Matthew 13:2._And great multitudes were gathered together to him. _It is not without good reason that the Evangelists begin with informing us that, a vast multitude had assembled, and that when Christ beheld them, he was led to compare his doctrine to _seed _That _multitude _had been collected from... [ Continue Reading ]
9._He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. _These words were intended partly to show that all were not endued with true understanding to comprehend what he said, and partly to arouse his disciples to consider attentively that doctrine which is not readily and easily understood by all. Indeed, he ma... [ Continue Reading ]
10._The disciples approaching said to him. _From the words of Matthew it is evident, that the disciples did not merely look to themselves, but wished also to consult the benefit of others. Being unable to comprehend the parable, they concluded that it would be as little understood by the people; and... [ Continue Reading ]
11._To you it is given to know the mysteries _(178) _of the kingdom of heaven _From this reply of Christ we learn, that the doctrine of salvation is proclaimed by God to men for various purposes; for Christ declares that he intentionally spoke obscurely, in order that his discourse might be a riddle... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For whosoever hath, it shall be given to him. _Christ pursues the subject which I have just mentioned; for he reminds his disciples how kindly God acts towards them, that they may more highly prize his grace, and may acknowledge themselves to be under deeper obligations to his kindness. The same... [ Continue Reading ]
13._For this reason I speak by parables. _He says that he speaks to the multitude in an obscure manner, because they are not partakers of the true light. And yet, while he declares that a veil is spread over the blind, that they may remain in their darkness, he does not ascribe the blame of this to... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. _He confirms his statement by a prediction of _Isaiah, _that it is far from being a new thing, if many persons derive no advantage from the word of God, which was formerly appointed to the ancient people, for the purpose of inducing greater blindn... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:15._Lest I should heal them _In the word _healing, _Matthew, as well as the Prophet, includes deliverance from every evil; for a people afflicted by the hand of God is metaphorically compared by them to a sick man. They say that _healing _is bestowed, (188) when the Lord releases from pun... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:16._But blessed are your eyes. _Luke appears to represent this statement as having been spoken at another time; but this is easily explained, for in that passage he throws together a variety of our Lord’s sayings, without attending to the order of dates. We shall, therefore, follow the te... [ Continue Reading ]
According to Matthew and Luke, Christ explains the parable to his disciples simply, and unaccompanied by a reproof; but according to Mark, he indirectly blames them for being slow of apprehension, because those who were to be the teachers of all did not run before others. (194) The general truth con... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:19._When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not. _He mentions, in the first place, the barren and uncultivated, who do not receive the seed within, because there is no preparation in their hearts. Such persons he compares to a stiff and dry soil, like what we fi... [ Continue Reading ]
20._But he that received the seed thrown into stony places. _This class differs from the former; for temporary faith, being a sort of vegetation of the seed, (201) promises at first some fruit; but their hearts are not so properly and thoroughly subdued, as to have the softness necessary for their c... [ Continue Reading ]
21._When affliction or persecution ariseth on account of the word. _By way of example, Christ says that such persons are made uneasy by the offense of the cross. And certainly, as the heat of the sun discovers the barrenness of the soil, so _persecution _and the cross lay open the vanity of those, w... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And he who received the seed among thorns. _He places in the third class, those who would have been disposed to receive the seed within, if they had not permitted _other things _to corrupt and render it degenerate. Christ compares to _thorns _the pleasures of this life, or wicked desires, and co... [ Continue Reading ]
23._But he that received the seed into a good soil. None are compared by Christ to a good and fertile soil, _but those in whom the word of God not only strikes its roots deep and solid, but overcomes every obstacle that would prevent it from yielding fruit. Is it objected that it is impossible to fi... [ Continue Reading ]
In order to reap the advantage of this parable, it is necessary to ascertain the object which Christ had in view. Some think that, to guard a mixed multitude against satisfying themselves with an outward profession of the Gospel, (209) he told them, that in his own field bad seed is often mixed with... [ Continue Reading ]
By these parables Christ encourages his disciples not to be offended and turn back on account of the mean beginnings of the Gospel. We see how haughtily profane men despise the Gospel, and even turn it into ridicule, because the ministers by whom it is preached are men of slender reputation and of l... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:34._All these things Jesus spoke in parables. _Though Mark expressly says, that Christ _spoke the word to them as they were able to bear it, _yet I think it probable that he continued to employ _parables, _not so much for the purpose of instruction, as to keep the attention of his hearers... [ Continue Reading ]
35._That it might be fulfilled _Matthew does not mean, that the psalm, which he quotes, is a prediction which relates peculiarly to Christ, but that, as the majesty of the Spirit was displayed in the discourse of the Prophet, in the same manner was his power manifested in the discourse of Christ. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
37._He that soweth the good seed _He had formerly said that _the kingdom of heaven resembles a man sowing. _The mode of expression is unusual, but plainly means, that the same thing happens with the preaching of the Gospel as usually takes place in the sowing of fields; _the tares grow, up along wit... [ Continue Reading ]
39._The harvest is the end of the world. _This is, no doubt, a very distressing consideration, that the Church is burdened with the reprobate to the very _end of the world; _but Christ enjoins on us to exercise patience till that time, that we may not deceive ourselves with a vain hope. Pastors ough... [ Continue Reading ]
41._They shall gather out of his kingdom all stumbling-blocks _The words that follow, _and those who commit iniquity, _are added for the sake of exposition; for it is not intended to point out two different things, but to state, that then will be the full and seasonable time, when all things shall b... [ Continue Reading ]
42._And shall cast them into a furnace of fire. _This is a metaphorical expression; for, as the infinite glory which is laid up for the sons of God so far exceeds all our senses, that we cannot find words to express it, so the punishment which awaits the reprobate is incomprehensible, and is therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
43._Then will the righteous shine. _What a remarkable consolation! The sons of God, who now lie covered with dust, or are held in no estimation, or even are loaded with reproaches, _will then shine _in full brightness, as when the sky is serene, and every cloud has been dispelled. The adverb _then _... [ Continue Reading ]
The first two of these parables are intended to instruct believers to prefer _the Kingdom of heaven _to the whole world, and therefore to deny themselves and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent them from obtaining so valuable a possession. We are greatly in need of such a warning;... [ Continue Reading ]
46._And bought it. _By the word _buy _Christ does not mean, that men bring any price, with which they may purchase for themselves the heavenly life; for we know on what condition the Lord invites believers in the book of Isaiah, (Isaiah 55:1,) _Come and buy wine and milk without money and without pr... [ Continue Reading ]
47._Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. _No new instruction is here given by Christ; but what he formerly taught is confirmed by another parable, that the Church of God, so long as it exists in the world, is a mixture of the good with the bad, and is never free from stains and pollutions. An... [ Continue Reading ]
51._Have you understood all these things? _We must keep in recollection what we have formerly seen, that all the parables of Christ were explained in private. And now the Lord, after having taught them in this kind and familiar manner, warns them at the same time, that his object, in taking so much... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 13:53._When Jesus had concluded. Matthew _does not mean, that immediately after delivering these discourses, he came into his own country; for it is evident from _Mark, _that some interval of time elapsed. But the meaning is, that after having taught for some time in Judea, he returned again... [ Continue Reading ]
54._So that they were amazed. _They are struck with _amazement _at the novelty of the occurrence, that Christ, who had not learned letters, but had been employed from youth to manhood in a mechanical occupation, is so eminent a teacher, and is filled with divine wisdom. In this miracle they ought to... [ Continue Reading ]
55._Is not this the carpenter’s son? _It was, we are aware, by the wonderful purpose of God, that Christ remained in private life till he was thirty years of age. Most improperly and unjustly, therefore, were the inhabitants of Nazareth offended on this account; for they ought rather to have receive... [ Continue Reading ]
57._A prophet is not devoid of honor. _I have explained this statement at considerable length, where it occurs in the Gospel of John, (348) (John 4:44.) It may, no doubt, be a general proverb, that those who are distinguished by eminent gifts are nowhere held in less estimation than _in their own co... [ Continue Reading ]
58._And he did not perform many miracles in that place. Mark _states it more emphatically, that _he could not perform any miracle. _But they are perfectly agreed as to the substance of what is said, that it was the impiety of Christ’s countrymen that closed the door against the performance of a grea... [ Continue Reading ]