John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:15

"For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them." — Matthew 13:15 (ASV)

Lest I should heal them—in the word healing, Matthew, as well as the Prophet, includes deliverance from every evil; for a people afflicted by God's hand is metaphorically compared by them to a sick person. They say that healing is bestowed¹⁸⁸ when the Lord releases from punishment.

But since this healing depends on the pardon of sins, Mark appropriately and justly describes its cause and source: lest they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. For from where does the mitigation of chastisements come, except that God has been reconciled to us and makes us the objects of his blessing?

Sometimes, undoubtedly, after removing our guilt, he continues to punish us, either to humble us further or to make us more cautious for the future. And yet, he not only shows evidence of his favor by restoring us to life and health, but since punishments usually terminate when guilt is removed, healing and forgiveness are properly introduced together.

However, it must not be concluded that repentance is the cause of pardon, as if God received converted people into his favor because they deserved it.¹⁸⁹ For conversion itself is a mark of God’s free favor. Nothing more is expressed than this order and connection: God forgives the sins only of those who are dissatisfied with themselves.

¹⁸⁸ “Ils disent qu’il guarit, et remet en sante;” — “they say that he heals, and restores to health.”;” — “they say that he heals, and restores to health.”

¹⁸⁹ “Il ne faut pas conclurre par cela que la repentance, ou conversion, soit cause de nous faire avoir remission et pardon de nos pechez; comme si Dieu prenoit a merci ceux qui se convertissent, pource qu’ils en sont dignes, et le meritent;” — “we must not therefore conclude, that repentance, or conversion, is the cause of making us have forgiveness and pardon of our sins; as if God exercised mercy towards those who are converted, because they are worthy of it, and deserve it.”;” — “we must not therefore conclude, that repentance, or conversion, is the cause of making us have forgiveness and pardon of our sins; as if God exercised mercy towards those who are converted, because they are worthy of it, and deserve it.”