel do not hesitate to use it as a false pretense for advancing their private interests, and to plead the authority of Christ as a justification for their gains.

From the exhortation²⁶⁷ that is immediately added, we may readily draw this inference. For if that man had not used the Gospel as a pretext for his own profit, Christ would not have taken the opportunity to give this warning against covetousness. The context, therefore, makes it sufficiently evident that this was a pretended disciple, whose mind was entirely occupied with lands or money.

It is highly absurd for the Anabaptists to infer from this reply that no Christian has a right to divide inheritances, to take part in legal decisions, or to discharge any public office. Christ does not argue from the nature of the thing itself, but from his own calling. Having been appointed by the Father for a different purpose, he declares that he is not a judge, because he has received no such command. Let us hold to this rule, that everyone keep within the limits of the calling which God has given him.

²⁶⁵ “On pourroit demander qui a empesche qu’il ne se soit entremis d’oster toute occasion de debat entre deux freres?” — “It might be asked, what hindered him from undertaking to remove all ground of quarrel between two brothers?”?” — “It might be asked, what hindered him from undertaking to remove all ground of quarrel between two brothers?”

²⁶⁶ “Que le Messias regneroit a la facon des princes terriens;” — “that the Messiah would reign in the manner of earthly princes.”;” — “that the Messiah would reign in the manner of earthly princes.”

²⁶⁷ “En considerant la circonstance de l’exhortation qui est ici adioustee, il est aise a iuger que cestuy-ci estoit mene d’une telle affection perverse;” —”by considering the circumstance of the exhortation which is here added, it may easily be inferred that this man was under the influence of such a wicked disposition.”;” —”by considering the circumstance of the exhortation which is here added, it may easily be inferred that this man was under the influence of such a wicked disposition.”