John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:39

"and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels." — Matthew 13:39 (ASV)

The harvest is the end of the world. This is, no doubt, a very distressing consideration: that the Church is burdened with the reprobate to the very end of the world. However, Christ commands us to exercise patience until that time, so that we may not deceive ourselves with a vain hope. Pastors ought to labor strenuously to purify the Church, and all the godly, as their respective callings enable them, ought to lend assistance in this matter. But when all have devoted their united efforts to the general advantage, they will not succeed in purifying the Church entirely from every defilement.

Therefore, let us maintain that nothing was further from Christ's design than to encourage impurity by condoning it. All He intended was to exhort those who believed in Him not to lose courage because they must retain wicked men among them, and, secondly, to restrain and moderate the zeal of those who imagine they are not free to associate with any but pure angels.²¹²

This passage has been wrongfully used by the Anabaptists and others like them,²¹³ to deny the Church the power of the sword. But it is easy to refute them. Since they approve of excommunication, which cuts off, at least temporarily, the wicked and reprobate, why may godly magistrates not, when necessary, use the sword against wicked men?

They reply that when the punishment is not capital,²¹⁴ there is opportunity for repentance—as if the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42) did not find the means of salvation. I will content myself with replying that Christ is not speaking here of the office of pastors or of magistrates, but removes the stumbling block that tends to disturb weak minds when they perceive that the Church is composed not only of the elect but also of the polluted dregs of society.

The reapers are the angels. This term must be understood in the context of the present subject. In another passage, the Apostles are called reapers, in comparison to the Prophets, because they have entered into their labors, (John 4:38) and it is commanded of all ministers of the Word,

that they should bring forth fruit, and that their fruit should remain,
(John 15:16)

This is also the meaning of the statement, that the fields are white, and are in need of reapers, (John 4:35) and again, that

the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few,
(Matthew 9:37)

But here the comparison is applied differently; for those who occupy a place in the Church are said to be planted in the Lord’s field. Nor is this inconsistent with what is said elsewhere, that Christ, as soon as He comes forth with His Gospel,

hath a winnowing-fan in his hand, and will thoroughly
cleanse his thrashing-floor,
(Matthew 3:12)

These words describe the beginning of that cleansing, which, this passage declares, will not occur before the last day, because not until then will it be fully completed. Christ will complete the final cleansing of the Church by means of angels, but He now begins to do the work by means of pious teachers. He assigns this office to angels because they will not remain idle spectators before His tribunal,²¹⁵ but will be ready to execute His commands. It follows that those who proceed with undue haste to root out whatever displeases them, as much as they can, obstruct Christ's judgment, deprive angels of their office, and rashly take that office upon themselves.

²¹² “Qui ne pensent point qu’il soit bon de s’adioindre a la compagnie des fideles, sinon que tout y soit pur comme entre les Anges;”— “who do not think that it is proper to join themselves to the society of believers, unless every thing in it be as pure as among the Angels.”;”— “who do not think that it is proper to join themselves to the society of believers, unless every thing in it be as pure as among the Angels.”

²¹³ “Et semblables reveurs;” — “and similar dreamers.”;” — “and similar dreamers.”

²¹⁴ “Quand la peine n’est pas a mort (comme est l’excommunication; )” — “when the punishment, as in the case of excommunication, is not to death.”;)” — “when the punishment, as in the case of excommunication, is not to death.”

²¹⁵ “Devant le siege iudicial de sa maieste;” — “before the judgment- seat of his majesty.”;” — “before the judgment- seat of his majesty.”