A DAY OF PARABLES 1-3a. Teaching by parables begun (Mark 4:1; Luke 8:4). This chapter introduces a new type of teaching, that by parables. St. Matthew gives us a group of seven, the first four of which (the Sower, the Tares, the Mustard Seed, the Leaven) were addressed to the multitudes, and the las... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE] i.e. Simon and Andrew's at Capernaum (Mark 1:29, etc.).... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLES] In the NT. the word _parabole_ is almost confined to the Synoptic Gospels, the only exceptions being Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 11:19; (RV), where it is used of the OT. types of NT. realities. In the Gospels it occasionally means a maxim or proverb (Matthew 15:15; Luke 4:23; (RV) Luke 5:36; Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH EARS] cp. Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:43; Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35; Revelation 2:7 : see on Matthew 13:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REASON FOR SPEAKING IN PARABLES (Mark 4:10; Luke 8:9). Because Christ's prejudiced hearers (see prefatory remarks) will not receive plain teaching, such as the Sermon on the Mount, they shall be punished by having the truth withdrawn from them, according to our Lord's own precept (Matthew 7:6),... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO YOU] i.e. not only to the Apostles, but to all spiritually receptive persons—to 'those who are within,' as opposed to 'those who are without' (Mk). Cp. the rabbinical saying, 'God entrusts not His mysteries save to the just.' THE MYSTERIES] The deeper things of Christ's kingdom can only be unde... [ Continue Reading ]
'You who are spiritually minded, who already “have” religious truth, shall learn more and more by My parables, until you become spiritually rich. But those who “have not,” and do not desire to have spiritual knowledge, so far from learning more from My parables, will have even the poor confused noti... [ Continue Reading ]
ESAIAS] RV 'Isaiah.' The quotation is from LXX version of Isaiah 6:9. The prominence of this passage in the NT. is remarkable: see John 12:40; Acts 28:26; Romans 11:7; Romans 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:14. The Christians found in it a reason for the surprising fact that God's own people refused to accep... [ Continue Reading ]
_Those things_] i.e. the mysteries of the kingdom of God, not merely Christ's earthly life and miracles in their outward aspect.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER INTERPRETED (Mark 4:13; Luke 8:11). The sower is, of course, Christ, and Christian teachers generally, but is not a prominent figure in the parable. The seed aptly stands for Christian truth, 'the word of the kingdom,' or 'word of God,' because when implanted in the heart an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN] in this parable, as often, is identified with the Church on earth, regarded as a visible society embracing good and evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLE OF THE TARES (peculiar to St. Matthew). One of the greatest, most characteristic, and most fruitful of the parables. In it Christ looked from the present into the distant future. He foresaw that scandals and offences would soon arise, which would cause great searchings of heart; the denial o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE MEN SLEPT] This detail may indicate the subtlety of the evil one in introducing evil into the Church in ways that cannot be traced. HIS ENEMY] By no more striking expression could the greatness of the power of Satan be indicated than by this, that he is described as the antagonist of Christ Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANTS] i.e. the apostles and those in authority or having influence in the Church. 31, 32. PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED (Mark 4:30; Luke 13:18). This parable, and that which immediately follows, the leaven, are more hopeful and cheerful in tone than those that went before, in which most of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ takes the GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, by which is to be understood Christianity both as a doctrine and as an organised society, and plants it in His field, which is the world. MUSTARD SEED] The vegetable or herb, not the so-called mustard tree, is meant. In hot countries it sometimes grows to a gr... [ Continue Reading ]
Insignificant in its beginnings, founded by a supposed criminal in an obscure province, directed by twelve Galileans of little wealth or education, the Christian movement rapidly expanded into a world-wide Church, so powerful as a bond of union, that the Roman empire itself sought to strengthen itse... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAVEN] i.e. the influence of Christ, the power of Christianity. The figure is taken from the power of leaven ('yeast') to make the dough light and wholesome, and to spread through an enormous mass of it with great rapidity. Generally leaven is used as a figure for wickedness (Matthew 16:6, etc.), a... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE PROPHET] i.e. Asaph the seer, the author of Psalms 78, from which the quotation (Matthew 13:2) is taken.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TARES INTERPRETED. See on Matthew 13:24. The field is called the world as well as the Kingdom of God or the Church, because the Church is charged with a mission to the whole human race, and is destined to be universal. THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM] true Christians. THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKED _o... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS KINGDOM] His Church. ALL THINGS THAT OFFEND] RV 'that cause stumbling.'... [ Continue Reading ]
GNASHING] indicating rage and disappointment, not pain. Their punishment continues because their sin continues: cp. Matthew 8:12, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE KINGDOM] in the final bliss of heaven: cp. Daniel 12:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
TREASURE] Christ Himself and all that Christ brings with Him to the believing soul. AFIELD] the outward forms of Christianity, as distinguished from their spirit. HE HIDETH] i.e. throws the earth over it again, so that no one else may discover it, until he has effected the purchase. SELLETH ALL THA... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE (peculiar to St. Matthew). These two parables were addressed to the disciples in the house on the subject of personal religion. Their teaching is that it is not enough to be outwardly a Christian or to be under Christian influences. The true Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
A NET] lit. 'drag-net,' i.e. an oblong net of immense length, employed near the shore. The bottom edge was weighted with lead, and swept the bottom of the sea. The upper edge floated on the surface of the sea, supported by corks. Escape from it was impossible, and when it was dragged to shore, it co... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NET (peculiar to St. Matthew). At first sight the teaching of this parable is the same as that of the parable of the tares. There is the same identification of the Kingdom of Heaven with the earthly Church, and the same idea that it will embrace the evil as well as the good. But whereas in that,... [ Continue Reading ]
SHORE] i.e. the end of this dispensation, or world. SAT DOWN] In the parable those who drag the net, are not the same as those who sort the fish. The latter are the angels, the ministers of judgment. VESSELS] i.e. the heavenly habitations, the final reward of the just.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON GNASHING OF TEETH, see Matthew 13:42. 51, 52. CONCLUDING REMARKS TO THE PARABLES (peculiar to St. Matthew).... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY SCRIBE _which is_ INSTRUCTED (RV 'who hath been made a disciple') UNTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN] Jesus is pleased with their answer, and speaks of them as the future scribes or teachers of His Church. A MAN _that is_ AN HOUSEHOLDER] i.e. Christ Himself the master of the house (the Church). Afterw... [ Continue Reading ]
SECOND VISIT TO NAZARETH AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD (Mark 6:1). The first is described Luke 4:16, where He received similar treatment and used the same proverb.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CARPENTER'S SON] St. Mark has 'the carpenter.' HIS BRETHREN] see on Matthew 12:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE OFFENDED] lit. 'were caused to stumble,' i.e. were hindered from believing. A PROPHET] see on Luke 4:24; John 4:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
DID NOT MANY] St. Mark has 'could not do.'... [ Continue Reading ]