John Calvin Commentary Matthew 21
John Calvin Commentary
Matthew 21
John Calvin Commentary
Matthew 21
"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples," — Matthew 21:1 (ASV)
Then Jesus sent two disciples. Jesus sends his disciples to bring an ass to him, not because he was tired from the journey, but for a different reason. For, because the time of his death was near, he intended to show, by a solemn performance, what the nature of his kingdom was. He had indeed begun to do this at his baptism, but it remained for this demonstration to be given by him towards the end of his calling. For why did he until now refrain from the title of King, and now at last openly declare himself to be a King, if not because he was near the end of his course?710 So then, as his removal to heaven was near, he intended to begin his reign openly on earth.
This would have been a ridiculous display, if it had not been in accordance with the prediction of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). In order to lay claim to the honors of royalty, he enters Jerusalem, riding an ass. A magnificent display, truly! This was especially true since the ass was borrowed from someone, and when the lack of a saddle and of trappings compelled the disciples to throw their garments on it, which was a mark of lowly and shameful poverty.
He is attended, I admit, by a large retinue; but of what sort of people? Of those who had hastily assembled from the neighboring villages. Sounds of loud and joyful welcome are heard;711 but from whom? From the very poorest, and from those who belong to the despised multitude. One might think, therefore, that he intentionally exposed himself to the ridicule of all.
But as he had two things to do at the same time—as he had to exhibit some proof of his kingdom, and to show that it does not resemble earthly kingdoms and does not consist of the fading riches of this world—it was absolutely necessary for him to use this approach.
To the wicked, no doubt, this might be very unacceptable, had God not long before testified through his Prophet that such would be the king who would come to restore the salvation of his people.
Therefore, so that Christ’s humble appearance may not hinder us from perceiving his spiritual kingdom in this display,712 let us keep the heavenly prediction before our eyes. By this prediction, God conferred more honor on his Son under the revolting aspect of a beggar than if he had been adorned with all the dazzling ornaments of kings.
Without this seasoning, we will never have any true appreciation for this history. Therefore, there is great weight in Matthew’s words when he says that the prediction of the Prophet was fulfilled.713 Perceiving that it was hardly possible for those who are too devoted to wealth and splendor to derive any benefit from this narrative when viewed according to the flesh, he leads them away from the mere contemplation of the event to the consideration of the prophecy.
710 “Pource qu’il se voit estre bien pres du but de sa course;” — “because he sees that he is very near the end of his course.”;” — “because he sees that he is very near the end of his course.”
711 “Les voix retentissent pour luy faire honneur, et le recevoir en grande ioye et triomphe;” — “voices resound to do him honor, and to receive him in great joy and triumph.”;” — “voices resound to do him honor, and to receive him in great joy and triumph.”
712 “Sous la couverture des choses yci recitees;” — “under the disguise of the things here related.”;” — “under the disguise of the things here related.”
713 “Quand il dit que tout cela se faisoit afin que ce qui avoit este dit loaf le Prophete fust accompli;” — “when he says that ” — “when he says that all this was done,, in order that what had been said by the Prophet might be fulfilled..”
"saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me." — Matthew 21:2 (ASV)
Go into the village. As he was at Bethany, he did not ask for an ass to relieve the fatigue of traveling, for he could easily have performed the rest of the journey on foot.714 But as kings are accustomed to ascend their chariots, from which they may be easily seen, so the Lord intended to turn the eyes of the people on himself, and to place some mark of approval on the praises of his followers, so that no one might think that he unwillingly received the honor of a king.715
From what place he ordered the ass to be brought is uncertain, except, what may naturally be inferred, that it was some village adjoining the city; for the allegorical exposition of it, which some give, as applying to Jerusalem, is ridiculous.
No more admissible is the allegory which certain persons have contrived about the ass and the colt. "The she-ass," they tell us, "is a figure of the Jewish nation, which had been long subdued, and accustomed to the yoke of the Law. The Gentiles, again, are represented by the colt, on which no man ever sat. Christ sat first on the ass for this reason, that it was proper for him to begin with the Jews; and afterwards he passed over to the colt, because he was appointed to govern the Gentiles also in the second place."
And indeed Matthew appears to say that he rode on both of them; but as instances of Synecdoche occur frequently in Scripture, we should not wonder if he mentions two instead of one. From the other Evangelists it appears clearly that the colt only was used by Christ; and all doubt is removed by Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9), who twice repeats the same thing, according to the ordinary custom of the Hebrew language.716
And immediately you will find. So that the disciples might feel no hesitation about immediate compliance, our Lord anticipates and replies to their questions. First, he explains that he does not send them away at random, and this he does by saying that, at the very entrance into the village, they will find an ass-colt with its mother; and, secondly, that nobody will hinder them from leading him away, if they only reply that He hath need of him. In this way he proved his Divinity; for both to know absent matters, and to bend the hearts of men to compliance,717 belonged to God alone.
It was, no doubt, possible that the owner of the ass, entertaining no unfavorable opinion of Christ, would cheerfully grant it; but to foresee if he would be at home, if it would then be convenient for him, or if he would place confidence in unknown persons, was not in the power of a mortal man. Again, as Christ strengthens the disciples, so that they may be more ready to obey, so we see how they, on the other hand, yield submission. The result shows that the whole of this affair was directed by God.
714 “Car il y avoit si pen de la iusques en Ierusalem, qu’il y fust aisee-merit alle a pied;” — “for it was so short a distance from that place to Jerusalem, that he would easily have gone thither on foot.”;” — “for it was so short a distance from that place to Jerusalem, that he would easily have gone thither on foot.”
715 “Afin qu’on ne pensast point qu’il prinst cela a desplaisir, et qu’on lui attribuast l’honneur de Roy contre son vouloir;” — “that it might not be thought that he took offense at this, and that the honor of King was given to him in opposition to his will.”;” — “that it might not be thought that he took offense at this, and that the honor of King was given to him in opposition to his will.”
716 “Car voyla ses mots, Estant monte sur an asne, et sur un asnon poullain d’asnesse;” — “for his words are these, ” — “for his words are these, Sitting on an ass,, and on an ass-colt,, the foal of an ass..”
717 “Et de faire flechir les coeurs des hommes, pour accorder ce qu’il luy plaist;” — “and to bend the hearts of men to grant what he pleases.”;” — “and to bend the hearts of men to grant what he pleases.”
"Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass." — Matthew 21:5 (ASV)
Say to the daughter of Zion. This is not found, word for word, in Zechariah; but what God commanded one Prophet to proclaim, the Evangelist justly and appropriately applies to all godly teachers; for the only hope on which the children of God should both build and rely was that the Redeemer would eventually come.
Accordingly, the Prophet shows that the coming of Christ yields to believers a full and complete ground of joy. For since God is not reconciled to them in any other way than through the agency of the Mediator, and as it is the same Mediator who delivers His people from all evils, what can there be, apart from Him, that is suited to cheer people ruined by their sins and oppressed by troubles?
And as we must be completely overwhelmed with grief when Christ is absent, so on the other hand, the Prophet reminds believers that when the Redeemer is present with them, they should be perfectly joyful.
Now though He bestows on Christ other commendations — namely, that He is just, and having salvation — Matthew has taken but a single portion, which suited his purpose: that Christ will come, poor or meek; or in other words, that He will be unlike earthly kings, whose apparel is very magnificent and costly.
Another mark of poverty is added: that He will ride on an ass, or the foal of an ass; for there can be no doubt that the manner of riding which belongs to the common people is contrasted with royal splendor.
"And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them," — Matthew 21:6 (ASV)
And the disciples went It was just now remarked that the zeal and readiness of the disciples to obey are here mentioned with commendation; for Christ's influence was not so great that his name alone would be sufficient to produce an impression on unknown persons; and besides, there was reason to fear that they would be blamed for theft. It is therefore a proof of the deference they paid to their Master, in that they made no reply but proceeded readily toward that place to which he had ordered them to go, relying on his command and promise.
Let us also learn by their example to press forward through every kind of difficulty, to render to the Lord the obedience that he demands from us; for he will remove obstacles, open a path, and not permit our endeavors to be unavailing.
"And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way." — Matthew 21:8 (ASV)
And a very great multitude. Here the Evangelists relate that Christ was acknowledged as a king by the people. It might, indeed, appear to be a ludicrous exhibition,718 that a multitude of obscure persons, by cutting down trees, and strewing their garments, bestowed on Christ the empty title of King; but as they did this sincerely, and as they gave an honest testimony of their reverence, so Christ looked upon them as fit heralds of his kingdom. Nor should we wonder at such a beginning, when even in the present day, while sitting at the right hand of the Father, he commissions from the heavenly throne obscure men, by whom his majesty is celebrated in a despicable manner.
I do not think it probable that the branches of palm-trees were cut down, as some interpreters conjecture, in accordance with an ancient and solemn rite appointed for that day. On the contrary, it would seem to have been by a sudden movement of the Spirit that this honor was rendered to Christ, when nothing of this nature had been intended by the disciples, whom the rest of the multitude imitated by doing the same thing; for this also may be inferred from the words of Luke.
718 “Vray est qu’il pouvoit sembler que c’estoit un ieu de petits enfans;” — “true, it might be thought that it was a game of little children.”;” — “true, it might be thought that it was a game of little children.”
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