Matthew 13:17

Ver. 16,17. Luke repeateth this passage, Luke 10:23, but not as annexed to this parable. Blessed are your eyes; the eyes of your bodies and of your minds. With the eyes of your bodies you have seen the promised Messias, come in the flesh; and you have seen the works which I have done, confirming me to be the Messiah: and with the eyes of your minds you have understood and believed. For many prophets and righteous men (Luke adds, kings) have desired to see those things which ye see, &c. From the very first giving out of the promise of Christ to Adam, upon the fall, Genesis 3:15, there was in believers an expectation of the Messiah, who being so great a good, so infinite a blessing to mankind, they could not but have a desire (if God had so pleased) to have seen him. But we are told that Abraham saw Christ's day and rejoiced. And Simeon's and Anna's expectation of him, mentioned Luke 2:34, lets us know that other pious souls had such desires. Our Saviour blesseth his disciples, that they had seen with the eyes of their bodies, what others had only seen afar off by the eyes of their minds, Hebrews 11:13.