A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

That by the grace of God he might taste of death for all men.] He recites the cause and fruit of Christs death, that we should not think it any way diminished his dignity. For when we hear that so great a benefit is obtained for us by his death, there is no place left for contempt, because the admiration of the divine goodness doth wholly ravish us. Where he saith, for all, he not only meaneth, that it should serve as an example to all, as Chrysostom brings in the similitude of the Physician, who first tasteth himself of the bitter potion, to the end the patient should make no difficulty at all to drink it up: but the Apostles meaning is that Christ died for us, because he setting himself in our place, hath delivered us from the curse of death. And therefore ⟨p. 39⟩he adds that it is done by the grace of God, because the cause of our redemption was the infinite love of God, which caused him not to spare his only begotten son, Rom. 8.32. Whereas Chrysostom expounds to feel death, in stead of to taste thereof (as you would say with the tip of the lips) because Christ obtained victory over death: I do neither reject nor disallow it: notwithstanding I will not affirm that the Apostle meant to speak so subtly.

That by the grace of God he might tast of death for all men.] Hee recites the cause and fruite of Christs death, that wee should not thinke it any way diminished his dignitie. For when we heare that so great a benefit is obtained for vs by his death, there is no place left for contempt, because the admiration of the diuine goodnesse doth wholy rauish vs. Where hee saith, for all, hee not onely meaneth, that it should serue as an example to all, as Chrysostome brings in the similitude of the Physition, who first tasteth himselfe of the bitter potion, to the end the patient should make no difficultie at all to drinke it vp: but the Apostles meaning is that Christ died for vs, because hee setting himselfe in our place, hath deliuered vs from the curse of death. And therefore ⟨p. 39⟩he addes that it is done by the grace of God, because the cause of our redemption was the infinite loue of God, which caused him not to spare his onely begotten sonne,