John Calvin Commentary Matthew 3:9

"and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." — Matthew 3:9 (ASV)

And think not to say within yourselves (Luke 3:8); And begin not to say within yourselves. As the meaning of both phrases is undoubtedly the same, it is easy to understand what John meant. Until hypocrites are under pressure, they either sleep in their sins or indulge in unrestrained revelry.²⁶⁸ But when they are summoned to the tribunal of God, they eagerly seek for some subterfuge or concealment, or some covering to place between God and them. John’s address to the Pharisees and Sadducees is essentially this: “Now that I have sharply rebuked you, do not, as people like you usually do, try to find a remedy in an empty and deceitful title.”

He thus tears from them the wicked confidence by which they had been captivated. The covenant, which God had made with Abraham, was employed by them as a shield to defend a bad conscience: not that they rested their salvation on the person of one man, but that God had adopted all the descendants of Abraham. Meanwhile, they did not consider that none are entitled to be regarded as belonging to the seed of Abraham (John 8:33), but those who follow his faith, and that without faith the covenant of God has no influence whatever in securing salvation. And even the little phrase, in yourselves, is not without meaning: for though they did not boast in words that they were Abraham’s children, yet they were inwardly delighted with this title, as hypocrites are not ashamed to practice more blatant deceptions on God than on men.

God is able. The Jews flattered themselves with nearly the same pretexts as are now insolently put forward by the Papists: “There must be some Church in the world, because it is the will of God that He be recognized, and His name called upon, in the world. But the Church can be nowhere else than among us, to whom God has entrusted His covenant.”²⁶⁹

This arrogance was primarily displayed by the high priests and by others who had any share of government or authority. The common people were treated by them as profane and accursed, (John 7:49), and they looked upon themselves as the holy first-fruits. This is just as, in our own day, mitered Bishops, Abbots, Canons, Monks, Sorbonnists, and all kinds of priests, glorying in the arrogant title of Clergy, regard the laity with contempt. John exposes and refutes this error of relying too much on the promise of God, saying that even if God passes by them, He will not lack a Church.

The meaning of the words, therefore, is: “God has made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his seed. In one point you are mistaken. While you are worse than bastards,²⁷⁰ you imagine that you are the only children of Abraham. But God will raise up elsewhere a new seed of Abraham, which does not now appear.” He says in the dative case, children TO ABRAHAM, (τῶ ᾿Αβραὰμ), to inform us that the promise of God will not fail, and that Abraham, who relied on it, was not deceived, though his seed is not found in you.

Thus, from the beginning of the world, the Lord has been faithful to His servants. He has never failed to fulfill the promise He made to them that He would extend mercy to their children, even while He rejected hypocrites. Some imagine that John spoke of the calling of the Gentiles. This seems to me to be without foundation. But as proud men did not believe it to be possible that the Church should be removed to another place, He reminds them that God has in His power ways of preserving His Church, which they did not think of, any more than they believed that He could create children out of stones.

²⁶⁸ “Ils s'endorment toujours en leurs vices, ou s'egayent comme chevaux eschappez.” — “They sleep always in their sins, or indulge in merriment, like horses let loose.”.” — “They sleep always in their sins, or indulge in merriment, like horses let loose.”

²⁶⁹ “D'autant que le Seigneur nous a ordonnez gardiens de son alliance.” — “Because the Lord has appointed us guardians of his covenant.”.” — “Because the Lord has appointed us guardians of his covenant.”

²⁷⁰ “Quum sitis plus quam degeneres.” — “.” — “Combien qu' a la verite vous soyez pires que bastards.”.”