John Calvin Commentary Matthew 27:45

"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour." — Matthew 27:45 (ASV)

Now from the sixth hour. Although in the death of Christ the weakness of the flesh concealed for a short time the glory of the Godhead, and though the Son of God himself was disfigured by shame and contempt, and, as Paul says, was emptied, (Philippians 2:7) yet the heavenly Father did not cease to distinguish him by some marks. During his lowest humiliation, God prepared some indications of his future glory to fortify the minds of the godly against the offense of the cross. Thus the majesty of Christ was attested by the obscuration of the sun, by the earthquake, by the splitting of the rocks, and the rending of the veil, as if heaven and earth were rendering the homage they owed to their Creator.

But we inquire, in the first place, what was the design of the eclipse of the sun? For the fiction of the ancient poets in their tragedies, that the light of the sun is withdrawn from the earth whenever any shocking crime is perpetrated, was intended to express the alarming effects of the anger of God. This invention unquestionably had its origin in the ordinary feelings of mankind.

In accordance with this view, some commentators think that, at the death of Christ, God sent darkness as a mark of detestation, as if God, by bringing darkness over the sun, hid his face from beholding the blackest of all crimes. Others say that, when the visible sun was extinguished, it pointed out the death of the Sun of righteousness. Still others choose to refer it to the blinding of the nation, which followed shortly afterwards. For the Jews, by rejecting Christ, as soon as he was removed from among them, were deprived of the light of heavenly doctrine, and nothing was left to them but the darkness of despair.

I rather think that, as stupidity had shut the eyes of that people against the light, the darkness was intended to arouse them to consider the astonishing design of God in the death of Christ. For if they were not altogether hardened, an unusual change of the order of nature must have made a deep impression on their senses, leading them to anticipate an approaching renewal of the world. Yet it was a terrific spectacle exhibited to them, so that they might tremble at the judgment of God. Indeed, it was an astonishing display of the wrath of God that he did not spare even his only begotten Son, and was not appeased in any other way than by that price of expiation.

As for the scribes and priests, and a great part of the nation, who paid no attention to the eclipse of the sun but passed it by with closed eyes, their amazing madness ought to strike us with horror.²⁸³ For they must have been more stupid than brute beasts, since, when plainly warned by such a miracle of the severity of heaven’s judgment, they did not cease to indulge in mockery. But this is the spirit of stupidity and giddiness with which God intoxicates the reprobate, after having long contended with their malice.

Meanwhile, let us learn that when they were bewitched by the enchantments of Satan, the glory of God, however manifest, was afterwards hidden from them. Or, at least, their minds were darkened, so that, seeing they did not see, (Matthew 13:14). But as it was a general admonition, it ought also to be of advantage to us, by informing us that the sacrifice by which we are redeemed was as important as if the sun had fallen from heaven, or if the whole fabric of the world had fallen to pieces. For this will excite in us deeper horror at our sins.

As for the opinion entertained by some that this eclipse of the sun extended to every quarter of the world, I do not consider it probable. For though it was related by one or two authors, the history of those times attracted so much attention that it was impossible for such a remarkable miracle to be passed over in silence by many other authors, who minutely described events less worthy of being recorded.

Besides, if the eclipse had been universal throughout the world, it would have been regarded as natural and would more easily have escaped men’s notice.²⁸⁴ But when the sun was shining elsewhere, it was a more striking miracle that Judea was covered with darkness.

²⁸³ “Leur foreenerie noun, doit blen estonner, et nous faire dresser les cheveux en la teste;” — “their madness ought greatly to astonish us, and to make our hair stand on end.”;” — “their madness ought greatly to astonish us, and to make our hair stand on end.”

²⁸⁴ “Plus aisément on l’eust laissé passer sans enquerir la signification;” —”it would more easily have been allowed to pass without inquiring into its meaning.”;” —”it would more easily have been allowed to pass without inquiring into its meaning.”