And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. Ver. 1. _And he began again, &c._] _sc._ The self-same day wherein he had that busy bout with the b... [ Continue Reading ]
And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Ver. 2. _He taught them many things by parables_] Ministers must likewise fetch comparisons from things most familiar and best known to their hearers, as the prophets from fishes when they have to deal with the Egyptian... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: Ver. 3. _Hearken, behold_] Christ well knew the fickleness of men's spirits, and how every small matter calls them off, when most earnestly set to hear. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. Ver. 4. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: Ver. 5. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:5 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Ver. 6. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:5 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. Ver. 7. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:5 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. Ver. 8. _Fruit that sprang up and increased_] This is spoken in opposition to the thorny ground, where the thorns grow up together with the grain, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Ver. 9. _He that hath ears, &c._] A form of speech to stir up attention; like the Athenian, Ακουσατε, ανδρες; and our Oyez, from the French. Our Saviour cried and said so, saith St Luke.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. Ver. 10. _And when he was alone_] Or solitary. A well chosen season is a very great advantage.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all _these_ things are done in parables: Ver. 11. _Unto them that are without_] That are those who are in the Church, but not of the Church. She hath her hangers on, that are as we... [ Continue Reading ]
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and _their_ sins should be forgiven them. Ver. 12. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:14 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:15 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:16 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? Ver. 13. _Know ye not this parable?_] What a shame is that! Gross ignorance, under excellent means of knowledge, is a blushful sin. _ And how then will ye know all parables?_] Anaxagoras the philosopher found... [ Continue Reading ]
The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, i... [ Continue Reading ]
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. Ver. 17. _Immediately they are offended_] They stumble at the cross, and fall backwards. These are prosperity proselytes, holy day serv... [ Continue Reading ]
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word,... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. Ver. 22. _There is nothing hid, &c._] _i.e._ The prophets have delivered nothing darkly of me, which you must not make more manifest, and for that end you are enlightened, Rom... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Ver. 23. _See Trapp on "_ Mar 4:9 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. Ver. 24. _Take heed what you hear_] As the husbandman is very curious in the choice of his seed. _ With what measure you mete_] _i.e._ As you mete to G... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. Ver. 25. _For he that hath, to him shall be given_] Grace grows by exercise, and impairs by idleness; as that side of the teeth which is least used in chewing, is apt to have more rheum _... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; Ver. 26. _So is the kingdom of God_] God sows and reaps in the Church, though none observes it, and hath his fruit in due season.... [ Continue Reading ]
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. Ver. 27. _And should sleep_] Ministers must rest secure with the success of their endeavours, having diligently done their duties. The word may work many a year after; as they say of the elephant,... [ Continue Reading ]
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Ver. 28. _First the blade, then the ear_] And the husbandman looks upon it with delight, in the hope of a harvest; so doth God take in good part our weak beginnings, while we strive to... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Ver. 29. _Because the harvest is come_] After long looking for, James 5:7. _See Trapp on "_ Jam 5:7 _"_ "When will it once be?" saith God,Jeremiah 13:27 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? Ver. 30. _Whereunto shall we liken, &c._] The wisdom of God, the great Counsellor, seems to be at fault for a fit expression low enough for our slow apprehension.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is_ like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: Ver. 31. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:31 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:32 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. Ver. 32. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:31 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:32 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear _it_. Ver. 33. _As they were able to hear_] Not as he was able to have spoken: a minister must masticate his matter as nurses do their children's meat, and speak to his hearers' shallow capacities: or else he shall b... [ Continue Reading ]
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Ver. 34. _He expounded_] He read them the riddles, as it were, or untied the knots, επελυε. So, Judges 7:15, we read of a dream, and the interpretation, or breaking of it. A metaphor fr... [ Continue Reading ]
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. Ver. 35. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 13:53 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. Ver. 36. _They took him_] viz. Out of that part of the ship where he had taught, into another part more convenient, where he might rest. For he had preached all that... [ Continue Reading ]
And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. Ver. 37. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:24 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:25 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Ver. 38. _Asleep on a pillow_] Neither did the noise of the sea, nor the hurry of the seamen labouring for life, awake Christ, till his own time was come. Des... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Ver. 39. _Peace, be still_] That is, have done quickly: so much the ingemination imports, Genesis 41:32 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? Ver. 40. _Why are ye so fearful?_] _Increpatio cum admiratione:_ as their "Master, carest thou not," &c., was _interrogatio conquerentis et reprehendentis._ But if Caesar in a tempest could bid the bargeman be of good ch... [ Continue Reading ]
And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Ver. 41. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 8:27 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]