Matthew 19:3._And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him. _Though the Pharisees lay snares for Christ, and cunningly endeavor to impose upon him, yet their malice proves to be highly useful to us; as the Lord knows how to turn, in a wonderful manner, to the advantage of his people all the contrivan... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Have you not read? _Christ does not indeed reply directly to what was asked, but he fully meets the question which was proposed; just as if a person now interrogated about the Mass were to explain faithfully the mystery of the Holy Supper, and at length to conclude, that they are guilty of sacril... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother. _It is uncertain whether Moses represents Adam or God as speaking these words; but it is of little consequence to the present passage which of these meanings you choose, for it was enough to quote the decision which God had pronounced, though it... [ Continue Reading ]
6._What God therefore hath joined. _By this sentence Christ restrains the caprice of husbands, that they may not, by divorcing their wives, burst asunder the sacred knot. And as he declares that it is not in the power of the husband to dissolve the marriage, so likewise he forbids all others to conf... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Why then did Moses order? _They had thought of this calumny, (597) if, which was more probable, Christ should demand a proper cause to be shown in cases of divorce; for it appears that whatever God permits by his law, whose will alone establishes the distinction between what is good or evil, is l... [ Continue Reading ]
9._But I say to you. Mark _relates that this was spoken to the disciples apart, when they had come _into the house; _but _Matthew_, leaving out this circumstance, gives it as a part of the discourse, as the Evangelists frequently leave out some intermediate occurrence, because they reckon it enough... [ Continue Reading ]
10._His disciples say to him. _As if it were a hard condition for husbands to be so bound to their wives, that, so long as they remain chaste, they are compelled to endure every thing rather than leave them, the disciples, roused by this answer of Christ, reply, that it is better to want wives than... [ Continue Reading ]
11._All are not capable of receiving this saying. _By this he means, that the choice is not placed in our hands, as if we were to deliberate on a matter submitted to us. If any man thinks it advantageous for him to want a wife, and, without making any inquiry, lays upon himself an obligation to celi... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For there are eunuchs _Christ distinguishes three kinds of _eunuchs _Those who are so by nature, or who have been castrated by men, are debarred from marriage by this defect, for they are not men. He says that there are other _eunuchs_, who have castrated themselves, that they may be more at lib... [ Continue Reading ]
This narrative is highly useful; for it shows that Christ receives not only those who, moved by holy desire and faith, freely approach to him, but those who are not yet of age to know how much they need his grace. Those _little children _have not yet any understanding to desire his blessing; but whe... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Suffer children. _He declares that he wishes to receive _children_; and at length, _taking them in his arms, _he not only embraces, but _blesses _them by the _laying on of hand; _from which we infer that his grace is extended even to those who are of that age. And no wonder; for since the whole... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 19:16._And, lo, one. _Luke says that he was a _ruler_, ( ἄρχων,) that is, a man of very high authority, not one of the common people. (616) And though riches procure respect, (617) yet he appears to be here represented to have been held in high estimation as a good man. For my own part, afte... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Why callest thou me good? _I do not understand this correction in so refined a sense as is given by a good part of interpreters, as if Christ intended to suggest his Divinity; for they imagine that these words mean, “If thou perceivest in me nothing more exalted than human nature, thou falsely a... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Thou shalt not murder _It is surprising that, though Christ intended to show that we are bound to obey the whole law, he should mention the second table only; but he did so, because from the duties of charity the disposition of every man is better ascertained. Piety towards God holds, no doubt,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 19:22._He went away sorrowful. _The result at length showed how widely distant the _young man _was from that perfection to which Christ had called him; for how comes it that he withdraws from the school of Christ, but because he finds it uneasy to be stripped of his riches? But if we are not... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 19:23._A rich man will with difficulty enter. _Christ warns them, not only how dangerous and how deadly a plague avarice is, but also how great an obstacle is presented by riches. In Mark, indeed, he mitigates the harshness of his expression, by restricting it to those only _who place confid... [ Continue Reading ]
25._And his disciples, when they heard these things, were greatly amazed. The disciples are astonished, _because it ought to awaken in us no little anxiety, that _riches _obstruct the _entrance into the kingdom of God; _for, wherever we turn our eyes, a thousand obstacles will present themselves. Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
26._With men this is impossible. _Christ does not entirely free the minds of his disciples from all anxiety; for it is proper that they should perceive how difficult it is to ascend to heaven; first, that they may direct all their efforts to this object; and next, that, distrusting themselves, they... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 19:27._Then Peter answering said to him. _Peter tacitly compares himself and the other disciples to the _rich _man, whom the world had turned aside from Christ. As they had led a poor and wandering (639) life, which was not unaccompanied by disgrace and by annoyances, and as no better condit... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Verily I say to you. _That the disciples may not think that they have lost their pains, and repent of having begun the course, Christ warns them that the glory of his kingdom, which at that time was still hidden, was about to be revealed. As if he had said, “There is no reason why that mean cond... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 19:29._And whosoever shall forsake. _After having raised the expectation of his followers to the hope of a future life, he supports them by immediate consolations, (641) and strengthens them for bearing the cross. For though God permit his people to be severely afflicted, he never abandons t... [ Continue Reading ]
30._And many that are first shall be last. _This sentence was added in order to shake off the indolence of the flesh. The apostles, though they had scarcely begun the course, were hastening to demand the prize. And such is the disposition of almost all of us, that, when a month has elapsed, we ask,... [ Continue Reading ]