John Calvin Commentary Luke 19:42

"saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." — Luke 19:42 (ASV)

O if even you had known! The discourse is pathetic and therefore abrupt, for we know that those who are under the influence of vehement passion often express their feelings only partially. Besides, two feelings are mingled here: not only does Christ bewail the destruction of the city, but He also reproaches the ungrateful people with the deepest guilt for rejecting the salvation offered to them and thereby drawing down on themselves God's dreadful judgment.

The word even, interwoven with it, is emphatic. Christ silently contrasts Jerusalem with the other cities of Judea, or rather, of the whole world. The meaning is: “If even you, who are distinguished by a remarkable privilege above the whole world—if you at least (I say), who are a heavenly sanctuary on the earth, had known.”

This is immediately followed by another amplification based on time: “Though until now you have wickedly and outrageously rebelled against God, now at least there is time for repentance.” For He means that the day is now at hand—the day appointed by God’s eternal purpose for Jerusalem’s salvation and foretold by the prophets. Thus (says Isaiah) is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2).

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

The things which belong to thy peace. Under the word peace, He includes, according to the meaning of the Hebrew phrase, all that is essential to happiness. Nor does He simply say that Jerusalem did not know her peace, but the things which belonged to her peace. For it frequently happens that people are far from being unacquainted with their happiness, but they are ignorant of the way and means (as we say) because they are blinded by their wickedness.

Now, since compassion is mingled with reproach, let us observe that people deserve heavier punishment in proportion to the excellence of the gifts they have received, because to other sins is added an impious profanation of heavenly grace. Secondly, let us observe that the nearer God approaches us and holds out the light of sound doctrine, the less excusable we are if we neglect this opportunity. The gate of salvation, indeed, is always open. However, as God is sometimes silent, it is no ordinary privilege when He invites us to Himself with a loud voice and in a familiar manner; therefore, contempt will be visited by more severe punishment.

But now they are hid from thy eyes. This is not said to extenuate Jerusalem’s guilt; on the contrary, it marks with disgrace the monstrous stupidity of that city: that when God is present, it does not perceive Him. I acknowledge that it belongs to God alone to open the eyes of the blind, and that no one is qualified to understand the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom unless God enlightens them inwardly by His Spirit. However, it does not follow from this that those who perish through their own brutal blindness are excusable.

Christ also intended to remove an offense that might otherwise have perplexed the ignorant and weak. For when the eyes of all were directed to that city, its example might have had a very great influence in both respects, either for evil or for good. Therefore, so that no one may be perplexed by its unbelief and proud contempt of the Gospel, Jerusalem is condemned for disgraceful blindness.