Mark 4:1
Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:1; Luke 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
He taught them many things by parables — After the usual manner of the eastern nations, to make his instructions more agreeable to them, and to impress them the more upon attentive hearers. A parable signifies not only a simile or comparison, and sometimes a proverb, but any kind of instructive spee... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken — This word he probably spoke with a loud voice, to stop the noise and hurry of the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
When he was alone — That is, retired apart from the multitude.... [ Continue Reading ]
To them that are without — So the Jews termed the heathens: so our Lord terms all obstinate unbelievers: for they shall not enter into his kingdom: they shall abide in outer darkness.... [ Continue Reading ]
So that seeing they see and do not perceive — They would not see before now they could not, God having given them up to the blindness which they had chosen.... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye not this parable? — Which is as it were the foundation of all those that I shall speak hereafter; and is so easy to be understood?... [ Continue Reading ]
The desire of other things choke the word — A deep and important truth! The desire of any thing, otherwise than as it leads to happiness in God, directly tends to barrenness of soul. Entering in — Where they were not before. Let him therefore who has received and retained the word, see that no other... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Is a candle — As if he had said, I explain these things to you, I give you this light, not to conceal, but to impart it to others. And if I conceal any thing from you now, it is only that it may be more effectually manifested hereafter. Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 10:26; Luke 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed what ye hear — That is, attend to what you hear, that it may have its due influence upon you. With what measure you mete — That is, according to the improvement you make of what you have heard, still farther assistance shall be given. And to you that hear — That is, with improvement.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath — That improves whatever he has received, to the good of others, as well as of his own soul. Matthew 13:12; Luke 8:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
So is the kingdom of God — The inward kingdom is like seed which a man casts into the ground — This a preacher of the Gospel casts into the heart. And he sleeps and rises night and day — That is, he has it continually in his thoughts. Meantime it springs and grows up he knows not how — Even he that... [ Continue Reading ]
He spake the word as they were able to hear it — Adapting it to the capacity of his hearers; and speaking as plain as he could without offending them. A rule never to be forgotten by those who instruct others.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 8:23; Luke 8:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
They take him as he was in the vessel — They carried him immediately in the same vessel from which he had been preaching to the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
On the pillow — So we translate it, for want of a proper English expression, for that particular part of the vessel near the rudder, on which he lay.... [ Continue Reading ]
Peace — Cease thy tossing: Be still — Cease thy roaring; literally, Be thou gagged.... [ Continue Reading ]