John Calvin Commentary Matthew 18:10

"See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven." — Matthew 18:10 (ASV)

Beware of despising one of these little ones. As pride is the mother of disdain, and as contempt hardens people in giving offense, our Lord, to apply an appropriate remedy for curing this disease, forbids His disciples to despise the little ones. And certainly, as we have already hinted, no one who has proper care for their fellow believers will ever allow themselves, on light grounds, to give them offense. This conclusion of our Lord’s discourse has the same tendency as its beginning: to remind us that we should strive with each other to be most submissive and modest, for God embraces the little ones with wonderful love. It would be strange indeed that a mortal should despise, or treat as of no account, those whom God holds in such high esteem.

He proves this love by the fact that angels, who are ministers of their salvation, intimately enjoy God’s presence. Yet I do not think He intended merely to show what honor God confers on them by appointing angels to be their guardians, but also to threaten those who despise them. It is as if He had said that it is no light matter to despise those who have angels for their companions and friends, to take vengeance on their behalf. We should therefore beware of despising their salvation, which even angels have been commissioned to advance.

The interpretation given to this passage by some commentators, as if God assigned to each believer their own angel, does not rest on solid grounds. For Christ’s words do not mean that a single angel is continually occupied with this or that person;⁵⁰⁸ and such an idea is inconsistent with the whole doctrine of Scripture, which declares that the angels encamp around (Psalms 34:7) the godly, and that not one angel only, but many, have been commissioned to guard each of the faithful. Away, then, with the fanciful notion of a good and evil angel, and let us rest satisfied with holding that the care of the whole Church is committed to angels, to assist each member as their needs require.

Perhaps it will be asked, do the angels occupy a station inferior to ours because they have been appointed to be our ministers? I reply, though by nature they rank above us, this does not prevent them from rendering service to God⁵⁰⁹ in dispensing the favor which He freely bestows upon us. For this reason they are called our angels, because their labors are bestowed on us.

⁵⁰⁸ “Les mots n’emportent pas qu’un Ange n’ait autre charge que de veiller tousiours sur cestuy-ci ou sur cestuy-la;” — “the words do not bear that one Angel has nothing else to do than to watch continually over this or that man.”;” — “the words do not bear that one Angel has nothing else to do than to watch continually over this or that man.”

⁵⁰⁹ “Cela n’empesche point que Dieu n’use de leur service;” — “that does not hinder God from employing their services.”;” — “that does not hinder God from employing their services.”