Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

G12
Luke X. 19-22.
{'AdiKELv stands as — (iXafTTeiv^ as at Rev. vii. 2, 3. Compare Mark
xvi. 18.)
Yei-^ 20.—To these words, which acknowledge as well-founded
the triumphant declarations of the disciples (ver. 17), there is now
subjoined a warning. In their connexion, therefore the words,
" rejoice not/' etc. {iii) xaipsre— x^'-P^'^ ^^')j ^^e not to be understood
as an absolute prohibition of joy over the poAver of the Spirit in
them, but only as forbidding them to make even this matter of
supreme and exclusive rejoicing. For, in case the believer makes
the workings of God's Spirit through himself his solo, or even lead-
ing object of attention and joy, he is in danger of withdrawing his
view from the source of this higher life, and no sooner does he cease
to draw from that fountain, than life dries up, and self-indulgence,
vanity, pride, spring up in his soul. Hence, the Saviour here brings
forward as the true and abiding object of a Christian's regard and
joy, the fact that theh names are Aviitten in heaven {on rd dvoiMara
v[xCjv iypdcpTj iv rdlg ovpavdlg). At the foundation of this language
lies the figure of the book of life, in which the names of believers are
inscribed, a figure already often used in the Old Testament (Exod.
xxxii. 32 ; Ps. Ixix. 28 ; cxxxix. 16). The inscribing is conceived
of as the act of God (typcf^?? vrrb tov Qeov), so that the election of
grace by which the saints are chosen, and which they have them-
selves certainly to make sure (2 Pet. i. 10), is thereby denoted.
Hence, in contrast with human agency authoritatively gifted with
higher powers, there is placed a Divine agency acting upon man ; the
former is a very doubtful object of joy, for by means of it self-pleas-
ing and vanity easily insinuate themselves, inasmuch as the will is
seldom delivered from self. Divine grace on the other hand, and its
manifestation, the calling of man, is clearly the object of holiest
joy, for God's will is as pure as it is unchangeable, and in
his election of grace therefore, of which he can never repent (Rom.
xi. 29), lies the ground of all salvation and all blessedness to man-
Idnd. Even therefore, if he cannot perform any great spiritual
deeds (2 Cor. xii. 9), this remains as the joy of the believer, which,
as being personally his own, he caii never be deprived of, that he
lets his soul satisfy itself in the grace of God.
Ver. 21, 22.—With singular appropriateness there is here added
this expression of holy joy on the part of our Lord, which stands in
strong contrast with the joy of sense (ver, 17) as felt by the disciples.
The latter exulted over the external sjDlendour of the work ; the
Saviour drew his delight from its hidden glory, from this, namely,
that God's true wisdom was revealed by the Father, not to the
prudent and wise ones of the world, but to the vri-mot, babes ; in
the new creation, blossoming unnoticed in the hidden circle of his
friends, he had his quiet and humble joy. Rightly, then, did the