John Calvin Commentary Matthew 11:26

"yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight." — Matthew 11:26 (ASV)

Undoubtedly, O Father, this expression removes every pretext for that unrestrained inquiry to which we are continually provoked. There is nothing that we submit to God with greater difficulty than for His will to be regarded by us as the highest reason and justice.⁶³

He frequently repeats that His judgments are a deep abyss (Psalms 36:6); but we plunge recklessly into that depth,⁶⁴ and if there is anything that does not please us, we gnash our teeth, or murmur against Him, and many even break out into open blasphemies.

On the contrary, our Lord establishes this rule for us: whatever God has determined must be regarded by us as right.⁶⁵ This is sober wisdom: to submit to the good pleasure of God as itself equal to a thousand arguments.⁶⁶ Christ might indeed have presented the reasons for that distinction, if there were any; but He is satisfied with the good pleasure of God and inquires no further why He calls to salvation little children rather than others, and forms His kingdom from an obscure flock.⁶⁷

Therefore, it is clear that people direct their fury against Christ when, on learning that some are freely chosen and others are reprobated by the will of God, they react angrily because they find it unpleasant to submit to God.⁶⁸

⁶³ “Pour la derniere et souveraine raison, et pour Justice parfaite;” — “for the last and supreme reason, and for perfect justice.”;” — “for the last and supreme reason, and for perfect justice.”

⁶⁴ “Pour sonder ce qui y est;” — “to sound what is in it.”;” — “to sound what is in it.”

⁶⁵ “Que tout ce que Dieu a determine est bon et droict;” — “that all that God has determined is good and right.”;” — “that all that God has determined is good and right.”

⁶⁶ “Et cela est estre sage a sobriete, d’acquiescer au seul bon plaisir de Dieu, et nous y arrester paisiblement, plus que s’il y avoit dix mille raisons devant nos yeux;” — “and this is to be wise to sobriety, to acquiesce in the good pleasure of God, and to rest calmly upon it, more than if there were ten thousand arguments before our eyes.”;” — “and this is to be wise to sobriety, to acquiesce in the good pleasure of God, and to rest calmly upon it, more than if there were ten thousand arguments before our eyes.”

⁶⁷ “D’une troupe de gens incognus, et de petite estime;” — “from a flock of persons unknown and little esteemed.”;” — “from a flock of persons unknown and little esteemed.”

⁶⁸ “Vienent incontinent a tempester, pource quil leur fasche que Dieu ait le dernier mot;” — “come immediately to storm, because it gives them uneasiness that God should have the last word.”;” — “come immediately to storm, because it gives them uneasiness that God should have the last word.”