_THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND THE SEED: THE EXPOSITION OF IT. THE
PARABLE OF THE TARES, OF THE MUSTARD-SEED, OF THE LEAVEN, OF THE
HIDDEN TREASURE, OF THE PEARL, OF THE DRAW-NET CAST INTO THE SEA: AND
HOW CHRIST IS CONTEMNED OF HIS OWN COUNTRY-MEN._
_Anno Domini 30._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME DAY— This is the plain and literal meaning of the original,
and it may be understood of the day when the mother and relations of
our Saviour came to him. It must however be observed, that this
expression is not always to be taken literally, but may only signify
_at that time,_ or _on a cert... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SPAKE MANY THINGS UNTO THEM IN PARABLES— The word
παραβολη, which we translate _parable,_ signifies a
_comparison_ or _simile;_ a transferring of the ideas or properties
which are in one subject generally familiar and well known, to another
less known and understood, in order to heighten and enli... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE SOWED, &C. _THE FOWLS_— _And as he sowed,_ &c. _the
birds._ It is observable, that our Lord points out the great
hindrances of our bearing fruit, in the same order as they occur. The
first danger is, that the _birds will devour_ the seed; if it escape
this, there is yet another danger, n... [ Continue Reading ]
STONY PLACES— _Rocky ground._ The phrase, _stony places,_ does not
express the sense. There may be many loose stones, from which the
place would properly be denominated _stony,_ where the soil is both
rich and deep. What is meant here is evidently continued rock, with a
very thin cover of earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE SUN WAS UP— _This was the reason that, upon the sun's
appearing, they were scorched,_ &c. Prussian editors.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OTHER FELL INTO GOOD GROUND— _But another part, falling on good
ground, bare fruit; one grain_ yielding _an hundred, another sixty,
another thirty._ Prussian editors. See Genesis 26:12. The fruitfulness
of the seed which was sown on good ground, is not to be understood,
says Macknight, of the _f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DISCIPLES CAME, &C.— See the note on Mark 4:10. The answer
which our Lord here returns to his disciples is remarkable: "You, my
disciples, says he, who are of a humble, docile, temper, and are
content to use means, and to resort to me for the understanding of
such things as I deliver, to _yo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THEM IS FULFILLED, &C.— See the note on Isaiah 6:9. The
prophet's meaning is, that the Jews should certainly hear the
doctrines of the gospel, without understanding them, and see the
miracles which confirmed those doctrines, without perceiving the
finger of God in them; not because the eviden... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT, &C.— This is what sets the disciples
above all prophets, and renders them greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. See ch. Matthew 11:11 and comp. Psalms 119:174. Luke, ii 25,
29, 30 Matthew 10:23.John 8:56. 1 Peter 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN ANY ONE HEARETH, &C.— From this interpretation of the parable
by our Saviour, we learn, that the _seed_ signifies the doctrines of
true religion; and the various kinds of ground, the various kinds of
hearers: the comparison between God and the sower is frequent among
the Jewish writers, and _se... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT RECEIVED—INTO STONY PLACES— The _stony,_ or rocky
ground, represents those hearers, who so far receive the word into
their hearts, that it springs up in good resolutions, which perhaps
are accompanied with a partial reformation of some sins, and a
temporary practice of some virtues. Neve... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ALSO THAT RECEIVED SEED AMONG THE THORNS— The ground full of
thorns which sprang up with the seed and choked it, represents all
those who receive the word into hearts full of worldly cares; which
sooner or later destroy whatever convictions or good resolutions are
raised by the word. Worldly care... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT RECEIVED SEED INTO THE GOOD GROUND— St. Luke has
expressed this rather more fully, Luke 8:15. _But that on the good
ground are they, who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the
word, keep it,_—in opposition to the _way-side,_ which never
received the seed at all, but bearing it on... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKENED, &C.— _The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to,_ &c. or literally, _is like to:_ It is a phrase often
used by our Lord, to signify that the following parable, in its
principal circumstances, bears a resemblance to what comes to pass in
the kingdom of heaven; that is... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE SERVANTS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER— The original word
'Οικοδεσποτης, seems to signify in this connection, "the
proprietor of the estate:" he is supposed to be the master of the
field, and of some lodge or farm-house, in which these servants dwelt.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SAID, NAY, &C.— These words account for the justice of God in
suspending his judgments. To see the full force of the reason in this
respect, it is necessary we should understand what sort of sinners are
spoken of, for this reason is not always applicable to all cases; many
sinners are spared... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHER—THE TARES, AND BIND THEM IN BUNDLES— The word _tares_ does
not seem to express the meaning of the original ζιζανια : for
_tares,_ with us, are not noxious weeds, but a serviceable kind of
pulse, of great use for cattle, and very easily distinguished in their
growth from wheat; whereas the ori... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER PARABLE PUT HE FORTH— The former parables relate chiefly to
unfruitful hearers; these that follow, to those who bear good fruit.
In the present parable our Lord shews, that notwithstanding the gospel
appeared at first contemptible, by reason of the ignominy arising from
the crucifixion of it... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO LEAVEN— The meaning of this
parable is commonly thought to be the same as that of the preceding;
but there seems to be this difference between them; the parable of the
_grain of mustard seed_ represents the smallness of the Gospel in its
beginnings, together with i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WITHOUT A PARABLE SPAKE HE NOT, &C.— That is, "not at that
time," or "to the people who then heard him." See the note on Matthew
13:1. Beausobre and Lenfant observe, that the quotation from the
Psalms is not a prophecy of the manner in which Christ was to teach,
but only an application, made by... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM— This is a Hebraism, signifying the
_heirs of the kingdom,_ ch. Matthew 8:12 where the unbelieving Jews
are named the _children of the kingdom,_ in opposition to the
Gentiles, because they were born within the Mosaic covenant. Here the
_children of the kingdom_ are the tr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE END OF THE WORLD— _Of the age,_ literally, a Hebraism,
frequently used in the New Testament. Comp. the next verse, and
Hebrews 1:2. What follows is an allusion to Joel 3:13. See also
Revelation 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN SHALL SEND FORTH, &C.— The reader must observe how
high an idea our Saviour here gives his disciples of himself, when he
speaks of the angels as his attendants who were at the last day to
wait on him, and at his order to assemble the whole world before him:
_they shall gather out of h... [ Continue Reading ]
A FURNACE— _The furnace._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS SHINE FORTH, &C.— In this beautiful
expression, our blessed Saviour seems to allude to Daniel 12:3. _They
that be wise shall shine,_ &c. They shall shine like the sun in the
firmament for brightness and beauty, and shall find no diminution of
their splendour by age. A noble... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO TREASURE— These three
following parables are proposed not so much to the multitude, as to
the apostles particularly. The parable of the _treasure_ which a man
_found hidden_ in a field, was designed to teach us, that some meet
with the Gospel as it were by a... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO A NET— This parable
intimates, that by the preaching of the Gospel a visible church should
be gathered on earth, consistingboth of good and bad men, mingled in
such a manner, that it would be difficult to make a proper distinction
between them; but that at t... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE YE UNDERSTOOD, &C.— When Jesus had finished his parables, he
asked his disciples if they understood them; and upon their answering
in the affirmative, he told them, that every teacher of the Jewish
religion, who was converted to Christianity, and made a preacher of
the Gospel, might, by reason... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY— _Nazareth_ is so called, because it was the
town in which Jesus was brought up, and to distinguish it from
Capernaum, where he commonly resided. _This wisdom_ signifies _this
learning._ They were amazed to find in our Lord such extraordinary
learning, without having ever been t... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER'S SON?— In St. Mark, Mark 6:3 it is, _Is
not this the carpenter?_ 'Ο τεκτων; Accordingly Justin Martyr
tells us, and the ancient Christians were all of the same opinion,
that Jesus was employed in this occupation. Their canons required that
all parents should teach their ch... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENCE THEN, &C.— This, like many other things which have since been
objected against the Gospel of Christ, is as much the language of
stupidity as of infidelity; for the meanness of Christ's education was
a demonstration, that his teaching in so excellent a manner must have
been the effect of some... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE OFFENDED IN HIM— The Nazarenes, not being able to
reconcile the miracles, and wisdom of our Lord with the meanness of
his birth, were full of doubts and uncertainties; they could not tell
what to say or think of him, suspecting perhaps that he was a
sorcerer. The word _unbelief,_ used... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DID NOT, &C.— We are not to understand these words as if the
power of Christ was here disarmed: but only that they brought but _few
sick people_ to him for a cure, Mark 6:5. He did not judge it
convenient to obtrude his miracles upon them, and so could not
honourably and properly perform them... [ Continue Reading ]